On a warm evening at Cloverland Elementary School, Wednesday, May 20, a total of 26 students from the Oakdale Charter School awaited their promotions while proud parents and friends looked on. As Tim Parola, Teacher In Charge, relayed details about each of the students, he paused to honor their accomplishments. He noted how some students such as Dominick Munoz, an eighth-grade graduate, worked exceptionally hard, taking college courses and always looking for ways to challenge himself. Parola congratulated both the eighth and 12th grade classes on all that they have learned in their time at the school and wished them well in their future endeavors.
With many students receiving scholarships, the next step for these graduates, whether it’s heading to high school or exploring college, vocational or other professional outlets, one thing resonated throughout the crowd and that is that each of these students dedicated themselves to reaching their goals and through their hard work and determination, they succeeded.
From the Oakdale Charter School to East Stanislaus High School and Valley Oak Online Learning Academy, the graduation ceremonies continued.
Pat King, Principal of Alternative Education for the Oakdale Joint Unified School District, reflected on the past five years that he has served in that capacity, “I have worked in many school districts, with a lot of good people, but working with these faculty members and watching these students grow and work so hard has been my favorite position and my favorite district.”
King reiterated his admiration for the faculty at Oakdale Charter School as well as East Stanislaus and Valley Oak, pausing to express gratitude for two educators that will be retiring, Tony Felix and Cliff Carlson, math and science teachers at East Stanislaus, with more than 30 years of teaching experience between them.
As Dominic Nail and Yadira Martinez, student speakers, took the stage to share their thoughts on their educational journeys, they began by expressing gratitude for their experiences, noting that though there were obstacles they had to overcome, their teachers and families offered support and encouragement when they needed it most. Nail spoke of how an accident, when he was hit by a car near the high school, changed the trajectory of his life and led him to East Stanislaus High School and how his time at East Stanislaus taught him a lot about life and how graduation wasn’t an ending but a beginning. He elaborated and shared that everything that brought them to this point, the challenges and the tough times, also shaped their lives and allowed them to grow and ultimately forge their futures.
As Martinez took the podium, tears flowed as she thanked her family, friends and teachers at East Stanislaus.
“I wouldn’t be up here without Ms. Link. She believed in me and helped me when I wasn’t sure I could do it. Thank you Ms. Link. I wouldn’t have made it without you,” said Martinez through tears.
The graduation ceremony continued on with more than 60 students graduating from East Stanislaus High School and Valley Oak Online Learning Academy. Among the many highlights, Cliff Carlson presented Adrian Vasquez, a senior, with the Lance Campbell Memorial Scholarship Award. Carlson shared some of the feedback that Vasquez’s teachers noted about why he deserved such a special award.
“Adrian is always respectful, shows up with his whole heart and works so hard,” Carlson said as he read a list of comments from Vasquez’s instructors that also highlighted how much Vasquez has grown as a student since he started attending East Stanislaus.
The evening ended with a wealth of joy, pride and accomplishment, not only for the students but also for the educators, families and friends that were there to support them along the way.
