The Class of 2000

Jennifer Holder, 17, is a stylish blond with a fondness for fixing cars. She works part time at McDonald’s. The Ventura High School student is planning for a career in either law enforcement or auto repair and plans to go to Ventura College next year.

Antwaine Richards, 18, a lanky, friendly teen, plays basketball at Ventura High School and wants to be a child psychologist. His top choices for college are San Diego State and Cal State Chico. Richards, a B-average student, participates in leadership at his school and sings at his church in his spare time. He has worked as a referee at the city’s youth basketball camps.

Emily Adamick, 17, a tall, slender honors student at Westlake High School, dresses casually and speaks her mind freely. She is student body president and works part time at an ice-cream shop. She wants to attend Tufts or UC San Diego and become an elementary school teacher.

Diane Blackburn, 17, is a Westlake High School cheerleader. The quiet teen tutors and wants to be a Spanish teacher or a news anchor. She has an A average, is involved in student government and competes with the swim team. She wants to attend UCLA or UC Santa Barbara. “I’m excited, but I’m scared about leaving home,” Blackburn said.

Brian Vianzon, 17, a Filipino-American, works as a deejay at parties and weddings in his free time. He is commissioner of technology at Simi Valley High School and enjoys fixing computers. A B-average student, Vianzon wants to attend San Diego State or Cal State Long Beach. He cites religion as one of the most important values in his life.

Sandra Silva, 17, who has a Mexican and Italian heritage, feels ties to both cultures. Silva, a senior at Simi Valley High School, works as a dance instructor and recently volunteered to raise money for cancer patients. She is student body vice president and is in the “Nosotros” club. She is planning for a career in business or marketing. “I have the ambition to get there, and I’ll get there,” Silva said.

Beth Allen, 18, a senior at Nordhoff High School, plays golf seriously but calls herself the class clown. Allen, a sandy blond with freckles, heads up the school’s rallies. She prides herself on her school spirit. She said she is anxious to get out of Ojai and move to either Northridge or Monterey for college.

Mario Perez, 17, a shy and muscular student at Nordhoff High School, wants to be the first person in his family to graduate from college. He has competed on the track and field team, has about a 3.0 grade-point average, and wants to attend Cal State Los Angeles or Chico State and study to become a teacher. If he doesn’t get in, he plans to apply to a trade school in plumbing or engineering.

Jessie Hawkins, 17, a poised youth, plays football, track and basketball at Nordhoff High School and likes engineering. Hawkins, whose father is black and mother is white, said he sometimes feels out of place. He has a grade-point average of more than 4.0, and hopes to get a sports scholarship to Harvard or Princeton.

Jessica Howell, 17, is an outgoing senior at Oxnard High School who acts and sings. She is in student government and wants to become a teacher. She said her family, friends and the Mormon religion are all very important to her. “We have a lot of pressure on us to be more successful,” she said. “I feel totally special.”

Rene Velasco, 17, is optimistic and has close bonds to his family in Mexico. An Oxnard High School senior, Velasco plans to attend community college next year. As publicity commissioner, he spends time hanging posters and translating fliers into Spanish. He is a C-average student and is involved in the California Assn. of Student Councils.

Frank Pedroza, 17, comes from a tight-knit Oxnard family and plays handball at Oxnard High every chance he can. He used to be on the football and wrestling teams. He works part time in his father’s plumbing business, and plans to work there full time after serving in the Marine Corps. “I love it here,” Pedroza said. “If I go somewhere else, it’ll be a whole new world.”