PIQE, Proteus celebrates graduations

Two unique graduations were celebrated locally recently — the Parent Institute for Quality Education on Thursday; and a Proteus certificate-presentation ceremony Monday for students who did not complete their primary and secondary schooling in Mexico.

PIQE

On Thursday, 51 parents graduated from the PIQE’s eight-week program held at John J. Doyle Elementary School. The parents learned about collaborating with school and community, worked on fostering self-esteem and academic achievement, reviewed academic standards and prepared for teacher conferences. By the time they completed the program, they understood the school system and became familiar with college requirements for their students.

Thursday’s graduation included parent guest speakers Gustavo Resendiz and Sara Cortes, and a keynote speech by Martha Stuemky, Porterville Unified School District’s Director of Programs. School principal Angel Valdez offered closing remarks.

The program was sponsored by Porterville Unified School District, John J. Doyle Elementary and PIQE.

Graduating from the program were: Maria Alvarez, Celia Bedolla, Patricia Bedolla, Teresita de Jesus Bedolla, Esteban Campos, Gregoria Campos, Mariana Campos, Roberta Cantor, Rosa Cisneros, Rosio Cisneros, Sara Cortes, Guillermina Gatica, Carmen Gonzalez, Veronica Guadarrama, Elvira Gutierrez, Maria Jaimez, Elisa Lemus, Teresita Magana, Cecilia Mariano, Adelina Martinez, Emilia Martinez, Felipe Martinez, Rita Martinez, Rosalia Martinez, Jose Medina, Maria Ortiz, Pedro Ramires, Consepcion Ramirez, Maria Ramos, Blanca Resendiz, Gustavo Resendiz, Nayely Reyes, Eva Reyes, Juan Rojas, Luis Rojas, Jose Rubio, Petra Rubio, Leonel Sanchez, Araceli Santos, Javier Silva, Rosario Silva, Simona Soto, Rosa Maria Tapia Martinez, Anastacia Tecuapa, Marisela Torres, Maria Trejo, Maria Trejo, Alma Vaca, Herminia Velazquez and Martha Zuniga.

Proteus

On Monday, Proteus of Porterville held a graduation for people from Mexico and Latin American countries who never completed their schooling in elementary or high school.

The 32 students — ranging from a 20-year-old man from Mexico to a 68-year-old Salvadorian woman — have been taking classes for the past two years in order to obtain their special certificates.

Teacher Rafaela Martinez said everyone was excited because Reyna Torres Mendivil from the Mexican Consulate in Fresno was representing the Mexican government and personally handing out the certificates.

Mendivil took office as the head consul of Mexico for Fresno in September of 2009, served six years in the Embassy of Mexico in the United States and as deputy chief of mission in the Czech Republic, has held different positions at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, including as advisor to the minister and deputy director for human rights.

With red, green and white everywhere — transforming the entire place to look like Mexico, Martinez said — the graduates were treated to a reception following the ceremony.

Graduating Monday from the Proteus program were: Estela Andrade-Bedolla, Oscar Barrera-Alvarez, Santos Calvario-Nava, Domitila Castillo-Hernandez, Blanca Leonila Cuevas-Estrada, Maria De La Cruz-Guerrero, Maria Imelda Diaz-Guillen, Camerina Diaz-Lara, Liborio Duarte-Torres, Rosa Farias, Manuel Gonzalez-Aguilar, Maria Cecilia Gonzalez-Huanaco, Maura Jimenez-Mendeola, Silvia Leon-Ramos, Marisol Lopez-Orozco, Justina Maciel-Leon, Estela Mendoza, Jose Isabel Mercado-Aguilar, Adan Molina-Dominguez, Gabriela Paniagua-Diaz, Daniel Puentes-Morales, Maurilio Ramos-Guzman, Concepcion Sanchez-Gonzalez, Maricela Tapia-Valen, Mirella Valencia-Magana, Rosa Maria Vasquez, Mario Vasquez-Corona, and Josefina Zavala-Pimentel.