Indian Hills graduates triumph over adversity




TRADITION—Students  throwtheir caps into the air after theygraduate from Indian Hills HighSchool  in  Calabasas  lastThursday.

TRADITION—Students throwtheir caps into the air after theygraduate from Indian Hills HighSchool in Calabasas lastThursday.


by Stephanie Bertholdobertholdo@theacorn.com

The graduation ceremony at Indian Hills High School last week

was a celebration of more than just

academic achievement for the 40

students.

For the Class of 2005, these “at

risk” teens overcame roadblocks

and earned diplomas that represented not only an educational feat,

but a personal triumph.

As ceremonies began, the students entered the grassy backyard

of the school in their red caps and

gowns. Principal Stan Lyons congratulated the students for staying

the course of high school. “A continuation high school like this is the

beginning for very successful folks

like these,” he said.

Dr. Stephen Trudeau, a school

district psychologist, told the seniors, “I stand before you as a graduate from alternative education myself.” He said that like the graduating students, he was not a traditional

learner. The staff at San Fernando

Valley High School had “planted

seeds in my life and heart” which

led him to enter college at age 26.

“Sooner or later you are going

to do something wonderful,”

Trudeau said. “You proved it by

fighting for your education. You are

not human beings, you are human

becomings.”

Three students presented commencement addresses. Amy Cohen

said that Indian Hills has been “an

amazing” school. “I finally hear

myself,” Cohen said.

Yaron “Saf” Weisberg discussed

his journey through high school. He

came to Indian Hills during his senior year, he said, and felt like an

outcast. “Within one week, my head

was (held) high,” he said.

“I want to be a teacher at Indian

Hills High School, just like you

guys,” said Weisberg, who added

that he will use the same methods

when he achieves his goal of becoming a history teacher.

Several scholarships were

awarded from The Westlake Village

Rotary Club, National Charity

League (Conejo Valley Chapter),

the Westlake Women’s Club, the

Calabasas Chamber of Commerce,

and Indian Hills High School.

Two new scholarships were presented this year. The $1,500 Las

Virgenes Educators Association

Future Teacher Scholarship was

awarded by art teacher Lynn

Coleman. The Dr. Stephen

Trudeau Scholarship was presented to two students for creativity in art and writing.

In all, awards of over $3,000

were presented to students.

Scholarship recipients included Paul Adams, Amy Cohen,

Ryan Killough, Katherine Liang,

Adam Marquez, Sean Norvet,

Chris Sampera, Kevin Schneider,

Jessica Shapiro, William Syms,

Tara Touzie, and Saf Weinberg.

Several school district officials attended the event, including Donald Zimring, Las Virgenes

Unified School District interim

superintendent, Jim Nielsen, district director of secondary education, and Terilyn Finders, school

board member.

“There are moments in life

that divide time, marking forever

before and after—moments years

in the making,” said Finders, who

accepted the class.

She said graduation was one

of those “milestone moments

earned over 13 years.”

After the ceremony, the graduates moved the tassels on their

caps from right to left and threw

their caps deep into the evening

sky.


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