R U T H A SAWA S OTA

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G R A D U AT I O N

CL A SS OF 2020

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Dear Class of 2020,

Here we are! We stand at the end of four years together. And though we are apart, we are still very much together.

I want to thank the leadership of this class, particularly Kyle and Chava - who have worked tirelessly to develop creative solutions to new prob-lems. I also want to acknowledge Ms. Park and Mr. Estrada, with love and gratitude - for always keeping student experience at the center of their work and efforts. And mostly, I want to celebrate each and every one of YOU, Class of 2020.

When I think back to opening the gates on August 15, 2016, I could have never imagined our world the way it looks today. The elections, the protests, the fires, the increasing public visibility of how white supremacy culture has, and continues to, oppress folks of color, and of course - the virus. And yet, addressing you today - I think mostly of hope. As a class, you’ve stood up for racial and environmental justice - you rallied around the Dreamers, speaking out that migration is human, and no person is illegal. You demanded that your voices be heard.

Just like our country, our school has changed. This place looks and feels like an organization evolving, rather than one that stands still. That’s because of you students - the work you’ve put into your classes, your art and your community.

As you move forward through the final days of high school, my wish for you is that you hold on to the positive. Out of struggle comes strength. Out of adversity comes opportunity.

Remember your times here - all of the joy, the awkwardness, the fun - as part of a long journey you are just beginning to take. You have every-thing you need to make the world, yourself and your loved ones shine.

Congratulations and good luck.

Principal Caitlin Boyle

Graduation Hosted AtRUTHASAWASOTA.ENVISIONGRADUATIONS.COM

Password DRAGON2020

WELCOMEPrincipal Caitlin Boyle

HONORARY ADDRESSLondon Breed, San Francisco Mayor

DEAR CLASS OF 2020 ANIMATED SHORTKyle Trefny, Senior Class President & Visual Arts

+Julian Jordan Media

ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN Tara SiegelBAND Henry Hung

CREATIVE WRITING Heather WoodwardDANCE Andrea Hinman

GUITAR Scott CmielMEDIA + FILM ARTS Salome Milstead + Scott Eberhardt

MUSICAL THEATRE Ron S. McCan

CLASS OF 2020 STUDENT SPEAKERChava Novogrodsky-Godt

Student Gov President + Theatre

CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE SF GIANTSHunter Pence

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORSSteve Kerr, Head Coach + Team Members

ORCHESTRA Tristan ArnoldPIANO Ava Soifer

the SPOKEN ARTS departmentTECHNICAL THEATRE Paul Kwapy

THEATRE Elizabeth CarterVISUAL Don Fontowitz

VOCAL Michael DesnoyersWORLD DANCE Joti Singh

WORLD MUSIC Monina Cervone

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER

Joe Talbot is an American filmmaker. He honed his craft in the Media Department at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts (2008). Joe is a fifth-generation San Francisco native, son of authors David Talbot and Camille Peri and brother to Nat Talbot, SOTA Media (2012). Joe Talbot is the co-writer and director of The Last Black Man in San Francisco. Film critic, Justin Chang, called the film, “a gorgeous, moving ode to a city in flux.”

Last Black Man in San Francisco won the Best Director award at the Sun-dance Film Festival, as well as being called ”Film of the Year” by Rolling Stones Magazine and listed as a top 10 film of 2019 by the NY Times and Barack Obama.

Talbot’s upcoming project, Running from Tomorrow, is a neo-noir set in SF. It’s currently in development.

AWARDS + RECOGNITIONSPresentation Video

CONFERRING OF DIPLOMASPrincipal Caitlin Boyle

RUTH ASAWA SOTA GRADUATES!!!Congratulations

MESSAGE TO THE CLASS OF 2020Dr.Vincent Matthews, SFUSD Superintendent

CLOSING

ARCH ITECTURE +DES IGNNoah BerggrenEleanor BuecherJulian GlaserAva Maile Languedoc HaunOlivia IbasetaNatasha Jensen-AlboJacob Jaroslow LipsettMackenzie ManaloSakura MartinMaria PomelovNicholas SanchezDouglas SearsEmma Shen

