‘Never forget the power you have’

Burbank High School’s 100th senior class went out in style Friday during a graduation ceremony that featured rousing musical performances at the Starlight Bowl.

The school’s orchestra and award-winning choir performed sets that stirred excitement among graduates, including one that combined the sounds of “Somethin’s Comin’” from West Side Story and rapper Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.”

The musical exhibition showcased just part of the talent that Burbank High’s centennial class brought to the school, said Tessa Register, the senior speaker.

“As a class, we are so much more than just the 100th group of kids to walk across this stage,” she said.

The school’s sports teams, clubs and student activities, including the first-ever class to host a prom on a yacht, put the group in a category of its own, she said.

Technology and diversity had also made the group’s high school experience unique, transforming it from what other generations might have gone through, students said, citing Burbank High’s array of cultural groups and the class’ affinity for text messaging and YouTube.

“We know streaming videos of ‘Charlie the Unicorn’ is as educational as it is entertaining,” said Nicole Battaglia, one of the school’s two valedictorians, drawing applause from the audience.

Students said they were excited to move on from high school, but reflected on simple parts of their routines that they would miss.

While some were sad to leave the school, others said they were still taking in the weight of the day.

“It hasn’t hit me yet,” said Ani Zarian.

Zarian talked of her goal of becoming a forensic scientist, one that grew out of a crime lab exercise organized by her science teacher, Rebecca Cooper.

She said she will remember Burbank High for giving her inspiration.

Principal Bruce Osgood, reflecting on the thousands of students who had graduated from the school during its 100 years, discussed the commitment to public service that has been displayed by former students.

More than 90 graduates had gone on to serve in the armed forces, he said, and hundreds had volunteered for service groups and organizations and even joined the Peace Corps.

Now the weight of contributing to society would fall to the latest group of graduates, he said.

“You’re not graduating from any high school. You’re graduating from Burbank High School,” he said, his voice trembling.

Although the world’s problems would make it easy for students to feel discouraged from striving to make a difference, this group had a unique source of inspiration, said Yihwan Kim, also a valedictorian.

Kim talked about a hopeful politician who had tried to run for office and personally funded his own campaign, but lost in a primary election, gaining half the votes of his opponent.

Defeated, he was encouraged to visit his party’s convention and attended only to realize that he had used all his money campaigning and his credit card was declined when he attempted to rent a car. When he eventually arrived at the convention, he was denied a credential.

That man was future President Barack Obama, and an important example for the class of 2009, Kim said.

“Never forget the power that you have, and never forget what you can do,” he said.

