Since its inception in 1889, Ramona Convent Secondary School has educated more than 8,000 young women…with more on the way. This year, the school will celebrate its 115th birthday celebration with an Auction Dinner-Dance Oct. 30 to be held in honor of the school's foundresses, the Sisters of the Holy Names.

The sisters, based in Northern California, were originally invited to start a school in southern California by several San Gabriel Valley families interested in the education of daughters. Prominent among these parents were Mr. and Mrs. James de Barth Shorb who donated much of the property where the school and convent would be built on what was then called Adobe Hill. Bishop Francis Mora dedicated the ground on Jan. 29, 1890 and the first commencement exercises were held on June 23, 1891.

For 98 years, the towers of the original building stood overlooking the city of Alhambra and the San Gabriel Mountains. The Whittier Narrows earthquake of 1987 caused irreparable damage and the original buildings were demolished and replaced.

Since then, the school has received the Blue Ribbon School of Excellence status from the U.S. Department of Education in 1983 and again in 1998. For tickets to the auction call (626) 282-4151.