Student: Calvin Cardona
Year in School: Senior
Plans After High School: Calvin plans to enroll in Bakersfield College to pursue a triple major in Mathematics, Economics, and Accounting, with the intention of later transferring to CSUB. Upon completion of his academic studies, he aims to position himself for potential career opportunities in financial logistics or teaching.
What #BulldogSTRONG Means to Calvin: "Being #BulldogSTRONG to me means that you are willing to give your best effort in whatever you find yourself capable and able to do, for others, and for yourself. In your education, campus life, and the lives of those around you."
What Makes GVHS a Special Place for Calvin:
"The biggest influence any activity has had on me, hands down, was the WE THE PEOPLE program. For all the work I put in, the relationships I made, the skills I developed, and the information I learned was more than anything I previously experienced in life. This program has definitely been a highlight of my high school years and will forever be engrained in my memory. One of my favorite moments would be when we went to the State Competition and just being there was amazing, however sitting in front of the judges, and needing to have absolute faith in your teammates and working together to answer questions, and it paying off with a best unit award, in of itself was a very rewarding moment. And a shout out to my teammates Chirstian Caprio, Andrea Bautista, and Gurkirt Bains, as it wouldn't have been the same without them."
"The most influential teachers for me, starting from sophomore year, have been Mrs. King, as she showed passion and real care for her students' education and helped motivate me for the subject of English. Next was Mrs. Bastain, and yes though her class was difficult, I have never felt more assured and ready for an AP test, and as she diligently gave an effort to help us succeed, we grew. Another teacher would be Mr. Hansen, being the coach of the WTP (we the people) team, he developed personal relationships with his students, and helped us to be better team players, work harder, and have a mindset that is set towards a goal. Lastly, I would like to mention Mr. Hopkins, as his care and love for students is beyond what I have ever previously seen in a teacher, always being understanding and available to help for whatever a student needs."
What Teachers and Staff Think of Calvin:
"Calvin is a young man that embodies the excellent attributes of GPS. He is a student that always gives 100%. When he does not get the right answer, he engages in productive struggle, works through failure, and displays a growth mindset. He displays pride for he is always on time. He constantly contributes to the class using an outstanding academic language. Mr. Cardona also displays service as he is always ready to help his peers with a fabulous attitude. These are just a few of the reasons why I strongly believe that Calvin Cardona is #BulldogSTRONG!" Luis Jauregui, Calculus Teacher, Golden Valley High School
"Calvin personifies Growth, Pride, Service. He is dedicated to his faith, family, and education. His intelligence, work ethic, and desire to contribute positively makes Calvin a standout individual. His keen mind and commitment shines both inside and outside the classroom. He is not afraid to be wrong nor to express his opinion. He questions his lessons and teachers. He is always ready to help his peers, tell a joke, and volunteer. Calvin’s perseverance inspires those around him." Judiah Hopkins, Project Lead the Way/Engineering Teacher and eSports Coach, Golden Valley High School
"Calvin Cardona is a fantastic example of what it means to be #BulldogSTRONG in the classroom. He is committed to graduation 100%, but even more so he is committed to learning, growing and working through failure. As a student, Calvin is on time, follows rules, and takes care of his materials well. In addition, he is a tremendous support to his peers and is always willing to help or tutor any classmate. Calvin Cardona stands out for being an awesome Bulldog!" Lana King, English Department Chair, Golden Valley High School
"Calvin Cardona is a remarkable example of what it means to be #BulldogSTRONG!!! This year in We the People Calvin truly has shined and excelled as an impassioned debater, leader, and learner. In the classroom, Calvin truly has grown as a learner by giving more than 100% in his studies digging into deep constitutional questions and mastering content well beyond expectations. At our State Competition, Calvin and his Unit mates demonstrated enormous Pride in their debate rounds and were complemented by several esteemed judges for being the strongest group/team Golden Valley has sent to State to compete. Moreover, Calvin did a tremendous job showing Service by encouraging his classmates to be impassioned, helping explain difficult questions to them, and supporting their learning in class as well. In recognition of this Calvin Cardona earned the Larry Hallum Civic Education Excellence Award which is given yearly to the student from each school who master’s the content and demonstrates a passion for learning about Constitutional History." John Hansen, Government/Economics Teacher and We The People Coach, Golden Valley High School