High temperatures didn’t dissuade family and friends from witnessing their students’ achievements.

By Mary O’KEEFE and Robin GOLDSWORTHY

It was graduation/promotion day in Crescenta Valley for the Class of 2019. Tuesday was the last day of school for students in the Glendale Unified School District, which meant sixth and eighth grades promoted, and high school commencement ceremonies were held…and there was absolutely no parking anywhere near schools.

Parents carried balloons, flowers and Hawaiian leis into the middle and high schools where their children spent so much of their lives. For parents, it is a strange type of melancholy celebration when their children move on in their journey.

At Clark Magnet High School, 227 students received their diplomas. Daniel Rostamloo was the school’s valedictorian with a grade point average of 4.54. The school’s principal, Lena Kortoshian, spoke of the accomplishments of the school including being named to the 2018-19 Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll, which is sponsored by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence, for Clark’s high achievement in student success.

“This year the U.S. News and World Report – Best High Schools Report has ranked Clark in the top 2.67% of high schools in the nation. This is a great achievement,” Kortoshian told the audience.

She credited the awards and recognitions the school received to the work of students, staff and parents.

“Thank you for making this level of achievement possible,” she added.

Keynote speaker was Clark alumnus Martin Manucharyan, supervisor with Glendale Water and Power.

“It is a pleasure and an honor to be standing here before you in the campus that made me who I am today,” Manucharyan said.

He thanked GUSD staff and administration, as well as the partnership with Glendale Community College.

“Finally, I would like to thank you, the students who have honored the legacy of those who have preceded you,” he said.

He praised the students who decided to leave the “beaten path” and take the chance to attend Clark. Students who want to attend Clark must submit their names in a lottery system to gain admission. The students come from all over the district and would normally go to the high school in their area – the beaten path. Manucharyan said he decided to take that leap to go to Clark.

“And it was the best decision I ever made,” he said.

Crescenta Valley High School held its commencement ceremony on the school’s field at the same time as Clark.

Six-hundred-and-eighteen graduates, and their families and friends, sat under the hot sun listening to heartfelt speeches by senior class president Katelyn Blood, and speakers Andrew (Jonghyun) Hong and Anjana Saravanan. The speakers touched on the new beginning that the students would find waiting for them after graduation.  Saravanan quoted Cormac McCarthy, saying, “Between the wish and the thing the world lies waiting.”

Friendships gained while at Crescenta Valley High School were also acknowledged and parents thanked for their past support and, for some, future tuition payments.

A light-hearted moment came with the presentation of the class gift – a clock for the school – presented by senior class secretary and treasurer Luke Weingarten and Andrew Stepanian. The pair said the gift reflected the tardiness to class of students in the Class of 2019. Associate Principal Christine Benitez accepted the gift on behalf of the school.

Before distributing diplomas, Principal Linda Junge addressed the audience. She asked all the graduates to rise, then instructed them to sit when their future plans were named. After listing enrollment in community college, enrollment in a four-year college or university, taking a year off, moving into the job field and enlisting in the military, not a single student was left standing. It illustrated the diverse fields that the graduates would be entering. Junge then told the audience that, collectively, $1 million in scholarships and grants had been awarded to the graduates and lauded them for their volunteer hours, which totaled over 55,000 in community service.

Glendale Unified School District board of education president Jennifer Freemon also offered words of advice to the students before assisting in the distribution of diplomas.

“Dream big, work hard and make us proud,” she said.

Earlier in the day, it was Rosemont Middle School eighth graders and their family and friends who had to smile through the high temperatures as 623 eighth graders promoted to high school.

Principal Scott Anderle had students stand as their names and awards, from academics to volunteerism, were announced. Several awards were named after inspirational Rosemont teachers and principals who left their mark on the school. The Lois Neil Literature Award was given to Elisha Lee, Jack Silberstein Math Award to Nathaniel Mangahis, the Cynthia Livingston ROCKS Award to Ethan Sheklow, the Marilyn Zimmer Fine Arts Award to Isabella Robles, the Mable Morse Leadership Award to Anna Toomey and the Altrusa Award went to Nicole Tanita.

Farewell speeches were made by students Giovana Aldaz, Anna Toomey, Rosalia Park and Heather Pauly. All spoke of Rosemont’s commitment to students, of friendships made and their excitement for the future.

“I am proud to be part of Rosemont’s amazing eighth grade class,” said Toomey, who was the ASB president.

As she looked back at her two years at Rosemont and ahead to her future high school years, she had one wish for her fellow students.

“I hope everyone can be thankful for the great opportunities that were given to [us at Rosemont],” she said. “My one wish is that I hope everyone here can be thankful, if only for a second, for the opportunities you were given. [Our] great teachers who prepared you for the life ahead of you and the friends you made here at Rosemont. I don’t think everyone realizes this. This is often because we are kind of in a little bubble here in La Crescenta but we are so lucky to go to a school like this. We have a giant amphitheater that can fit the entire school for fun activities, a beautiful view of the mountains, the best sports teams in the district and so many opportunities to choose from to make school fun.”

For photos of the ceremonies at Clark Magnet and Crescenta Valley high schools and Rosemont Middle School, turn to pages 11-14.

  Mary Okeefe, robin goldsworthy