Students from Valley View High School had the unique opportunity to welcome the President of the University of California, Janet Napolitano, to an “Achieve UC” event on Thursday.
The theater was full of some of Valley View’s top students to hear the remarks from Napolitano. Principal Karen Johnson, Superintendent Dr. Martinrex Kedziora, UC Riverside Chancellor Kim Wilcox, MVUSD Board President Cleveland Johnson, MVUSD Board Clerk Susan Smith, MVUSD Board Member Jesús M. Holguín and Valley View and UCR graduate Derrion King also addressed the students.
VVHS alumnus Derrion King, who graduated from UCR, returned to campus to share a story on his path to college. “College became a window of opportunity, because it led me on a path to not only change myself but to use this knowledge to change the world,” King said.
Superintendent Kedziora noted how important having the leaders of the University of California and UCR was for the students of Valley View. “You should be really proud of what’s happening here, because you are the reason it is happening,” Superintendent Kedziora told the students.
Students then heard words of inspiration from UC President Napolitano who, before becoming the president of the University of California, was the first woman to serve in several offices, including Attorney General of Arizona and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama. She also was the Governor of Arizona from 2003 to 2009.
“This is an awesome high school, don’t you think?” she said. “The University of California is interested in you.”
“When you get to the university you’ll have the opportunity to try different things. We want to unlock that passion within you. It’s all about reaching out and absorbing and realizing your own dreams,” she added.
Napolitano also described the goals of the University of California and how the university can help all students make college a reality.
“I look forward to welcoming you in the future as a student of the University of California, the greatest public research university system in the world,” she said.
The event comes as students are being encouraged to finish their college applications and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms. Valley View High School is has the 5th highest percentage of completion of the FAFSA forms out of large high schools in the state, a compliment to the educators and counseling team at the school.