Sabrina Martinez leads the Class of 2020 in turning their tassels.

MONTE VISTA- The Byron Syring Delta Center and Monte Vista Online Academy sent their class of 2020 into the world in a creative ceremony befitting the gathering restrictions required by COVID-19. On a very sunny morning on Saturday, May 30, the graduates and their immediate families gathered in their individual cars in the lot east of the Delta Center, with the building serving as the backdrop for the stage and each student in a parking spot. School staff sat on the stage during the speeches, while the school board representatives looked on and waved from a window in the second floor of the building. The staff and school board exchanged places when the time came to hand out diplomas, to avoid violating the 10 person gathering limit. A Zoom meeting, maintained by math instructor Danielle Gibbs, was also a part of the ceremony, with some graduates attending virtually, along with Ethan Huff, the social studies instructor, who lives in Portland, Oregon. The Zoom meeting also featured pre-recorded statements from the students and staff, as well as the student slide show. If you are a graduate or family member who would like access to the recording, please contact the Monte Vista School District for more information.

“Counselor Dave” Dave Davoudlarian welcomed the graduates and their families with a signature “All right, all right, all right,” and introduced the Director, Rebekah (Sparks) Johnson as the event’s speaker. Johnson reminded the attendees “Education is not a one size fits all…not all students fit the traditional mold and we are proud to play a role in helping students find a program or approach that best meets his or her individual needs.” Johnson reminded the crowd about the historical significance of the Delta Center, originally Rio Grande County High School, and noted the Byron Syring Delta Center class of 2020 was the 47th class to depart and the 24th graduating class for the Monte Vista Online Academy. Johnson then thanked the individual staff members in attendance for the unique traits they bring to the table that enhanced the educational experience of the graduates, “These people are the core of the Byron Syring Delta Center. These teachers and support staff are hand down the best group of people who I have ever had the privilege of working with.” The staff was celebrated with clapping and honks to display their applause.

The student speeches were previously recorded and played via the Zoom meeting. RJ Martinez of the Byron Syring Delta Center was the first speaker. Martinez thanked the staff of for developing a way to celebrate the students’ achievement in graduating. He also thanked his parents for their support. Martinez pointed out how most of the graduates were born into a new world around 9/11 and were “now entering a new world under a pandemic. If that isn’t strong then what is? So, I hope we can all remember the good that comes from difficult times, like getting to learn about our parents and the ways we can reach out to people who need our help or how they need our help.” Martinez reflected on the disappointment the current situation has created but encouraged his peers to remember they are now a part of history.

 Haley Karschnick, a graduate of the Monte Vista Online Academy, was the next to speak. Karschnick also pointed out the importance of taking the time to celebrate their accomplishments even in the face of the health and economic situation. “We’ve all worked so hard to get to this point and we’ve all had our parents, teachers, counselors and the director of OLA to thank for helping us. As the graduating class of 2020, we are proof that students can succeed in an online school. Many people look down on nontraditional ways of learning and feel that an online school allows its students to get by so much easier than students attending public school. I would have to disagree, and I think any of the graduates would agree with me if you’ve been in any of Mr. Huff’s classes.” Karschnick listed off the unique ways she and other students have learned life skills from Huff and the other educators at the Online Academy. “…we all put in the work to be here and as we move on to the next part of our lives we can use these skills we’ve learned at Monte Vista Online Academy and apply them to anything we do, so congratulations class of 2020, you’ve earned it.”

Anthony Picciano of the online academy was the next student speaker, joining graduation virtually from northeast Colorado via the Zoom meeting. “…amid the chaos our world is in right now we are incredibly lucky. For many of us we have been situated at home and our schoolwork for the most part doesn’t get interrupted, but in recent weeks many students had to get online for the very first time, very suddenly and the same goes for the teachers. My heart truly goes out to those who have had such a drastic change in their education and also to those whose senior year did not go as expected, but at the same time, I’m also so grateful for what we have at the Online Academy. Surrounding me and you are some of the most talented, dedicated students and teachers in the state of Colorado. We have the tools here to craft our futures as we want them… this allows you to choose whatever path you want to take…” Picciano discussed how the structure of the academy allows students to work and prepares them for many different paths after graduation…”what we have here is a privilege…it’s what makes Monte Vista really special…We, the class of 2020 thank the administration, staff and all of the teachers for making our education not only possible but also a pleasurable experience. We are inspired by your passion for teaching and for your dedication to the online environment.” Picciano also thanked the other students for their contributions to the class forums and encouraged his classmates, “We are free, we are free right now to pursue our dreams, isn’t that exciting? When we part ways today I wish all of you the ability to find happiness in whatever it is you want to do...We will find our way because we are determined to succeed no matter where life takes us.”

Denayea Jiron from the Delta Center was the last student speaker to address the class with words of encouragement. “The Delta Center family is a great group of people. Without them I wouldn’t be standing here today with the 2020 graduates. I would like to say thank you to all of my teachers. I would really like to thank my family for pushing me and having confidence in me for making it this far in life. Thank you, I love you all very much…So now the future is in our hands. Now this is the time to accomplish your goals and achievements you have set for yourself. Here it is, all in your hands, for the graduating class of 2020.”

Following the student speakers, the attendees viewed the student slide show through the Zoom meeting and also heard pre-recorded messages of encouragement and appreciation from their teachers while the staff and school board switched positions for the presentation of diplomas. Board of Education President Gary Wilkinson, Vice-President Kurtis Holland and Secretary Dr. Orlando DeHerrera joined Johnson onstage, presenting diplomas to the students who departed their cars one at a time to accommodate social distancing, gathering flowers at the end of the stage for private family presentations of thanks instead of the usual public ceremony. Following the presentation of diplomas, Sabrina Martinez centered herself in the middle of the semicircle of vehicles and led the class in the turning of tassels. 

After leaving their cars three at a time, the students crossed the stage with masks and gloves on, received their diplomas and were recognized one at a time and got a flower pot to share with special family members. Ashley Gutierrez fist-bumps School Board President Gary Wilkinson

Byron Syring Delta Center and Monte Vista Online Academy "Counselor Dave" Davoudlarian addresses the graduates and staff