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Rio Mesa grads honor late principal
Oxnard / 6-15-07 / Richard Quinn / Special to the Star: Rio Mesa High senior Jesse Wood launches his mortar board at the end of the school's graduation ceremony.
Fast facts
School: Rio Mesa High School.
School district: Oxnard Union High.
Spring enrollment: 2,176.
Graduating class: 440.
Valedictorians: Elena Czubiak, Jamie Gallo.
Principal: Rene Rickard.
Past year's highlights: Football team won Pacific View League championship; 26 percent of graduates are heading to four-year colleges and 63 percent plan to attend community college.
STORY TOOLS 
More from GraduationsErica Valencia had her shoes off before graduation even began Friday afternoon. Valencia, 18, of Oxnard, stood barefoot in the Rio Mesa High School gym as she and her fellow Spartans waited for their cue to line up for the ceremony.
"Last night was grad night, and we were walking everywhere. Today heels not a good idea," said Valencia, her strappy sandals with spike heels sitting on the floor nearby.
Despite the sore feet, Valencia made it to the football field to graduate with more than 400 classmates Friday. Air horns and cheers drowned out the strains of "Pomp and Circumstance" as the students girls in red and boys in black walked onto the football field for the traditional ceremonies.
Jose and Rosa Terz of Oxnard had some of the best seats in the house to watch their granddaughter, Sarah Terz, accept her diploma. They and Sarah's aunt, Roxanna Terz, brought folding lawn chairs for the festivities.
"She's my first granddaughter," said Jose Terz. "I wouldn't miss this. It's important."
Dozens of the graduates wore brightly colored silk flower leis in honor of Ed Phillips, the beloved principal who welcomed them as freshmen four years ago. Phillips died of a heart attack early in the students' sophomore year.
"He was an amazing man who touched each of us," said Jamie Gallo, one of the two valedictorians for the class. She asked the audience to remember Phillips with a moment of silence, then advised her fellow graduates: "Let us celebrate our achievements with Mr. Phillips in our hearts."
Jazzmin Baruela layered her red and purple lei over a yellow honors stole and a candy and cellophane lei made by friend Angelica Quezada. Quezada and Baruela said they were excited and nervous about the idea of graduating and heading off into the world as adults.
"I can't believe I'm graduating already," said Quezada, 18, of Oxnard, who will attend UC San Diego to study human biology with an emphasis on pre-medicine.
"I think I won't notice until next week."
"It's really getting to me right now," said Baruela, an 18-year-old from Camarillo. She will attend UC Santa Cruz in the fall and plans to major in psychology. "This is it. I'm on my own two feet. I'm just so excited that we actually made it."
Waiting for her at the football field was her younger brother, Juneil, with a huge sign he made to celebrate his sister's big day. On one side, it read "We Love You Jazzy" and on the other "You're my hero."
"I just wanted to show my support," said Juneil, 15, "because I'm so happy for her."
Lucinda Aguilar of Oxnard squinted against the bright sun in hopes of spotting her grandson, Charles Segovia, among the crowd of graduates.
She carried a bouquet of red and black balloons while her husband manned the video camera.
"He's my only grandson," said Aguilar. "It's an honor. I'm just so proud of him."
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