BURBANK ADULT SCHOOL GRADUATION:

Adriana Alvarenga fidgeted with her cap and gown in anxious anticipation for the Burbank Adult School graduation ceremony to begin on Wednesday.

“I am so happy to finish. I’ve come a long way,” said Alvarenga, who received her high-school diploma and last month was inducted into the school’s Honor Society.

After attending Eagle Rock High School for three years, she dropped out to help support her family.

Now, with graduation certificate in hand, she plans to start classes in September at Glendale Community College.

Alvarenga was one of 63 students who graduated on Wednesday from Burbank Adult School with a high school diploma.

Another 87 students obtained their GED, which is gained by taking a set of five high school exit exams.

Eleven Adult Basic Education students were awarded eighth-grade level diplomas, School Director Cherise Moore said.

The school’s students are typically teenagers that have difficulty finishing high school, adults who are looking to finish earning their high school diploma or students from other countries, Learning Center Coordinator Trudy Israel said.

“The students are very special people because they work so hard to achieve their goals,” Israel said. “I get very excited to see students here start to see their future ahead of them. “

The future for graduate Juan Aboolian, 19, begins in just two weeks with college classes at Glendale Community College.

“I am excited to get this over with so I can start college,” said Aboolian, who was a student at Burbank High School before attending the adult school.

This year’s graduation class was the largest in recent history. The increase was the result of fewer required credits and a stronger curriculum, Moore said.

“These students have gone through so many traumas, and it is really rewarding for me to help them fulfill their life goals,” Moore said. “Tonight’s celebration is a culmination of many years of hard work.”

The school this year awarded the most scholarship money, a total of $13,000 to graduates like Lorenzo Gutierrez, who hopes to become an English teacher.

“I am so excited because this is my first graduation,” said Gutierrez, who dropped out of Fairfax High School in Los Angeles at 15 to work.

“I feel that I have succeeded.”

The school does not choose a valedictorian. Instead, students can go to the podium and share their experiences with the audience.

“This was an ultimate struggle, but I made it and I am so proud of myself,” said Carissa Marie Gerro, high school diploma recipient.

“I hope to work with kids with disabilities in the future or become a drug and alcohol counselor.”

Aboolian also took the stage to thank the teachers who helped him along the way.

“It’s better late than never,” Aboolian said.

“I feel I speak for the whole class when I say that it is fulfilling to stand up here and acknowledge that there is still work to be done.”

CLASS OF 2008

Aboolian, Miro

Agazaryan, Annie

Aguayo, Irene

Alvarenga, Adriana

Arreola, Lester Eric

Barkema, Matthew

Blanco, Luis

Calzadilla, Jennifer

Cervantes, Victor

Clarkson, Jennifer A.

Cortez, Diane E.

Croughan, Shane Jeffrey

Dapello, Michael Paul

Delcid, Carlos

Duzick, Kyle Anthony

Dyer, Jeffrey

Ekhtebar, Ali

Escobar, Anthony Michael

Fragoza, Alba Ruby

Gerro, Carissa Marie

Gonzalez, Llaritza M.

Guimont, Taryn Dyane

Gutierrez, Lorenzo

Hakopian, Mosik

Hargous, Nicholas

Hunt, Taylor Alexis

Jackson, Steven L.

Jimenez, Xavier F.

Kang, Min Young

Lara, Gloria E.

Lees, Benjamin

Macomber, Jessica

Machin, Crystal Ivy

Martinez, Juliette Christine

Mc Glynn, Pat J.

Mejia, Lisette

Morales, Freddy Alexander

Moreno, Efrain

Nelson, Nathaniel

Partida, Ruben Anthony

Pecev, Raeleen Athina

Perez, Enzo

Porter, Vianey Alejandra

Prager, Sarah

Prutz, Jeffrey W.

Ravelo, Heather Nicole

Reyes, Georgina

Rodriguez, Desiree

Saiz, Christopher Richard

Sanchez, Cherie Amanda

Santos, Adrey Marquez

Saylor, Matthew Morris

Short, Alec Ian

Smith, Zachary Thomas

Soleimani, Arman Sam

Tajerian, Niary

Teta, Matthew Anthony

Valladares, Walter

Vartanian, Oshen

Urbina, Vivian

Walker, Josh Bryon

Williams, Jamie Renee

Wong, Kellian