BA N DMarcus Andrews French HornRoscoe Bazarini Bass ClarinetMadeline Bedwell FluteThomas Bombara SaxophoneBrianna Carmona FluteBella Chen FluteJesse Elliott TrumpetHenry Lucas Hansen PercussionJason Holtman TrumpetGina Jacobsen FluteJonathan Kaplan TubaIsabella Lemay-Eder SaxophoneMike Ma TrumpetChloe Montoya SaxophoneTobi Ralph ClarinetMateo Shul Ibanez TromboneDiego Talbot EuphoniumJulia Vahey FluteMark Walls Bass ClarinetStian Dehne Wrigley Tuba Kevin Yieh SaxophoneJeff Zhang Clarinet

CREAT IVE WR IT INGJames Max ChuHannah DuaneKenzo FukudaRae Dox KimEmily KozhinaEva Whitney

DA N C EOrla AytonDrina Canjura-KaufmannOlivia FergusonEstelle McGuinnessKatherine ShagalovKaitlyn YeeDasha Yurkevich

G U I TA RGrace AndersenSaylor FellAustin GisiKatelyn NerozaAnkie PonToby Yung

M E D I AShaney EtkinAurora Ramirez JamisonJulian JordanMia-Nicté LeFrancoisLidia LoweMonica Isabella Pejoro MenorPhoebe Milvy-SoloffAnabella MortensonJames Parker PenningtonPriscilla PilloSolan RodriguezAlexander RuthMilo Waller Straghalis

PRESENTING...

MUS ICAL THEATREAbraham BaldonadoOlivia HellmanMatilda HoltzDeclan Manasse-BoetaniMariana NuñezAbraham John OppenheimerTrina RanolaMartin SchulerKennedy ShelbyEleanor StokesRowen Willingham-Nowlan

O R C H E S T R ATrent Andrews ViolinVirgyl Basas Double BassMadeline Belew CelloSara Castillo CelloIsabelle Fromme CelloKatie Lee ViolinAlex Linhardt CelloMaya True Fogel ViolaRenata Volchinskaya ViolinKelly Wei ViolinHelen Yu Double Bass

P I A N OXingyu LaiAngelina Wong

S P O K E N A RT SDalia HarbTalia KishinevskyArianna Largaespada

T E C H STAGECRAFTAlejandro AlfaroEmmet FordeMaya KanungoJaden LuscherLevi Morgan-WorleyTolya MuerTeaghan RohanAlex Stewart

T E C H COSTUME + FASHIONAssata ConleySophia LunardiAlyssa McDowellGrace McGeeBea Nussbaum

T H E AT R EOwen BerryEmma Berryessa-LatheTiana BishopSophie BobadillaNoah FridmanGracyn GarrettBasil HernandezTessa HoltzmanNatasha JanowskiKamora JosephEleanor KoskiFinbar LaBelleKayla MakAbigail MillsSarah MitraniChava Novogrodsky-GodtNathaniel Panitch-DaughtonSarah PikeAriana ResendizMichael ShagalovJesse WilsonDavid Zavala

The CLASS of 2020 !

V I S U A L A RT SEdward CastorenaSasha CravisLidia DvorkinKaira EdwardsLennon GarciaDana HuAthena JohnsonMaya KellyLokyan Vivan LiAnni LinJennifer LopezRogelio LopezStephanie MatiatosKarrieem MaysKadi MiuraYureyci MorenoIzumi MuraseGillian Murdock GardnerCindy NguyenAthena O’NeillHannah PonAthena RandMaya RehemRubi SanmiguelWilliam ScottKyle TrefnyCarmynn Zhang

WO R L D DA N C ELucas ChuZachary EstudilloNina GrafiloMiku HaileMiles MeadowsJade MurilloAnastasia RakosTiyamike TisatayaneNani Wright

WO R L D M U S I CZi-Xun Lavender ChenJada GomezGabriel Greenwood MorenoKai Hesla SeymourAva Toomey-CordeiroJermaine WillisCole Yamamoto

VO C A LMeira BellAsha BriscoeSidney BrooderKaela BurtonSiena ChoyJaden De La CruzNatalya FoleyChristopher Tiger GainesNatalie GoochArya HoraMaayan LevaviIsabella LopezGrace McCartyLéa NayakKahyela Racinet SchmalleYukio RahdertBrayden Simmons-AyalaJazea SmithJada StewartDiana Yusupova

CONGRATULATIONS!

