80 Students at COE Alternative,
Special Education Schools to Graduate

SAN JOSE, CA – Eighty students will be recognized in June graduation ceremonies of the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

The COE's Special Education Department will honor 37 students at a June 9 ceremony, and the Alternative Schools Department will honor 43 students on June 16.

"We are very proud of our students, who overcome significant obstacles to reach this point," said Charles Weis, county Superintendent of Schools. "It's a great day for them and for our staff."

Valedictorians at the Special Education graduation will be John Nguyen, Nassreen Zarea, Annamarie De Angelo, Joseph Choe and Cuong Van Tran. The WorkAbility I Student of the Year Award and the Principal's Award will be announced at the ceremony.

In the musical portion of the ceremony, to be held at the Quinlan Center in Cupertino, James Stuart and Arman Murphy will sing solos. Remarks will be delivered by Mary-Anne Bosward, director of Special Education.

The Alternative Schools ceremony will feature student speakers Sadi Zuniga of Pathfinder School; Bryan Portillo of Calero; and Victor Raymundo of Blue Ridge.

The welcoming address will be delivered by ASD principal Carey Johnson. Joe Fimiani, head of Student Services at the COE, will be the keynote speaker. The ceremony, which starts at 6 p.m., will take place at the Cathedral of Faith's Horton Youth Center Auditorium, at 2315 Canoas Garden Ave. in San Jose.

Date last updated: June 9, 2009