RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Cordova High School Awards and Scholarships Ceremony took place on Thursday, May 12 at the Performing Arts Center where 97 students out of a class of 430 seniors were honored.

Principal Jerad Hyden, assistant principals Joel Francisco, Michele Cooper and Ann Botsford, CHS counselors Betsy Anumu, Kitty White, Mary Stowes, Marque Willis and Bailey Dagen among many others presented the awards. Botsford served as the Master of Ceremony.

“The last two years have been pretty erratic with the pandemic,” said Dr. Sarah Koligian, Superintendent of the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. “This year students have been in person for the whole school year. They’ve been able to participate in not only the regular academic instruction, but also their co-curricular activities.”

Koligian advised the seniors to, “Always be true to yourself, be kind to others, remember to adopt a growth mindset, be nimble, be resilient… They are carrying with them a skill set both academically and with their interpersonal skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Don’t forget this wonderful Class of 2022 and all those that helped raise them up including their families, their friends and their teachers and all the support staff at Cordova High who helped make them who they are and are sending them off into a successful future.”

Hyden handed out the Scholastic Achievement Award from Senator Jim Nielsen’s office and the Valedictorian Award to “the one and only Elyssavil Gwen Estrada.” Hyden quoted the words of many of Estrada’s teachers, including, “She is a full package of awesomeness. Never rattled by pressure. Demonstrates a work ethic beyond compare. Is one of the most generous, gentle and thoughtful students I know. Always brings out the best in others.”

Estrada expressed thanks to her number one support system, her family, her friends, school family, teachers and her counselor. Estrada said Ms. Caplan is one of her favorite teachers.

“She used to be my brother’s teacher before me and he introduced me to her. I joined the engineering academy, stayed loyal to it for four years and now I’m going to college to be a civil engineer.”

She will be attending UCLA this fall. Estrada’s advice to other students coming up is, “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” and “expect the unexpected.”

Kove Carter Pena received a full ride scholarship to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, given by local representative of the Air Force, George Hinman. When finished, Pena will graduate with a rank of 2nd Lieutenant and may choose between the Air Force and Space Force. Pena lives just outside Mather Air Force Base, and the annual air show inspired him.

“I knew that I’d have to strive to put myself out there and get as many awards as I could in order to distinguish myself,” Pena said. “I’ve always wanted to become a pilot and this was the path that I felt would be best for me to be most successful.”

Pena said he was encouraged along the way by his parents most of all.

The 97 Cordova seniors were honored Thursday for the following:

Military Recognition:  Air Force, David Fuller; Army, Davion Smith; Air Force Academy, Kove Pena. 

Student Government Award:  Estefany Gonzalez Zavala, certificate for excellence in leadership.

Valedictorian:  Elyssavil Gwen Fontanilla Estrada. 

Class of 2022 Top 10%:  Grace Elizabeth Anela, Taef Ibne Biswas, Alexandra Michelle Bloshenko, Teal Janine Boyd, Rose Christine Briggs, Erika Raquel Carrasco, Julianne Amry Caballero Castillo, Ecaterina Cazemir, Kiley Sierra Cole, Julia Daniliuk, Roza Darmoyan, Allen Miguel de Dios, Amanda Dong, Elyssavil Gwen Fontanilla Estrada, Anna Gambaryan, Hannah Kendra Gibson, Minh Hoang, Diana Karpach,  Edgar Lopez-Jimenez, Julia Mac Ly, William Addison Myatt, Smarika Neupane, Jasmine T. Nguyen, Justin Thomas Nguyen, Kove Carter Pena, Maxim Petrashishin, Anna Popova, Evelina Ravlo, Vianney Melissa Rodriguez Marcos, Delaney Adelle Royer, Alondra Esmeralda Sanchez Soto, Victor Davis Santos, Yelitza Janelle Santos, Madeleine Wilda Khan Stewart, Diana Tat, Milena Ter-Poghosyan, May Myat Noe Thaw, Evan Vang, Thien Thanh Thi Vo, Eli Phillip Parker Whitaker, Sheryl Ann Ledama Wiley, Muhammad Uzair Yousaf, Isabella Claire Zilles.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Recipients (Most rigorous course load in their 4 years at CHS):  Taef Ibne Biswas, Teal Janine Boyd, Roscoe Budge, Kiley Sierra Cole, Enrique Cruz Jimenez, Elyssavil Gwen Estrada, Estefany Gonzalez Zavala, Minh Hoang, Diana Karpach, Austin Konarski, Hovhannes Muradyan, William Addison Myatt, Justin Thomas Nguyen, Kove Carter Pena, Evelina Ravlo, Victor David Santos, May Myat Noe Thaw, Evan Vang, Eli Phillip Parker Whitaker, Muhammad Uzair Yousaf.

