School Days:
Gilroy Unified School District
Celebrating 2019 Graduates
By Melanie Corona, Public Information Officer, Gilroy Unified School District
Michelle Del Real, (GECA)
“Everything happens for a
reason.”
Michelle Del Real graduated
from GECA with her high
school diploma on May 23 and
received her Associate’s Degree
in Spanish from Gavilan Col-
lege on May 24. She will attend
UC San Diego in the fall, majoring in Political Science, with
an emphasis in public law, and a minor in International Mi-
gration. She plans to attend law school and wants to practice
immigration law in Southern California. Michelle attended
Ascencion Solorsano Middle School and during her time
at GECA she was the president of the Yearbook Club and
served as ASB Vice President her senior year. She will intern
this summer at an immigration assistance office in Gilroy
before she leaves for college and was tutor for middle school
students for the last few years. During her sophomore year at
GECA, Michelle served on the City of Gilroy’s Youth Commis-
sion where she helped with the Pampered Princess Party and
Gilroy Holiday Parade. Earlier in 2019, Michelle committed
to attend a different UC school, but she was awarded the Julio
Mata Scholarship and Uvas Creek Scholarship by the Gilroy
Foundation which allowed her to attend UC San Diego, her
top school of choice. Michelle says her greatest inspiration
is her own mother, Delfina, who at 43, completed her GED
through the GUSD Adult Ed program
Delfina Del Real
Gilroy Unified School District Adult Education Program,
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to
change the world.”
Delfina Del Real received her GED certificate from the GUSD
Adult Education on May 29, graduating a week after her
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
daughter, Michelle, graduated from high school. Delfina
immigrated to America as a 16 year old, and married her first
husband shortly thereafter. While her first husband pursued
his collegiate degree, Delfina stayed home to raise her two
children, Michelle and Ricky. She always wanted to finish
high school and attend college, and better her English skills,
but it wasn’t until Michelle encouraged her to attain her GED
that she thought that finishing high school was a possibility.
Delfina initially wanted to become a social worker but has
enrolled at Gavilan College in the accounting program,
with the goal of transferring to a four-year college once she
finish her Associate’s degree. Delfina has always encouraged
her children, which now includes three-year-old Hannah,
to work hard and take advantage of all the educational
opportunities available to them. She enlisted Michelle to
tutor her as she prepared for the math portion of the GED
exam, and passed easily. Because she has had success in the
classroom and she values education so greatly, Delfina has
encouraged that her friends create the same educational
opportunities for themselves. Her friends now regularly visit
Delfina and Michelle in their home as Michelle helps tutor
them for the same exam she helped her mom study for.
Delfina credits her teacher, Ms. Judy, for encouraging her to
continue working for her education, even when Hannah was
a baby. Her educational successes will have an immediate
ripple effect for her family and friends for years to come.
Noe Serafio Jr.
Gilroy High School
“Run through the Pain”
Noe Serafio Jr. graduated from
Gilroy High School on June
7. He will attend Santa Clara
University on a full scholar-
ship in the fall. Noe is the son
of Mexican immigrants, and
he and his sister are the first people in their family to attend
college. Noe will participate in the LEAD Scholars program
at Santa Clara, which is designed to help first-generation
college students adjust to collegiate life. Noe’s intended field
of study is civil and environmental engineering, with a minor
in computer science. Noe attended El Roble Elementary
and Ascencion Solorsano Middle School before joining the
Mustang Nation. Teachers who made an impact on Noe’s life
during high school are his math teacher, Ms. Pham, and his
yearbook advisor, Mr. Leong, who Noe considers a lifelong
friend. He also says that current GUSD Board Member, En-
rique Diaz, was a crucial motivator for him to attend college
august/september 2019
gmhtoday.com
I
n Spring 2019, Gilroy Unified School District
celebrated 882 graduates from our four high schools:
Gilroy High, Christopher High, Mt. Madonna and
Dr. TJ Owens Early College Academy (GECA), and
33 from our Adult Education program, in ceremonies
throughout the community. Graduation is a time of pride
and excitement, not only for the graduates, but also for the
village of friends and family members who helped them attain
their high school diploma. In honor of our graduates, Gilroy
Unified School District is honored to recognize five represen-
tatives of the best and brightest our community has to offer.