Lavonte Taylor’s future is so bright that he has to wear shades. Literally.

The Shasta Elementary eighth grade student proudly donned his sunglasses as he hung out with his friends in the locker room at Manteca High School Tuesday evening – waiting patiently to make the short commencement walk into the gymnasium.

Of the 96 students in the Class of 2011, 14 finished the year with a 4.0 grade point average.

And there were more than a few students honored for their academic achievements and outstanding performance in various subjects.  Autumn Rumple and Oscar Ponce received the outstanding math achievement award, Andrea Rodriguez and Chris Iorio received the outstanding language arts achievement award, Lorena Hernandez and Donald Sanchez received the outstanding science achievement award and Katelynn Hankins and Jorge Bettencourt received the outstanding social studies award.

Alyssa Burch and Martin DeAnda were honored with the all-around academic achievement award.