Crescenta Valley High School

Tinka Mathews and her family wore pink shirts with the words "Team Marisa" on the front at Crescenta Valley High School's commencement ceremony on Thursday at Stengel Field. Mathews' younger sister, Marisa Szeps, 18, was one of 640 graduates earning their high school diplomas. "It's exciting and heart breaking," Mathews said. "We are all very proud of her." That included Szeps' grandmother, who came from Argentina for the graduation. Pride in their education was not in short supply Thursday, as students spoke of life after high school.

T he 2008 commencement ceremony for the graduating class of Crescenta Valley High School was held last night, Thursday, at Stengel Field. An expected 698 seniors were scheduled to participate in the rite of passage that began at 5 p.m. under a setting, but still hot, sun. GUSD board members and Principal Linda Evans were on hand to wish these Falcons a warm adieu.   The graduating Falcons are:   Skye Aaron Karin Abcarians Imran Abedin Nazanin Abghari Nicole Abou-Chakra Sandra Abraham Brielle Acevedo Ariga Aghaji Arteen Aghazarian James Ahn Eun Ahn Narek Akopyan Nicholas Alegria Melina Alexantrian Kyle Altar Meghan Amado Andrew Amiri-Davani Dina Amirian Jaimie Amit Sue An Kelly Anderson Nicholas Antista Marena Arakaki Paul Arakelian Ashley Arnett Alexandra Avanesian Mavil Avila Kristen Azarian Artin Babayan Jessica Bae Geun Pyo Bae Jennifer Bae Jenny Baek Alan Bagatourian Anna Bagramyan Hosep Bahlounian Yoo Jin Baik Alexis Balina Chyna Balonick Kevin Barkley Kory Barkley Vanand Baroni Aleen Baronian Chris Basil Alique Bedikian Sean Bedoe Lara Bedrossian Serop Bejanian George Bekarian Daniel Belisle Nicole Belkin Tyler Bell Jennifer Bergstrom ...

Students and teachers of Crescenta Valley High School last week delivered approximately 7,000 cans of food for the Crescenta Valley Sheriff Station's 19th Annual Christmas Toy and Food Drive. The very generous donation will allow each of the 186 families being assisted by CVSS to receive not only food for their holiday dinner but for many more meals. Teacher John Pehar organized the food drive but gives much of the credit for the success of the effort to teachers Matt Schick, Pat Rabe, Kimberly Mathias and Vanessa Blackwood, who really spurred their homeroom students to actively support the drive and encourage their friends to "get with the program."

Crescenta Valley High School will host a series of informational meet- ings this school year about college scholarships and financial aid. "What is Available in Financial Aid?" will be at 7 tonight in the CV High cafeteria, 4400 Ramsdell Ave. The meeting is free and open to students and parents. California Institute of Technology Director of Financial Aid David Levy will discuss programs available to seniors for education after high school.

Open House was held at Mountain Avenue Elementary School on Tuesday and Crescenta Valley High School on Wednesday. The events allowed students to share their classrooms with family and friends. The high school evening began with a barbecue meal fundraiser through Prom Plus, an organization that gives seniors a safe place to go after their prom. The Falcon Committee sold beautiful pieces of glass jewelry designed and made by teacher Patricia Rabe. The proceeds go to the Falcon Award Scholarship.

The Glendale Youth Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Brad Keimach, will perform at 7 p.m. on March 11 at the Alex Theatre. Fifteen-year-old Crescenta Valley High School student Sarah Worden performs a violin solo. The program includes Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Op. 62; Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto, 2nd and 3rd movements, Sarah Worden, violin; Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 11. The Glendale Youth Orchestra has also been selected as a Premier LA Phil Youth Orchestra Mentorship Program and will be performing at Disney Hall on May 5. Only four youth orchestras from Los Angeles County were chosen for this high honor.

