The President’s Honor Roll Reception was held May 7 at the Winslow Maxwell Overlook.

A total of 2,484 students earned honors during the spring and fall semesters of 2009, but only 500 attended the event.

“You make your own path in life,” dual enrollment student, and biology major, Kathryn Fischer, said. “I want to work one day teaching other people everything I know, but first I want to go out and learn everything I can.”

Not all students were as fortunate.

Amanda Maria De Lira was diagnosed with ovarian cancer three months after last year’s ceremony, and died ten weeks and one day later. Her father accepted her award in her memory. “She encouraged all of you to strive,” De Lira said. 

According to Superintendent-President Dr. Andreea Serban, 1,018 students earned a perfect Grade Point Average of 4.0. 

“Our faculty upholds a high standard of academic achievement,” Serban said while commending students.

“It feels good to be recognized,” said business major Michael Li, “and to begin to see your hard work pay off.”

Li’s parents were unable to attend, but student, Mark Brown got up at 4 a.m. to drive down from Santa Cruz with Ben, the family’s German Sheppard.

History major Ana Szaky hopes her hard work will enable her to transfer to a four-year college. 

“I want to go to Davis,” she said. “That’s kind of the goal.”

Szaky is only one of a variety of students that make up what Serban describes as an “exclusive group,” among them 12 members of the Associated Student Body.

Students came from diverse backgrounds and spanned across a broad age range. Some attended the ceremony dressed in their Sunday best, some in shorts and T-shirts. True to City College diversity, some arrived by bike or skateboard, others arrived on foot or by car. 

Dr. Stuart Orentstien just completed his 31st year of higher education. He retired in 2007 and started at City College in 2008.

“I just decided I wanted to be an actor,” he said.

To be eligible for the President’s Honor Roll, full-time students must complete 12 units with a GPA of 3.5 or better.

Part-time students who complete 18 units at City College with a GPA of 3.5, at least six of which were earned during the past semester, are also invited to attend. 

At graduation, degree candidates with a 3.5 cumulative GPA receive recognition as graduating with honors.

Dance student Ben Valenzuela preformed the music for the event and students at the School of Culinary Arts prepared refreshments.

Dean of Student Services Dr. Ben Partee made an opening statement, and a sign language interpreter was provided.

Daniel Guzman, one of the last to accept his award, hopes to cure cancer and dedicated his achievement to his mom, wishing her a happy Mother’s Day.

His mom, like so many others, was all smiles that day and commemorated the event with numerous family photos.