Wednesday, May 31, 2023
7:00 P.M.
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
San Antonio, TX
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Class of 2023 Annual Commencement
Somerset Academy Collegiate is a K-12 tuition-free public charter school. SAC is a member of the nationwide Somerset Academy, Inc. family of schools, and is an affiliate provider of the SLAM! Charter School curriculum in grades 6-12.
SAC offers its students a college preparatory curriculum that is built on the standards of rigor and relevance, ensuring a highly academic educational experience for the 21st Century graduate.
Our Purpose
Somerset Academy, Inc. promotes a transformational culture that maximizes student achievement and the development of accountable, global learners in a safe and enriching environment that fosters highquality education.
Our Vision
Empowering students to explore global learning opportunities to promote and enrich their communities and the communities we serve.
Somerset Academies of Texas is part of the Somerset Academy, Inc. Network
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2023 COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM
Welcome Tanya Bonillas, DeanofStudents/Class Co-Sponsor
Processional
Pledge of Allegiance
National Anthem
Superintendent’s Remarks
Introduction and Recognition of Senior Class Officers
Introduction and Recognition of Top 10% Seniors
Salutatorian’s Address
Valedictorian’s Address
Presentation of Diplomas
Graduates of the Class of 2023
PompandCircumstanceby Edward Elgar
Arr. Mark Williams
Madison Koch, ClassPresident
Desiree Cortez
StarSpangledBanner,by Francis Scott Key
Arr. Henry Fillmore
Cory Oliver, DeputySuperintendent
Tanya Bonillas, DeanofStudents/Class Co-Sponsor
Monique Almazán, Principal
Mia Ward
Cheyenne “Summer” Pullen
Cory Oliver, DeputySuperintendent
Monique Almazán, Principal
Sarah Riojas, AssistantSchoolLeader
Turning of the Tassel Monique Almazán, Principal
Recessional GoodOleDays– Macklemore, Kesha
The audience is requested to remain seated during the processional and recessional. Please hold applause until all graduates have received their diploma. Kindly observe the dignity of the occasion.
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BROOKS ACADEMIES OF TEXAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS & OFFICERS
Todd German, Board Chair & Treasurer
Ana Diaz, Vice Chair & Secretary
David Concepcion
Brian Matthew Cox
Jacqueline Hernandez
Michael Fogerty
SOMERSET ACADEMY
Bernardo Montero, President
Suzette Ruiz, Vice-President
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Bernardo Montero, Interim Superintendent
Cory Oliver, Deputy Superintendent
PRINCIPAL
Monique Almazán
ASSISTANT SCHOOL LEADERS
Sarah Riojas Francisco Vargas
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ADMINISTRATION
Interim Superintendent, Bernardo Montero
Deputy Superintendent, Cory Oliver
Principal, Monique Almazán
Assistant School Leader, Sarah Riojas
Assistant School Leader, Francisco Vargas
Dean of Students, Tanya Bonillas
Athletic Director, Joel Sofet
Early College High School Coordinator, Sarah Hale
Career & College Readiness Counselor, Eric Washington
Senior Class Co-Sponsors, Daniel Cichowicz, Michelle Saenz, & Tanya Bonillas
HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY
Coach Joseph Bryant
Coach Caroline Bennett
Coach Daniel Cichowicz
Coach Gladys Cortez
Coach Brooke Dixon
Coach Joshua Freeman
Coach Arlene García
Coach Vanessa Hogue
Coach Sarah Hale
Coach Leslie Holland
Coach Yvonne Melton
Coach Ricardo Montes
Coach Cally Moore
Coach Ismael Muñiz
Coach Dr. Amos Obiefuna
Coach Amy Owen
Coach Magali Rodriguez
Coach Camille Rominger
Coach Mallory Rowell
Coach Michelle Saenz
Coach Alejandro Sandoval
Coach Stephen Scogin
Coach Hannah Shuffett
Coach Rosalie Trevino
Coach Paula Turner
Coach Brenda Usrey
Coach Rafael Vigil
Coach Amalia Villarreal
Coach Dr. Bruno Villarreal
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CLASS OF 2023 CLASS OFFICERS
Madison Koch VICE PRESIDENT Mia Ward SECRETARY
Co-SECRETARY
Hailey Mairs
Samantha Llano
HISTORIAN
Shyanne Murphy
Here it is!
