Orinda Academy Announces 2011 Graduates

June 20, 2011 - PRLog -- Orinda, CA.  Orinda Academy celebrated its 29th commencement exercise on Friday, June 10, 2011 as 14 seniors walked the stage before a crowd of proud parents, family and friends. Leading the Class of 2011 was Valedictorian, Laurel Rogers, who will attend the San Francisco Art Institute.

Graduates are from all over the San Francisco East Bay. They will be heading off to universities throughout the country. College admissions for the graduating class include: UC Davis, Wells College, SF Art Institute, Willamette University, University of the Pacific, San Jose State, Humboldt State and more.

The graduates and their San Francisco East Bay hometowns:
Isaac Bauer - Kensington
Will Brodsly - Oakland
Alec Del Sesto - Lafayette
Cole Dresher - Berkeley
Chris Gerken - Clayton
Shane Harteau - Pinole
Shoshana Kelly - Lafayette
Anissa Laval Kiyemba - Oakland
Cooper Mead - Orinda
Amylia Moestue - Oakland
Laurel Rogers - Lafayette
Will Tigar - Berkeley
Ben Yarrington - Lafayette
Lily Zwang - Lafayette

The 2011 eighth grade graduates included Torin Bakos, Lafayette; Ben Jaffin, Antioch; Jared Ford, Walnut Creek; and Anna Lichterman, Walnut Creek.

All of the 8th grade graduates will be part of Orinda Academy’s incoming 9th grade class as members of the Class of 2015.

Along with Orinda Academy’s graduation ceremonies, the following students received academic achievement awards:
Most Outstanding 12th Grade Student – Laurel Rogers, Lafayette
Most Outstanding 11th Grade Student – Philip Wolf, Alameda
Most Outstanding 10th Grade Student – Monique Calfe-Smith, Richmond
Most Outstanding 9th Grade Student – Alexa Barger, Lafayette
Most Outstanding Middle School Student – Anna Lichterman, Walnut Creek.

Koh Smoger, Oakland, received the award for Most Improved Student, while Julia Comly, Lafayette, received an award for Social Activism and Community Service.  

Orinda Academy's School Spirit Award is voted on by the students, and this year it was a tie, with both Julia Comly and Chris Gerken getting equal votes.

ABOUT ORINDA ACADEMY
Orinda Academy is proud of all its students. The mission of Orinda Academy is to assist each student to reach his or her full potential as a successful, confident, self-reliant individual, prepared for the academic rigor of a university education. Orinda Academy serves students in grades 6-12, and provides a college preparatory curriculum in a nurturing and structured environment.
More information is at: http://www.orindaacademy.org/

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Orinda Academy, Orinda, CA (Contra Costa Co.), a private day school for students grades 6-12. Small class sizes, college prep, students with different learning styles succeed. Graduates go to top public, private colleges and UCs and Cal State schools.