525 seniors say goodbye to Westlake High School

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers HAPPY MOMENT- - Senior Colleen Goad of Westlake High School is excited after getting her diploma. She is one of 525 students who graduated from the school in a ceremony last Thursday. In addition to student and faculty speakers, attendees were entertained by the school's music groups A Class Act and ACA Boys. Kelly Feiweles, Westlake High School's senior class president, offered encouragement to her fellow graduates moments before they would pick up their diplomas and close a chapter in their lives.

"We must never fear tomorrow, as we've already accomplished so much today," Kelly said. "We go with wisdom and knowledge . . . It's because we've given so much to Westlake that we leave with so much."

The stadium at Westlake High was packed last Thursday as family and friends gathered to salute the school's 525 graduates.

Feiweles highlighted some big school accomplishments, such as the football team's Marmonte League championship, the yearbook's success and the orchestra's many wins in competition.

Whitney Blaine and Cydney Schiller gave a speech together in which they alternated back and forth and often spoke in unison.

"We will soon be looking to ourselves, not to our teachers for grades or to our parents for guidance," said Whitney and Cydney. "We've grown into adults. And we're ready for the excitement to come on the road ahead.

"High school hasn't been so easy, but how lucky are we to have something so hard to be leaving behind?"

Jeff Baarstad, Conejo Valley Unified School District's assistant superintendent of business services, and Max Beaman, director of secondary education, announced the names of the 26 valedictorians. Westlake also boasted 96 California Scholarship Foundation gold seal bearers and candidates.

Two more student speakers, Kristen Bennett and Hermal Patel, reflected on their memorable experiences during high school, including getting behind the wheel for the first time.

"Remember the day we rolled out of the DMV onto (Avenida de Los) Arboles with our proud parents sitting next to us?" Kristen asked. "It was then that we realized that they were the world's worst backseat drivers."

"Westlake fostered that new independence we gained," Hermal added. "Our childhood was our first life, and now we are preparing for our second. The turning point is now."

School music groups A Class Act and ACA Boys performed "Friend to Friend, Heart to Heart," and "My Way," respectively. Traci Carpenter and Jackie Pasche sang "Some Things Are Meant to Be."

Principal Ron Lipari called the Class of 2007 "one of the finest in history." He also urged the class to think of how they should measure their lives, quoting lyrics from "Seasons of Love."

"Know yourself," he said. "Know what you're good at and know what you're not good at. Respect yourself and others. . . . And remember, pain and disappointment are inevitable. Suffering is optional."

Lipari then presented the class, which was accepted by CVUSD School Board President Dolores Didio.

Lipari closed with some more words of advice.

"All happy people aren't successful, and all successful people aren't happy," Lipari added. "If you have to choose one, choose to be happy."