Schools

Credit rating company Standard

440 Gilroy High School seniors take to the podium to receive

GILROY

Jeff Manker heads to Barrow, Alaska to study climate and the

Patti Littlejohn, who just celebrated her 50th anniversary teaching, sees no reason to retire. After 39 years at El Roble Elementary School in Gilroy teaching 3rd grade and kindergarten, she retired from public school teaching and came to St. Mary School in 2006 to teach the 4- and 5-year-old kindergarten programs.

With a broad grin and a nod to his family, 29-year-old Raul

James Abundis, an 18-year-old senior at Christopher High School, is this week's "Student of the Week."