THE GRADS

Aderonke O. Aderonmu

Vicken George Antounian

Romik Rene Barseghian

Nicole Marie Battaglia

Kia Marie Blomberg

Lucine Byurat

Michelle Marie Chang

Grata Seong Won Chung

Kristin Danielle Crawford

Elvira Derhovsepian

Eliza Beatriz Diaz

Seychelle Gabriel

Taryn Irene Gardner

Alyssa Marie Gerharter

Danny Hadaya

Ashley Deanna Harvey

Caitlyn Chiyomi Hirahara

Michelle Annette Hovsepyan

Gloria Jay Jung

Goar Kagramanian

Nare Karabekyan

Tarundeep Kaur

Marina M. Ketchedjian

Joshua Kim

Tae Rim Kim

Yihwan Kim

Matthew Kenzo Kurihara

Ji Su Lee

Alexandra Rae Lilienfeld

Patricia Lopez

Michael Maidaa

Lina Manoukian

Kristen Clarisse Maynor

Jocelyne Andrea Mazariegos

Lynwood Francis McCassie

Logan Edward McConkay

Karen Guadalupe Mendez Cardona

Taylor Nicole Morton

Rebecca Patricia Murray

Amanda Noriko Newman

Maria Daniela Nina

Eliza Ani Papazian

Suzanna Papazyan

Gina Jeanhee Park

Spencer Montan

Lita Christine David Patel

Grace Helen Jimenez

Molly Elizabeth Perez

Alexandra Nowell Hellebrandt

Sousanna Pogosyan

Ricardo Martinez

Rosalinda Pozos

Maricruz Rodriguez

Melissa Madeleina Romero

Matthew Ryan Rosell

Kimberly L. Sazon

Javier Silva

Anna Simonyan

Amanda Songstad

Benjamin Zachary Taylor

Nare Torosyan

Alex Vartanian

Dennis Brian Wassem

Kristen Colleen Williams

Jong Won Yang

Jae Kyung Yeon

Pyung Hwa Yi

Sevana Zadourian

Alexander Marwan Abbasi

Brittany Lenae Abbott

Christina Abdoyan

Viytta Abdullatif

Natasha Abuata

Simon Andres Acevedo

Marianna Agazaryan

Leea Aghajani

Arneh Aghakhani

Daniel N. Aguilar

David Aguilar

Grecia Aracely Aguilar

Delia Akbari

Elyssa Victoria Alarcon

Casaundra Justine Alcantar

Stephanie Alcaraz

Andre Alexandrian

Marine V. Alexanian

Narbeh Allahyari

Cassandra Amy Almaraz

Alexander Altamirano

Felix Alejandro Alvarado

Gevork Amazaspyan

Kristina S. Amela

Victoria Lucy Amran

Araeik Amranian

Ha Young An

Ashley Nicole Anderson

Boris Antonyan

Lissette Anzo

Dvin Apelian

Ligia Aquino

Jack Arakelian

Yeram Arshakyan

Anthony Asadorian

Alina Aslanian

Josue M. Atayde

Andre Avanessians

Edgar Avetisyan

Anai Ayala

Suzy Aylozyan

Robert Ayrapetyan

Hovhannes Azaryan

Nareg Babayans

Daniel M. Baghdasarian

Tina Baghdassarian

Lilya Baghmouri

Sevak Baghramyan

Jima Ballan

Arvin Baroni

Parisa Basirgilani

Jared Michael Baxter

Lyudvig Richard Berberyan

Mark Beristain

Chris Andrew Berner

Jennifer Krystine Bettis

Chantal Sophia Sparling Bevard

Monique Vixtoria Bowman

Jacqueline Boyadzhyan

Niesha Sarai Braggs

Keenan Harrison Brand

Jacob Andrew Brogno

Courteney Ann Brown

Kenia Araceli Bustillos

Mary Tess Butera

Benjamin David Byram

Lisett Cabanillas

Michael Ryan Callahan

Cody Wayne Cardenaz

Luis Carlos Jr

Gustaf Martin Carlson

Tanner Daniel Cassandra

Bryan Alexander Castaneda

Dominique Kimberley Castano

Cassandra Lynn Castillo

Suzy Chalabian

Silva Chamichyan

Armineh Chilingaryan

Hakop Jack Chilingaryan

Heather B. Cho

Avylynn M. Chowdhury

Chanel Sun Chun

Zack Cohen

Christopher Sean Cole

Angel Contreras

Mainor Luis Corado

Adam Randall Coria

Oliver Timothy Covington

Lauren Nicole Crimeni

Omar Kenji M. Cruz

Mousa Dagher

Narineh Dallakian

Sophia Louisa D’Andrea

Georgiy Danielyan

Arby Danyelians

Alexander Antonio Davis

Argam Davoodi

Arian Davoudian

Brandon Dawson

Steven Andrew De Caro

Christian De Guzman

Jose Juan De La Cruz

Laura Joyce De La Rosa

Tiffany Elizabeth De Ramus

Anthony Daniel De Santiago

Fahad Dean

Jonathan Kaifu DeSimone

Christopher Dong

