Take pride in being a millennial.

That was the gist of Leonor Borges’ valedictory address as she stood at the podium Thursday evening before her soon-to-be former classmates – the Sierra High School Class of 2014.

Millennials is the media’s collective moniker for those who were born between 1980 and about 2000. They are the children of the post-World War II baby-boomer generation and are referred to as Generation Y.

Noting the way her generation has been portrayed in the news media as “lazy” and “narcissistic” which spawned another moniker, “the Me generation,” Borges countered by saying the reality is the opposite, pointing out that she and her fellow graduating millennials did not achieve what they have reached thus far – their high school graduation – “by being lazy or narcissistic.”

Their teachers at Sierra High “did not teach us to expect something for nothing,” she firmly stated.

Valedictorian for the Timberwolves’ Class of 2014 was Anna Cardenas whose spoke about challenges that she and her classmates face in the future.

As has been the graduation tradition at Sierra High, members of the graduating class highlighted their musical talents in a number of vocal renditions. The “Star-Spangled Banner,” which opened the evening commencement exercises in the Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium was sung by Anthony Oliva, Chris Schmitz, Logan Slichter, Josh Spivey and Taylor Young. The Enchords, a quintet singing group comprised of Brooke Becker, MeganCerbiener, Chelsea Davis, Kelly Eichsteadt, and Noelle Lanser, harmonized in the song, “I Hope You Dance,” popularized by singer Leann Womack. For her solo number, Chelsea Davis chose to sing pop singer Miley Cyrus’ “I’ll Always Remember You.”

Awarding the diplomas to the graduates were Manteca Unified Senior Director of Secondary Education Clara Schmiedt who was assisted by Mossdale Elementary School Principal Susan Sanders, and Board of Trustees vice president Evelyn Moore who was assisted by Lathrop Elementary School Principal David Silveira.