International Baccalaureate Certificate Recipients (At least three International Baccalaureate classes in junior and senior years):  Mylah Rae Anderson, Grace Elizabeth Anela, Bernadette Su Apaso, Hoyt Barrios, Taef Ibne Biswas, Jazmine Bottoms, Teal Janine Boyd, Natalieanne June Brewer, Rose Christine Briggs, Joniah Angel Brown, Roscoe Budge, Erika Raquel Carrasco, Julianne Amry Caballero Castillo, Andrea Ceja, Kiley Sierra Cole, Troy Michael Chan Combs, Ja’lina Copeland, Ana Corona, Enrique Cruz Jimenez, Julia Daniliuk, Roza Darmoyan, Allen Miguel de Dios, Amanda Dong, Rylee Emery, Adrian Eriza Cardenas, Elyssavil Gwen Fontanilla Estrada, Thomas Jay Ford, Anna Gambaryan, Emma Belen Campos, Estefany Gonzalez Zavala, Minh Hoang, Diana Karpach, Austin Konarski, Kelissa Lee, Edgar Lopez Jimenez, Joana Luis-Carrasco, Julia Mac Ly, Angelina-Rasha Mrabe, Hovhannes Muradyan, William Addison Myatt, Smarika Neupane, Jasmine T. Nguyen, Justin Thomas Nguyen, Thien Kim Nguyen, Alejandra Itzel Ortega, Kova Carter Pena, Maxim Petrashishin, Pavanpreet Pooni, Evalina Ravlo, Shaily Adriana Rodriguez Gonzalez, Vianney Melissa Rodriguez Marcos, Delaney Adelle Royer, Vlad Rozhenko, Bianey Alejandra Ruiz-Salinas, Justine Carlos Rullod, Victor David Santos, Yelitza Janelle Santos, Marlon Trevor Schulze, Madeleine Wilda Khan Stewart, Milena Ter-Poghosyan, May Myat Noe Thaw, Evan Vang, Thien Thanh Thi Vo, Ina Volcova, Eli Phillip Parker Whitaker, Sheryl Ann Ledama Wiley, Joseph Williams, Indya Diamong Wooda, Muhammad Uzair Yousaf, Isabella Claire Zilles.

International Career Programme (Medical career path): Bernadette Su Apaso, Erika Raquel Carrasco, Andrea Elizabeth Ceja, Troy Michael Chan Combs, Ana Corona, Roza Darmoyan, Adrian Eriza Cardenas, Anna Gambaryan, Brianda Garcia, Hannah Renee Hontz, Michael Ilker Karaer, Aria Sadie Lane, Angelina-Rasha Mrabe, Smarika Neupane, Jasmine T. Nguyen, Alejandra Itzel Ortega, Maxim Petrashishin, Shaily Adriana Rodriguez Gonzalez, Bianey Alejandra Ruiz-Salinas, Alondra Esmeralda Sanchez Soto, Milena Ter-Poghosyan, Ina Volcova, Sheryl Ann Ledoma Wiley.