Meaghan Elizabeth Doorley

Ashton Jay Drewello

Jack Raffi Durgaryan

Jessica April Dye

Yegia Dzhandzhikyan

Emma Lois Eaton

Maryam Amr Elgeneidy

Ryan Teall Elliott

Sara Elzein

Daniel Escobar

Michelle Escobar

Robert Alexis Escobar

Christian Alexander Esguerra

Angelica Espiritu

Albert Joseph Esquivel

John Dariuse Fagerholm

Jose Alverto Fernandez

Amanda Lynn Fiendel

Brittney Danielle Fierro

Anthony Figueroa

Timothy Chrys Fisher

Andy Flores

Crystal Angelia Flores

Lillian Noemi Flores

Melody Lynn Flores

Melody Rose Florez

Michael Brian Regala Francisco

Denise Frausto

Nancy Frausto

Ashley Arnae Frazier

Kolbert Rolland Galeano

Nicole Danielle Galicia

Nathan Galles

Lilit Galoian

Deborah May Galvan

Nancy Galvan

Justin C. Gammel

Jessica Garcia

Karla Marie Garcia

Kimberly Garcia

Vincent Alan Garcia

Marten Garibkhanyan

Corinth Faith Gabriel Gata

Gevork Gazaryan

Anton Adolf Geuping

Ayleen Patricia Gevondyan

Vanik Gevorgyan

Leah Ghadimi

Lilit Ghalumian

Derrick Gharabighi

Arkadik Gharibian

Kevin Ghazery

Justin Adam Gibbs

Jared Paul Goff

Perine Golbudakyan

Jonathan Golden

Adam Sean Goldman

Christian Omar Gomez

Luis Gomez

Patricia Ashley Gomez

Andrea Virginia Gonzalez

Joseph Alexander Gonzalez

Natalie Anet Gregor

Courtney A. Griffin

Gevorg Grigorian

Ma Josephine Domalaon Guevara

Marina Gulasarian

Christopher R. Guzman

Ernest Gyolchyan

Yvonne Hai Duong Ha

Narine Hajinyan

Mohamed Allie Hariri

Jacob Harmon

Janet Haroutunian

Natalie Haroutunian

Deanna Lynn Harris

Jeremy Harris

Brittany Alexandria Harrison

Kerry Rae Harrison

Zipyour Hartounyan

Arno Harutunyan

Arsen Harutyunyan

Tigran Harutyunyan

Katherine Annette Hatch

Carlie Danielle Hauer

Kaitlin Elizabeth Hayes

Ashley K. Heard

Rachel Moriah Heizer

Alexis B. Hernandez

Liana C. Hernandez

Michael Gregory Hernandez

Adrian Jose Hernandez Jr

Elizabeth Hernandez-Contreras

Brian Herrera

Luis Daniel Herrera

Ian Holmes

Hrant Hovakimyan

Hamestoui Hovanessian

Ani Hovasapyan

Arman Hovsepian

Marianna Hovsepyan

Eileen Radiance Huggins

Alexander Timothy Hulett

Kevin James Hunter

Alexander Luis Ibarra

Mariel Isis Ibarra

Adis Isayan

Edit Isayan

Anoush Ismailian

Nicholas Issakhanian

Amjad Jahjah

Julian Jaramillo

Wesley Jarasunas

Rim Jayoghli

Zoe Anita Johnson

Jesus Juarez

Ba Ro Jung

Isaac Youil Kang

Jun Young Kang

Gracy Ann Kantzabedian

Tara Karamians

Harry Harout Karaoglanian

Rosemary Karapetian

Ani Karapetyan

Marine Karapetyan

William Randall Karraker

John Kassab

Madalyn Jessica Kearney

Caleb Trent Keller

Aaron Keshishian

Leo Khachatorians

Armine Amy Khachatrian

Khachatour Christopher Khachatryan

Lilit Khachikyan

Louie George Khalil

Steven Khalil

Arpi Khanpapyan

Brandon Ray Kilby

Bradley Joseph Kim

Christine Yiae Jee Kim

HeeSoo Kim

Sung Hoon Kim

Johnathan Paul Kipers

Agnesa Kirakosyan

Gor Kirakosyan

Lilit Kirakosyan

Yesayi Kirakosyan

Michelle Kojakehyanyan

Tyler Korb

Shahan Haig Krakirian

Hasmik Krpoyan

Sarkis Kulakchyan

Marine Kupalyan

Han Sun Kwon

Rachel Erin Lampert

Barry Langer

Arianna Lanier

Paden Thomas Lapwing

Jesse Ray Lau

Stephanie Laureano Santiago

Jamenie Velasco Lazaro

George Arthur Lebo

Jason Junn Lee

Tae Min Lee

Armenuhi Lekhlyan

Stewart C. Leon

Abigail Marie Basco Leonen

Christopher Andrew Lewis

Lindsay Nicole Lewis

Ivory O’Neill Leyva-Ferguson

Benjamin J. Lim

Elissa Sarah Loera

Chelsea Nicole Looby

Anthony Lora

Kimberly Denise Lugo

Carlos Lupercio

Bernabe Bautista Macaraeg Jr.

