As one of Moffat County’s Class of 2023 graduates, customizing hats, Maria Graham’s hats were adorned with pictures of loved ones who died amidst colorful butterflies.

With her family in tow, she crossed the stage remembering the past and preparing to face the future. MCHS celebrated the achievements of 100 graduates with 100 unique stories at Saturday’s commencement ceremony.

A crowd of family and friends sat in a packed gymnasium as the MCHS band kicked things off by playing “Pomp and Circumstances”, followed by the national anthem on electric guitar by alumnus Tristan Marwitz.

Marwitz, who also plays trombone and euphonium, regularly strums “The Star-Spangled Banner” before sporting events, but it was a bittersweet last performance. That said, he said he wouldn’t turn down future opportunities to perform. The road to alma mater.

“If for some reason the school needs me back, I’m happy to do so,” he said. “One of the things I’ve learned here is to always strive to be the best you can be and always be willing to collaborate with others and help others in the process. That’s it.”

With a formal welcome from Student Council President Diana Arellano, Principal Sarah Hepworth highlighted scholars who have raised more than $100,000 in local funds for their future plans.

Mr. Hepworth also honored valedictorian Cayden King and salute Alexis Jones, as well as a trio of military alumni: Cayden Hickson (Marine), Easton Briggs (Navy), and Eric Corral. He also mentioned Gutierrez (Army).

“The benefits and the experience will be great,” said Corral Gutierrez. “I’ll try it for a few years.”

Arellano and Jones gave a class gift to fund the installation of new furniture in the upstairs commons. This led to the MCHS staff announcing the selection of outstanding women’s and men’s awards. Becca Sage introduces Lizzie LeWorn as the outstanding girl, her LeWorn’s athleticism in volleyball, basketball, and track, her proficiency in the classroom, and her familiarity with Crocs shoes. pointed out her love for him.

“Her brilliance shines not just in the classroom, but outside of it,” Sage said. “Her smile and heart shine through every classroom and courtroom. She will continue to achieve great things in her life as she pursues her nursing career.”

Shelby Massey said the bright boy Carter Green was a boon to the Future Farmers of America chapter and the school as a whole.

“He was a beacon of inspiration to his peers, a role model for our young students, and a valuable addition to our mission to educate and inspire our students to thrive in a changing environment.” Mr Massey said. “I have really seen him grow from a shy, quiet boy into a proud and passionate young man.”

Jones returned to the stage for his Commencement address, citing the resilience of the 2023 class of graduates, epitomized by the many uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. She joked that in the distant future, she and her classmates would add a new twist to her relative’s story of walking miles to school.

“Instead of telling our grandkids such a big deal, let’s say, ‘The world has run out of toilet paper, we’ve been stuck in our homes for weeks, and we’re almost faceless at each other’s faces.’ It’s going to be like, ‘I didn’t see it for a year,'” she said.

With an uplifting MCHS choir sung by the students (the last chorus by instructor Grace Alberico), the students began to receive their diplomas.

Celeste Acuna Valenzuela made it through the stage first despite spending most of her childhood in the bottom half of her class.

“Acuña was mistakenly registered as my middle name for the first 14 years of my life until my mother realized it was on my birth certificate,” she laughs.

As the Bulldogs all received their diplomas and tossed their hats, Ms. Lewane said goodbye in the words of her favorite TV character.

“As the great Ted Lasso once said, ‘There is a chance that something in your life that makes you cry just to know it exists is the same as something that makes you cry to know it’s gone. It’s interesting to think that there is,'” she said.

With Rascal Flatts’ “Life Is a Highway” blaring from the speakers, the graduates left the MCHS Gym already looking ahead to what awaited them. For Acuna Valenzuela, that means studying medicine at Arizona State University. She was born in Mesa, Arizona and she loves to experience new places.

“I am very much looking forward to moving and hopefully traveling,” said Acuña Valenzuela. “I will miss my friends and teachers, Miss Paddon, Miss Cheney, Miss Fiesel.”

Regen Bauer said he plans to take a gap year before returning to school. She will work at her family business Bower Brothers and her aunt’s thrift store Ancestors Treasures, and will teach dance at Studio V. Her goal for Ms. Bower, she said, is to make sure she understands what it means to be an adult.

“I really want to step out,” she said. “I am looking forward to setting my own schedule and having more control over things. only.”

This year, as a junior, Antonia Vazquez was able to spend all her high school credits early by participating in the district’s alternative program and planning to study surgical skills in Utah.

“It was hard, but it was worth it,” she said.

Marley Fedinek graduated from Colorado Northwestern Community College with an associate’s degree earlier this month and plans to complete CNCC’s cosmetology program this summer. Marley was awarded her MCHS diploma by her mother, School Commissioner Krystal Fedinek.

“I barely even got here this year. I got all my credits by the end of my junior year,” Marley said. “I will miss all the people here.”

Ever since MCHS began allowing alumni to decorate their mortarboards, each class has grown to honor their favorite movies, display newspaper clippings throughout the year, send flowers and honor family members. I’ve become more creative.

Graham’s hat contained photographs of several relatives who died in her childhood, including her mother and father and their respective grandmothers.

Graham suffered a great loss, but remembered them with a message that read, “Thank you to the angels who smile above.”

“The way I feel is very different from other people going through it,” she said. “I don’t know how to describe it exactly. I know I’m proud of them just by feeling that.”

Graham plans to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix to study the humanities and social sciences.

“I want to be a life coach or a therapist counselor, a motivational speaker. One that helps people and makes a difference,” she said. “Everything happens for a reason, so I try to be really positive about everything.”