CLASS of 2020

VALEDICTORIAN Madeline Belew Orchestra

MATH AWARD Hannah Pon Visual

SHARON JEAN & RICHARD LEEDS AWARDOlivia Ferguson Dance

YVONNE MCCLUNG CHOREOGRAPHY AWARDDasha Yurkevich Dance

DAN KRYSTON SCHOLARSHIP AWARDMaya Kanungo Tech • Jaden Luscher Tech • Eleanor Stokes MT

DR.ROBERT SQUERI VISUAL ARTS SCHOLARSHIPSHannah Pon • Karrieem Mays • Dana Hu

Cindy Nguyen • Jennifer Lopez

FRANKLIN - DEGRASSE TYSON SCIENCE AWARDMatilda Holtz Musical TheatreWORLD LANGUAGE AWARD

Sophie Bobadilla TheatreEARL MINKWITZ SOCIAL STUDIES AWARD

Jaden De La Cruz VocalWILLIAM GRAZIANI ENGLISH AWARD

Rae Kim Creative Writing & Hannah Pon Visual

ED WILLIAMS AWARD for EXCEPTIONAL CREATIVITY IN MUSIC Diana Yusupova Vocal

DOUGLAS HOLLOWAY PIANO SCHOLARSHIP AWARDAngelina Wong

GALLOWAY-SMITH SPIRIT AWARDChava Novogrodsky-Godt Theatre

GORDON CHALMERS AWARDKarrieem Mays Visual Arts & Brayden Simmons-Ayala,Vocal

JEANETTE NEGRO AWARDEmma Shen A+D

JOE ROSENBLATT AWARDGrace McGee Tech

MARSHA PANNONE SCHOLARSHIPZach Estudillo World DanceDAN RYAN SERVICE AWARDEnvironmental Club Seniors

RUTH ASAWA AWARDTeaghan Rohan Tech

CALIFORNIA PTA VOLUNTEER SERVICE SCHOLARSHIPKevin Yieh Band

SAMANTHA BEGGS MEMORIAL AWARD Kyle Trefny Visual Arts

BAND SPECIAL RECOGNITIONThomas Bombara • Marcus Andrews • Isabella Lemay-Eder

VISUAL ARTS SPECIAL RECOGNITION Kadi Miura

THEATRE SPECIAL RECOGNITION David Zavala

VOCAL SPECIAL RECOGNITION Natalie Gooch • Lea Nayak

BEST PERFORMANCE in MUSICAL THEATREMatilda Holtz as Kristine in “A Chorus Line”

BEST PERFORMANCE in THEATRESarah Mitrani as Dracula in “Dracula”

ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN EXCELLENCEEmma Shen

BAND EXCELLENCEGina Jacobsen

CREATIVE WRITING EXCELLENCEKenzo Fukuda

DANCE EXCELLENCEKatherine Shagalov

GUITAR EXCELLENCEAnkie Pon

MEDIA AND FILM ARTS EXCELLENCEMilo Straghalis

MUSICAL THEATRE EXCELLENCERowen Willingham-Nowlan

ORCHESTRA EXCELLENCEIsabelle Fromme

PIANO EXCELLENCEAngelina Wong

SPOKEN ARTS EXCELLENCEArianna Largaespada

TECH - COSTUME + FASHION DESIGN EXCELLENCEAssata Conley

TECH - STAGECRAFT EXCELLENCEAlejandro Alfaro

THEATRE ARTS EXCELLENCEKamora Joseph

VISUAL ARTS EXCELLENCEGillian Murdock-Gardner

VOCAL CLASSICAL EXCELLENCEIsabella Lopez

VOCAL JAZZ EXCELLENCEJaden De La Cruz

WORLD DANCE EXCELLENCEJade Murillo

WORLD MUSIC EXCELLENCECole Yamamoto

ATLAS AWARD Austin Estrada, in recognition of tireless service to the students of

Ruth Asawa School of the Arts

CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION We would like to extend a special thank you to Student Government Faculty Advisor Sara Park. Ms. Park has put in many extra hours and has been instrumental in supporting student voices throughout this

whole process. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed. Thank you Ms. Park we appreciate you!