It’s been a long-time coming Bears, but we’re finally here. This is the moment we have anticipated our entire lives, and the moment that we will remember forever. This journey was not easy, and definitely not like High School Musical, but we conquered it all. I hope that each of y’all’s future is bright, successful, fulfilling, balanced, and good to you. Remember where you started. Remember the laughs, the lessons, the hard truths, the tears, the fire alarms. Remember us as you move forward in life. And if you ever feel like you’re forgetting, open up one of the five yearbooks I made. And in the words of my favorite American poet, Taylor Swift “the scary thing is you’re on your own now. But the cool thing is…you’re on your own now!”
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PRESIDENT
To the BCA Class of 2023
2022-2023 BCA Senior Class President, Madison Koch
Graduating Class of 2023
Ascencao, Reina Nicole CumLaude,Distinguished TexasLutheranUniversity,Athletic Training
Barrera, Melanie Alea UniversityofTexasatSanAntonio, Architecture/Business
Bates, Madelyn Kay
Distinguished ArizonaStateUniversity,Biological Science
Bonillas, Kelly Isabella Distinguished TexasStateUniversity,Entomology
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Christie, Giovanna Shantal workforce
Contreras, Brayan workforce
Cox, Hannah Joy*
Distinguished NorthwestArkansasCommunityCollege
Cruz, Iris Renee UniversityofTexasatSanAntonio,Pre Medicine
Cuellar, Lauren Olivia* MagnaCumLaude , Distinguished SanAntonioCollege,Nursing
Deanda, Misty Esmeralda Distinguished SanAntonioCollege
Dominguez Alvarez, Rodrigo Distinguished Workforce E Edwards, Clarence Leon SanAntonioCollege
Eslora, Kristianna Marie Distinguished SanAntonioCollege,PoliticalScience
Fasci, Juliana Duvin Distinguished SanAntonioCollege,CriminalJustice
Fischer, Joshua Nathaniel Distinguished SanAntonioCollege
Frederic, Phoebe Sheryl Distinguished SanAntonioCollege
Gallien, Kameryn Nekole GalenCollegeofNursing,Pediatric Nursing
Gonzales, Sofia Nicole Distinguished UniversityofTexasatSanAntonio, Nursing
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B
D
F
G
Graduating Class of 2023
Gonzalez, Rebecca Distinguished UniversityoftheIncarnateWord , Nursing
Guerra, Kaithan James Distinguished TexasStateUniversity, MechanicalEngineering
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Hernandez, Jeremy John Distinguished SanAntonioCollege
Hernandez, Olyvia Rae “Levi” Distinguished SanAntonioCollege, InformationTechnology
Hernandez, Oriyaa Emily CumLaude,Distinguished FieldDiagnostics,Phlebotomy
Herrera, Clarissa CumLaude,Distinguished SanAntonioCollege,MedicalAssistant
Hurd, Owen Dane Distinguished IndianaUniversity,SportsMarketingand Management
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Koch, Madison Alivia
Distinguished SanAntonioCollege,Journalism
Lauterstein, Jacob Mason Distinguished UniversityofArizona
Ledesma, Lazaro Rio Distinguished StPhilipsCollege,AircraftTechnician
Llano, Samantha Nicole
CumLaude,Distinguished ColoradoStateUniversity,Anthropology w/concentrationinArchaeology
Lopez, Jovanni Tabares CumLaude,Distinguished TexasA&MSanAntonio,Computer Science
Lopez, Juliette Tabares Distinguished UniversityofTexasatSanAntonio, FineArts
Lopez, Nikki Marie Distinguished AirForce
Mairs, Hailey Nicole* CumLaude,Distinguished TexasStateUniversity,Computer InformationSystems
Martinez, Emillianna UniversityoftheIncarnateWord, PhysicalTherapy
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M
Graduating Class of 2023
Maus, Samira Yasmeen CumLaude,Distinguished UniversityofTexasatSanAntonio, Communications
Mitchell, Johnathan La-Mon FullSailUniversity,AudioEngineering
Monreal, Nastassja Solei Distinguished UniversityoftheIncarnateWord,3D animationandvideogamedesign
Montelongo, Jose Eduardo AlamoCityBarberCollege
Montes, Anthony Domingo Distinguished UniversityoftheIncarnateWord, BusinessMarketing
Moreno Ruvalcaba, Kevin Distinguished UniversityoftheIncarnateWord
Morton, Le Donte Paul Distinguished StPhilipsCollege
Munnerlyn, Izrahel Cire
Distinguished ArtInstituteofSanAntonio, CulinaryArts
Murphy, Shyanne Viktoria
Distinguished CarolinaUniversity,Biology
Paniagua, Adrian Jose Distinguished AlamoCityBarberCollege
Pina, Richard James Distinguished UniversityoftheIncarnateWord, Business
Pullen, Asia Dawn* CumLaude,Distinguished RegentUniversity,Journalism
