2015 Grad Salute
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
MEET THE SALUTATORIANS OF CENTRAL VALLEY HIGH Daisy Ochoa Navjot Kanda Victoria Navarro Navjot Kanda is not the typical 17-year-old high school student. He and his sister were born in India and raised in Ceres. Navjot’s parents have continually supported and encouraged him to succeed in all of his endeavors, from education to photography and videography. His mother has worked tirelessly to ensure that he always receives the best opportunities. When he moved to the United States from India in 2002, Navjot did not know any English but he possessed a strong desire to learn. He is always happy and open to learning something new. Ever since Navjot first started school, education has been his top priority. His older sister, who graduated from Central Valley in 2011, was always there to guide him through the difficulties of high school, to inspire him to stay motivated, and to prepare him for college. Navjot is mature for his age, as exemplified by starting his own professional wedding videography business three years ago. In this work experience, he has obtained leadership, communication and business skills, and has discovered the importance of teamwork in the real world. Navjot will follow his sister’s footsteps in attending the University of California, Irvine in the fall. He will major in Business Information Management, which is a collaborative of computer science and business management. “The constant use of computers, along with my ever-growing awareness of their use in daily necessities, has helped me decide on the field of study that I will pursue in college,” he said. Navjot Kanda
Victoria Navarro, who has lived all her life in Ceres, first attended Don Pedro Elementary, then moved to Sinclear Elementary upon its opening. She is the youngest of four and the third child graduating from Central Valley High School, her oldest brother graduated from Ceres High in2006. Victoria is the first Victoria Navarro to graduate with a 4.0 grade point average in her family. At a young age Victoria was excelling in school. In fifth grade she received a perfect score on the California Standardized Test in math. She also received a perfect score on the California High School Exit Exam in math. Victoria has been very involved at Central Valley High School, serving as the ASB president this year while in her fourth year of leadership. She is also involved in cheerleading, Ambassador Club, National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation. Victoria will be attending the University of California, Davis, this fall with a major in Biological Sciences. With the acceptance to Davis, she is the first in her family to go straight to a four-year university right out of high school. She hopes to find a career that will help better the community.
Born to hard working parents who sacrificed much so their children could take advantage of the opportunities that they did not have, Daisy Ochoa has lived in Ceres all her life. Her father has instilled in her the value of hard work as a means to reach one’s goals. Her mother served as an example to prove that education is a vessel that can carry one to sucDaisy Ochoa cess. With these two ideals in mind, Daisy was able to unite both concepts of hard work and education to strive for success in everything she does. The middle child and only girl of the three Ochoa children, Daisy aspires to set an example for her younger brother and influence him to reach prosperity. Growing up, she always felt connected with her Mexican roots and made sure to incorporate her Hispanic ideals into all aspects of her life. Her most memorable moments of high school include playing soccer four years and being anchor for CVTV. Daisy will be the first of her family to attend a fouryear university straight out of high school. She plans on attending University of California, Davis, in the fall and majoring in neurobiology, physiology, and behavior. She hopes to one day be a certified occupational therapist. Daisy looks forward to her time at U.C. Davis and aims to avoid getting a bike ticket.
Janelle Oliveros Janelle Kristel Villasenor Oliveros, 17, has lived in Ceres for themost of her life. She attended Samuel Vaughn Elementary when she was eight and followed her older sister at Blaker Kinser Junior High School and Central Valley High School. Janelle explained that her parents, Fred and Wilma Oliveros, had struggled to get the whole family into the United States but that the effort was worthwhile as she considers that her 11 years of educational experience in Ceres is a great privilege. Janelle’s favorite subjects were math and science, and she enjoyed all the science classes at CVHS, such as the highest math class,
AP Calculus. She recently was rewarded by the math and science department awards. Since the fourth grade, Janelle has been involved in the Ceres music program for almost 10 years. She specializes in the trombone and baritone, but also plays other instruments as well. She credited her skills in music as being nurtured by teachers Ric Campero, Cal Kindred, Miss Briar, and Mr. Hinojosa. Janelle joined the CVHS marching band, jazz band, and the Impact winter percussion, assuming the leadership roles of low brass section leader and drum major. Janelle was a member of CSF,
NHS, and PHAST clubs. She is also a leader in the Door Christian Fellowship Church, serving in the worship groups and teaching in the children’s church. Her excellence in her academic life has brought her many rewards. She believes that her motivation to excel throughout her subjects and activities to get these awards, such as the salutatorian title, were to make her parents proud. Janelle has planned a handful of goals in and out of college. “One of the things that I always think,” said Janelle, “is that, the only way people can come to opportunities, is if someone, just one person, decides to become a
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miracle for them.” She described that she plans to enter the medical field, hoping to become a doctor. She notes that becoming a doctor is one of the larger ways to help others. She hopes that she can learn all that she can in college so she can both help her family and the many in need. She also aspires to join one of her church’s programs, which sends medical related aid into Africa to help those in need in the continent. Her goals may be ambitious, Janelle said, but they are worthwhile. She said that all her successes, inspirations, and goals are in appreciation and influence of her parents.
Janelle Oliveros