About 79 eighth-grade students at Sequoia School are en route to high school.

They were promoted at the annual commencement exercises held Tuesday evening.

Leading the way were valedictorians Jordan Hensley and Stephanie Monarrez. Both earned a share of the top academic honor by maintaining a 4.0 grade point average during the past two years.

Others earning high marks were Jasmin Basurio, Rut Centeno, Nicholas Curtright, and Daisy Gonzalez Gutierrez. All four had 4.0 GPAs in their eighth-grade year.

Angel Pulido led the Pledge of Allegiance and, along with Yesenia Garcia, welcomed family, friends and guests at this special promotion event.

 Principal Lisa Herrin recognized those wearing the blue cords.

MUSD recognition awards were announced by former Sequoia principal Jacqui Breitenbucher, Deborah Romero, Cheryl Meeker, and board member Michael Seelye.

Curtright, in addition, performed a musical solo – “Trumpeter’s Lullaby” by Leroy Anderson – while Stefanie Elias, Oswaldo Garcia, Ramses Navarrete, and Malia Parangan shared in the teacher recognition speech.

The presentation of the eighth-grade class was provided by Herrin and Romero.

The recessional tune was Survivors’ “Eye of the Tigers.”