Orange and white, the colors of Woodside High School, once again decorated the football field at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 6, a bright spring morning with good weather to accompany the graduation of the Class of 2014.
Makaila McLeod, the senior class president, welcomed the audience of family and friends and introduced two student speakers: Nicole Adler, with her speech "Thank You Class of 2014," and Forest Sill, with "Aren't You Glad You Came to Woodside?"
The valedictorians were Amanda Arena, William Chargin, Susannah Holm, Danya Kafai, Alison McBride, Christina Patton, Megan Pockalny, James Power, Lindsay Ringman, Heather Seybert, Forrest Sill, Sebastian Song, Olivia Stangvik and Connor Swan.
Woodside has another tradition that involves taking turns -- in reading the names of the graduates. Scheduled to participate this year are Christine Alftin, Samantha Arreola, Tommy Cook, Oscar Costantini, Emily Dunlap, Zulema Garibo, Haili Hoeft, Christina Llamas, Makaila McLeod, Emily Moffat, Denise Mora, Ana Oropeza and Jade Vaughn.
There were 363 candidates for graduation in the Class of 2014, according to information provided by the school.
Candidates for graduation
A
Melissa Elaine Abarca Chavez, Mitri Aboud Syriani, Nicole Margarite Adler, Stephanie Marie Agostini, Jose Angel Aguila Lopez, Maria E. Aguilar, Rachel Ann Aguilar, Mayte Aguilar Cruz, Gabriela Aguilar Villicana, Enrique Aguirre, Christine Ann Alftin, Christopher Alvarado, Stephen Alvarado, Kevin A. Amaya, Christian Charles Anagnostou, Veronica Nicole Anderson, Kristopher Ricardo Aparicio, Jose Miguel Arana, Amanda Elizabeth Arena, Isabel Susana Arias, Shayna Angelica Arreguin, Adrian Arreguin Arenas, Alexander Arreola, Samantha Nicole Arreola, Jazmin Arroyo, Brittney Maria Asaro, Richard Avalos, Maria De La Cruz Ayala
B
William Douglas Ballinger, Jennifer Barajas, Juan Pablo Barajas, Michael Barragan, Cesia Barrera, Frank Ernesto Barrientos, Manuel Benitez-Rodriguez, April Recto Bennett, Rachel Anne Blanton, Caitlin Alice Bohaboy, Luis Felipe Borbolla, Stephanie Bravo Vazquez, Travis Scott Briggs, John G. Bueno, Autumn Vada Bujtor, Baran Brian Bulutoglu, Carlo Bustamante
C
Roxana Aranzazu Cabrera Villar, Trey Jordan Calvillo, Colby Kelly Campbell, Jordan Campos, Roberto Geovanne Campos, Gerardo Castaneda Prieto, Mario Castillo, Roger Anthony Castillo, Cody Hagen Cattaneo, William James Chargin, Kiara Shawntrece Clayton, Daniel M. Collier, Samantha Marie Contreras, Adrian A. Contreras Valencia, Tommy Joseph Cook, III, Arath Essau Corona Gil, Isaac Cortes, Estefani Viridiana Cortez Valenzuela, Katherine Nathalia Cortez Pena, Oscar Ramon Costantini, Gabrielle A. Couch, Danielle L. Cougoule, Tania Maricela Cruz Diaz, Ingrid A. Cruz Nampula, Lizette Cuevas, Genaro Cuevas Aviles, Ashlin Elisabeth-Mae Curci, Sarah Cziska
D
Anthony Oscar De La Cruz, Bradley James Degnan, Noeli Del Rio, Walter Del Rio Veliz, Juliette Louise Del Selva, Amparo Leticia Delgado Gutierrez, Christian Delos Santos, Madison A. Diamos, Jocelyne Jazmin Diaz Morales, Kristine M. Diedrich, Emily Dunlap
E
Danilo Ivan Eguizabal, Renna Chita Marie Payte Esmabe, John F. Esplana, Angelica Esquivias, Elizabeth Estrada, Maria De Los Angele Estrada
F
