Monte Vista grads say goodbye to high school

Monte Vista High School Commencement held Saturday

By Dianne Lockhart

MONTE VISTA-"We're free," said one graduate, Saturday, after the commencement at Monte Vista High School. Fifty-eight students were honored with diplomas at the high school gym, which was filled with parents, other family members, and friends there to watch a milestone in these young peoples' lives.

Graduates filed in from outside to take their seats, in which a program, a medalion key ring, and carnations, the class flower, had been laid, as the band played for the processional. Kyler Cooper gave the welcome speech, before graduate Skylar Bradshaw played a moving saxophone piece, accompanied by a pianist. Jason Riggenbaugh gave an encouraging and timely address to the graduates and audience. Another graduate, Matt Reschke sang and played his guitar, accompanied by fellow schoolmate Charlie Wheeler, followed by a number by the band, led by outgoing Director Larry Trujillo. This will also be the last graduation, in an official capacity, for retiring Deana Znamenacek, affectionately known as 'Mrs. Z", who served with Mary Neamon as class sponsors.

Graduate Claire Slattery-Quintanilla brought tears to some eyes with her tribute to the memories of life at Monte Vista High School, and how the future waits for these grads.

Presentation of red carnations to parents and significant people in graduates' lives and education, was announced by Kyler Cooper, as students wandered all over the gym bestowing the flowers to loved ones. Graduate Jeremiah Dolecki presented a slide show that both entertained and brought some to tears, as they watched scenes from these students lives at Monte Vista High School play on the wall above the door.

In lieu of Valedictorian and Salutatorian honors, which Superintendent Don Wilkinson said has not been done, "in fifteen or twenty years" here, students received "honor cords", with Wilkinson placing them around their neck, one by one, as he and Principal Jim Szoka proudly watched them walk away knowing they had done their best. Szoka then presented the Class of 2007, and Board of Education members presented diplomas as each name was called out. Board members Tyler Ratzlaff, Priscilla Burk, Tim Armstrong, Mike McNeil, and April Hurley were seated behind the table holding the diplomas.

Reyna Reyes received the highest honors, and students with 'high honors' included Daniel Waring Armstrong, Brandon Thomas Cleghorn, Darci Lynn Dobson, Ryan Alan Hillin, Melanie Dawn Montano, Matthew Erik Reschke (who also received the Service Award), Jessica Darlene Salazar, Claire Elaine Slattery-Quintanilla, and Timothy Michael, 'Tim', Vigil.

'Honor' designation went to Ashley Bianca Atencio, Juan Fermin Botta, Jeremiah Weston Dolecki, Billy Andrew Duran, Nura M. Ismail, Patricia Jo Mackey, Joleen Martinez, Wesley Aaron Patrick, Mari Perez, Jason Arthur Riggenbach, Kelli Dianne Riggenbach, David Jacinto Salazar, and Rebekah Ann Tirrell. David Christopher Warren also received the Service Reward.

Diplomas were also presented to Megan Estrella Aguilar, Nicole Marie Armijo, Robert James Arnett, Brittany Marie Atencio, Skylar T. Bradshaw, Amanda Nicole Brownlow, Hannah Simone Collette, Kyler Joe Cooper, Bianca Laneigh Derbin, Steven Lawrence Dominguez, Amanda Grace Golden, Danelle Lee Gonzales, Markita Rene Gonzales, Mirella Asusena Gonzales, Klayton Phillip Gosar, Mandy Marino Gutierrez, Ethan Neal Higinbotham, Naria Louise Javalera, Jacob Kenneth Jiron, Brittany Michelle Hohnson, Fabian Richard Martinez, Justin Jimmy Mascarenas,Stephanie Angelique Mascarenas, Brooke Mirada Medina, Vincent Richard Medina, Robert Jeffrey Montoya, Phillip Michael Ortega, Celso Ceasar Michael Ruiz, Bryan John Santistevan, Vanessa Rae Tapia, Louis Javier Tarin, Krista Michele Trujillo, Jennifer Ashley Velasquez, and Jamie Lee Willschau.

Serving as ushers were Julie Sisneros, John Hackman, Amber Harlan, Joseph Malouff, and Danae Davis.

The Class of 2007 chose red and black as class colors, the red Carnation as the class flower, the Green Day song, Time Of Your Life as class song, and the Class Motto, a quote from George Washington Carver, "If you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the the world."

Kyler Cooper gave the closing remarks, and told the seated grads, "Graduates, turn your tassles." Larry Trujillo directed one last song by the band, the recessional, as graduates, row by row, left the building and entered the lawn outside on a beautiful San Luis Valley spring day full of sunshine and hope.