Aurelio Gonzales can thank his mother for his graduation lei.
The eighth-grade student at Mossdale Elementary School was overwhelmed by all of the one dollar bills laced around his neck prior to the annual promotion ceremony on Tuesday.
“I think there’s 100 dollar bills,” said Gonzales, who didn’t have any immediate plans on spending the contents of his gift lei.
He was one of 99 students honored at the pomp and circumstances event. Parents, family and friends jam-packed the school Multi-Purpose Building, according to Principal Susan Sanders, who has held that position since the opening of the Manteca Unified school site.
She also welcomed those in attendance.
Student Body President Phalina Nim, who was one of seven class valedictorians, acknowledged the moment while adding: “High school is next step of our lives,” she said.
Members of the Class of 2018 consisted of:
Abigail Gutierrez, Allisa Alfajardo, Dena Alkhatib, Aliya Alonso, Eldrin Balugo, Emily Banh, Kriztelle Barbarona, Aaron Basi, Rosemary Bauzon, Arlene Cabrera, Theodore Chin, Messiah Chipres, Kierstin Constantino, Gabriel Cervantes, Daniela Echeverria, Chesca Echon, Jordan Eiras, Andy Erazo, Camilia Espinoza, Zareef Fazli, Vivienne Felina, Aaliyah Fernandez, Rheanne Ferrer, Kristofer Florendo, Aiden Flores, Eduardo Alvarez, Kennedy Gandy, Luna Gedde, Sabrina Gedde, Isabelle Gomez, Aurelio Gonzales, Jasmine Morales, Cierra Hagin, Hassieb Hassieb, Brooke Hinkle, Nicholas Hixon.
Saul Isas, Kaylee Nieland, Egypt Jenkins, Arman John, Ryan John, Aryana John, Jeremy Julien, Joshua Lemons, Joceline Loya, Joshua Lueder, Jesse Macharia, Japneet Madahar, Kieran Maloon, Allyza Manzano, Lored Landeros, Yelene Medina, Fiorella Mendez, Madison Tayco, Christopher Millan, Angelina Miranda, Daniel Miranda-Mercado, Jordan Moore, Luis Mora, Sadaf Mukhtar, Phalina Nim, Reian Nipales, Diego Onofre, Leanna Orina, Melody Oum, Layla Watson, Alexandria Phillips, Jaden Prieto, Ariana Quiroz.
Keithley Refe, Alexandria Respicio, Llecenya Reyna, Eduardo Reynoso, Krystle Sakay, Diego Sanchez-Castaneda, Natalie Sayasane, Sherilyne Sevillo, Yamma Shams, Arshdeep Singh, Harmanjot Singh, Joe Sahib Singh, Preetinder Singh, Varandeep Singh, Yashdeep Singh, Jasper Starks, Tory Sumbler, Simran Sunner, Tristan Timbreza, Dakota O’Callaghan, Aikienide Ugbiyobo, Giovanni Valdivia, Ashley Van Diggelen, Krisalyn Vega Silva, Diego Vega, Vanditha Vemparala, Thracylie Joy Venales Acoba, Christian Vidrio, Nathalie Villegas.
To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.