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Schools

Seniors Bid Goodbye to Helen Bernstein High

The graduation ceremony Wednesday, held on the school's soccer field, honors the class of 130 students for their ability to overcome obstacles.

About 130 graduating seniors from Helen Bernstein High School said their goodbyes to faculty and friends under a sky filled with fireworks at the end of their commencement ceremony Wednesday evening.

The send-off marked the culmination of hard work and perseverance in "Overcoming Obstacles in Life," the theme of the graduating class. The class of 2011 is the second group of graduates in the school's history. Bernstein was established in 2008.

Many students plan to attend college thanks to a federal grant program designed to help increase the number of students from low-income families who complete postsecondary education. 

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The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, known as GEAR UP, begins with students in middle school and continues throughout their high school experience. Advisers help prepare students for college with academic counseling, early college testing and specially designed college/career curriculum.

Wednesday's program honored the school's diverse student population. Four seniors began the ceremony by welcoming guests in four langauges. Mayra Lepe Perez greeted in English, Angelica Reyes greeted in Spanish, Nikko Magnampo greeted in Tagalog and Araksi Balyan greeted in Armenian.

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Mariam Maghakyan, valedictorian with a 3.986 grade point average, spoke about the importance of education after she emigrated from Armenia and received a green card two years ago.

"In many countries, students dream to be like us," said Maghakyan. She hopes to eventually transfer to USC and pursue a degree in political science.

Eddie Cortez, salutatorian, held back tears as he thanked his mother in Spanish for all she's done for him. The crowds kept cheering for him as he paused to fight back the emotions. 

"This is just an obstacle that we have overcome,"  said Cortez. "We've conquered high school, tomorrow, we'll conquer the world." 

Principal Angela Hewlett-Block, who took the helm this year, delivered a speech to her first graduating class. She talked about her mother's struggle to get a college degree, raise four children and send them to college after her husband died. 

"You can make things happen for yourself with hard work," said Hewlett-Block.

As the seniors went up to shake the hands of administrators and receive their diploma folders, family members went wild cheering for their graduates.

Hewlett-Block certified the class and presented the class song and grand finale. 

Fireworks shot up into the sky from the football field behind the graduates as the class' theme song, "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon played while the new graduates and their supporters looked to the night sky.

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