Student: Oscar Cerano
Year in School: Senior
Plans After High School: After high school, Oscar plans to attend UC Berkeley to study Civil Engineering. His goal is to open his own construction company in Bakersfield, where he hopes to proudly represent his Hispanic heritage and increase representation for people with similar backgrounds. To work toward this goal, Oscar will look for opportunities to learn management, leadership, and business skills that he might not acquire through his degree. Additionally, recognizing the ever-changing world around us, he plans to stay open-minded about using artificial intelligence to support his work, rather than letting it take over.
What #BulldogSTRONG Means to Oscar : "BulldogSTRONG to me means becoming the embodiment of the best version of yourself. Anytime I associate myself with the BulldogSTRONG alma mater, I think of the community of students who pride themselves on being a support group for each other and on making a difference to change the world into a better place. The best example of this that I could think of is the tennis and cross-country programs here in Golden Valley High School. Pushing myself for my coaches, Fed Kumple, Ms. Villalobos, Coach Val, and Coach Ed Crosby has shaped my character. The resilience instilled in me through races and competitive matches is the same one I use to tackle my academics. But more importantly, the community I built with my teammates is far more valuable than any race. We supported, laughed, and connected with one another, allowing us to bring out the best versions of ourselves as we did not settle for anything less. In doing so, we made a whole community where each of us could all be BulldogSTRONG."
What Makes GVHS a Special Place for Oscar: "Golden Valley High School is a special place for me because the people here truly care about helping students who want to pursue higher education. As much effort as I put into developing my skills and being involved, I always had someone to guide me along the way. For example, Mr. Hopkins, who taught me AP Physics 1, Precalculus, and Engineering, opened his classroom every Saturday for four hours, giving me a place to study and ask questions. Mr. Jauregui, my Calculus teacher and Math Club advisor, spent more than five hours each day for a week leading review sessions to help us prepare for the AP Calculus exam. The Migrant program and advisor, Senora Dueñas, gave me an opportunity to experience collegiate life for several weeks, which helped me prepare for college applications. Mrs. Rivera Hanssen, my AP English language teacher, stayed up late nights to thoroughly grade my essays and give feedback that genuinely improved my writing. Without all the support I received at Golden Valley High School, I don’t think I would be where I am today. I will forever be grateful to the teachers and staff who made my time at Golden Valley so special."
What makes Oscar #BulldogSTRONG: "Oscar Cerano is an outstanding scholar! He is an inspirational leader at both GV and the KHSD Migrant Program. As the Math Club VP for the last two years, he has done an exceptional job in the recruitment process. Collectively, Mr. Cerano, and three of his peers, made history for Golden Valley this year by obtaining the first place in the first Data Science Challenge held at the 53rd Annual Lee Webb Math Field Day Competition in CSU Bakersfield. Individually, he has been awarded the GATES Scholarship. He is a Bulldog who truly embraces our values of Growth, Pride, and Service. I am extremely proud of you, Oscar! Keep walking #BulldogSTRONG! Luis Jáuregui, Calculus Teacher, Golden Valley High School
Oscar is bright, talented, and well-spoken. He embodies our school mission in growth, pride, and service. I am so proud of his great accomplishments! Kyla Barrett, English Teacher & Yearbook Adviser, Golden Valley High School
Oscar Cerano is a true example of BulldogSTRONG, reflecting growth, pride, and service in all that he does. Over the past two years, I have seen him excel in Precalculus, AP Physics, and Engineering Design and Development, where he has grown into an outstanding student leader and scholar. Oscar takes pride in challenging himself through rigorous academic work and in using his talents to make a positive impact on others. His recognition as a Gates Scholar speaks to his excellence, resilience, and dedication to service. He represents the very best of GVHS and the values we celebrate in our Bulldog community. Judiah Hopkins, Project Lead the Way/Engineering Teacher and eSports Coach, Golden Valley High School