From East Union to the East Coast.

Those are the plans for the East Union High Class of 2022 valedictorian and salutatorian – Celeste Guerrero and Danielle Stengel, respectively.

Both earned the school’s top academic honors with GPAs in the 4.2s.

Celeste Guerrero, who is the daughter of Marisella and Javier Guerrero, will be attending New York University in the heart of New York City in the fall. She’s planning to major in Biomedical Engineering.

She attended nearby McParland prior to EU. Guerrero played volleyball, soccer and tennis for the Lancers and was involved in the Science Olympiad and was the founder of the Environmental Club.

She’s hoping for the latter to continue on long after her graduation.

Speaking of graduation, EU will return to a traditional commencement ceremony scheduled for Thursday evening, May 26, at Dino Cunial Field.

“I’m excited about that – it will be meaningful to graduate with all of your classmates and family be there,” she said.

Ditto that, for Stengel, who is the daughter of Denny Stengel and Barbara Alvarado.

“Having (a traditional) graduation means a lot to me,” she said. “It will feel special.”

Danielle Stengel will be making her way to John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, after all the pomp and circumstance.

She’s planning to study Neuroscience.

Stengel went to several elementary schools in Modesto prior to her time in East Union. She had just completed an online school site and was enjoying a return to the traditional classroom as a sophomore.

But that changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. Stengel was back online in March 2020 as education shifted to distance learning.

During her time at EU, she was involved in Science Olympiad and JROTC.