Riverbank High School gathered administrators, staff and other community members, along with families and friends of graduating seniors this past week to honor the recognition they received at the end of the school year.

A special Honors and Awards event was staged on Wednesday, May 15, in the Ray Fauria Memorial Gymnasium on the RHS campus. The program started with 10 different award categories, presented by either host Principal Ed Vaca or teacher and Athletic Director Juan Harvey.

Vaca awarded 12 seniors with his Principal’s Exceptional Effort Award, along with Kate Tigert and Fatima Gonzalez as California Scholastic Federation Life Member honorees.

Gonzalez and Ramon Torres were named as Salutatorian and Valedictorian, respectively. They accumulated the highest GPAs for the Class of 2024, with just decimal points separating them, according to Vaca.

There were 10 award categories presented.

Athletic Director Harvey recognized Harveer Auklah and Miranda Calderon with the Coaches Athletic Service Award, and Adrian Montoya and twins Desirae and Denise Vargas with Trans-Valley League Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards.

He also announced Denise Vargas as Outstanding Senior Athlete.

Under Scholarships, the program listed 28 different awards, some from organizations, some memorial awards recognizing former students, alumni or administrators. Some went to just one student, others went to a number of the seniors. And several received more than one award.

Last year, there were just 22 scholarship groups.

Principal Vaca noted for the crowd that there was more than $40,000 awarded to Riverbank seniors that night.

After the ceremonies, refreshments were served in the lobby of the gym.