2015 GT Graduates Officially Bid Farewell

Grand Terrace High School’s Class of 2015 officially bid farewell to their Alma Mater this past Tuesday night, June 9, at San Manuel Stadium for the school’s second commencement ceremony. Eager, excited students filled the 66ers baseball field with their proud smiling family members among them in the stadium seats ready to watch their loved ones walk across the stage, accept their diploma, and officially take the next steps into their future. According to the Senior Class Vice President Anissa Lopez, the anticipated commencement ceremony was nothing short of her expectations. “It was such a great night. I was so happy to see how excited and pumped up all of the seniors were…it’s just what I hoped for,” she shared. The Valedictorian Jason Hibono and Salutatorian Kawsar Nasir Ahmad each gave an inspirational speech to their fellow graduates. Lopez explained, “Both of the speeches were so great…they gave me chills.” Lopez will be attending Grand Canyon University located in Arizona in the fall. “I’m going to spend as much time as possible with my family and friends this summer before I have to leave to college in August,” she explained. “I always wanted to go out of state for college to branch out but not too far.” The 2015 graduation was also the farewell point for the school's inaugural principal, Angela Dischinger, who this year ended her tenure as the school's lead director and will become an assistant superintendent in an Arkansas school district. In a public message posted on the school's website, Dischinger thanked Grand Terrace High School, which opened its doors in 2012, for the experiences it gave her, calling it a "tremendous journey." "I will cherish all of the memories, especially watching our students, staff and families come together to build Grand Terrace High School's GREAT-ness as Titans... Together, we established traditions which represented our vision to be a GREAT school. Visions which embodied generosity, respect, excellence, accountability and teamwork. I see those visions embodied daily through the work of our staff, the efforts of our students and the pride within our community," said Dischinger. Dischinger will be succeeded by GTHS's newest principal, James Western. Grand Terrace administration gave congratulations to the class of graduating seniors, saying in a joint statement, "Congratulations and best of wishes to the class of 2015. We're very proud of [you]." In one final graduation celebration, Lopez, along with Senior Class President Daniel Marinelarena, had the pleasure to present the “Senior Class Gift” at the ceremony. According to Lopez, this annual tradition is a present to the school that is fund raised by the senior class as they say their goodbyes to Grand Terrace High School, their home away from home for a number of years. Their present was a mural of their Alma Mater and a large audio/video screen to be displayed in their gym.