The Terry P. Bradley Educational Center (TBEC) commemorated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thurs., Oct. 2, outside of the A Building.
The ceremony included many Clovis Unified School District (CUSD) board members, Harris Construction employees and Longhorn Foundation donors. The event also featured the families of Ambassador Phillip Sanchez and Dr. Terry P. Bradley, namesakes of the school site.
The event took place after the annual Clovis Unified State-of-the-District breakfast, which was hosted in the TBEC cafeteria. Attendees were given CUSD tote bags and a program.
The Thundering Herd Band and Color Guard performed while guests took their seats. Student council members waved pompoms to celebrate school spirit. The Longhorn Legacy Choir also performed “Shoshone Love Song” for attendees. In addition, Vincent R., freshman class president, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Dr. Sonia Torossian, TBEC’s principal, welcomed the guests and thanked all those who contributed to TBEC’s development. She also gave some background information on who Dr. Bradley and Ambassador Sanchez were and how they were involved in CUSD.
“This campus is a stunning testament to the vision and hard work of so many, especially the man it was named for: Dr. Terry Bradley,” Torossian said. “It is an extraordinary facility, yes, but we know that steel and glass and a welcoming student union are just the beginning.”
Clovis South Area Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Hanks discussed the progress of TBEC and how far the school had come since the beginning of construction.
“This is more than a construction of two schools,” Hanks said. “It is a continuation of Clovis Unified’s legacy. This educational center stands as a testament to our values and environment designed to inspire growth, foster collaboration and elevate the student learning experience.”
Following the speeches, Torossian marked the official beginning of TBEC.
The ceremony was an important milestone in the history of TBEC. According to cheer coach and co-activities director Holly Durham, the ceremony was special to all those who helped prepare for it.
“This was a big moment for our school and helped celebrate the hard work everyone’s been putting in,” Durham said.
The ceremony also helped build a foundation for the legacy of TBEC. For Torossian, its legacy should be built on right beginnings.
“The legacy I want to leave behind is that we started this school the right way,” Torossian said. “As soon as our kids stepped foot on this campus, they felt valued, respected and included.”