001[Music] foreign [Music] thank you foreign thank you [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] thank you foreign [Music] thank you foreign [Music] [Applause] good afternoon parents family members students staff and dignified guests welcome to the 2023 Cambridge Virtual Academy commencement ceremony my name is Priscilla mergo and I will be your Master of Ceremonies today is a special day and one we are excited to celebrate together this ceremony is both a joyous and solemn occasion please let us remember to be courteous to those around us we need to be respectful to our seniors during the ceremony so no air horns or noisemakers please remain seated while filming or taking photos and remember to keep the recording device at chess level to not impede the vision of others seated around you also please keep the
002aisle or walkway open throughout the ceremony today's ceremony is being live streamed and will remain on the district's YouTube channel to view at your convenience it is so great that we can all be together today to celebrate the class of 2023 without further Ado let us begin at this time would you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance after the Pledge of Allegiance please remain standing for our national anthem place your right hand over your heart ready begin I pledge allegiance to the of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all please remain standing for our national anthem foreign all right foreign thank you please be seated I would like to begin this ceremony by introducing our distinguished guests
003who are here with us today trustee Brian O'Neill president of the Anaheim Union High School District Board of Education trustee and Marie Randall Trejo Clerk of the Anaheim Union High School District Board of Education Mr Michael matsuda superintendent Dr Jaren freed assistant superintendent Educational Services and Miss Hilda Vazquez Diaz coordinator of Cambridge Virtual Academy I would also like to acknowledge and recognize the in the falling individuals who are also in attendance this afternoon Mrs Jenny Lee cva's assistant principal Miss Cindy Ponce cva's lead counselor Miss Casey Spencer and Mr Ray solorzano CVA lead teachers Miss Mandy Johnson cva's teacher of the year Maricela Mendoza CVA registrar classified employee of the year Mr Joe Saldana administrator of student Support Services and Dr Adam Hernandez director of student Support Services I would also like to thank our
004Cambridge Virtual Academy teachers and our counseling staff who have supported the graduating class of 2023 inside and outside of the classroom and especially a big thank you to all the families and parents who raised the amazing CVA Scholars who will be recognized this afternoon at this time I would now like to introduce CVA senior Aaron Liu to deliver our first speech of today [Applause] good afternoon ladies and gentlemen it's been four wild years huh a pandemic a war Rising inflation all of that and we're still kicking I have to say I'm beyond impressed with what we've accomplished during these last four years we faced countless Transitions and tackled a whole new form of Education in the midst of uncertainty and here we are standing on this stage ready to conquer the world I couldn't be
005prouder of each and every one of you including myself for making it to this mild Stone and let's not forget we're just not any old students we're CVA students we've had the privilege of exclusive resources and opportunities provided by CVA and our teachers unwavering passion for education has helped us shaped into the extraordinary individuals we are today speaking of extraordinary individuals let's take a moment to appreciate our incredible support system our parents family and friends have played a crucial role in molding our habits and personalities personally I owe a massive debt of gratitude to my mother her Relentless dedication and unwavering support have carried me through every step of this journey I truly wouldn't be standing here without her of course none of this would have been possible that our amazing teachers at CVA they've
006not only taught us valuable lessons but provided us with countless learning opportunities throughout the year I want to acknowledge their hard work and the effort they've put into shaping our minds and to my fellow students you've all shown tremendous dedication and perseverance in your pursuit of your education it's been an honor to work alongside you now as we move into the next chapter of Our Lives I want you all to remember one thing you are all valuable each and every one of you has a purpose dreams and desires and so much more keep that in mind especially during the toughest challenges that lie ahead whenever you feel like you can't go any further just say these words I can do this I am strong and capable I won't let anything stop me trust me it's
007a magic phrase that can work wonders as for me I'm excited to share that I'll be heading off to UCLA in the fall to major in electrical engineering reaching my dream school and fulfilling my goals whether you're pursuing higher education or diving head first into the workforce I genuinely wish each and every one of you a future is filled with success meaning and happiness thank you all for Lending me your ears today now let's give a thunderous Roundup of clause to the incredible class of 2023. [Applause] now seniors let us reflect on our last year of high school and watch this senior slideshow foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] awesome [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] now please welcome our CVA Ambassador Malia balcumfikre to give her class speech ladies and gentlemen of class
