3rd time’s a charm

Danette Goulet

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE -- In an intimate gathering of a mere several

hundred friends and family members, Orange Coast Middle College High

School bid farewell to its third graduating class Thursday.

So small was the momentous occasion that each of the 48 graduates’

names, along with their baby picture, a quote and a message, flashed

across a giant screen in the Robert B. Moore Theatre.

“I can honestly say the students are the most diverse and impressive

mixture of people I’ve ever met,” valedictorian Brynn Rybacek said in her

address. “What sets us apart from other high school students is that we

chose to come here.”

The excitement and pride that already comes with graduating from high

school was heightened for the students who chose to attend Middle College

High School.

“I win,” graduate Brandon Trumbull said, simply.

The pilot program, which has been on the community college campus for

six years, offers high-potential, low-achieving students an opportunity

to get a high school education in a nontraditional setting.

“Had it not been for Orange Coast, I would have had to spend another

two years in a boring high school,” Rybacek said.

After students complete their high school course requirements in the

morning, they attend college classes in the afternoon.

This third and largest graduating class is a source of pride for their

high school principal, Joe Fox.

“It’s always kind of neat because they have struggled in the past, but

the fact is they made it,” he said. “Our goal is not only to see them

graduate, but go on.”

Nearly all of the graduates’ plans include attending colleges, ranging

from OCC to Chapman University and USC.

“I’m like, super-excited, and I think it’s really cool that I got to

graduate from this program, because it’s new and looks like it’s going to

be very successful,” said Andrew Perkins, who plans to attend OCC in the

fall.

His fellow graduates echoed Perkins’ sentiments of excitement.

“I’m excited,” said Clarissa Sarabia, 18, who will attend either

Fullerton College or OCC in the fall. “I’m just glad it’s over.”