Temescal Canyon Class Of 2011: 20 Years In The Making

More than 400 Temescal Canyon High School seniors donning royal blue Titan pride walked for their diplomas Thursday afternoon at The Diamond Stadium in Lake Elsinore.

In front of hundreds of family, friends, teachers, administrators and Lake Elsinore Unified School District board members, the seniors breathed the collective graduate sigh: We made it.

“High school blew past us in the blink of an eye. Seniors, be proud that we have come this far,” said class valedictorian Minky Chae from a podium situated in the middle of The Diamond field. “Don’t look back – run forward.”

Fellow valedictorian Elizabeth Donohew echoed the sentiment when she took the microphone.

“Seniors, we did it! Hit the ground running. No one can ever take away your education. Thank you class of 2011.”

The Temescal Canyon Class of 2011 represent the 20th year anniversary of the school’s founding.

Arica Nassar, a class valedictorian who signed with Oregon State earlier this year to play both volleyball and basketball, acknowledged her class’s special place in history and she congratulated her fellow grads for their many accomplishments, which include high academic achievement and multiple sports championships.

“All of you had an impact,” Nassar reminded her classmates.

In a May 2011 report from the California Department of Education, under the leadership of Temescal Canyon Principal Errol Garnett, the Titans ranked seventh statewide in terms of test scores when compared to other schools of the same type throughout the state.

As Lake Elsinore Unified School District Board President Sue Scott congratulated the grads from the podium, she offered them this advice:

“Follow your dreams and accomplish great things.”