008of 2023. congratulations we never thought this day would come in this well-awaited Monumental moment for us I want to commend our strength our much needed time management and most especially our resilience we've had quite the journey we've endured a global pandemic a multitude of big scary exams and our own personal hurdles but despite it all we pushed on and said hey Universe I'm not giving up that easily from Tiny freshmen who had no idea what they were in for to the powerful beings Illuminating this room today we've defeated the boss level and are well equipped for the adventures ahead that being said we wouldn't be aforementioned Illuminating beings without the overwhelming support of our families teachers and administrators parents thank you for the sacrifices you've made for our benefit raising us and loving us unconditionally
009teenage angst and all we can be a lot and I know that some of us may not say it enough so luckily they have me to say it for them we're eternally grateful for everything that you do seen and unseen we wouldn't be here without you so thank you so so much teachers and staff thank you for always seeing the potential in us thank you for never giving up and always being there whether that be for help on an assignment advice and in some cases a shoulder to cry on shout out to Mr Kim we recognize the hard work that you put into giving us the absolute best education that will prepare us to conquer the world so thank you administrators thank you for sculpting our beautiful Anaheim Union High School District that provides us
010a fine education unlimited opportunities to explore and formative experiences that prepare us for the real world you work relentlessly behind the scenes and your efforts will not go unnoticed thank you you've watched us Blossom thorns and all and have continuously guided us throughout this tumultuous Journey so from the bottom of our hearts thank you all to quote Ferris Bueller life moves pretty fast if you don't stop and look around once in a while you can miss it now I don't know about you but fellow graduates I think life is too short for regrets and caring about other people's opinions so I implore you all to please make the most of it I'm so grateful for the experience you've given me as your peer and Ambassador and I look forward to seeing what the future has
011in store for us all I wish you all the very best the world better look out class of 2023 is coming thank you I would now like to introduce our CVA assistant principal Miss Jenny Lee [Applause] thank you Malia I also want to thank Aaron for his inspiring speech as well both of these young adults did a wonderful job capturing the significant impact CVA has had on their lives both academically and socially great job seniors it is now time to recognize some of the academic Awards our seniors have accomplished seniors as I announce the academic award which is symbolized by an auhsd pin of Distinction please stand to be recognized with Applause and then seated okay so please stand if you earned a distinction in Career Technical education CTE pathway in design media and visual
012arts [Applause] food service and hospitality patient care students please stand if you earned a distinction with a Google certificate in ux design it support and project management [Applause] please stand if you received a distinction for dual enrollment thank you seal of by literacy [Applause] golden state seal of Merit [Applause] state seal of Civic engagement thank you academic honors these are seniors who earned a 3.5 or above grade point average [Applause] and finally if you uh received a distinction for a through G completion all right CVA graduates at this time we would like to honor you with a symbol of what it means to be a CVA B through a short poem and testimonies of your journey okay so I'm going to read a poem according to the laws of aerodynamics the Bumblebee cannot fly its
013body is too heavy for its wings and that's the simple reason why but the bumblebee doesn't know this fact and so it flies anyways for all to see as you head out into the world and leave the CVA Hive remember this go out and fly proudly be strong and persevere because you too are a Bumblebee and you can do the impossible as waldorp at this time we would like to invite Miss Spencer Miss Johnson Miss Mendoza and Mr solorzano to please join us at the center of the stage to pin our cvabs okay so students as I call your name please walk to the center of the stage to receive your PIN which commemorates your journey here and celebrates the future as you continue to do the impossible yeah we we have to have our