Community Scholarships & Special Awards:  Catherine J. Fidel Scholarship, Alondra Esmeralda Sanchez Soto $1,000; CHS Construction Scholarship, Haylie McHarg $2000; Clark Family Memorial Scholarship Amanda Dong $500; CREATE Mentoring Program Scholarship, Elyssavil Gwen Estrada $3,000; Don Nottoli Scholarship, May Thaw $5,000, Elyssavil Gwen Estrada $5,000; Folsom Cordova Leadership Association Scholarship, Erika Raquel Carrasco $500; Gary and Janie Sorg Family Scholarship, Julia Mac Ly $1,500; Josie and Dale Steelman Scholarship, Vianney Melissa Rodriguez Marcos $600, Alondra Esmeralda Sanchez Soto $600, Thien Thanh Thi Vo $600; Kelly Family Scholarship for Orchestra, Anna Gambaryan $250; Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence, Matt Vasquez, certificate; Lester Family Scholarship,Victor Santos $1,000; Mark Levy Memorial Scholarship, Thien Thanh Thi Vo $500; Mike Lazenby Leadership Legacy Scholarship, Hannah Hontz, Kelissa Lee; Ose Family Community Service Award, Thien Thanh Thi Vo $1,000.

Rancho Cordova Rotary Club Scholarship, Taef Ibne Biswas $1,000, Thien Thanh Thi Vo $1,000, Amanda Dong $500, Julia Mac Ly $500, Vianney Rodriguez Marcos $500, Najla Najer $500, Andrea Thames $500, Alondra Esmeralda Sanchez Soto $500.

California Scholarship Federation Life Members (* denotes Highest Honor Life Member):  Grace Elizabeth Anela*, Erika Raquel Carrasco, Julianne Amry Caballero Castillo*, Roza Darmoyan, Amanda Dong*, Hannah Gibson, Minh Hoang*, Julia Mac Ly, William Addison Myatt*, Smarika Neupane, Jasmine T. Nguyen*, Justin Thomas Nguyen*, Kove Carter Pena*, Evelina Ravlo*, Vianney Melissa Rodriguez-Marcos*, Delaney Adelle Royer*, Alondra Esmeralda Sanchez Soto*.

California State Seal of Biliteracy:  Selene Alvarado Eugenio, Grace Elizabeth Anela, Hoyt Barrios, Taef Ibne Biswas, Alexandra Michelle Bloshenko, Jazmine Bottoms, Teal Janine Boyd, Roscoe Budge, Erika Raquel Carrasco, Julianne Amry Caballero Castillo, Andrea Ceja, Kiley Sierra Cole, Ja’lina Copeland, Ana Corona, Enrique Cruz Jimenez, Julia Daniliuk, Roza Darmoyan, Allen Miguel de Dios, Amanda Dong, Rylee Emery, Adrian Eriza Cardenas, Elyssavil Gwen Estrada, Aaron Fernandez, Anna Gambaryan, Brianda Garcia, Noelle Gifford, Estefany Gonzalez Zavala, Minh Hoang, Esmeralda Jauregui, Diana Karpach, Austin Konarski, Adrianna Lacayo, Kelissa Lee, Edgar Lopez Jimenez, Joana Luis-Carrasco, Julia Mac Ly, Maria Matsakyan, Angelina-Rasha Mrabe, Hovhannes Muradyan, William Addison Myatt, Smarika Neupane, Jasmine T. Nguyen, Justin Thomas Nguyen, Alejandra Itzel Ortega, Rebecca Palafox, Kove Carter Pena, Pavanpreet Pooni, Anna Popova, Alexis Ramirez, Yessica Ramirez Delgado, Evelina Ravlo, Vianney Melissa Rodriguez Marcos, Vlad Rozhenko, Alondra Esmeralda Sanchez Soto, Yelitza Janelle Santos, Madeleine Wilda Khan Stewart, Diana Tat, Grace Tellez, Milena Ter-Poghosyan, May Myat Noe Thaw, Andrew Tran, Evan Vang, Tralena Vang, Ina Volcova, Eli Phillip Parker Whitaker, Muhammad Uzair Yousaf, Isabella Claire Zilles.