Diana Cabrera Fernandez, Francesca Emily Fioresi, Jeffery Michael Fisher, Jonathan Osvaldo Fortes, Justin Michael Fortes, Jeihgo Francisco, Jose Luis Franco Landaverde, Francisco J. Franco Millan, Chanelle Antonia Fuentes, Elias J. Funes
G
Elizabeth Arely Garcia, Jaquelinee Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Jesus Garcia Arteaga, Jose Adan Garcia Romero, Zulema Lizbeth Garibo Gonzalez, Ethan George Clifford Gentry, Wyatt Nicholas Giampa, Alexandra M. Gilbert, Karen Jazmin Giron Mendoza, Luc Christian Gnamien, Guadalupe Rosana Godinez, Jordan Gomez, Jensie Gomez Morales, Angel Gonzalez, Lourdes Gonzalez Garcia, Juan Jesus Gonzalez Zavala, Orlando Grajeda-Arrellano, Mathew Grandov, Yolanda Grandov, Melanie Ann Greene, Brigitte Nancy Gutierrez, Randall Jacob Guy, Edgar A. Guzman
H
Eric Daniel Habjan Eaton, Nimrod Hajaj, Robert Lee Harper, Jason Harris, Lindsay Harrison, Megan Christine Healy, Daniel Hernandez, Patrick Hernandez, Yonatan Fernando Hernandez, Daniel Hernandez Gamez, Hector Herrera, Salvador Herrera-Farias, Kinsley Higgins, Lucas Tyler Hill, Haili Liana Hoeft, Monica D. Holden, Susannah Holm, Joshua Justin Holman
I, J
Celso Iglesias, Kasey Cole Inglis, Rehman Irshad, Khasah Ahmed Jennings, Sitora Beverly Jennings, Diann Jimenez, Jose P. Jimenez
K
Danya Kafai, Savannah Kaufman, Easter Emanuela Kena, Amanda Nycole Kirley, Bryan Kirwan, Bayley Takao Kitaura, Zachary Krampert
L
Jose De Jesus Larios, Melemoala Latu, Omer Antonio Laval, Kristina Marie Lennen, Laura Rose Leslie, Brenda Licona, Angelica Teresa Llamas, Christina Llamas, Edwin Ivan Lombera, Isela Ruby Lomeli, Alex Lopez, Isbet Yanet Lopez, Jorge Luis Lopez, Susana Alejandra Lopez, Vanessa Maricela Lopez, Alejandro Lopez Solano, Stephanie Lopez Zaragoza, Jonathan Lucero, Martin Luna, Katherine Frances Luttrell
M
Damian Machuca, Eduardo I. Maciel, Flor Vanessa Maciel, Scott Adam MacKenzie, Elsa Stefania Magana, Eric J. Magana Mendoza, Philip A. Magee, Jr., Heather Magrin, Robin Magrin, John Mahoney, Veronica E. Maldonado Jimenez, Jennifer Mancilla, Luis Fernando Mancilla, Oscar Alejandro Mancilla Calvillo, Matthew Marshall, David C. Martinez, Jennifer P. Martinez, Alison I. McBride, Makaila Drew McLeod, Marlen Medina, Jorge Javier Medina-Sanchez, Sarah Mejia, Justin D. Mendes, Alondra Mendez, Monica Mercedes Mendez, Roberto Mendieta, Febronio Alexander Mendoza, Jesus O. Mendoza, Salvador Mendoza, Kiabet Mendoza, Liliana Mendoza Vasquez, Austin R. Merrill, Jesus Dario Meza, Allison Busch Miller, Christian Miranda, Steve Miranda, Emily Jane Moffat, Kimberly Maribeth Mondragon, Cristal Montes, Juliana Mora Cabrera, Daniel Andres Mora, Denise Mora, Katherine Morales, Francisco J. Moran
N
Courtney Ann Nahmens, Erika Elizabeth Negrete, Ty Campbell Newcomb, Noah Nousiainen, Luis A. Nunez
O
Damien Ocampo, Ana Angelica Oropeza, Michael Orozco, Sandy Orozco, Alejandro Ortega, Florence Liliana Ortiz, Kevin E. Ortiz Arias
P
Jasmin Padilla, Jovanni Palafox, Joseph Nicholas Palomarez, Jessica Palominos-Salas, Jarid Julien Paradan, Giovanni Pascacio, Harrison Conor Patino, Christina Nicole Patton, Jack Elvis Paye, Oscar E. Paz, Fredy Penaloza Cabrera, Alba Perez, Luis Diego Perez, Connor Perfumo-Smith, Michael Julius Perla, Kristina Chantal Perrone, Samantha D. Place, Megan Pockalny, Noah Tucker Polek-Davis, James E. Power, Jose Prado, Brianna Justine Prentice, Vaughn Proctor, Elijah Albert Pryse
Q, R
