California High School will celebrate approximately 650 Condors at its commencement ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 4 at Sandra Sanchez Thorstenson Stadium, 9800 Mills Ave., Whittier.
Leading the Class of 2019 are valedictorians Angelica Gonzalez, Yanelli Gonzalez and Matthew Ponce de Leon.
Angelica – who is a student leader on campus, an AP Scholar and recipient of the Seal of Biliteracy – will major in molecular environmental biology, with an emphasis in animal health and behavior at UC Berkeley. Her goal is to become a wildlife biologist.
Yanelli – who won the DAR Good Citizenship Award and Scholarship and is president of several academic programs – plans to major in biology at UCLA. She wants to become a pediatric oncologist.
Matthew – a National Hispanic Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction – will major in computer science at UCLA. He won a full scholarship to Arizona State University, as well as a UC Santa Barbara Regents Scholarship. He plans to become a software engineer or tech entrepreneur.
Among the graduates are salutatorians Jacqueline Zambrano, who will study history at Cal State Long Beach; Allyson Fortis, who will study bioengineering at UC Riverside; and Christopher Tokarse, who will major in mechanical engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Jacquelene, who wants to become a civil rights attorney, is a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, which will provide her full tuition, room and board to CSU Long Beach. She is an AP Scholar and a Seal of Biliteracy recipient.
Allyson won the John Greenleaf Scholarship and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Science – Healthcare Professionals Scholarship. The scholar-athlete is a member of the National Honor Society, band, Model United Nations and speech and debate. She plans to become a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Christopher, a scholar-athlete who plans to become an engineer or entrepreneur, is an AP Scholar and member of the Puente program. He plans to minor in business.