CLARK MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL:

To senior Lauren Hamada, members of the Clark Magnet High School Class of 2009 are like dandelion petals blowing in the wind.

“Our graduating class will be dispersed far and wide, but we leave knowing we will land safely,” she said.

Friends and family packed Clark’s outdoor amphitheater Friday evening to watch the 240 graduates receive their diplomas from Glendale Unified School District Supt. Michael Escalante and School Board Vice President Greg Krikorian, whose son was one of the graduates.

Graduates donned green caps and gowns and an assortment of colorful Hawaiian Leis, honor stoles and cords. They waved to members of the audience and pumped fists as they marched in to the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Speakers emphasized the importance of hard work as the students moved on to the next chapters in their lives.

“If you rely sheerly on talent for your future, you will be sorely disappointed,” Escalante said.

Principal Doug Dall shared anecdotes from author Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers,” in which Gladwell studied the factors of success. There are very few naturally successful people, he said.

“Many of you in the Class of 2009 are naturally bright, and you may not have made the connection between hard work and success,” he said. “In order to obtain success, you have to work for it.”

Speakers acknowledged the touch economic time the students are entering, but predicted that Clark students will be able to face it head on.

“We must not give up, but go stronger and more determined to succeed,” Hamada said. The technology skills that Clark emphasizes will be especially useful in a competitive marketplace, she said.

Though most students were excited for what lay ahead, many said they were loath to leave behind familiar teachers and friends.

“It really is a bittersweet moment,” said Lilit Harutunyan, 19, as she waited for the ceremony to start with a group of her closest friends.

Friends Varuzhan Gasparyan, 18, and Aran Boyadzhyan, 17, will be attending Glendale Community College together in the fall. Both said they were glad high school was over.

“It hit me at first, but now I am ready,” Boyadzhyan said.

The class of 2009 will especially remember the senior barbecue, the senior prom at Castaway Restaurant and the trip to Catalina Island as times that brought the class together, said Student Body President Johnny Goukassian.

“Soon our experiences at Clark Magnet School will be like memories blowing in the wind,” Hamada said.

CLASS OF 2009

Ani Abassian

Bushra Moheb Abdelmalak

Anasheh Abnosian

Arby Abraamyan

Alex Abramian

Kristine Acopian

Sarkis Agajanian

Sevak Agazarian

Adena Aghajani

Adjmin Aghazarian

Nzhdeh Aghazaryan

Ericson Reytana Aguilar Jr.