Frances Bethany Quandt Jones, Rosario Quinones, Gregory J. Ramies, Benjamin Ramirez Barragan, Emilio Ramirez Hernandez, Cesar Ramos, Kristin Ramos-Trujillo, Adriana Rebuelta, Jesus Anjel Resendiz, Samantha M. Richardson, Lindsay K. Ringman, Marguerite Robertson, Isabelle Guadalupe Robles, Bleivis Izabel Robles Lopez, Jose Rocha, Adrian Alexander Rodriguez, Angila Lynne Rodriguez, Brenda Rodriguez, Christopher Rodriguez, Jesse K. Rodriguez, Juliana Rodriguez, Maria Fernanda Rodriguez, Mario Avel Rodriguez, Monika Lynne Rodriguez, Gabriel Rodriguez Escalante, Bianca Marie Romeo, Diego Romero, Emmile Mae Romero, Alexandra Gail J. Rosal, Gianna G. Rosati, Bairon Ivan Ruiz Aguilar
S
Jamie Sanchez, Victor Alan Sanchez, Kathleen E. Sandoval, Sergio De Jesus Sandoval Ibañez, Matthew James Scardino, Benjamin O. Schaff, Dani K. Schneider, Bailey Nicole Seagraves, Heather Ann Seybert, Forrest R. Sill, Alexa Silvestri, Sebastian Bai -Yong Song, Engracia Marcela Sotelo Casillas, Erika Sotelo Moreno, Cody Lynne Springmeyer, Olivia Mercedes De Nardi Stangvik, Adam Stockford, Peter H. Storum, Spencer Michael Stucky, Brandyn Estiven Suchite Morales, Connor James Swan
T
James Tuungasipa, Jr. Takapu, Roberta L. Taufoou, Kaitlyn Aileen Teele, Carlos Andres Tellez, Michael Forrest Thompson, Nathaniel Scott Thompson, Timothy Robert Sebastian Thoreson, Alec Torres, Alejandro Torres, Alice Zamanda Torres, Jennifer Torres, Raul Torres, Sonia Elvira Torres, Damian Torres Palafox, Diego Alejandro Trabanino, Alexander M. Triveno Castrillon, Karla Tronco Salgado, Bianca L. Trujillo
U, V
Adam Javier Ugarte, Losimani Ulukivaiola, Haley Dawn Vacchieri, El Shaddai Nofo Henry Vae, Gerardo Valencia, Israel Valencia, Luis Valencia Torres, Joseph Thomas Valentino, Silvana Claudet Valle, Zoe Valletta, Malik Isaiah Vallo, Maykeline Icel Valverde, Ramon Valverde, Alexandra Vanegas, Candice Shay Varga, Irania Dalila Vargas, Elizabeth Alejandra Vasquez, Eugenia Vasquez-Flores, Jade Morales Vaughn, Adrian Anthony Veliz, Bronson Villacorta, Jennifer Villar
W
Danielle Rose Walsh, Dareon T.J. Walton, Jacob Dylan Weller, Patrick John Wendt, Ross Whitehill, Tiianna Lynn Williams, Xixi Wu
X, Y, Z
Erik Xocoxic, Ryan P. Yedinak, Joshua Javier Yee, Qian Amy Yu, Alexander T. Yuen, Ramzey Munib Mazen Zabaneh, Cynthia Zapata, Jose Zavala
Comments
Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Jun 6, 2014 at 6:34 pm
on Jun 6, 2014 at 6:34 pm
More relevant would be the class of 2014's graduation rate percentage. Past years averaged about 70%. Not exactly something to be proud of.
Instead of the $250 million facilities bond just passed the future of our children would be better served by programs to ensure proper education in grades K-9 to ensure they have a better chance of a successful high school experience and graduation.
Registered user
Menlo Park: other
on Jun 6, 2014 at 8:45 pm
Registered user
on Jun 6, 2014 at 8:45 pm
whatever:
you can lay the blame for the 30% that don't graduate at the feet of their parents. Usually those that don't graduate come from homes that don't value education or the parents are too busy working to make sure their children actually attend school and actually do their homework. More money isn't going to fix that problem. I could be mistaken, but I don't think the graduation rate has changed in a very long time.