ADMIN TEAMCaitlin Boyle PrincipalMonette Benitez APEva Kellogg APOmar Amador Dean

FRONT OFFICE Paulette Cauthorn AdmissionsMerrill Komai AccountingEmily Del Real AttendanceMona Pippenger Box Office

SPECIAL EDUCATIONMark Almanza RSPTeresa Castillo RSPZac Koppe RSPScot Bishop SDC TeacherDylan Klarfield SDC Support, AiRTyrina Kelley ParaprofessionalLeslie Lum ParaprofessionalCarol Wilson ParaprofessionalMayya FeyginaGalen RogersMarcin Soldryki Brendan Wong Wendy Yuan

WELLNESS CENTERRobert Francoeur Dept CoordinatorMaria Tobo RAMS CounselorHazel Arines CHOW, BSUDora Lee NurseCole Armstrong Intern

COUNSELINGJennifer Magnesi PsychologistClint Calimlim CounselorCarissa Jow CounselorTina Parsaee Counseling InternZoe Urcadez Counseling Intern

COLLEGE CENTERBeth Alberts College CounselorAnne Sandkuhler

ENGLISHJasmine KitsesEllen LathropBruna LeeSalome MilsteadAndrew PadloSara Park Erik Slayton

SOCIAL STUDIESCarlos AlejoJulie CoghlanAustin EstradaJason MironovTimothy Ruiz

It has been an honor and privilege working with many of you the past four years as a co-teacher from Row-ley to Padlo. I find comfort knowing that you are the future and I wish you all happiness. ~Mark Almanza

Congratulations! It has been a plea-sure getting to know many of you over the past four years. We will miss seeing your smiling faces, your talents and your senses of humor. Please make sure you scope out your Well-ness/Health Center website at your college/university, so you know what supports are available to you. I am hoping that when we are able return to our school buildings, you will come visit us on your school break for a warm cup of tea to say hello. Wishing you good mental/physical health and success in your future! ~The Wellness Team

Ruth asawA SOTA

MATHJhina Alvarado-MorseMadison BergKaren BermanBrian BethelKyle Li Elle Tjan

Congratulations! I’m so proud of all of your accomplishments at SOTA and I wish you nothing but the best on all future endeavors. You will be missed! ~Ms. Park

Seniors, thank you for welcoming me into your community with open arms. Wherever you go, know that I’ll be rooting for you. Whenever you want to return, know I’ll have my arms open too. Godspeed, ~Mr. Estrada

SCIENCEKendrick ChowFrancisco HernandezGalina LipkinaMark RowleyAmy Trusso

FOREIGN LANGUAGETherese Folco Italian + SpanishEdwin Lozada SpanishCarolina Stankiewich SpanishNadine Kahney Spanish

LIBRARYMicah Melton Libraian

I’m so thankful to know you, and to have been able to spend so much time with you in the library and in classes working, talking, and learning about your lives, your families, and your ideas. Please know that I have so much hope and gratitude for you, and that the universe is a much better place because you’re in it being you. Keep in touch, friends! ~ Micah Melton

CAFETERIAJosh Davidson Head ChefSonia AguilarPatty BaithongErminia BenitezMulianto HuowMaureen TrinhLinda WilliamsSusan WongVictor Wong

CUSTODIANSChun Lan HanGuun LeungWai Chih LeungYaorong LiYong-Li Yu

LANDSCAPINGLisa McGovern

SECURITYSierra LaiafaDemario LewisRobert MichelKeith SmithCynthia Web

STaff, Teachers +AiRS

A+DTara Siegel Department HeadGautum BaksiJonathan BradleyAaron Gregory

Dear A+D Seniors,This year may not be what you envisioned, but I’m excited to see what you do as you embark on the next chapter in your journey. You’re creative and resilient, and you will persevere through this pandemic. Learning is not confined to our class-room walls, and there’s a whole world out there for you to explore and experience. I admire and respect all of you, and wish you happiness in your future adventures. Congratulations! ~ Tara Siegel

CREATIVE WRITINGHeather Woodward Department HeadIsaiah DufortPloi Pirapokin

Over the past four years you have learned how your growth as individuals shapes our community. You leave Creative Writing with a deeper understanding of who--and how--you want to be in an increasingly complex world. No matter how complicated the questions and choices may be, the answer remains the same. Mortals all, we share the same fate, and may our consciousness of that shared fate continue to create the empathy that gives every moment of our lives meaning. ~Heather Woodward

DANCEAndrea Hinman Department HeadGraciela AcedoMarika BrusselKai DavisAmy FoleyLucy HudsonYayoi Kambara

Congratulations to the talented dancers in the Dance Department Class of 2020. You have all grown exceptionally as artists, students, and human beings and I am so proud of all of your accomplishments. I hope that you continue to be curious and make bold choices in your life and choreography. You are exceedingly capa-ble and I can’t wait to see what you do with your talent. Go make your mark on the world! ~Andrea Hinman