Raquel Aguilera

Hamik Akhverdyan

Goarik Susan Akopyan

Ani Alaverdyan

Henrik Alaverdyan

Anna Alebyan

Talin Amadian

Tigran Amiragov

Andrew John Amirian

Edvard Amirkhanian

Arsine Amranyan

Aylin Anderasin

Charlotte Mae Anongos

Matthew Grant Anson

Cristina Arakelyan

Sousanna Aroutiounian

Nazareth Ashkharian

Marine Ashnalikyan

Narine Ashnalikyan

Jacqueline Aslanyan

Rebeka Avanesian

Armen Avetisyan

Gurgen John Avetisyan

Meruzhan Avetisyan

Azatuhi Babayan

Edmond Victor Babayan

Mikhail Rustamovich Babayan

Hakob Hrach Baburyan

Vatche Bahudian

Nvart Balabanyan

Sargis Balagyozyan

Avo Balasanian

Roobina Barseghian

Armine Barsegyan

Eliz Barsekhi

Katharine Beghouzian

Lilit Beglarian

Sossi Bekarian

Robert Benenyan

Maria Anjelica Castillet Benitez

Sevak Boghossian

Zachary Ryan Bolan

Hazel Anne Bondoc

Jasmine Boniadyan

Nanar Boodaghyan

Harutiun Boulanikian

Aram Boyadzhyan

Marina Boyazhyan

Joshua Guanzon Bravo

Emily Louellyn Burke

Diego Castillo Gonzales

Karine Chalikyan

Ani A Chobanyan

Andrew Woowon Choi

Nikola Daka

Nyree Eliz Darakjian

Kristian Petkov Detchev

Edward Djrbashian

John Dolmaian

Carla Dominguez

Martha Dymchenko

Jirayr Ebdalian

Anny Satenik Edinchikyan

Tigran Tony Edinchikyan

Meghedi Eissa-Gholian

Jophinale C Elorta

Christian Espindola-Robelo

Ani Jessica Gabouchian

Tigran Gabrielyan

Nick Galadzhyan

Edmundo I Gallegos

Paula Garabekian

Jeremiah Garcia

Luis O Garcia

Doein Gasparyan

Varuzhan Gasparyan

Arpine Geragoosian

Avetis Gevorgyan

Nane Gevorgyan

Davit Gharagyozyan

Varand Gharibian

Adrine Ghazarian

Vahe Ghevandian

Noor Rachel Ghssoub

Hovanes Johnny Goukassian

Varduhi Hakopian

Lauren Akemi Hamada

Armand Garo Harmandayan

Sharis Annie Harootun

Lilit Harutunian

Maeson Daniel Hauffen

Selin Herabid Siraki

Hayk Hovakimyan

Anzhela Hovsepyan

Karel Bernice Ignacio

Simeon Yordanov Iliev

Ani Isayan

Arpi Isayan

Mariana Isayan

Sabrina Ishoo

Alin Mary Jabourian

Izabel Jerejyan

Gabriel Jung Won Kahng

Patrick Karamkhodian

Zoree Karibyan

Paul Mher Karmiryan

Ani Kazaryan

Gevork Kazaryan

Raymond Keshishyan

Shant Perez Kevonian

Ani Khachatoorians

Alin Khachatourian

Elin Khachikian

Arlet Khachikyan

Lory Khoudikian

Sean Patrick Kirkwood

Shant Tir Krikorian

Allen Gregor Lalaian

Andrew Lau

Justin Sang Lee

Seul-Ae Sarah Lee

Eric Alan Magsayo

Aram Mangasaryan

Albert Manukyan

Lilit Manukyan

Lusine Manukyan

Hakob Manvelyan

Andre Vahe Marcarian

Aroutin Mardirosian

Vaheh Mardirosian

Ermond Mardres

Teddy Margoosian

Melanie Markarid

Tatevik Markaryan

Zore Markosyan

Raymond Matevosyan

Tatul Tom Melikyan

Kayla Mendoza

Claudine Lalita Minassian

Nina Ter Minassian

Harutyun Minasyan

Tatevik Mirzakhanyan

Tsovinar Mkrtchyan

Yna Mokhtarians

Erin Lee Mooney

Jacqueline Mouhibian

Shant Movsessian

Lilit Anita Nalbandyan

Mariam Narinyan

Vanessa Narvaez

Nabil Elias Nathani

Arin Kevin Nayirian

Annett Nazaryan

Rafael Nersesyan

Hayarpi Nersisyan

Nare Nersisyan

William Edmund Newkirk

Stephanie Ngo

Janet Son-A No

Linet Tina Novshadyan

Marianna Oganesyan

Arineh Ohanyan

Natalie Ohanyan

Seina Okamoto

Stephanie Osipov

Sarin Hermine Pakhdikian

Roni Panosian

Narine Zara Papazyan

Mona Papuchyan

Caleb Luke Park

Deborah Soo Park

Jung Min Park

Andre Petrossian

Arpa Petrosyan

Petros P Petrosyan

Davit M Poghosyan

Mher Poghosyan

Raphael Poon

Hengameh Poya

Erik Theodore Prothero

Rebecca Rahman

Erick Roberto Ramirez

Ava Riazi

Artin Saeidi

Hayk Sahakyan

Alfredo M Salinas

Melisa Andrea Sanchez

Carol D Santos

Masis Sargsyan

Naira Sargsyan

Nelli Sargsyan

Anna Sariyan

Armine Sarkisyan

Arsine Sarkisyan

Thomas Sarkisyan

Raymond Sefyan

Tevolinda Melkonovna Semerdzhyan

Siouneh Shabandari

Ani Shahbazi

Teklina Khachaturovna Shahinyan

Arsine Shakhbandarin

Taline Serena Shishoian

Arleen Sinani

Gina Song

Daria Stephanie Stepanian

Adena Stepanosian

Eduard Takhmazian

Vartan Tashchyan

Ani Tatintsyan

Amir Tayyebian

Meri Tchouvandjian

Movses Alen Ter Oganesyan

Armen Ter-Galstyan

Ani Ter-Grigoryan

Albert Dick Tom

Sima Topchyan

Vahan Mike Torosian

Aris Tunyan

Tina Rolandovna Uguryan

Alvin P.J. Silva Valencia

Peter Paul Pancho Vidal

Casey Glen Acoba Villanueva

Antonella Christine Wilby

Joshua Won

Paul Chi Wong

Narek Yesayan

Dongkoon Yoo

Edlin Danielle Yousefi

Sipan Zadoryan