BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL: ‘The epitome of our high school career’

Nearly 90 Bellarmine- Jefferson High School seniors took the first steps on the road to college Saturday during a graduation ceremony marked by teary goodbyes and jubilant send-offs at Forest Lawn’s Hall of Liberty.

“Today isn’t just a high school graduation, it’s the epitome of our high school career,” said graduate Maria Hintog, who delivered the ceremonies’ salutatory address in front of 87 fellow graduating seniors and hundreds of parents, relatives and friends.

The location of the 61st commencement ceremony for the Catholic school named for St. Robert Bellarmine — a 16th- century preset praised by officials for his intellectual and political attributes — and Thomas Jefferson — whose history was well-documented in the lavish halls outside the auditorium — was no coincidence, officials said.

Murals and flags in the hall documented the colonial struggle for independence and Jefferson’s leadership in helping to draft the Declaration of Independence.

“They both fought for what they believed in,” Principal Cheryl Milner told graduates. “They believed in education, and now you have been given the foundation of a high school education. It’s your turn to serve.”

Saturday’s commencement featured a performance by the Senior Chorus, replete with a full band of graduating musicians who played Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds.”

The song’s chorus, “Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause every little thing’s gonna be all right” seemed appropriate to Hintog.

“When you go to the beach this summer, bring some sunscreen because our future is looking bright for all of us,” she said, tears streaming down her cheek.

Other student speakers included class valedictorian Phoebe Kunitomi, who focused on such global ills as slavery and starvation in stressing the need for action among her fellow graduates.

“It’s up to us to make a change,” she said. “There is a world outside of here, and it’s not always as pretty as we might think. We are the future.”

Minutes later, each of the graduating seniors was called to accept their diplomas as cheers reverberated throughout the auditorium and cameras flashed toward the grinning graduates.

Norma Rivas, whose nephew Ryan Aredas graduated, reflected the hope and concerns of many relatives on Saturday.

“It’s very exciting,” she said. “It’s very gratifying to see him get to this point, but it’s a tough world out there. He wants to be a doctor, and we’ll be with him every step.”

Boys wearing blue caps and gowns and girls donning white graduation robes and caps hugged and showed off presents some received after the ceremony.

Goodbyes were said and promises to make plans in the summer were made, but a few discussed the economic reality inherent in leaving high school.

“It feels real good,” R.J. Kattengell said.

“Now I have to go look for a job.”

CLASS OF 2008

Christine Abramyan

Ani Akopyan

Victor Adam Alcantara

Efrain Alvarado

Jessica Marie Alvarez

Georges Riskhalla Amran

Raymond Suboc Amurao

Ryan Steven Aredas

Valeria Avila

Alejandro Ayala

Barry Ayala

Santiago Baez

Melissa Christine Burrola

Jolina Zarah Caballero

Olivia Carina Campos

Laura Candelaria

Jorge Chaidez

Jorge Christian Lagman Chin, III

Daniel Mason Chung

Kevin N. Concepcion

Yvonna Patricia Contreras

Matthew Thomas Cormier

Artemio Davila, Jr.

Angela Mae Julian De Vera

Carlos Jonathan Diaz

Daniel Patrick Diaz-McTague

Ashleigh Dominique Diller

Vanessa Gabrielle Espinoza

Leslie Farias

Ashley Danielle Flores

Dana Lynn Gamboa Games

Laura Garcia

Seibel M. Garcia

Ramy Anthony Garsdean

Francisco Javier Garza

Gabrielle Gonzalez

Andrew Scott Guerra

Samantha L. Guillen

Amanda Gupilan

Joelle Hajj

Christian Giovanni Hernandez

Michael Angelo Hernandez

Kevin Andrew Herrera

Elizabeth M. Hinojosa

Maria Patricia S. Hintog

Virginia Hovsepian

John-Paul Hribar

Vincent Robert Huff

Jonathan George Ibrahim

Justin Nicodemus Intal

Roy-Joshua Juzon Isip

Jessica Jordan

Julian Jacob Dionisio Jose

R.J. Kattengell

Phoebe Claire Kunitomi

Joseph Patrick Lallos, III

Stephanie Frances Loera

Elias George Alexander Maalouf

Matthew M. Malone

Hovik Mardikian

Kyrsten Melissa Mas

Andrew Adam McCratic

Perry Alexander Medina

Jonathan Jose Montalban

Nicole B. Mudarris

Michael A. Nazarian

Michael Nehme, Jr.

Nicholas Anthony Pappagalo

Leonard Armando Polansky

Joseph Andrew Quinones

Vidal Rangel, Jr.

Vanessa Rivas

Amanda Faye Rivera

Christian Patrick Rivera

Brittany Maria Rohrer

Alexandra Romano

Martin Leon Rosas

Eric Ruelas

Sarah Anne Salgado

Kevin Albert Monte Sandow

Alana Maria Segura

Alexander Sepanossian

Sonali Therese Serasinghe

Jessica Ann Serrano

Andrew Thomas Shirley

Brittany Kersaia Simmons

Justin Ronald Stones

Miguel Intal Trinidad