GUITARScott Cmiel Department HeadGianfranco BaltazarVivian Sharp

Dear Asawa School of the Arts Guitar Class of 2020, I have been delighted for four years by the way each of you have enriched our program by pursuing your unique personal interests: your original compositions, classical guitar solos, jazz, rock, folk ensemble, pop song covers and gourmet cooking have brought us all joy. Thank you for being who you are! ~Scott Cmiel

MEDIAScott Eberhardt Department HeadSalome Milstead Department HeadJesse FilipkoHelene Park

Class of 2020 congratulations! ~Scott and Salome

MUSICAL THEATRERon S. McCan Department HeadDaniel FeyerJeanne Harper Noah Hayden Tania Johnson Ellen Koivisto

Congratulations to the Musical Theatre Class of 2020. As you step away from these walls and into the future, it is my hope that you all achieve the success you so richly deserve. Best wishes to you all! ~Ron S. McCan

PIANOAva Soifer Department HeadRandy Craig

I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of the Asawa SOTA 2020 grads. This is an auspicious time, a turning point in the culture of the world. As High School grads you hold in your minds and hearts the power to guide the future of our city, state, country and the planet. How we move forward in the presidential election, climate change, world peace all are in your hands. Congrat-ulations to my piano dept graduating seniors Xing Yu Lai & Angelina Wong. They have been role models of high moral compass in the piano dept and we will miss them as they move forward to their new studies at UC Santa Cruz & UC Berkeley. To all the 2020 grads be well and have courage. ~Ava Soifer, Piano Dept.

THEATREElizabeth Carter Department HeadKayla Minton Kaufman ActingLaura Espino ActingAriella Wolfe ActingNorman Gee ActingElana Wright Acting + SuzukiMichelle Martin Afro Haitian Dance + MusicBrady Lea ImprovElizabeth Casteneda Movement + DanceAren Haun PlaywritingMichael Mohammed Singing for the Actor

Congratulations Theatre Dept class of 2020. It has been my pure joy and pleasure to work with you over the past four years. You are dynamic, playful, creative and innovative. I can’t imagine a group of students who has exemplified the definition of ensemble more. You have grown together, created together and pulled each other up, even in the most challenging of times. You have helped me become a better teacher and human. You will truly be missed! ~Elizabeth Carter

Dear ones! What a crazy time to be starting your adulthood. But you will be pio-neers and leaders, you will help show us better ways of living and making art, you will be the ones we look to in the future. So many blessings and much love!!! - Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us - Pema Chodron ~Elena Wright This is a very very very (that’s three verys) talented class. The thing that stands out most about this class is how funny everyone is. I can see who will be the next generation of comedy writers. In addition to that, you have all done extremely sol-id work that has only improved each year. It’s been a pleasure and honor to work with each of you! ~Aren Haun

Greetings and a huge CONGRATULATIONS Seniors!! This is certainly not how any of us saw our year ending. Celebrate yourselves, safely, show up for yourselves in your life. Be the best that you’ve worked for, personally and academically. I love you ALL and celebrate your excellence and achievements. Sending virtual hugs and I know you’re the best our world has to offer, wherever you are, whatever you choose to do, take this experience with you. ~Michelle Martin I always say that I feel a bit guilty on my best days at work, because I’m pretty much being paid to watch a hilarious comedy show. Wish we’d had more days in person this year, but I am so proud of your work, and hope you’ll stick with it, if even just for fun. xx ~Brady Lea

SOTA Theatre 2020!! You have all grown so much over the last years and I feel privileged to have been witness to each of you and your willingness to be expres-sive through movement. Your improvisations and choreography creations have been a transformational experience for all involved. I cherish all of our classes and performance memories, as they will always remind me of a very special era in the SOTA Theatre Department. Your ensemble is unique and powerful. Congrats! You made it! Yes! 5,6,7,8!!! ~Elizabeth Castaneda

SPOKEN ARTSImani Sims Artist in ResidenceSOTA’s Spoken Seniors it’s time to let the world know! Ya’ll are beautiful, powerful, with voices that glow. These words are from all of Spoken Arts and we just want to let you know: That life will never be the same without Talias meme filled-com-mentary, poetry with Ari’s emotional narratives, and Dalia’s loving judgements. We’re going to miss our lyrical alchemists who stayed by our side and survived through three different teachers, who held us when we cried, and pushed us to rise above the page. ~Class of Spoken Arts