Victoria Cristal Magrini

Arotin Mahmoudian

Rodrek Mahmoudian

David Pandukht Malakian

Sharis Manoukian

Mikia Mansourian

Hakop Manukyan

Anie Manvelyan

Michele Quinones Mapoy

Gamer Darius Margoosian

Shant Ikiaghaj Markarian

Justin Aaron Maroldi

Vahe Grigor Martikian

Adriana Martinez

Amada Acuna Martinez

Brandon Edward Martinez

Jose Maria Mata

Teddy Matavosian

Ishkhanuhi Matevosyan

Erin Marie Mc Donald

Michael Dillon Mc Donald

Breanna Gabrielle McFarlane

Nelson Jose Medal

Beatris Megerdichian

Emil Mehrabian

Joseph Mehrabians

Michael Meksian

Adana Mary Melkonian

Daniel Erick Mena

Erika Jasmin Mendoza

Talin Mirzaei

Kristina Emma Mirzoyan

Iris Elena Mitchell

Kevin Daniel Mitchell

Andranik Mkrtchyan

Vahe Mkrtchyan

Darrin Moen

Kelsy Marie Moise

Caitlyn Breana Momeny

Christine Nicole Montalvo

Ava Montoya

Emily Ann Moon

Audrey Mora

Stuwart Adam Morales

Melissa Elizabeth Moreno

Annie Mouradian

Madeline Kathleen Muldoon

Sarbelio Alex A. Munoz

Linda Muradyan

Chelsea Madaline Myers

Ara Nakhikyan

Lizbeth A. Naranjo

Hrant Narinyan

Lisa C. Navarro

Anthony Joseph Naylor

Lina Nazarian

Arno Nazaryan

Raffi Nazaryan

Christina Nazlikian

Katie Lynne Nelson

Joseph Nerlinger

Ani Sira Nersesian

Patricia Anabel Ngo

Quang Minh Ngo

Katie Tu Uyen Nguyen

Stefy Nudel

Steven Ocegueda

Alexandra O’Connor

Anna Oganesyan

Narek Ohanian

Jacklyn Nichele Ontiveros

Charlotte Louise Orme

Marissa Danelle Ortega

William Ortega

Vahan Ouzounian

Mary Ovakyan

Gayana Ovsepyan

Henry Ovsepyan

Christopher F. Pacheco

Andres Felipe Paez

Sabastiano Pardo

David Jinhyung Park

David Hyun So Park

Charlene Adriana Parrales

Karishma R. Patel

Dalar Patrossian

Robert Gregory Pecache

Kristin Laurel Peraza

Dion Michael Perez

Fabian A. Perez

Luis A. Perez

Sara Jeannette Perez

Luis Alberto Pineda

Antonio Piralyan

Ashot Piramzyan

Herman Popoca

Moises Alberto Portillo

Gabriela Preciado

Haley Alexander Press

Monica Michelle Prunier

Nicholas Bryan Pulido

Jamie Distor Punit

Sara Siri Puranan

Cynthia Giselle Quintana

Richard Anthony Raad

Walter Ramos

Emily Kathryn Reed

Tessa Margaret Register

Matthew Isiah G. Respicio

Chelsey Rose Reynolds

Astrid Lorena Rios Reyes

Lissette Rivera

Katherine Ngoc Rizzo

Cristina Robbins

Taylor Marie Roberts

Erine Camille Robles

Brian Rochana

Ashley Milena Rodriguez

Charlene Stephanie Rodriguez

