High school seniors across the country are facing an unusual, prom-free end to their K-12 careers, but Dolores graduates headed out into the world with much fanfare and style.
Resilience and pride were the themes Thursday night as seniors and their families paraded in cars and trucks through the streets of Dolores, followed by a videoed graduation ceremony that had been taped earlier in the week.
Dolores Superintendent Lis Richard introduced the video ceremony, saying that while this year has seen a variety of challenges, they would only serve to make the graduates stronger people.
“I choose to believe it’s going to make great citizens out of these young people,” Richard said. “I can’t wait to see what they’ll give to our country, what they’ll give to our society, as they learn to overcome challenges.”
The parade kicked off at 6 p.m., westbound on Central Avenue. It was led by Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin and trucks from the Dolores Fire Protection District, followed by a line of vehicles carrying this year’s graduating class – both from Dolores High School and Teddy Bear Preschool.
A wide range of vehicles processed down Central and Railroad avenues, from cars to a motorcycle to even a pineapple-inspired float. Seniors perched on truck beds or rooftops, dressed in their graduation caps and gowns, while family members drove.
After the parade, the district streamed a videotaped version of its graduation ceremony. Students were scheduled to come into the Dolores High School gymnasium at a given time to be recorded, with just a few administrators on hand. The clips were then parsed together by Mark Baxter, the district’s technology director.
Although it perhaps had a quieter crowd than usual, and there were a few giggles as student speakers considered the empty gymnasium before them, the event had all the usual traditional ceremonial proceedings expected.
Senior class president Jessica Lopez commended her classmates for persevering through an unexpected year.
“What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger,” she said.
This year’s keynote speaker was Jessica Mulvihill-Kuntz, who said she had taught English to most of the graduates since they were in seventh grade. She spoke to them about the power of words, and traced the meaning of each graduate’s name – after having spoken with their parents.
“These words have a tremendous amount of meaning, because they make up who you are,” she told the graduates. “As you go on in life, please be aware and cognizant of the words that you use. They are powerful. Use them well and with kindness and positivity.”
There were three co-valedictorians this year, as their grade-point averages were all within hundredths of a point of one another, Richard said. Jordan Elder, McKenzy Howerton and Madison Rodriguez all had the chance to speak to their graduating class, through the camera.
Elder recalled the value of growing up in the small town of Dolores, and encouraged her classmates to think of the pandemic experience as a chance to really get to the “core” of who they are.
“I call you all to stop waiting for a return to normal life, and start building something different, something better,” she said.
Howerton congratulated her classmates and told them that it was perfectly fine not to know exactly where they were headed as they took their separate paths.
“Never give up, pursue your dreams, and don’t be afraid to fail,” she told the class.
Rodriguez, a recent survivor of a rare type of cancer, said the global pandemic made their graduation ceremony all the more unique and memorable. She said there was a time last year when graduation seemed more like a dream than a reality for her.
“But if there’s one thing I know I will take from senior year, it’s that I’ve got a pretty good support system,” Rodriguez said. “And you know what? I think we as a class are our own support system, in a way.”
All DHS graduates were able to receive a diploma on camera, and Lopez led them in ceremonially turning their tassel.
ealvero @the-journal.com
