Graduation 2005: La Entrada leads the graduation procession Graduation 2005: La Entrada leads the graduation procession (June 15, 2005)

La Entrada School in Menlo Park is the first of four local eighth-grade graduations, and it will be a traditional one, on Wednesday, June 15, starting at 6 p.m. on the school's blacktop.

The program features student speakers; short, recorded reflections by each of the eighth-graders; and award presentations. Non-traditional is the processional: "100 Years" by Five for Fighting.

Alex Rafter, president of the La Entrada Student Council, will open the program as the MC. He will introduce Christie Afzal, who will lead the flag salute, and then Superintendent Mary Ann Somerville of the Las Lomitas School District, who will welcome the students, their families and guests.

La Entrada Principal Dee Brummett will announce the student awards in a variety of categories. A representative of the Larry McCarty Foundation for Kids will present the Larry McCarty Inspirational Award, given to an eighth-grader, nominated by a peer, with the final selection by a committee of foundation and school representatives.

Haley Hoech, student body treasurer, and Amrita Sehgal, commissioner of publicity, will introduce the student speakers. They and their topics are: Alex Amato, "Life's Curveballs"; Evie Pless, "An Unexpected Inspiration"; Brittany Margot, "Turning Points"; and Laura Mitchell, "Tragedy to Awareness."

All eighth-graders wrote an essay in their English classes about some thing, person or place that inspired them. The speeches were narrowed to 20 semifinalists and 11 finalists, who gave their speeches to teachers who served as judges.

Student Tiffany Kun, eighth-grade coordinator, will present the class gift to the school, a big ball cart that's already in use during recesses.

Principal Brummett will introduce Leslie Airola-Murveit, president of the Las Lomitas School District board and a parent of a graduating student, who will present the diplomas.

Closing the ceremony, Alex Rafter will give the students' response and talk about the five years at La Entrada.

"Over the Rainbow" by Iz was chosen for the recessional.

A reception will be held immediately after the ceremony before the graduates move on to "Grad Night."

La Entrada School and Las Lomitas District graduates are:

A-C Christine Afzal, Alex Amato, Conor Andrews, Abisai Arias, Jasmin Barnes, Thais Barrocas, Edward Belanoff, Rachel Bowley, Jack Brian, Marion Brossard, Nathan Burn, Kristopher Campbell-Coleman, Nathaniel Chow, Joseph Conley, Vera Czernichowska

D-F Kevin Dai, Sammy, Daniels, Monika Decker Miles, DeLong, Sasha Duchin, Risa Dyer,, John Eberli,, Ameena El-Bibany, Ben Fairgrieve, Kaitlin Flanagan, Jack Fornaciari, Jessica Forster, Daniel Fountain, Michael Fountain, Alastair Fowler, Eleanor Frymire

G-K Justine Gananian, Gina Giarmo, Bryce Gilbert, Christopher Higgins, Haley Hoech, Simon Hood, Matthew Hornberger, Sara Jewell, Ryan Jones, Hideyo Kameda, Mari Kaneshima, Mary Kirk, Samuel Knapp, Sonia Kolarov, Stephen Krause, Tiffany Kung

L-N Mikalie Lai, Joshua Lampert, Jeffrey Lin, Kari Loftesness, Remo Macartney, Joseph Mach, Sarah Maibach, Carmen Maldonado, Brittany Margot, Raissa Masket, Devon McNabb, Laura Mitchell, Anna Murveit, Nicki Naylor, Michael Newsom

O-R Ana Ongko, Madelyn Payne, Erika Perez, Russell Perkins, Eric Pinto, Evlyn Pless, Alexander Rafter, Taylor Ramsey, Nadeem Rasheed, Timothy Romley, Fritz Roth, Alexander Rupprecht S Cuauhtemoc Sanchez, Rishikesh Santhanam, Ryan Scandlyn, William Scharninghausen, Nicole Scherm, Julia Schroeder, Reid Schultz, Jessica Schwab, Amrita Sehgal, Taylor Selby, Jacqueline Shepard, Lauren Shimbo, Alexandra Shokralla, Chelsea Snow, Kathleen Stahler, Aron Sue, Katharine Sullivan

T-W Samuel Tavera, Julia Tetrud, Janna Traeger, Patricia Tupou, Brooke Weisenfluh, Lindsay Welton, Mark Westerfield, Kadeem Williams.

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