There are no limits to what one can do in life, and the secret to success is to never be discouraged.

That was the gist of the message shared by Mary Kate Catibog to her classmates during Brock Elliott School’s promotion exercise Tuesday. Catibog, along with Suheyla Yoksuloglu, were the featured student speakers during the ceremony held at Sierra High School where many of the eighth-grade Class of 2013 will be attending this fall as freshmen.

“When there’s a bump on the road, don’t be discouraged,” Catibog said, while reminding her classmates that there will be more obstacles and more mountains to climb during their four-year journey in high school.

There are no limits to what they can achieve in life except those limitations that they set upon themselves, she added.

Both Yoksuloglu and Catibog also were among those who were among those who received awards in academic excellence. Yoksuloglu , along with Kaleigh Doyle, Ava Gonsalves, Athen Gonsalves, Diego Gracia, Katarina Malabanan, Phoebe Nunez, Nicholas Relloque, and Zachary Zumstein all posted 4.0 GPA grades. The other academic awards for achieving 3.5 to 3.99 GPA grades were Jasmin Allen, Mary Kate Catibog, Edward Chang, Victor Elijah, Alyssa Soto, and Ariana Vela.

Receiving an award for perfect attendance was Gerald Sofranac.

Rocking the audience during the program was graduate Kathryn Grigsby whose lively vocal rendition of “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers was accompanied by the rhythmic clapping from both guests and classmates.

The eighth-grade graduates in their purple and yellow gowns walked into the Timberwolves’ gymnasium to the familiar strains of Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance played by the sixth- to 8th-grade band of Brock Elliott conducted by Band Director Melissa Manalastas. Nathaniel Allen and Craig Durao started the program by leading the Pledge of Allegiance, followed Principal Debbie Ruger’s welcome message and introductions.

Doing the honors of presenting the certificates of promotion to the eighth-grade graduates was Manteca Unified Board of Education Vice President Evelyn Moore, assisted by Ruger and Vice Principal Christine Benson.