Tehachapi News

June 4, 2007

Senior Awards Program showers students with scholarly honors
By: Bernadette Nehorai, Tehachapi News Assistant

Over $800,000 was distributed to the Tehachapi High School seniors at the first annual Senior Awards Program on Thursday, May 31 at the THS gymnasium.

Of that amount, $75,450 was from local organizations and several Class of 2007 graduates received full-ride scholarships to universities across the country, such as the full ride sports scholarships at California State Universities, Fullerton, Northridge and Bakersfield, and the scholarship and acceptance of a stellar student to the U.S. Naval Academy.

This was the first year the annual awards ceremony was held in the evening and the turn-out proved the change in time worthwhile. According to Michael Arredondo, THS principal, the evening ceremony, where the young men and women wore their caps and gowns, was planned so that more parents could attend the important affair.This graduating class is also the first to have attended all four years at the new campus location.

“The amount of scholarship money is really a tribute, not just to our students for their hard work but to our faculty for the hard work they have done preparing them,” said Arredondo.

National Honor Society Members donned their special recognition cords of honor and California Scholarship Federation members were awarded their gold sashes as Lifetime Members and Gold Seal Bearers. Departmental awards were given in the subjects of English, Fine Arts, Math and Computer Science, Science, Social Studies, Tehachapi High Engineering and Manufacturing Academy (THEMA) Awards, Vocational Education, and World Languages.

Senior Maureen Recalde performed a musical interlude with the song “About Memories.”

Lastly, Heather Hulsey, school counselor, presented the Class of 2007 Valedictorian and Salutatorian, Alisha Adhikari and Tim Foster, respectively.
Commencement Exercises will take place at 6 p.m. at Coy Burnett Stadium on Wednesday, June 6.

A message for parents of graduates
Ask your student which side of the field they will be sitting on for Wednesday night’s commencement ceremony.
This is the first year the visitor and home sides of the stands at Coy Burnett Stadium will be open to guests. Your student will know from practice on Monday and Tuesday mornings which side of the field they are assigned, so tell friends and family the appropriate side to choose for the evening.