Discussion about further curtailing the Crescenta Valley High School open lunch policy has been placed on hold while officials work to implement preliminary changes announced last month. Officials at the La Crescenta campus are still collecting and processing parental permission forms from students who wish to go off campus midday, Glendale Unified Deputy Supt. John Garcia said Tuesday. By early March, a sticker will be added to those students' identification cards, which they will have to show to school and law enforcement officials upon request.

Ten years after graduating from Crescenta Valley High School, Matthew Sizemore had a dream to reclaim. Dressed in a suit and tie, he took his place in line at Casino Morongo on a November morning, behind dozens of others chasing the same dream. He was one of 125 finalists whittled from thousands of applicants vying for a sports anchor spot on KTLA-TV Channel 5. While at Glendale Community College, Sizemore took a broadcasting class that convinced him the business was for him, he said.

Move over Jerry Brown. Crescenta Valley High School junior Sally Oh is one of five semi-finalists — and the only female — competing to be named the 64th Youth Governor, the top position within the Youth & Government program. Elections will take place later this week in Sacramento during the Annual Model Legislature and Court. About 180 teenagers from the Crescenta-Cañada and Verdugo Hills Family YMCAYouth and Government programs are slated to attend. Participants will tour the California Legislative chambers and committee room, and give speeches in front of their peers and elected officials.

Crescenta Valley High School Class of 1991 will have its 20th reunion on July 23 at Angeles National Golf Course, 9401 Foothill Blvd., San Fernando Valley. The early-bird cost is $65 per person until April 1. For more information, contact Sosi at (818) 621-1980 after 5 p.m. or e-mail cvhs1991reunion@yahoo.com. The class is also on Facebook at CV Falcons — Class of 1991. GLENDALE HIGH SCHOOL Glendale High School Class of 1981 will have its 30th reunion on July 23 at the Hilton Hotel, 100 W. Glenoaks Blvd.

School graduation time is always fun, and it is so inspirational to watch and hear the graduating students talk about their goals. The Crescenta-Cañada Lions Club for years has given scholarships to help them continue their education. This year, the club gave six graduating seniors each a $1,000 scholarship. The Lions Club worked closely with the administrators of both Crescenta Valley and La Cañada high schools to select candidates to personally interview for the scholarships.

Assistance League presents scholarships Assistance League of Glendale annually gives a $1,000 scholarship to each of its recipients. There were seven this year. They are Ani Ebrahimian , Crescenta Valley High School; Destiny Floyd , Glendale Community College, nursing; Cristine Kocharian , Glendale Community College, nursing, transfer student; Narah Moon , Hoover High School; Mayra Bonilla , Glendale High School; Claire Arakelian , Clark Magnet High School; and Courtney Hogenson , Glendale Community College re-entry student.

First off, as a member of the Glendale community, I want to thank the brave souls in the Glendale police and fire departments for rescuing a fellow neighbor of our great city ("Wounded man rescued from Brand Park," June 17). Sometimes, we tend to forget the dangers of working as a firefighter and police officer, and overlook the privileges of living in a safe community knowing that we are protected at all times. Throughout the years, Glendale has become increasingly popular with its high-quality restaurants, nightlife attractions, beautiful recreation areas, safe environment, great school district and the Americana at Brand.

T his week I was honored to attend the baccalaureate service at St. Bede's Church, which saw students from La Cañada High School and elsewhere attend. It had to be held in a church, because from what I have been told, you can't have it at school because of that whole separation-of-church-and-state thing. My baccalaureate was held at Crescenta Valley High School in 1999, complete with prayers and all. No one complained. It was a lovely service. All of my classmates wore their caps and gowns.

For 36 years, Linda Evans has given her time, energy and creativity to make Crescenta Valley High School one of the best public schools in the country ("CV High principal to retire," April 20). Crescenta Valley High School has been and continues to be the heart and center of our community. Over the years, we have celebrated and rejoiced in the accomplishments of our students and supported each other during times of sadness and loss. It is often said that the strength of a community lies in its schools, and this is certainly true of Crescenta Valley High.