Danielle Melissa Rodriguez

Allan Blake Rojas

Evelyn M. Romero

Jared Preston Roundtree

Gerardo Sabas

Alice Sadoyan

Edwin Safsar

Ayli Sahtah

Lara Caresse Saikali

Marcus Bruce C Salangsang

Saly G. Salloum

Crystal Elizabeth Salvatierra

Greta Evelyn Sanamyan

Cindy Stacey Sanchez

Melissa Sanchez

Sarah Pamela Sanchez

Pete Sangsuriyakul

Arnold Santiago

Danny Moises Santos-Cotoc

Lizette Sarabia

Yamen Sarah

Charles Scott Sargent

Sarineh Sarian

Brandon Alexander Scher

Lauren Katherine Schroeder

Steven Michael Schubert

Samantha Chloe Scott

Kenny Michelle Ragos Sellers

Sona A. Sepetci

Sandro Shahmoradian

Tegran Shakhbazyan

Jonathan Ivaro Shammas

Abigail Trudy Shoaf

Ashleigh Nicole Renee Simons

Sarmen Sinanian

Ranbir Singh

Sevak Aram Soibatian

Oliver James Soriano

Melissa Alexendra Soto

Yvonne Soto

Alyssa Anne Stage

Elizabeth Sarah Starkand

Vrezh Grey Stepanian

Mary Stepanyan

Samantha Marie Surtida

Andriana Starr Tamamian

Ariga Tarverdi Masihi

Erik Tatos

Maryam Tavakoli

Sasoon Tavoosian

Janelle Kimberly Taylor

Michael Taylor

Mohammad Al Quin Chan Tayong

Lidia Termanyan

Ani S. Ter-Nshanian

Margaret Ter-Stepanyan

Diana A. Terzyan

Dante Stephen Theard

Jessica Aileen Tidwell

Jessica Tokatlian

Arman Torosyan

Ivan Torres

Natalie B. Torres

Justin Michael Torvinen

Anita Toshomal Yrouz

Liani Kae Tremor

Geoffrey Thomas Tyndall

Lusine Lucy Ulikyan

Amberlynn Rose Olivia Ullo

Rosaura Beatriz Uribe

Ashley Lorraine Valdes

Andrew Richard Valencia

Ashley Anai Valencia

Danielle H. Valenzuela

Adriana Emilia Valladares

Ani Vardanian

Arakel Vardazaryan

Cynthia Melissa Vargas

Alex Vartanian

Narek Vartunian

Enrique Vasquez

Alberto Vazquez

Kimberly Vega

Kimberly Elaine Vega

Adiel Velazquez

Veronica Viado

Nicholas Charles Viebahn

Norelvy Guadalupe Villacorta

Leanna L. Viray

Trevor James Wakefield

Darian Shaquille Walker

Joel David Waller

Andre Nicola Warda

Richard Wayne Western

Sabrina Rose Whaley

Daniele Nicole White

Jenny Catherine Williams

Ashley M. Wilson

Michael Hunter Win

Kieran Joseph Wolf

Cassandra Wright

Scott Akio Yamamoto

Andrea Yanez

Ani Yeghnazar

Araik Yegiazaryan

Justin Sanghoon Yim

Adib Younan Jr

Henoharzhis Yousefi

Jong Hak Yuk

Steven Yun

Christian Tolentino Yuson

Dareh Zadoorian

Mark Zakour

Michelle Marylin Zamora

Jordan Christopher Zander-Madrid

Ani Zarian

Jonathan Antonio Zelaya

Ruben Janos Zsigmond