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Veritas 8th graders recognized at promotion
VERITAS-GRAD-Photo2-5-23-13
The Veritas School ASB President Joshua Astorga delivers a speech. - photo by JOHN-JOEL GRIFFITHS

The Veritas School Class of 2013 Promotion Ceremony was a success on Wednesday evening.

All 63 graduates who crossed the stage in the school’s Multi-purpose room were congratulated by the school’s administration and district members.

There were also other students who were recognized for their extraordinary feats during their careers at Veritas.

Jesse Babauta was one of them. Babauta earned a 4.0 GPA from fourth through eighth grade and scored perfectly on the STAR testing on more than one occasion. While Babauta took home the Academic Excellence Award, Bebe Savage walked away with the Academic Achievement Award.  Veritas teacher Wendy Corley-Ryan described it as earning the “Most Improved” player award in sports.

“This was one of our graduating classes that had one of the highest overall GPA’s we’ve had in a long time,” said Wendy Corley-Ryan, the school’s language arts instructor who also presented the Academic Achievement Award. “Not only academically, but as people, they’re wonderful. They’re well-rounded students that will definitely make our futures brighter.”

SeuSeu Alofaituli, Treven Hutchison,Alejandrina Saavedra and Sumanpreet Kaur were the four students that received character awards. Social science teacher Carol Lane and science teacher Cynthia Arizmendi presented those awards. Saavedra was also one of the students who were honored for earning a 4.0 throughout their entire eighth grade year.

Mary Dominguez, Leon Anh Tran, Babauta, Komalpreet Badial and Alexa Alvarez were also recognized for earning straight A’s in their final stretch at Veritas.

Principal Tracie Crawford welcomed the crowd and presented Trevor Ryan to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Student speakers included ASB President Joshua Astorga followed by Isabella Sierra. Edward Elgar handled the processional/recessional “Pomp and Circumstance”.

Principal Crawford, along with Manteca Unified School District Board Member Evelyn Moore and the Assistant Superintendent Don Hasleth presented the diplomas.