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Rio Grande High School graduation is a community event in the South Valley
Photo by Michael J. GallegosTribune
Tribune
Rio Grande High School students share some laughter during their graduation ceremony. The students successfully completed their high school years on May 15 at The Pit.
Photo by Michael J. GallegosTribune
Tribune
Rio Grande High graduate Jamie Lefebvre (center) clutches her roses as she gets a hug from her best friend, Felicia Vega, a junior, in the parking lot of The Pit after the Ravens' graduation ceremony. A crowd of family and friends celebrated with graduates outside for about an hour.
Smart Box
Oh, juniors . . . This year's seniors offer words of wisdom for next fall's seniors:
"Go to class, no matter how much you hate that class. Do your work" - Elena Work, who graduated with honors in advanced-placement world history, gifted speech, AP English and Latin and is going to the University of New Mexico.
"If you can find something that you love right away, stick with it, because it will help you out for the rest of your life and you'll be a much happier person" - Andrew A.J. Pacheco, who is going to UNM to study photography and teaching.
"Don't drop out. Stick through everything. It may be hard sometimes, but work hard" - Nicole Maurino, member of the state champion MESA team (Math, Engineering, Science Achievement). She will attend New Mexico State majoring in criminal justice.
"Don't let senioritis get to you, because that could ruin your life. And if you apply yourself, do the best that you can do, I can promise you will not regret it" - Matthew Montoya, who played in the school band and concert choir and is going to UNM for a music and teaching degree.
"Start doing scholarship applications for college early in the year. Don't procrastinate" - Joseph Taylor-Flores, who will attend UNM for theater and teaching.
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Graduation is a milestone for students, full of optimism and a sense of accomplishment. For the Rio Grande High School community, it's a family affair of the largest magnitude, an outpouring of Raven Pride.
Despite the uproar last week over Albuquerque Public Schools changing a student's grade for graduation, families and teachers gathered May 15 in force to, as principal Al Sanchez said, "show the true importance of love and what life is about."
As the stirring notes of "Pomp and Circumstances" played, the black-and-red-robed class of 2007 stepped down the stairs into The Pit, through two archways of swords held high by the school's Marine Corps Junior ROTC. The crowd cheered and stood up for the entire class processional.
"I cry every time I come to graduation," said Linda Saiz, who was there for the daughter of a friend. "They're not even my kids, but I cry seeing them walk down and get their diplomas."
Many people came to witness the ceremony, and the multitude filled the seats in the arena far beyond the 287 who walked across the stage. "The whole South Valley turns out for this," said Michele Lockhart-Henry, a 14-year veteran teacher at Rio Grande.
Graduating students pondered the long trip to reach this special day.
"I can't believe that it's really here. It seems like yesterday I started high school, and it passed too fast," said Joseph Taylor-Flores.
"It's one really long journey from ninth grade to twelfth grade," Matthew Montoya said.
A.J. Pacheco, who had some struggles this year, said, "We have great counselors and great teachers here, but nobody gives them credit, because we always hear the bad stuff about Rio Grande, and I hate that, because we have so many good programs."
Nicole Maurino was struck by the poignancy of the event.
"At first, I was psyched that I'm graduating and I'm finally going to be out," she said. "Then it hit me - no more high school. I'm not going to talk to half my friends again, and that's kind of sad."
Nicole's mother, Gerri Maurino, is proud of her daughter and her accomplishments. The family had 10 people come to the graduation ceremony.
"I've always told her that she can do anything that she sets her mind to do," she said.
To celebrate graduation, the Maurinos plan to hold a dinner and dance for 200 family and friends at the Moose Lodge, complete with a DJ. Other families are holding more modest parties, with backyard cookouts or barbecues. Some are taking celebratory trips to places like Las Vegas, Nev.
Rio Grande High School teachers and counselors were also at the ceremony, watching their seniors take the next step into the future.
"This is a milestone for us too, you know," said David Bleicher, an English teacher.
"To watch the look on some of those students of mine as they walked past me with their diploma in their hand, with that look of satisfaction, it's just very rewarding," said John Vitale, who teaches economics, U.S. history, and government.
Larry Daughenbaugh, who teaches physics and anatomy & physiology, said he loves to see the excitement on the graduates' faces backstage before they walk to their seats for the ceremony.
"Graduation is bittersweet," he said. "I reflect on certain moments when I've seen them in class, and feel really proud, and really sad, and happy that my summer is coming."
Michele Lockhart-Henry, who leads the speech team and teaches history, said graduation is difficult for teachers.
"Some kids I'm going to miss to death," she said.
She and her husband have developed good friendships with students who were on the speech team and traveled to tournaments around the state and nation. She still keeps in touch with many of her students from the 1990s.
Dana Bung‚, a counselor for seniors, says the sense of family and community at Rio Grande makes a difference in the students' and the staff's lives.
"Rio Grande is the community hub of the South Valley, and it is a very big deal for kids to get to this point and get their high school diploma," she said.
"By the time they get ready to graduate, I see kids really mature between their junior and senior years. It provides closure for them, that they're transitioning from one part of their life to the next."
Many Rio Grande graduates are taking advantage of the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship to attend college. Many will be the first in their families to go on to pursue a university degree.
As one excited grad-to-be walked down the steps for the graduation rehearsal, he called out, to no one in particular, "College! Party!"
Maybe. But maybe not. As Julienne Terrill, who teaches Latin and gifted students, said: "They're all going to be really surprised when they get to college."