014B okay Aaron Lou Aaron is one of the most detail-oriented students that I have ever worked with I was very fortunate to be his counselor over the past three years he is passionate about learning and always jumps at any and all opportunities that come his way he takes advantage of opportunities that will help him learn new skills and grow I am so proud of Aaron and I know he will continue his success at UCLA Kenda Kenda as said Kenda is an exceptional communicator and fabulous student she has distinguished herself with her phenomenal work ethic and problem-solving abilities I'm so proud of her artistic achievements in my class this year I know that she will continue to succeed anywhere she applies herself in the future Malia Balcom fikre Malia has grown tremendously over the years she
015has done a great job this year as the Ambassador and I'm very excited that she will continue her studies at UCSC I'm confident that she will use all she has learned at CVA to continue to excel in her education congratulations Malia keep doing great work and go banana slugs Janice Hahn Janus is an exceptional young woman who has consistently demonstrated strong work ethic and passion for learning her commitment to Excellence and her willingness to take on challenges have not only set her apart from her peers but have also inspired others around her as she moves on to the next phase of her education she is sure to continue making a positive impact on those around her and achieving great things in her life Anthony Hernandez Anthony is a hard-working responsible and respectful young man we
016are so proud of how he strives to challenge himself and does not look to take the easy way out he is adaptable and takes pride in his work his writing skills are exceptional and we have no doubt that Anthony will go on to do amazing things in the future just [Applause] Jessica horita it was a privilege to have Jessica for two years two of her four years at CVA Jessica has been instrumental in my online class as being a success as always being present and engaging she has taken leadership roles multiple times and used her creativity and attention to detail and has showcased many projects that exemplifies the five C's Alyssa horita Alyssa is an extraordinary young woman who is a respectful and responsible leader in academics I could always depend on her in group
017work her creativity shines throughout all her projects and she will continue to inspire those around her the professionalism I have seen in her soft skills is commendable I know Alyssa will continue to dedicate herself to her academics and strive for Success she is truly remarkable and has done a fantastic job congratulations Mahmoud Ibrahim it has been a pleasure getting to know Mahmoud this year first in my e-learning class and now at CVA Mahmoud always brought a wonderful energy to our online class and I appreciated his contributions to class discussions Irene John I could always count on Irene to be authentic and real in our class she's the type of student that every teacher is excited to have she has a phenomenal work ethic and her confidence is admirable the thing I appreciated the most about
018Irene this year was her uncanny ability to bring her humor and authenticity in a virtual setting I enjoyed too many laughs on her account my only regret was not being able to work with her in person Kenneth Kim Kenneth has been an inspiration to us this past year we appreciate Kenneth's perseverance when life became difficult he learned to push through and finish strong we look forward to hearing in his next steps we hope in his future he will learn about truth find truth and live for truth in all that he does [Applause] Gisela Macias Valderas suerte [Applause] Priscilla mergo Priscilla's compassion to others is amazing she is always ready to support any event she is a leader in her community and is always checking in with others I believe that she will go far in
019life because of the amazing qualities she already possesses such as kindness leadership and tenacity she will Thrive at UCI which is a campus that is peaceful just the way she makes others feel Priscilla inspires others to be the best versions of themselves She carries herself very maturely which instills trust in others to confide their feelings and thoughts which she Embraces wholeheartedly future ant eater Michelle Nguyen Michelle is multifaceted multi-talented student she took a huge leap of faith to join CVA to allow herself time to follow her passion Michelle organizes her time using industry-level project management tools she has devoured numerous self-help books to enhance her potential Michelle's work ethic is unrivaled and I cannot wait to see all the places her journey will take her Joshua Romero Joshua is kind respectful and thoughtful person I
020enjoyed seeing him in person at Western he was always friendly to others and didn't hesitate to participate in class Joshua is always was always in a good mood and has a positive attitude at CVA I was impressed to watch Joshua grow and flourish online in class Angel Sierra Angel is a very respectful friendly and mature young man he has been at CVA since 2021 he loves history and plans to pursue his career at Fullerton College he is a great asset to his family business of party rentals his family business has supported our auhse events such as at steemapalooza and the end of the year graduation I wish him much success in his future goals finally Jonathan yang it has been a pleasure getting to know him this year they have been encouraging to others they
