TM
EDITOR’S NOTE
Bakersfield’s Premier City Magazine
Bakersfield Life™ magazine is published by The Bakersfield Californian. The magazine is inserted into The Bakersfield Californian on the last Saturday of every month. To subscribe, please call 392-5777. Publisher Ginger Moorhouse President/CEO Richard Beene Senior Vice President Revenue and Marketing John Wells Advertising Director Bryan Fahsbender Editor Olivia Garcia Assistant Editor Stefani Dias Features Associate Hillary Haenes Editorial Assistant Marisol Sorto Art Direction Glenn Hammett Photography Felix Adamo Henry A. Barrios Holly Carlyle Casey Christie Jessica Frey John Harte Alex Horvath Jenn Ireland Greg Nichols Tanya X. Leonzo Michael Lopez Jan St. Pierre Ashley Reyes Carla Rivas Rodney Thornburg Jose Trevino Contributing writers Allie Castro Lois Henry Lisa Kimble Stephen Lynch Dana Martin Jeff Nickell Luz Peña Gabriel Ramirez Paul Ulrich Melissa Peaker-Whitten Advertising Lupe Carabajal lcarabajal@bakersfield.com 395-7563 Reader Inquiries Bakersfield Life Magazine P.O. Bin 440 Bakersfield, CA 93302-0440 BakersfieldLife@bakersfield.com 395-7467 On the cover Some of this year's best and brightest high school seniors pose at Mill Creek Park. Find out their college plans and what makes them standout students in our feature on Page 44. Photo by Michael Lopez
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Bakersfield Life
June 2011
Graduation, a time for celebration
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My two sons will reach a milestone this June when they graduate from sixth and eighth grades. They are both moving to the next level and inching closer to what many of us parents have been imagining: high school graduation. Graduations are a special time for families, especially those with children finishing off their senior years and stepping into the next phase of their lives: college, the military and an entry-level position. This month, many of our readers will find themselves sitting in the rows, flashing their digital cameras and cheering as 17and 18-year-olds cross the stage to receive their diploma while “Pomp and Circumstance” plays. I don't care how old you are, you just can't forget your high school graduation, or junior high or college graduation for that matter. These are priceless moments of celebrations, of hopes and dreams, and of symbolic medals of accomplishment. Many of our high school grads will continue on their educational journey to college. Because higher education offers so many new opportunities and dreams for our grads, Bakersfield Life decided to dedicate a special feature about it in this issue. We enlisted the help of writer Dana Martin to profile seniors from the various local high schools about their college plans and career dreams. She found some amazing kids. Reading through their stories makes me feel so proud of the high school seniors who have grown up in our community. They all have different stories to share; they come from different backgrounds and are headed to different parts of our nation. But there are common threads that tie them together, including hard work, determination, passion, optimism and initiative. It’s my hope that you can appreciate the caliber of our college-bound high school grads by reading about them. Much thanks goes to the parents and other relatives, mentors and teachers who were there for these talented students who are an inspiration for
Photo by Tanya X. Leonzo
June 2011 / Vol. 5 / Issue 9
children like my boys. I learned something new in this issue. Writer Stephen Lynch took us back to the day when local product Lonnie Shelton was on fire in the NBA. I never knew we had such great NBA talent in our own backyard until Stephen highlighted Shelton in our monthly local sports legend section. Find out more about him, who he played for, what NFL team his son plays for and more inside. Also, discover the winners of our signature Best of Kern County 2011. See who is the cream of the crop for our readers. And for the rock climber fans out there, discover four guys who have found excitement in the sport. You’ll learn a lot about rock climbers John Henderson, Jim Schrodt, Marc Schiffhauer and Scott Smith, including their first rock-climbing experience, if they ever had to deal with a fear of heights and the most challenging climb. If you are looking for a Mexican restaurant to explore, then we have two for you to add to your dining list. Our Dining Divas set out to explore Agave Mexican Grill and Cantina on Oak Street, and they have lots to share. Writer Allie Castro met with Alejandro Ocampo who talked about his dream behind Camino Real Restaurant on Truxtun Avenue. I have visited both places in the past. They will not disappoint. Check them out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Olivia Garcia Editor 395-7487