About four years ago, Shana Tavares arrived at East Union High as a newcomer to Manteca via the Bay Area.

One of the first people she met was Daniela Valles, who came in from Golden West Elementary School.

Thanks to Link Crew, they not became friends but grew to team up as mentors to a small group of freshmen.

At Monday’s Link Crew event, Tavares and Valles recalled that initial experience of this high school transition program welcoming the campus newcomers to their new surroundings.

The objective, according to advisor Denise Runyon, is to make them feel comfortable throughout that first year of high school.

“It can create a domino effect,” she said.

By that, Runyon is aware that some of today’s freshmen will be tomorrow’s Link Crew leaders.

Such was the case of Tavares and Valles.

“I was scared coming to a big campus,” said Valles, who was separated from her familiar friends during her first-ever Link Crew experience and into a smaller group of otherwise strangers.

As leaders, they received step by step instructions on implementing the Link Crew program. Included were the tools, strategies and energy for the kick-off event held at the Dalben Center and beyond.

“It’s been a challenge. It’s been fun. But the kids seem to have enjoyed it,” said Runyon, who is in her fifth year in Link Crew.

All told, she had 60 leaders – mostly juniors and seniors – divvied up among some 416 freshmen.

Earlier, Principal Raul Mora stopped by to deliver words of encouragement to his Class of 2019.

Runyon led the new classmates in some ice-breaking activities prior to separating them into smaller groups.

She tried to keep the ratio down. Each group had about 13 students per two leaders.

“Anything larger and you might get one (freshman) lost in the shuffle,” Runyon said.