By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The 2017 Commencement Ceremonies for the Raton High Scholl Class of 2017 was held on Friday, May 19 as this year Raton High graduated 46 seniors.
Dillon Lemons lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem was played by the RHS band followed by Jacob Hathaway who gave the Welcome address. Hathaway ended his speech with a quote from Author Ashe, “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”
Valedictorian Alina Pillmore noted in her speech when they started school the class was a lot bigger, but Pillmore noted that this was a class that had faced difficult changes as the class started out huge. She noted how the class was a little competitive and was filled with lots of good drivers who even ran over themselves. She talked about friendships and what kind of legacy the class will leave at RHS. This class is the last of the 90’s babies she noted. She went on to note that the school system has produced some very successful people as in Nobel Prize winner Dr. Paul Modrich and Dr. Julie Marr who are just a couple of the examples of successful people the school has produced. She went on to give a shout out too google noting that you can google almost anything but you can’t google who you really are.
RHS Counselor Lynette Simpson announced the scholarships and noted that 41 of the graduates had been offered 153 scholarships totaling to $1,508,653. Jenny Landon a Dean from Santa Fe Community College and Yuri Findlay Director of Medical Assisting and Phlebotomy presented Alina Pillmore, Sophia Maddaleni, Bailey Ramirez and Adriana Sanchez with certificates in phlebotomy for completing that course work while at RHS.
Honor Society President Heather Sandoval recognized those students who were members of the National Honor Society. Jason Parker explained what the colored Cords and Pins represented that the graduates were wearing while Montana Trujillo recognized the faculty and administration. Shyanne Martinez honored the parents of the Seniors followed by Senior Class President Camille Gonzales who presented the symbolic school key to Junior Class President Sydni Silva.
Diplomas were then handed out by School Board members President Kathy Honeyfield, Vice President Ted Camp and Board member Jason Phillips followed by Lauren Romero with the Tassel Turn. Graduates celebrated with the traditional cap toss and confetti and balloons then a short dance to the class song “I lived” by One Republic.
Salutatorians Ivy Fernandez and Makayla Ley gave the farewell address with Makayla Ley noting that “high school is like a lolly pop, it looks sweet from the outside, takes forever to get through and it sucks till the end.” Ivy Fernandez told the class that “today is not the day to be sad about the days that have gone by but instead it is the day to look forward.”
The class then rose and marched into the crowd awaiting to congratulate them on their success.
