By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Raton High graduating Class of 2019 is one of the smaller classes to graduate from these hallowed halls with only 47 students taking the walk across the stage with their diplomas in Tiger Gym Friday night, May 17th, but it was an uptick from last year’s smallest graduating class of 33 seniors.
They may be small, but they are mighty as Donavan Mendez was awarded the Valedictorian honor with a grade point average of 4.6176 with Rhianna Hopper receiving the Salutatorian honor, only a few thousands of a grade point behind Mendez with a 4.6122 grade point average. Hopper plans to attend the University of Northern Colorado majoring in communications.
Mendez stands out in his class not only as a scholar but for the many other awards he has received including the Education Presidential Scholar award. He was selected for this award after several million students’ applications were narrowed down to 161 winners and will travel to Washington DC to accept his medal in a White House ceremony. Mendez will attend UNM in the fall on a full ride scholarship after being admitted to the prestigious UNM BA/MD program.
During Mendez’s speech to those attending graduation he noted this class the, Class of 2019, has been through a lot. They were the last 8thgrade class to leave the Raton Middle School. He went on to say, “The road we stand on tonight has been paved by the hard work and endless dedication of my fellow peers. Class of 2019 we firmly believe that the road does not end here. I believe that this road is only the beginning to something great for each and every one of us. As we part our own ways we will remain forever bonded through each and every memory no matter how faint.” He ended his speech with a comment from Winnie the Pooh, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
This year Raton High students applied for 98 scholarships totaling over $622,000. Students were presented their scholarships and later Raton High Principal Duncan Ware noted that the 47 seniors had completed their requirements to graduate and receive their diplomas.
During the ceremony Marissa Bernal and Taityn Valdez honored two class mates that the class lost to early in life, Isaiah James Gonzales and Jedrek Kryztog Stolarczyk. Andie Ortega recognized the National Honor Society members. Mykayla San Roman and Rebecca Muniz recognized all the seniors wearing cords. Skylar Mastrantoni then recognized the facilty and administration of the Raton Public Schools. Estefani Martinez-Colin thanked the senior parents who without them could not have accomplished this feat. Senior Class President Brooke Fleming then passed on the key to the school to Junior Class President Ginger Baird.
Rhianna Hopper gave the farewell address culminating the 2019 Graduation ceremonies at Raton High School. Hopper noted in her address that it is time to “embark on a new chapter of our journey where we have to decide which direction we want to go instead of just following the same seven-period schedule.” She went on to say, “we can all remember people who have inspired us to succeed and molded us into the graduates that we are and the citizens we strive to become.”
A hearty farewell and good luck to the Class of 2019.
