Thirty-four students from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School  have been graduated and will move on to local Catholic high schools in the fall.

In outdoor ceremonies held June 5 on the school campus, a large audience of family and friends witnessed the ceremonies in which  Zach Smith, a Downey native, was the commencement speaker. Smith, now a firefighter-paramedic in Rocklin, California, is also the west coast coordinator for Team Rubicon, a volunteer organization that bridges the gap between large natural disasters and conventional aid. He pointed out to the graduating class members how important it is to continue to do services for others and how they should stand up for what they believe is right no matter what others say or do.

The class valedictorian, Anastacia Hernandez, reminisced about her days at OLPH and how she was grateful for the friends she has made at the school and for the help and encouragement she has received from her teachers. Matthew Vasquez made the welcoming remarks to the audience and led the pledge of allegiance. The Rev. Mark Warnstedt, pastor of OLPH Church, gave the blessings and conferred the diplomas with the help of school principal Mrs. Steffani McMains. Miss Gina Pilloni is the eighth grade teacher.

Students Estefania Angulo, Moises Cardoso, Jacinda Castellanos, Yalissa Cortes, Sean Davis, Karina Diez, Anastacia Hernandez, Taylor Mongan, David Saldana, Matthew Vasquez and Paige Wolitski were recognized for being on the Honor Roll all year. Angulo, Helen Argandona, Castellanos, Cortes, Davis, Diez, Hernandez, Saldana, Vasquez and Wolitski were California Junior Scholarship Federation recepients.