(This post has been updated from the previous edition.)

Benicia High School’s Class of 2017 is unique in a lot of ways. They are the last class to have been born in the 20th century. They are also the last class that would have had students that attended Mills Elementary School, albeit only as kindergarteners. On Saturday, their K-12 journeys come to an end as the many talented graduates of the Class of 2017 use the skills they learned for the next chapter of their lives.

However, as always, only one student can walk away with the title of valedictorian. This year, that honor goes to Stella Li.

She is in good company though. Coming in just behind her at the salutatorian level are twin brothers Brian and Michael Chou.

“It’s nice,” all three said of their achievement.

The three top graduates were very productive during their time at Benicia High, spending time in such student clubs as Key Club, Model UN, Red Cross Club and Asian Culture Club. They also took a variety of Advanced Placement and Honors courses with the likes of such teachers as Dan Frazier, Alexander Tuiolosega, Melanie Voss, Vreni Huebner and Kim Thompson. Taking several high-level courses each year did give the three of them skills beyond the curriculums. For Li, that skill was “the ability to work under pressure.”

For Michael, it taught him “to work very fast in short amounts of time.” Likewise, Brian learned how to juggle several different things during that amount of time.

All three were heavily involved with visual and performing arts, with Michael being a member of the BHS Panther Band and all three taking visual art classes.

“I believe my greatest moments were not from my academic achievements, but they were from art,” Li said. “I think people think of me more as an artist than a scholar.”

For two years in a row, Li won California’s 5th Congressional District’s Art Competition, led by Benicia’s congressman Rep. Mike Thompson. In 2016, Li won for her color pencil and graphite piece “Memories of My Grandmother,” which depicts a young girl combing her grandmother’s hair. Her 2017 oil painting, “Haven,” won for its closeup of the face of a Middle Eastern refugee girl.

“This year was especially important to me because I felt pretty strongly about the message that my work conveyed,” she said.

Both pieces went on to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol, which Li said she did not expect to happen.

“I was very surprised because I wasn’t expecting to win the final level, which sends you to Washington D.C. for a while for free and you get your work displayed in the Capitol Building for a year,” she said.

Brian said his proudest moment was just a week ago when he attended a rally to highlight the importance of arts in the wake of new graduation requirements.

“I stood in the protest with my sign,” he said. “And I sat in the board meeting and cheered with everybody that was there.”

Michael’s proudest moment was being offered a California All-State Wind Symphony music scholarship.

“I never expected much out of music since I don’t take lessons and I don’t feel I take it as seriously as everyone else,” he said. “I guess it was a real honor to be regarded at such a high position at such an advanced honor band.”

Recently, Li received $100,000 from angel investors which she plans to use to start her own company in San Francisco.

In terms of advice for fellow classmates, Li advises following goals and sticking with them even if they may seem difficult.

“Throughout my entire high school career, I realized I listened to everyone who said I couldn’t do stuff,” she said. “Now I realize that a lot of things that people say aren’t possible really depend on how hard you’re willing to work for it. I recently started meeting with venture capitalists for a startup, which my mom said would never happen. I’ve already gotten investment offers for tens of thousands of dollars.”

For incoming classes, Brian advises students craft schedules that work for their time budget, especially if they happen to be taking a lot of advanced courses.

“Be strategic with your class schedule,” he said.

Michael advises classmates to set their minds to whatever they want to do in life.

“Don’t be too intimidated and just try,” he said.

Benicia High School’s graduation will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 10 at Diablo Valley College, located at 321 Golf Club Road in Pleasant Hill.