More than 100 graduates held their heads high in the Liberty High School gym knowing they had finally made it. Dressed in emerald green caps and gowns, the Class of 2007 from Brentwood's Independence High School and Liberty Adult School celebrated their long-awaited commencement on June 5 before a large crowd of family, friends and administrators.

"It feels really good; I'm so relieved," said graduate Claudia Jimenez, who will

attend Pittsburg's Los Medanos College next year. "(At Independence) I learned how to never give up and to be responsible for myself."

The ceremony featured a musical performance by graduate Kate Creamer as well as speeches from various graduates. But the best part of the day came at the end, when the grads were finally able to pick up their diplomas.

One of the biggest smiles in that post-graduation crowd belonged to Brian Houston, 20, who became the first person in his family to earn a high school diploma. His mother, Debbie, watched proudly and her eyes welled up with tears as her son made the ceremonial walk across the stage.

"I've never been to a graduation," Debbie said. "I'm so proud … to have my first-born graduate. It's a very amazing experience to see your baby all grown up. He went through some hard times, but we kept working with him to get through it."

As his mother glowed with pride, Brian shared in her joy and said he is committed to make a success for himself in the future. "I'm happy I went through with it, and I'm glad I stuck with it and actually graduated. I thought I wasn't going to for a while," he said.

Brian has his sights set on a career in the automotive industry. "I didn't really do well the first two years, but then I just started to apply myself and here I am."

Graduates of Independence High School's Class of 2007 are Michael Aguilar, Jametta Joenell "Mimi" Andrews, Arielle Nicole Carlisle Antonio, Tabitha Christine Armstead, Claudia Edith Ayala, Alicia Marie Azevedo, Robert S. Bailey, Travis Matthew Berger, Jerry D. Black, Nakita Blackshire, Emily Jo Blanton, Kelsi Miranda Branson, Bradley R. Brockman, Nick B. Campbell, Carlos Antonio Castillo, Kattie Leann Cerny, Andrew Christianson, Alicia Linda Cooper, Jeanelle Renee Coulon, Kaitlin Lynn Creamer, Alexis Damian, Erika M. DeLima, Robert P. Dikes, Morgan Lane Downing, Miguel A. Fernandez, Ashlee Victoria Fletcher, Lisa Nicole Fought, Rosario Fregoso, Brittany Lynne Gianti, Freddie Charles Granado, Jr., Michael A. Hahn, Brandon C. Hicks, Ashley James, Brittany Nicole Jensen, Kaylie Noel Jester, Claudia Edith Jimenez, Nicole A. Kennedy, Diana Khalil, Lenay Jennal King, Jasmine Mara Kropelnicki, Hector Leon, Nicole Leong, Darrin Everett Lett, Megan D. Leyva, Chelsie M. Markley, Jaime L. Maurer, Tiffany Marie Meade, Timothy Frederick Moeller, Benjamin A. Montoya, Carolina Mozqueda, Helenka Marie Mygrant, Tony David Papini, Erika Marie Passmore, Alicia Leslie Pellaton, Mitchell Ryan Pena, Jay Lendl Powers, Meredithe B. Repetto, Stefani Suzanne Rios, Matthew Lindell Robin, Yaffit Rodriguez, Sunne Maria Roller, Brittani Danielle Self, Tyler Aaron Sexton, Kevin Balajadia Shepherd, Van Edwin Shiflett, Stacey Marie Simon, Sarah Sonneborn, Kristen Lynn Standart, Melissa Tejada, Ashley Denee Thomas, Tara Lynn Tosoni and Angelica Marie Vargas.

The Liberty Adult School graduates for 2007 are Jerit Devon Aaron, Milan T. Andrews, Veronica Lizzett Avalos, Robert S. Bailey, Rebekka Rene Baker, Brian Matthew Callison, Emilio W. Collinsworth, Kelley Nicole Dana, Clayton Austin DeSair, Jake Anthony DeSair, Luis Raul Estrada, Cathleen R. Fuentes, David L. Gerencher, Jose Gochez, Janin Gonsalez, Christal M. Harless, Nicole M. Harvey, Daniel Holguin, Brian Joel Houston, Glenn Dale Huffman, Christina Renee King, Heidi A. Langmack, James Lisenby, Kaitlin Lynn Loison-Creamer, Anthony M. Maes, Joshua Marsh, Jeffrey A. Martinez, Kevin Ashton McKinsey, Jessica Ann Merchant, Andrew J. Mueller, Amber Nichole Ochoa, Audrey Dawn Orchard, Sergio Ortega, Jonathan Randel Pacheco, Andrea Padilla, Melissa M. Paez, Michael Pierce, David Prado, Bryan Scott Reedy-Sanchez, Daniel Settles, Ryun Repetto, Rosio Reveles, Desiree Nicole Rios, Angelberto Rodriguez, Angelica M. Rodriguez, Olivia R. Salazar, Daniel Gene Settles, Travis Christopher Sommers, Amy Stelly, Mathew Richard Stieler, Steven Stewart Stroud, Hollie Ann Tavares, Blake D'Antonio Temby, Lauren Elizabeth Terrill, Saul Alfonso Varela, Norma DeCasas Wellington, Kyle Matthew Wright and Jimmy M. Zamacona.