CHANGE IN RULE HAS TEEN IRKED TOP SCHOLAR RESENTS HAVING TO COMPETE TO GIVE SPEECH.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer AGOURA HILLS - After working four years to earn a 4.63 grade point average, at the top of his class, Chris Trujillo had looked forward to giving the valedictory speech when he graduated from Agoura Hills High School. But a new policy adopted this year by the Las Virgenes Unified School District Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) is a K-12 school district in north-west Los Angeles County, USA consisting of 14 public schools in the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Westlake Village, and several small portions of the West Hills section of Los Angeles. allows all seniors with a GPA GPA abbr. grade point average Noun 1. GPA - a measure of a student's academic achievement at a college or university; calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted of 4.2 or above to compete for the privilege of delivering the keynote speech keynote speech n. See keynote address. Noun 1. keynote speech - a speech setting forth the keynote keynote address keynote - the principal theme in a speech or literary work - a practice that Trujillo says robbed him of his rightful place at the podium podium In architecture, a pedestal on a large scale. It may be any of various elements that form the base of a structure, such as the platform forming the floor and substructure of a Classical temple, a low wall supporting columns, or the structurally or decoratively . ``It's something you expect. You know and you assume that you'll get the honor As a verb, to accept a bill of exchange, or to pay a note, check, or accepted bill, at maturity. To pay or to accept and pay, or, where a credit so engages, to purchase or discount a draft complying with the terms of the draft. . That's how it's been for the longest time,'' said Trujillo, actually one of three Agoura Hills seniors with a 4.63 GPA. ``Chris was really hurt,'' said his mother, Joy. ``He feels that he shouldn't have to compete anymore. He is the highest. He has earned the right already.'' To protest the new policy, Chris Trujillo and one of the other 4.63 scholars, Caitlin Gomez, opted not to present a speech to the committee selecting the commencement speakers. District officials said the new policy was designed to reduce the pressure on top achievers while giving more students the opportunity to be in the limelight limelight: see calcium oxide. limelight Early form of theatrical lighting. The incandescent calcium light invented by Thomas Drummond in 1816 was first employed in a theatre in 1837 and was widely used by the 1860s. . ``If you can reduce the pressure and stress and honor more students, why not?'' said James Christensen, assistant superintendent Assistant Superintendent, or Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank. of education. Christensen said the policy change was 18 months in the making. ``This was not done lightly,'' he said. ``It's just a matter of getting used to it.'' Although a committee that drafted the change recommended that it be phased in, administrators decided to implement it this year. ``The point made was, why wait?'' Christensen said. ``If we can take pressure off, lets do it right away.'' Several students spoke about the policy change during a recent school board meeting, and suggested that special designations be made to acknowledge the top two students - the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian sa·lu·ta·to·ri·an n. The student with the second highest academic rank in a class who delivers the salutatory at graduation exercises. Noun 1. . They also said that a poll of the student body found that most favored the traditional method of selecting a valedictorian. Agoura High Principal Larry Misel said the new policy was introduced to enhance the quality of the speeches and give them a broader perspective. ``The fact the our district wants to celebrate the achievements of more of our students is a wonderful thing,'' Misel said. ``This give an equal opportunity for all kids. We are proud of all their academic achievements.'' |
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