Woodside High School
on Jun 7, 2014 at 12:14 pm
on Jun 7, 2014 at 12:14 pm
Congratulations Woodside High Sshool Class of 2014!
Woodside High School
on Jun 7, 2014 at 12:16 pm
on Jun 7, 2014 at 12:16 pm
and before anyone whines about my typo, please remember I did NOT graduate from Woodside :-)
Woodside: other
on Jun 7, 2014 at 5:00 pm
on Jun 7, 2014 at 5:00 pm
It will be lovely to see some positive news about Woodside High School in the Almanac. Looking forward to the photos and graduate names. Congratulations to the students, parents, care givers, teachers and administration. It takes a village!
Woodside School
on Jun 9, 2014 at 1:08 pm
on Jun 9, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Dear Menlo Park "whatever":
This is not the time or place for your uninformed complaints. This is a time to celebrate all the kids who worked hard for their diploma - whether it's 100%, 70%, or 30%. If you were at WHS for the past 4 years or any of the Awards Nights ceremonies, or any of the graduation ceremonies, you'd be proud of what they have accomplished and what you have contributed to in the form of bond measures and taxes instead of finding something to complain about it. Please inform yourself before you besmirch the accomplishments of these wonderful kids.
When it comes to the public schools themselves (taking your taxes and bond monies), they also take all comers. They don’t limit access to only the wealthy or only the bright or only those with no learning disabilities. While some private schools do accept *some* students who aren’t bright or wealthy or have learning disabilities, they certainly don’t accept any kids with all three - as they wouldn’t want to damage their reputation for high graduation rates, top-tiered collage acceptance rates, or high GPAs. Public schools aren’t competing with private schools, they’re just trying to do the best they can to educate all kids who walk onto campus.
I’m more proud of all the kids who graduated at WHS and are going off to Community College than I am of any private school student going to Harvard. And I’m more grateful to every public school that is committed to educating all children than I am of privileged folks who complain about public schools without understand how valuable they really are.
Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park
on Jun 9, 2014 at 1:10 pm
on Jun 9, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Well said and very refreshing, Ms. Wright.
Woodside High School
on Jun 9, 2014 at 3:33 pm
on Jun 9, 2014 at 3:33 pm
"Whatever", that was a silly post. Please come to Woodside and read the glass walls where so many of our graduates posted their college name. My children transferred to Woodside High School from St. Francis. I, like you, did not trust Woodside because of uninformed editorials. I have to say that these were the best years. The community at Woodside is like a family where all who want to succeed are welcome, just ask Nicole Adler...but I am betting you haven't read her story or heard about her governor's award. There is a percentage of children that don't graduate, of course, it is public and as one person commented above not all families value education. There is a very large number who do, and most are going off to college, even Ivy League. I was like you once....uninformed.
Woodside High School
on Jun 9, 2014 at 7:55 pm
on Jun 9, 2014 at 7:55 pm
Dear "Whatever" and "Menlo Voter"
I would like to give you a better understanding of the how the graduation rate is calculated. I imagine you are quoting the 70% graduation rate from the film "Waiting for Superman." What the film does not account for is the number of students who are originally assigned by the Sequoia Union District to attend Woodside but, for a variety of reasons, they never actually attended that school. In some cases the students transfer to other schools within the district, others attend private school and some move out of the area entirely. For the past 10+ years approximately 24.6 percent, moved out of state or enrolled in another public/private school. Therefore, the actual tally of Freshman who show up on the first day of school is much lower than the original roster that the district anticipated. The verified graduation rate for the Class of 2007, which was the year the film focused on, was a healthy 96.4 percent (compared to a state graduation rate of 80.6 percent for that same year.) The real number you might be interested in reading is that Woodside’s four-year derived dropout rate for 2007 was 2.8 percent, compared to a state four-year derived dropout rate of 16.8 percent. It is a common misconception that this attrition is due solely to students dropping out when it is, in reality, students who never attended the school in the first place.
Woodside High School has been awarded a CA Similar School Ranking of "10” for the past two consecutive years.
Menlo Park: other
on Jun 9, 2014 at 8:04 pm
on Jun 9, 2014 at 8:04 pm
Thank you Nancy. That is information I was not aware of.