By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
33 Seniors walked across the stage Friday night to receive their high school diplomas and to begin a new journey in life.
A journey that Valedictorian Brittany Fleming says in her Valedictorian Address would require the seniors “to pay taxes, manage a budget and the list goes on” She noted that “high school came with a reassurance of knowing your journey from beginning to end and each step you needed to take to get there. But now life gives us the gift of endless choices, with each choice leading us in a different direction.” She noted in her address that the next step is the important one.
Lynette Simpson, RHS Counselor, noted that seniors applied for and received over $952,000 in scholarships this year. After Camryn Mileta recognized the National Honor Society seniors followed by Noah Schoonover presenting the seniors who wore cords and pins and the meaning of each color and pin. Autumn Archuleta honored the faculty and administration of the Raton Public School with Brianna Marquez honoring the parents of the Class of 2018.
Sydni Silva, Senior Class President, presented the key to the school to Junior Class President Lijah Medina.
Diplomas were presented and the class song “I’ll Always Remember you” by Miley Cyrus was played while silly string flew and dances were performed by the seniors with the finale of RHS finales, Nathaniel Tarbox nailed a summersault.
Halle Medina noted in her Farewell Address that “many say graduation is not a goodbye, but simply another beginning.” She went on to say thank you to the parents and faculty and staff at Raton High. She added that we shouldn’t let ourselves be labeled by others but “let us be defined by the content of our character and the determination we show in adversity. No label or number can ever define us or limit what we are capable of. Because in this moment and every moment in the future we are infinite and so are the possibilities of our futures.” She finished her address by saying “I refuse to say goodby, so I simply leave you with a thank you.”