Schools

Mount Madonna School (MMS) is pleased to announce Preethi Balagani and Talia Speaker as the 2014 senior class co-valedictorians and Roger Hooker as salutatorian. These three students earned these distinctions through hard work and focused effort, edging out their peers at the small Central Coast school known for strong academics, environmental education, performing arts and a competitive volleyball program. The 2014 high school graduation ceremony will commence at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 12 at the school’s upper campus.

Sixty-two thousand dollars was awarded to 18 local Gilroy Rotary Club scholarship recipients last week at Gilroy High School, Christopher High School, Valley Christian High School and Gavilan Community College. Rotary President Hamdy Abbass, assisted by Rotarian Joel Goldsmith and Syngenta Seeds' Mark Wilson, presented the awards in ceremonies May 19 and 20 at the various schools.

For Gavilan College graduate Michael Treviño, an initiative to get more students to law school is personal. Treviño was the first in his family to go to college. He attended community college before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, and eventually went to law school at the University of Washington. Treviño is now the director of undergraduate admissions for the University of California system.

Starting fall 2014, Gilroy Unified School District bus riders will have the chance to hop aboard a converted, $150,000 solar assisted and electric powered school bus.

What inspires you?

For Gilroy High seniors Victor Olmos and Bryanna Chavez, May 19 was life changing.

At their May meeting, the Gavilan College Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointments of two new vice presidents for the college.