Vasquez High School Honorees
I cannot express my disappointment strongly enough that students from Vasquez High School were not included in your list of “best and brightest” high school graduates honored as valedictorians in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys (“Valley Valedictorians,” June 14).
Vasquez High School is the smallest public high school in Los Angeles County. We are unique because of the size and location. Acton and Agua Dulce are rural communities. Our students travel long distances to attend Vasquez. Even so, none of the stereotypes of small, rural high schools applies to us.
We are a strong academic school. Our graduating class of 86 received acceptance at 26 University of California schools and private universities. We have co-valedictorians Amanjit Arora, 4.57 GPA, who will attend UC Berkeley as a pre-med major, and Scott Gray, 4.57 GPA, who will attend UCLA as a pre-med major. Our salutatorian, Heather Heslep, 4.46 GPA, will attend UC Irvine as a biological sciences major.
I hope that you will do whatever is necessary to make amends for the omission of these fine young people from your article.
GAYLENE VAN ZIJLL, Principal, Vasquez High School
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