Graduation at the Manteca Adult School is a favorite for Larry Machado.
“It’s more of a celebration,” said the principal of the Manteca Unified program of the education and training center on Thursday.
All told, 50 students received their High School Equivalency Test – of HiSET, which, Machado said, is more equivalent to a high school diploma than a GED – marking it the biggest graduation class of the Manteca Adult School.
Students of the program worked on their own timetables.
The oldest to complete this educational journey was age 58.
Another wrapped up the process earlier that day – at 11:30 a.m., according to Machado, who is in his 35th year with the district.
He also worked as a counselor for the program.
Arabella Whitlock, who is Transition Specialist at the MUSD adult school, praised the graduates.
“You stood in front of the mountain. For some, it’s taken more time to climb the mountain. Enjoy the view where you’ve arrived – at the top of the mountain,” she said.
Whitlock along with Ofelia Tornero and Patricia Gonzales – both presented the HSE certificates to the graduates – were the program speakers at the special event held outside of the Manteca Unified District office building.
The Manteca Adult School Class of 2025 consisted of Martha Beatriz Alvarado, Catherine Apelo, Carmen Campos, Melinda Castor, Alejandra Cardenas, Horacio Paul Casteneda, Grisel Chavez, Lily DeLeon, Alira Rose Dresser, Yunuen Fernandez, Kevin Antonio Garcia, Jamie Emmanuel Gonzalez, Katelyn Gutierrez, Keisha Harrell, Gloria Hawkins, Edson Hernandez, Lizbeth Hernandez, Sandra Infante, Venus Marie Kantun.
Gurleen Kaur, Alijah Knapp, John Pien Laguardia, Carlos Ledezma Lopez, Blanca Lopez, Amber Jean Machado, Christina Martinez, Angelina Denise Martinez, Emma Martinez, Ricardo Mendoza, Leila Veronica Montoya, Megan Bianca Morales, Derick Fuh Neba, Jeanette Palomares, Naja Patterson, Armando Polanco, Quinton Preciado, Martha Isabel Ramoz Alvarez, Aylin Rangel, Elena Robles, Leticia Rodriguez, Rosario Rodriguez Ochoa, Emmanuel Rosales Betancourt, Oscar Daniel Ivan Sierra Resendiz, Claudia Toscano Martinez, Argyle Jackson Torrey, Lena Alexander Torrey, Jessica Vierra, Angelina Vizcarra, and Celeste Welch.
