Graduation Photos

It's the heart of graduation season and we've got grad photos.
Slide shows »

Photos by Chuck Kirman / Star staff Apollo High School graduate Brittany Baskin, 19, gets a hug from Tim Munz, 24, of Simi Valley, before the graduation ceremony Thursday. "I helped her graduate," Munz said.

With temperatures approaching 100 degrees, some of the 65 graduates of Simi Valley's Apollo High School were a little red-faced as they marched into the school's courtyard Thursday evening.

The heat, however, was far from the biggest obstacle the students had faced in their time at the continuation school.

"This class has gone through quite a bit of deep water," said Kateri Mattila, an English teacher. "Some of them felt like dropping out, but they came back and got it done."

Adriana Villalba, 17, had two sons and a job at Don Cuco restaurant while she was in high school.

"It was really hard," said Villalba, who said doing homework at home was difficult when she was tired and had two toddlers vying for her attention.

She credited her instructors with helping her get through school. "The teachers here help you a lot. They pay attention to you."

Villalba hopes to go to Moorpark College and to become a registered nurse.

As parents waited in plastic folding chairs and at picnic tables under the trees in the courtyard, they spoke about their graduates.

"We're very proud of her," said Marcy Baskin, stepmother of Brittany Baskin, 19. "She's almost 20 and at that age it's hard to continue and finish."

Several students were awarded scholarships, including Sandra Camarena, who earned four — one each from the Simi Valley Educational Foundation, the Simi Valley Unified School District Special Education Advisory Council, the Kiwanis of Simi Valley and the Emblem Club 484.

Principal Tracy Rohlfing told the audience that the class represented the best of the community.

"You are a gift, a gift to your friends, a gift to your teachers, a gift to your family, and don't ever forget, a gift to yourself," Rohlfing said.

She told the students that they were given two carnations, one white and one blue, with the understanding that the blue carnation was for themselves and the white flower was to give to someone who had helped them to get there.

Rohlfing later received an honorary diploma as it was announced that she would not be returning to Apollo High next year after three years at its helm.

In her valedictory address, Stephanie Lieb said that she had grown from a confused teen into a determined and confident adult while at the school.

"I want to say how truly and deeply thankful I am for Apollo High, for this school that never gave up on us," she said.