Pullen, Cheyenne Summer*
SummaCumLaude,Distinguished RegentUniversity,ComputerScience
Ramirez, Kelby Jared Marines
Rios, Keiran Rene* CumLaude,Distinguished TexasStateUniversity,CriminalJustice
Rivera, Ashley Dayanara Distinguished SanAntonioCollege,Nursing
Rodriguez, Brandon Distinguished
TexasA&MUniversityCorpusChristi, BusinessManagement
Rodriguez, Caiden Valente Distinguished TexasStateUniversity,Music
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Graduating Class of 2023
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Rodriguez, Jake Ryan TexasSouthernUniversity,Kinesiology
S Salazar, Eli Jonathon UniversityofTexasatSanAntonio, RealEstateDevelopment
Salinas, Phoenix Prado SanAntonioCollege,MarineBiology
Sanchez, Humberto Distinguished SanAntonioCollege, FinanceandEconomics
Sanchez-Garcia, Sara Lorrain Distinguished TexasStateUniversity,FineArtsand Communication
Savoian-Rozuk, Zina workforce
Scott, Alivia Marie Distinguished TexasStateUniversity,Exerciseand SportScience
Segovia, Brianna Ariel Distinguished PaloAltoCollege,Cosmetology
Thomas, Paul Alexander Distinguished StPhilipsCollege,CulinaryArts
Tijerina, Miguel Fernando workforce
Trevino-Washburn, Katherine Distinguished workforce W Ward, Mia Christine*
SummaCumLaude,Distinguished UniversityofTulsa,Exerciseand SportsScience
Waring-Leal, Jason Clarke Distinguished SouthTexasCollege,Welding
Wright, Khalijah James Distinguished PaloAltoCollege
Yetman, Gavin Robert Distinguished
Diplomasareissuedonlywhenallgraduation requirementshavebeenmet.
*Denotestop10%
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COLOR OF MEDALS, CORDS, & STOLES
Gold Medal…………………………………………………...Valedictorian
Silver Medal……………………………………………………Salutatorian
Teal Cord……………………………………………...Dual Credit Program
Gold Cord………………………………………………………...Top 10%
Blue/White/Red Cord…………………………………...A.P. Social Studies
Blue/Orange Cord……………………………………………...A.P. English
Baby Blue/Green Cord……………………………………………A.P. Math
Black/Green Cord………………………………………………A.P. Science
Red/Gold Cord………………………………….A.P. Art/Foreign Language
Blue/Gold Cord………………………………………………………U.I.L.
Silver Stole……………………………………………………Class Officers
Blue Stole…………………………………………………...N.H.S. Officers
White Stole………………………………………………...N.H.S. Members
White/Red Lining Stole……………………………………………Athletics
Red/White/Green Medal.……………………Sociedad Honorária Hispánica
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Graduating Class of 2023
A BRIEF GUIDE TO GRADUATION REGALIA
Cap and gowns worn in formal academic convocations in American colleges and universities are the descendants of the everyday attire worn in the universities of medieval Europe. The style of academic regalia in European universities evolved distinctively, but in American colleges and universities today a uniform style is followed.
GOWN Three basic types of gowns are worn; bachelor’s gowns have long pointed sleeves, master’s gowns have long closed sleeves, and doctor’s gowns have full sleeves with velvet bars. The bars may be black to indicate any doctoral degree, or the color of the particular degree.
COLOR OF
GOWN
Some universities have their own gowns in colors of the university and some members of the faculty will wear gowns of different colors for that reason. The mortar board or beret is worn with all degrees. The tassel is black for bachelors and masters, and gold for most doctorates.
HOOD The part of the Regalia that tells the most about the degree is the hood. Hoods for all degrees are lined with silk of the colors of the academic institution conferring the degree. The faculty hoods are lined with the colors of the universities granting their respective degrees. The edging, or trim, of the hood is a wide velvet brand, the color of which (in bachelor’s and master’s hoods) indicates the academic area in which the degree is earned. The wide velvet edging of the doctoral hood indicates the particular kind of the degree held. The length of the hood reflects the level of the degree represented. Associate’ s and bachelor’s hoods are similar, although bachelor’s hoods are slightly longer.
The master’s hood is considerably longer, has a wider velvet edging and exposes more silk lining. The doctoral hood is as wide as the gown itself, is much longer than the others, has wider velvet edging, and exposes more silk lining.
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Congratulations Class of 2023!