TECHNICAL THEATREPaul Kwapy Department HeadAnnette Ribeiro Costume + FashionStephan GaudreauCarlos Sandoval

To the Class of 2020 Tech Seniors;I felt it only fitting to leave you with a few of my favorite quotes…

“You are the Captain of your ship, be careful out there!” B.Frost (Restaurant Mgr.)“Never give up, never surrender!” Captain Taggart (Galaxy Quest)“We are the music makers, we are the dreamers of dreams.” Willy Wonka“Live for today, with your eyes on tomorrow, and respect for the past.” R. Polliard

It has been my highest honor to have been a part of your livesI ***SALUTES*** ~Paul Kwapy

Congratulations Graduates!, To those of you I never met personally thank you for enriching my life through your art. To those of you I got to know and work with, you who graced my costume room with your laughter or who I would see and visit with in the halls, thank you for bringing me happiness and making my time at SOTA even better. To my seniors in Tech: Alejandro, Emmet, Jaden, Maya , Alex, Levi, Tolya and Teaghan, I loved seeing you every day and working together. I am so proud of you all! You are truly amazing. I will miss you. To my seniors, Assata, Sophia, Alyssa, Grace and Bea: you will always be my family. All of you ~ take with you all that you have learned, keep it in your back pockets, pull it out and use it all the time for the rest of your lives and never stop filling them. I love you SOTA Grads!!! ~Annette Ribeiro

VISUAL ARTSDonald Fontowitz Department Head, Senior Art, EnglishJaime Longa Junior ArtJeffrey Castleman Sophomore Art + YearbookShannon Stone Freshman ArtClark Tate Freshman Digital ArtJiajun Lu Sculpture

Congratulations to the Senior Visual Class of 2020. It has been an honor and a pleasure to be your teacher this year. Reflecting on how much each and every one of you has grown and matured over the four years that I have known you, I am confident that you will face the many challenges ahead with courage, dignity and the truth that there will be a way to manifest your deepest desires. You have shown immense fortitude these last two months, in the face of an overwhelming pandemic and the complete disruption of your lives. If there is anything positive to take from this experience into the future, it may be the knowledge that you have risen to the challenge, deepened your character and survived to become that much more determined to succeed in following your dreams. Yours is a class that I will always remember for your brilliance and courage. You are an inspiration to us all. Keep fighting for your truth, be the best you can be, and never, never give up. Many blessings to you on your journey through life. ~Donald Ivan Fontowitz

VOCALMichael Desnoyers Department HeadAndrea ClaburnTonia D'AmelioJean-Paul JonesSergey KhalikulovJulia MorrisMichael OrlinskyJulian ShippHarry WhitneyKrista Wigle

My dear class of 2020, what a journey we’ve been on together. I’m so proud of each and every one of you for accomplishments and achievements. It has been an honor to make music with you and watch you grow into the musicians and humans that you are today. I couldn’t be more proud to have been your teacher for these four years. Wishing you all the best on your journey forward - never stop singing! ~Michael Desnoyers

You are all wonderful, creative, intelligent, talented, charming and amazingly resil-ient people! “Find out who you are, and do it on purpose!” -Dolly Parton. Go out and sing your song to the world however that may be! Wishing you love, peace, and happiness in your lives. ~Krista Wigle

You searched for IT. You found IT. You’ve got IT. Now go out and WORK IT! ~Jean-Paul Jones In jazz, we strive to develop a unique vocal style, one that distinguishes us and expresses individual musical vision. My wish for each of you is that you never stop developing your distinctive voice, no matter what profession you eventually choose; that you continue to raise your voices in your own unique way, and that your indelible voices change our world. ~Andrea Claburn

It has been an honor getting to see the incredible talents that you’ve brought into this world, so far! Excited for what you will take from this school, and bring into the world! ~Mr. Orlinsky

WORLD MUSIC + DANCE

Joti Singh World Dance Department Head Zenon Barron Monica Berini Rashidi Omari Vanessa SanchezAimee ZawitzSandy Vasquez Youth Speaks

Congratulations to the inaugural World Dance Class of 2020! You shaped this program into what it is today and have left an indelible stamp on Ruth Asawa SOTA. I’m so proud of who you all have become. May you continue to grow and bring so much brightness into this world. World Dance OGs for LIFE! ~Joti Singh

Monina Cervone World Music Department HeadVictorino CartagenaPedro Gomez Manuel Suarez

FIRE TIGER. PASSION!!!To the seven gems I’ve had the privilege of teaching for the past four years: Ava, Cole, Gabe, Jada, Jermaine, Kai and Lavender. You stepped into the dojo as stu-dents and leave as family. We will be forever connected and our bond is stamped in gold. To this next chapter of your life, Ganbatte! Your fan, Ms. Cervone (and now you get to call me Monina!!!!)