021also helped other students with their Capstone projects they were always so respectful with using their shared space of the classroom their kind creative and hardworking I know they will continue to do great things good luck in the future [Applause] okay congratulations students and our honorary guests we celebrate you and everything ahead as you leave the hive thank you Miss Spencer Miss Johnson Miss Mendoza and Mr solorzano you may not have a seat I would not like to now invite Miss Hilda Vasquez Diaz to give the coordinator speech good afternoon and welcome campers Virtual Academy Family School Community our graduating class of to cbas 2023 graduation I would like to thank the board of trustee superintendo matsuda the executive cabinet and our amazing staff and faculty for being our students in schools pillars of support during
022the school year my dear graduating bees I stand before you with a sense of Pride and admiration for all that you have accomplished during your time here in the hive you have worked hard overcome obstacles and grown into a mature independent bee ready to take on the world you are culminating extraordinary chapter in your lives and we are here today to celebrate your achievements despite the challenges and uncertainty that you face throughout your schooling you have persisted and persevered you advocated and sought out a learning system that worked best for you you showed up and logged in day in and day out committed to your success and your education as you leave our Hive you carry with you a set of skills and values that will serve you well in all aspects of life your
023communication skills will help you to effectively share your ideas and collaborate with others your critical thinking skills will enable you to approach problems from multiple perspectives and angles to develop innovative solutions your creativity will allow you to see the world in new ways and bring New Perspectives to everything that you do your character and compassion will guide you in making ethical and empathetic decisions that will benefit the world around you you have demonstrated your Readiness to Take On The World and we know you will use your agency to make our world a better place I will also like to take a moment to recognize our outstanding staff and faculty who have supported you and CBA our classified employee of the year Miss men men Marcy Mendoza I'm sorry Marcy Marcy please stand our teacher of
024the year Miss Mandy Johnson you too have exemplified our commitment to serving our students with Excellence we celebrate their accomplishment accomplishments and contributions in our hive peace As you move forward to your life journey in the words of a very wise man and Nelson Mandela remember that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world we encourage you to embrace learning to be reflective in what you do to take risks to not be afraid of failure and most of all dream big go out and change the world lastly remember that Cambridge Virtual Academy will always be your home once a bee always a b we love you we're proud of you and we wish you the best on your incredible upcoming Journey congratulations class of 2023. it is now my
025pleasure to welcome back our MC Priscilla morgo thank you Miss Vasquez class of 2023 we have arrived at the moment you have all been waiting for I am pleased to introduce our dignitary who will be presenting diplomas to our graduating class Board of Trustees Miss Anne-Marie Randall Trejo cva's lead counselor will now read the names of the class of 2023 graduating seniors please respect each of our graduates and hold your applause until all the names have been read laughs Priscilla mergo Malia Balcom fikre Aaron Liu Anthony Hernandez Joshua Romero Valeria Andrade Jonathan yang Janice Han Jessica horita Christine Tamayo Ibrahim Kenneth Kim Irene John Michelle Nguyen Alyssa horita balderas Kenda assade Angel De Jesus Sierra and joining us virtually daun Grace Zhang and now at this time Mrs Vasquez will present the class of 2023.
026it gets me great honor to present the class of 2023 to the Board of Trustees for certification please welcome to the podium Board of Trustees president Mr Brian O'Neill who will now certify the class class of 2023 please remain standing as a trustee for the Anaheim Union High School District it is my honor and privilege to officially certify that the students present here today from the class of 2023 have all duly met the requirements of the State of California and the Anaheim Union High School District students you may now move your tassel from right to left congratulations [Applause] thank you president O'Neill graduates you may be seated thank you everybody for attending our 2023 commencement ceremony for Cambridge Virtual Academy families and friends please remain seated until all graduates have received resist out of the
027stadium graduates please follow our distinguished guests as they exit the stage and Auditorium parents family members and friends please remain seated until all students have exited the theater and remember to check under your seats and graduate same thing with you that you take all of your belongings as you exit the theater enjoy the rest of the day it is a celebration day for you graduates thank you for attending [Applause] you all can stand up now we're going to be exiting [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] thank you