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Stavrianoudakis is class valedictorian at CVHS
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Anthony Stavrianoudakis is the top student at Central Valley High School where its class of 2012 will receive diplomas on Thursday evening.

Anthony is graduating from Central Valley as valedictorian with an overall GPA of 4.29. Anthony plans to attend U.C. Berkeley and major in film and media in the fall. In five years he would like to have graduated from U.C. Berkeley.

Anthony, son of Nick and Suzette Stavrianoudakis, was born and raised in Turlock but has attended school in Ceres. He has one older brother, Alex, who also graduated from CVHS. His grandparents are Strat and Bessie Stavrianoudakis and Bob and Sue Santos.

When asked to describe Anthony, AP English Literature teacher Paul Rutishauser noted that "Anthony is a student with a keen, insightful mind, an ironic sense of humor, and a quiet, inspiring presence. CVHS is honored to claim him as a graduate."

Class salutatorians are their biographies are as follows:

Drucella Miranda

Drucella Miranda comes from a family who immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in hopes of giving Drucella and her two younger siblings a better education. Drucella is the oldest child and is graduating as a salutatorian. She has been able to transition easily moving from Texas and attending several different schools before Central Valley High School. Drucella has been involved in volleyball and track all four years of high school. She is also involved in several clubs such as NHS, Interact, Skills, and more. Outside school, she volunteered at Kaiser Permanente. As she juggled a difficult schedule throughout high school, she maintained a GPA higher than 4.0.

In the fall she will become an "Aggie" at the U.C. Davis College of Engineering where she will study biomedical engineering to prepare her for medical school.

Anna Christina Morales

Anna Christina Morales and her family moved to California from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, when she was two years old. Upon moving to California they moved to Ceres from Modesto where they continue to reside. Though she is not the first in her family to go to college, she is the first to attend college in the United States. After being accepted to various universities, she decided to attend U.C. Berkeley this fall where she plans to pursue a major in Business Administration in the Haas School of Business. In five years upon completing her bachelor's degree at Berkeley Anna Christina plans to attend graduate school on the East Coast or travel and work abroad.

Alexis Ulloa

Alexis Ulloa grew up in Grayson, raised by Efren and Margaret Ulloa. Alexis attended Grayson Charter School up to the fifth grade until her family moved to Ceres in 2004. Alexis has been involved in NHS, HYLC, PHAST, and Interact but FFA has influenced and shaped her the most by providing opportunities and giving her the confidence to accomplish her future goals. Alexis, who maintains perfect attendance throughout 13 years of school, plans to attend Modesto Junior College to study agriculture. She hopes to be accepted into MJC's sheep internship program, then transfer to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, for her bachelor's degree, then transferring to U.C. Davis for a master's in animal science before finally enrolling in U.C. Davis's veterinary school. Alexis sees herself opening up a mixed practice veterinarian clinic in the Valley along with starting her own sheep breeding business.

Alejandro Sanchez

As a toddler, Alejandro Sanchez migrated with his family from Mexico to the United States in search for a better life and more opportunities. Being the youngest of seven brothers and sisters, Alejandro is the first to attend a four-year university and now is setting a great example to his nieces and nephews who look up to him.

Alejandro will be majoring in architecture and attending Cal Poly, Pomona in the fall. When asked where he sees himself in five years, Alejandro said either designing his dream home or traveling the globe to further his education in architecture.

He also advises everyone to not abandon their goals because they are the driving forces that lead to accomplishments in life.

Hugo Contreras

Hugo Contreras will be the first member of his family to graduate from high school and attend college and is setting an example for his two younger siblings to follow. He expressed being proud of hearing his 11-year-old sister say she looks up to him and one day she wants to be smart like him.

Born in Michoacán, Mexico, Hugo moved with his family to Ceres in 2005 at the age of 11. Hugo had a difficult time learning the English language but now he is proud of being bilingual.

Contreras plans to attend Modesto Junior College, then transfer to a university where he will attempt to earn a master's degree in mathematics. His dream college is Stanford because it is a prestigious college. Contreras sees himself finishing his career and being a professor in an American university.

Chantrea Chau

Salutatorian Chantrea Chau is the youngest of three siblings to graduate high school, but the first to attend college.

Born and raised in Eureka, Chan was raised by parents who both worked two jobs. In 2008 he moved to Ceres to live with his sister and her husband just months before his freshman year.

This fall Chan plans to attend San Jose State University to participate in the Air Force ROTC program while majoring in aerospace engineering. Chan has always wanted to travel and see new things and wants to take advantage of his opportunities and give back to his family.

"I don't want them to worry about me not having food on my plate and a roof over my head," said Chau. "My family is the motivation for my success."