July 2, 2004

Willow Glen High seniors graduate at Rose Garden ceremony

By Cody Kraatz
Special to the Times

Brilliant sunshine illuminated another upbeat graduation for Willow Glen High School, spotlighting the class of 2004 at the Municipal Rose Garden in San Jose.

The June 16 ceremony recognized the challenges the students had overcome and also their successes. Numerous students are destined for prestigious universities nationwide. “One of them is going to Princeton,” noted Tina VanLaarhoven, administrator.

“Today is the day we take different directions,” said senior Gladys Valenzuela, master of ceremonies. When she came from Guatemala with her family, she didn’t speak any English. She addressed the crowd, which was substantially Spanish-speaking, with a translation of her message. “My graduation is one of my greatest things. It is a privilege to share it with you,” she concluded.

Students from the school choir sang the national anthem and a song for their fellow graduates, “More I Can Not Wish You.” Principal Elaine Farace began awarding diplomas, while acknowledging the extensive accomplishments of the class of 2004. Describing the awards ceremony held two weeks ago, she told the audience, “It took us more than two hours to recognize all the seniors who have been awarded scholarships and awards.”

Farace asked the crowd to limit their applause and wait until all students had received their diplomas, so that every name could be heard. Yeah right! Air horns, whistles, screams and hollering broke out as the extremely proud and supportive families and friends expressed their overwhelming excitement. Maybe it was the sun and heat, maybe the electricity of the whole affair, but the graduates certainly received their due recognition.

A rising breeze gradually provided a welcome respite from the sun, as the graduating Rams paraded across the stage in their red robes, received their diploma and shook the hand of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Linda Murray and members of the Board of Education.

This class faced increased high school graduation requirements, mentioned Maribel Montes de Oca, one of two speakers from the class. “When we began high school, the bar was raised,” she says, referring to the increased number of credits required for graduation. Also, she recalled that they were the first class required to take the newly established, very rigorous high school exit exams.

Montes de Oca added, “Learning to ask for help,” combined with “an indomitable will [makes] astounding accomplishments” a reality. None of this would be possible, she says, without tremendous sacrifices. She cited the extensive standardized testing, hours at home and in the library engrossed in homework, as well as weekends given up for SATs and ACTs.

VanLaarhoven mentioned that although the exams did not factor into graduation eligibility this year, “it puts a bit of a block in front of some, because they have a hard time with tests.” The tests will not be required as a criterion for graduation until the class of 2006 passes through the Rose Garden.