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Buena High School says goodbye, and good luck
526 grads fete their 4 years of hard work
James Glover II / Star staff Buena High School graduates Gillian Cone, 18, left, Samantha Triana, 17, center, and Mary Guillen, 17, march in line toward their graduation ceremony Thursday. The school said farewell to 526 students.
Fast facts
School: Buena High School.
School district: Ventura Unified.
Spring enrollment: 2,134.
Graduating class: 526.
Valedictorian: The school does not have valedictorians or salutatorians.
Principal: Kyunghae Schwartz.
Past year's highlights: Graduates have received scholarships totaling more than $2.1 million; the class includes 14 Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholars and three Ventura County Star Scholars; the girls' soccer team made it to the CIFSS semifinals this year.
STORY TOOLS 
More from GraduationsColin Harvey spent four years getting a diploma from Buena High School, but his history on campus stretches way back.
As he waited for Buena's graduation ceremony to begin Thursday night in Ventura, Harvey talked about his long involvement with the school.
The 17-year-old said his mother, Barbara Harvey, has been a geography and history teacher at the school for more than 20 years, and he has seen pictures of her teaching while pregnant with him.
"I have grown up at Buena," said Harvey, who plans to attend UCLA to study history or marine biology. "I feel like I was born and raised here."
The mass of well-wishers arrived early for the 6 p.m. ceremony, vying for seats on the shady side of the football stadium. Cheerleaders near the stadium entrance sold leis made of purple orchids or bunches of candy to family members.
Viliamu Faiivae, 18, wore a special long lei made of dozens of Smarties candies strung together.
"It's a tradition, something my family does every year," said Faiivae. "Afterwards you can hand them out to friends and family."
Faiivae said his years at Buena would be memorable because of his four years of playing basketball for Coach Craig Williams.
"He always looked out for you," said Faiivae. "Even outside of the court, he made sure you were staying in line with school and everything."
The graduates boys wearing black robes and girls wearing pale blue marched under a balloon arch onto the football field. Arthur Molenaar stood by the track, waiting to see his granddaughter, Ashley Yanez, pass by.
"She'll be the first of nine grandkids to graduate, so we're pretty excited," Molenaar said.
Graduation speaker Brianna Brooker said her high school years had given her a chance to find her passion. She described experiencing confusion and nervousness on her first day of German class during her freshman year.
"I learned to love that classroom, and I learned to love the subject," said Brooker, who also spent time in a German exchange program.
Brooker said she hasn't decided what she will do with her passion, but that studying German brings her great happiness.
"Those who are happy in life are those who are truly successful," Brooker said.
Speaker Hannah Chang advised the class to give thanks for their families, teachers, friends and even enemies, because enemies helped to make them stronger.
As she stood facing the assembled graduates, Chang also had a compliment.
"You guys look amazing from up here," she said.
Posted by sarah12379 on June 15, 2007 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations!!
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