Ariana Gutierrez sings the praises of Calla High.
And she knows what she is talking about.
 Gutierrez was the student speaker during Friday’s Calla High graduation ceremonies for 80 studnets conducted at Calvary Community Church.
Her class speech was sprinkled with the good and inspiring things that happened to her and to others at Calla High School.
 “We simply did not enjoy school until we turned to Calla,” Gutierrez said.  “I was in home study until I got into my junior year.  Calla is a place where teachers and staff really care about their students and we are blessed with so many wonderful teachers.  It is a place where the PE teacher plays basketball with his students.  Mr. Mallard always has a joke ready in his English class.  All of us thought we would not graduate for all the challenges we faced.”
The new high school graduate survived many challenges in her young life and rose to the point where she returned to a traditional classroom in her junior year. She is now focused on pursuing a career as a physician.
“We learned from our class we may ultimately fall down, but it is up to us to pick ourselves up again,” she told the gathering.
Gutierrez earned a number of scholarships. The Women of Woodbridge gave her a $1,000 scholarship as did the Manteca Morning Kiwanis Club, with the Manteca Garden Club adding $500 from their recent Garden Tour, Manteca Rotary Club added $750, Manteca United Federated Women’s Club gave her another $500, with the Manteca Morning Rotary Club adding another $1,000. 
 “This young woman represents grace – that’s not a term you hear much anymore – but she represents grace.” noted Kiwanian and Mayor Pro Tempe Rich Silverman in presenting the Manteca Kiwanis scholarship to Gutierrez.
Calla teacher Michele Bryson said of Gutierrez, “She has incredible insight beyond her maturity. She has a keen ability to understand others and she is extremely poised.”
A plaque thanking the principal for her love and service to the students was presented to retiring principal Kathy A. Crouse “from the parents and their children of Calla School.”
 “Now that I am retiring you could never pay me for what I get from these students,” Crouse said
Sierra High School music teacher Rick Hammerstrom was recognized by Calla Principal Kathy Crouse for volunteering his services to the Calla student body. 
The graduating class of 2017 included: Anna Abeyta, Walter Acuna, Kianna Aguon, Darian Alvernaz, Angel Anderson, Yadira Avila, Brittany Azbill, Oscar Barron-Aguniga, Andria Bradshaw, Antione Brown, Marcos Buenostro, Renessa Caampued, Adriana Castaneda, Jesse Castaneda, Gabriel Catucci, Vincent Christensen, Johnny Coronado, Garret Cross, Andrew Deleon, Adrian Diaz, Brian Dillon, Cesar Elias, Llyana Garcia, Dustan Goldman, Raquel Gregory, Marco Guevara, Ariana Gutierrez, Adam Guttierez-Uribe, Harley Hellberg, Alisya Hernandez, Marcus Howell, Angel Ibanez, Soria, Jacob Isaak, Brandon Kendrick, Ryan King, Winter Lipsett, Rosa Lupian Carrillo, Yezenia Lupian Carrillo, Manuel Martinez, Manuel Martinez, Santiago Martinez, Corey Massa, Alan Mechling, Emmanuel Mendez, Melvin Mendoza, Karolyn Minderler, Mateo Montes, Leonardo Medina Moya, Mariela Munoz, Angel Navarro, Ethan Nicolas, Rosalena Ochoa, Ricardo Pacheco, Ashley Perez, Celicia Ramirez, David Reyes Cabrera, Israel Rodriguez, Jose Rodriguez, Deonesia Roiland, Robert Santiago, Terrill Scott, Jaime Serrano, Neha Shariff, Grace Shaw, Andrew Stokes, Jaime Suarez, Devon Summers, James Tessendorf, Albert Thomas, Alissa Tillman, Alex Towle, Rodney Valentine, Nicholas Vargas, Victor Vidriales, Sawyer Wallace Bolton, Alexis Yepez, Devin Young, Stephen Zarevich and Moises Zavala.
To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.