PROVIDENCE HIGH SCHOOL:

Providence High School student Darlene Vela knew that as soon as she crossed the stage and received her diploma, she would no longer be a teenager — she would be an adult.

“I am excited because I am not a child anymore,” said Vela, who plans to attend UC Santa Cruz in the fall and major in economics or psychology. “Today is the beginning of a bright new future, and I am excited to see all the new things I accomplish.”

Vela wore a green cap and gown with her 144 other classmates at the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills on Sunday afternoon.

She hugged her girlfriends and snapped photos before the group proceeded into the large auditorium.

“I am feeling so many different emotions; it is supposed to be an exciting day, but it is also sad to say goodbye to friends,” said Veronica Gomez, 18, who will be attending UC Santa Cruz with Vela.

“We have been hit with the reality that we are no longer teenagers, and we have to face the real world.”

The day marked the school’s 50th annual graduation.

The high school offers general education as well as specialized study programs in media and medical programs for students.

These programs teach students how to master software such as Final Cut Pro or the basics of bioethics.

“I am happy but nervous to go up on stage,” said Nicholas Nazloomian, 17, who volunteered 180 hours of community service at a local dental office. “But I feel that the school’s medical program has prepared me to someday become a dentist.”

As exciting as the day was for many, faculty members had a tough time saying goodbye to the students whom they came to know so well over the last four years.

“Graduation is always a sad day for me because I teach freshmen,” physical education and social studies teacher Karri Kirsch said.

“I see how they grow up, mature and develop . . . so it is very bittersweet.”

Media Focus Program Director Joe Ingraffia joined the program this year and was awed by the students’ dedication.

“I have been very impressed with the students’ projects,” said Ingraffia, who worked in the film industry for 25 years before coming to Providence High School. “It has been a delight to get to know these students.”

Graduates have been accepted to universities nationwide such as Hawaii Pacific University, Penn State University and Boston University.

“I don’t want to leave all my friends, but I have to because we are all going on to the next stage of our lives,” said Kristina Gonzales, 17, who starts classes at UC Riverside in September. “All of us are going our separate ways.”

Principal Michele Schulte reminded students that although they graduated, they would always be in the faculty members’ hearts.

“You have a limitless horizon, and the light that will guide you in your journey will be from your parents, family and members of the Providence High School community,” she said.

“Our doors will always be open . . . you will always be Providence pioneers.”

CLASS OF 2008

Taylor Leigh Adney

Anna Karenina Pedraja Adraneda

Alina Aghajanian

Timothy Nuval Aguirre

Armine Christina Alajajian

Jessica N. Alvarez

Christopher Robert Antablian

Samantha Michelle Gonzalez Antonio

Alina Lara Antounian

Gerard Patrick Aquino

Christopher Arzoomanian

Edwin A. Babaian

Patrick A. Baghdasaryan

David Jay Q. Baiza

Kristina Lynn Ballada

Claudette Lingat Bañares

Natalie Victoria Borraez

Mary Stephanie Boyadjian

Ariel Samantha Cabrera

David B. Campos

Tracey Ramos Carlos

Kelsey A. Carter

Vanessa V. Castro

Joanne Stephanie Cecilio

Nadege Collot

Michael C. Conty

Derick A. Cornejo

Carissa Nicole L. Cruz

Lia Daneelian

Jenna D. Dargenzio

Anush A. Davtian

Jonathan Michael De Claro

Melissa Dekermenji

Jan-Nicole M. Del Mundo

Tyler Lee DePiero

Eduardo Miguel Deras

Araz Marie-Claire Der-Tavitian

Aren Ebrahimi

Marc Jan Fortuna Evangelista

Natalie Fabular

Kaylee M. Falcon

David M. Ferialdi

Brandon Michael Florez

Hannah R. Franklin

Andrea Fuentes

Rhea Josephine Fuentes

Miguel Augusto Garcia

Stephanie Lauren Ghazarian

Nicholas Ian Gindraux

Gillian Kathleen Glover

Veronica Gomez

Christine Joanne Gonda

Kristina Marie Gonzales

Richard Camilo Grosjean De La Rosa

Morgan N. Hand

Daniel Albert Hansen

Henry Ian Haruthunian

Marie Hayrapetian

Sarah Anne Henderson

Justin Sukhyun Hong

Dylan Graham Husmann

Kristin Thy Huynh

Eric Issagholian

David M. Ixtlahuac

Alexandra Manouk Jarred

Belinda Wan Jiang

Barrett Arthur Keys

Tadeh Khachikian

Tiffany Tevolina Khachikian

Hykanush Christine Khandjian

Zaven Michael Kuyumjian

Jonathan S. Laciste

Soo Young Lee

Marcy Leon

Sarah Marie Lohman

Aubrie Ann Lorrimer

Ilona Lukovskaya

Audra Lydon

Kevin Brent Maclang

Natalie Majidi

Taleen Manamshian

Edwin David Mangassarian

Ryan James Markey

Emin Martirosyan

Courtney Anne McShane

Arman Z. Meguerian

Kenneth Puzon Mejia

Jacqueline Yvette Melara

Marianne Ashley Meneses

Andrew Vrege Mirzakhanian

Stella Kyoungah Moon

Paul Harutun Nagapetyan

Gina Nalbandian

Meline Naldjian

John Paul S. Napa

Anna Narguizian

Tessie C. Navarro

Nicholas Gregoris Nazloomian

Thomas Brandon Nepomuceno

Tracey-Jane Albano Nerona

Bryan Kim Nguyen

Varand Yenovk Onany

Angelica Concha Opulencia

Christine Ovanesian

Sonya Parada

Jane Sun Young Park

Kyung Duk A. Park

Nico G. Pierson

Edrick Pirveysian

Anait Poladyan

Clarence T. Ramirez

John Chrys Regualos Rey

Jacqueline Rodriguez

Samantha Ann Rodriguez

Abbey Gail C. Ronquillo

Kelly Alexis Rosales

Delfin D. Ruiz

Aram Safarian

Beza Inku Samuel

Christopher A. Sanchez

Cory R. Sanchez

Gabriel Alexander Sfeir

Ella Shahjahanian

Sean S. Silverio

Arthur Sohrabian

Fiorella Sotomayor

Galia Sotomayor

Shailesh Kumar Sujanani

Justin Gregory Tahmazian

Levon Peter Tawilian

Angelik TerZakarian

Zakar TerZakarian

Sharon U. Torres

Sabrina Marie Tribuzi

Elisha Cruz Ty

Melissa S. Valdes

Christine Lourdes Vasquez

Darlene Montes Vela

Matthew Ryan Veneracion

Tracie J. Viray

Eric Laboriante Volfango

Ani Voskanian

Lauren Ashley Wheeler

Matthew J. Whitehead