CV AVID Students Honored
On Saturday, May 20th, Castro Valley High AVID students gathered in the cafeteria for a celebratory brunch to honor the graduating AVID Seniors. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a program designed to support and assist all students so they can build skills and develop behaviors that lead to success.
The event was hosted by the AVID Committee, a group of select teachers and students who had been holding fundraisers to raise money to provide Apple MacBooks to ensure graduates have the digital tools they need to succeed in their post-high school journeys.
Castro Valley High’s AVID school site coordinator, Laura O’Brien, proudly reflected on the event, “It was wonderful to celebrate with our AVID students and families. We are so proud of all of our AVID seniors heading off to college next school year.”
These sentiments were shared by two very special guests, Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi and Assemblymember Liz Ortega, both of whom gave short speeches to the attendees.
Highlighting the diversity of the group of seniors and all of their successes, Ortega wished them well, saying, “Whether you’re an immigrant or first generation, whether you want to go to community college or a 4-year university… I hope that you are all successful in whatever it is you choose to do moving forward”
Senior AVID teacher Lena Frazee also gave a touching speech, sharing, “I am so proud of all of them and will miss them dearly. They are a great group, and I wish them all the best.”
After speeches, seniors were presented with their laptops and proudly announced their plans for the future, sharing the schools they would be attending in the fall and their respective majors.
Senior Jill Lilak, who will be attending the University of Oregon in the fall, said, “The brunch was so much fun, it was the first year we did it, but I hope it is a tradition they carry on. I am going to miss the AVID family so much, and know they are going to do great things in the future”