MONTE VISTA— Saturday was a morning full of celebration for graduates and their proud family members at the 44th Annual Commencement for the Byron Syring Delta Center and the Monte Vista Online Academy. The 32 students entered Central Auditorium to cheers and lots of joyful tears as well. Superintendent Robert Webb greeted them on behalf of the school board, congratulating them for their immense accomplishment and recognizing that they have overcome more obstacles than many of their peers, assuring them they should be proud of that fact, “Your diploma is just as valuable as Monte Vista High School’s or Alamosa High School’s or anywhere else.” Webb quoted Michael Gerson’s statement “there’s a soft bigotry of low expectations” for students in poverty or facing other challenges, reminding students that “you have to do more than want to do something… you should be so very proud.” Webb also thanked the families of the graduates for their dedication to education and encouragement.
Director Dirk Oden spoke to the graduates as well, reminding them that “There are many ways to step back, but you chose to step forward.” Oden also read some of the history of the Delta Center and the Online Academy. Language arts teacher Mr. Kevin Wright thanked Oden for more than three decades of service to the students, reflecting on the butterfly effect in his comments. “Your decades of influence have created hurricanes of change,” said Wright about Oden, later adding “I wish you all the best on your journeys catalyzing hurricanes,” to the graduates. Webb interrupted the exercises to present Oden with a plaque recognizing his years of service and congratulating him on his “semi-retirement” that will be up in the Delta Center. Oden will still work for the school district next year but is retiring from his position as director. Wright will be taking Oden’s position beginning the 2017-2018 school year.
Cheyenne Cordova gave a touching address, thanking Oden and many of the center’s teachers individually, as well as her mother, her cousins and her other family and friends. “I’m proud to have had Mr. Wright in his last year as a teacher and Mr. Oden in his last year as principal.” She reminded her peers, as they go out into the world, to remember the words of Ian Maclaren, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Cordova also thanked the teachers at the Delta Center for always taking the time to work with the students’ individual needs.
Brooke Frost’s address was also thankful to the teachers and administration of the Online Academy. Frost thanked especially Mr. Ethan Huff and Wright for their guidance and support in finishing her education. Frost stated that the Online Academy has lead to her becoming bilingualand being on the way to becoming trilingual. Impressing everyone in attendance, Frost then gave her speech over again in Spanish and closed with a farewell in Korean, leaving the podium to massive applause and beaming smiles from the teachers and school board.
Shantal Gerken led the class of 2017 appreciation presentation, as the graduates gave blue carnations to “those who have supported them” in their educational endeavors. Huff prepared a slideshow of the graduates, including a mix of their current and childhood pictures. Gradates were individually presented with their diplomas by the board of education, and Zachary Whitaker vibrantly lead the class in the turning of the tassel ceremony shouting his congratulations to them.
Class of 2017 graduates include: Yusef Aboshanab, Janessa Atkinson, Maribel Cobos, Cheyenne Cordova, Carissa Curley, Jennifer Delgado, JazMonique Dominguez, Joseph Duran, Karla Guaderrama, Brooke Frost, Jerico Gallegos, Seth Gallegos, Shantal Gerken, Demeka Gonzzales, Angel Hayes, JoAnne Hull, Sydney Marquez, Robbie Martinez, Diona Medina, Levi Pakmer, Orion Palmer, Maricela Perez, Jeana Pina, Kylie Rice, Brandon Sanchez, Colin Stepanoff, Sarina Tafoya, Jamie Tatro, Kazzandra Vargas, Marlon Vigil, Zachary Whitaker and Timothy Wix.