Marilou Lafon World Music + Dance AiRBongo Sidibe World Music + Dance AiR

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC BAND + ORCHESTRA

Henry Hung Band Department HeadTristan Arnold Orchestra Department Head

Gail Edwards FluteMatthew Ebisuzaki TrumpetMax Miller Loran TrumpetKathleen Conner OboeSue Vollmer French HornSteven Braunstein BassoonCarlos Ortega ClarinetKensey Chellis Trombone +EuphoniumZachariah Spellman TubaDivesh Karamchandani Percussion Lily Servier Percussion

Melecio Magdaluyo Jazz Band + SaxRiley Bandy Jazz Band + Sax

Stephanie Bibbo ViolinAdrienne Sengpiehl ViolinPatrick Kroboth ViolaLouella Hasbun CelloRichard Duke Double Bass

Paul Yarbrough Chamber MusicMarko Bajzer SE, Musicianship + VocalElise Kwon Electronic Music + Film ScoringAndrew Vickers Composition

Class of 2020! Craziest Year Evah! You will be getting a much more long-wind-ed goodbye from me than this message, but in the meanwhile I hope you look back on these years fondly. But I hope even more for an amazing and incred-ible future for all of you. It is the beginning of many firsts for you, so savor them, and appreciate where you are, when you are, and where you are going, always. ~Henry Hung

Congratulations to you all! All of you deserve to be proud to finish school even in this crazy pandemic, and I hope that you get a chance to celebrate this huge step in your lives! ~Elise Kwon

The class of 2020 gives me hope for a great future of our country and the world. The 2020 class is filled with shining stars and tremendous potential. It will be exciting to watch their brilliance unfold. ~Gail Edwards

So music is an asylum. It takes us from the actual and whispers to us dim secrets that startle our wonder as to who we are, and for what, whence and where to . . . R. W. Emerson ~Zachariah Spellman

Congrats Class of 2020!!! ~Marko Bajzer

Thank you Orchestra Class of 2020:To Virgyl and Helen and Kelly for accepting any challenge that came your way; To Trent, Renata, Isabelle and Maya, for fire-breathing quartet performances;To Katie and Maddy and Sara and Alex, for putting your heart into your filing sys-tems, your robots, your art projects, your friendships, and your socks.For this and so much more, your entire department loves you and will miss you. ~Musically yours Mr. Arnold

© Sasha Cravis “In My Room” • Asawa SOTA Visual Arts • Class of 2020

Academy of Art UniversityArt CenterBarnardCalifornia College of the ArtsCalifornia Polytechnic State University, PomonaCalifornia State University, SonomaCalifornia State University, Monterey BayCalifornia State University, San DiegoCalifornia State University, San FranciscoCarnegie MellonCity College of San FranciscoCity, University of LondonClark Atlanta UniversityCornell UniversityDalhousie UniversityDeep Springs CollegeDePaul UniversityDePaul University, The Theatre SchoolGeorge Washington UniversityGeorgia TechGoldsmiths, University of LondonKing’s College LondonMacalester CollegeNew York UniversityNortheastern UniversityOberlin Conservatory

College + Career

To the Class of 2020,I have been so impressed with you! You are kind, community-minded, thoughtful and strong. I can’t wait to see what you do next. I am sending you love and respect. Keep being you :) ~ Beth Alberts College Counselor

Workforce

Pratt InstitutePurdue UniversitySanta Barbara City CollegeSchool of the Art Institute ChicagoScripps CollegeSierra CollegeSmith CollegeStanford UniversityStevens Institute of TechnologyTemple UniversityUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, DavisUniversity of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, MercedUniversity of California, RiversideUniversity of California, San DiegoUniversity of California, Santa BarbaraUniversity of California, Santa CruzUniversity of Cincinnati College -Conservatory of MusicUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of OregonUniversity of Puget SoundUniversity of the PacificUniversity of WashingtonWyoTech

Where are you headed next year?

University

Gap Year

Undecided!

College

Exploration

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© Dana Hu “Subdivision” • Asawa SOTA Visual Arts • Class of 2020

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