SWOS commencement includes time for staff and parents to honor 2018 graduates
Southwest Open School held commencement for the Class of 2018 on May 30. SWOS graduate and former charter board President Uriah Hubbard spoke to the students’ perseverance.
Emily Rice/The Journal
Southwest Open School’s Class of 2018 celebrated commencement Wednesday on campus grounds.
Emily Rice/The Journal
Vansan Vinceti listens as teachers and advisers speak about her determination.
Graduate Adrianna Martinez listens as her community leaders talk about her perseverance.
Graduate Tatyana Meyer smiles while on stage to receive her gag gift from teachers and counselors.
Ashley Lopez wears her Superwoman costume gift during the SWOS 2018 graduation ceremony.
Graduate Alexx Earley received a Rapunzel-themed microphone because she wants to be a foreign correspondent.
Graduate Aldean Yanito received a plant at the commencement as a reminder to keep growing.
Southwest Open School held its graduation ceremony on Wednesday evening.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
The Southwest Open School Class of 2018 celebrated commencement Wednesday on campus grounds at 401 N. Dolores Road.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Family and friends gathered to celebrate Southwest Open School’s 2018 graduates at a ceremony Wednesday evening.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
James Gonzales receives his diploma from Southwest Open School Director Matt Keefauver at Wednesday evening’s graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
During Southwest open School’s 2018 graduation ceremony on Wednesday, guest speaker Uriah Hubbard spoke about the graduates’ perseverance to complete their education.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Deyanna Hunt receives her diploma from Southwest Open School Director Matt Keefauver at Wednesday evening’s graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Dane Kirkland receives his diploma from Southwest Open School Director Matt Keefauver at Wednesday evening’s graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Ashley Lopez receives her diploma at Southwest Open School graduation ceremony on Wednesday evening.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Cerra Maestas receives her diploma from Southwest Open School Director Matt Keefauver at Wednesday evening’s graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Adrianna Martinez receives her diploma from Southwest Open School Director Matt Keefauver at Wednesday evening’s graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Hannah Peterson receives her diploma from Southwest Open School Director Matt Keefauver at Wednesday evening’s graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Vansan Vinceti hugs Southwest open School Director Matt Keafauver as she receives her diploma at Wednesday evening’s graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Southwest Open School’s 2018 graduates turn their tassels after receiving their diplomas Wednesday.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Matt Keefauver, Southwest Open School director, speaks at the 2018 graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
James Gonzales, nicknamed “jammies,” received pajamas from his community leaders at Southwest Open School’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Page Marzella received “gag gifts from her community group, the Lucky Charms, at Southwest Open School’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday evening.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Markis Montoya shows off his gag gift at Southwest Open School’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday evening.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Community group leaders gave out gag gifts to graduates at Wednesday evening’s Southwest Open School graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Vansan Vinceti smiles as her teachers and advisers on Wednesday speak about her determination.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Aldean Yanito received a plant from his community group as a reminder to keep growing at Wednesday evening’s Southwest Open School graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Ashley Lopez received a Superwoman cape for her perseverance.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Tatyana Meyer, 2018 Southwest Open School graduate, smiles while on stage to receive her gag gift from teachers and counselors.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Ashley Lopez wears her Superwoman costume gift during the Southwest Open School’s 2018 graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Holly Ford and Cerra Maestas share a hug and laugh on stage while receiving their gifts from their community leader at Southwest Open School’s graduation ceremony Wednesday evening.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Adrianna Martinez smiles as her community leaders talk about her perseverance during Wednesday evening’s Southwest Open School’s graduation ceremony.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Vansan Vinceti received adornments from her family members during Southwest Open School graduation ceremony on Wednesday.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Alexx Earley received a Rapunzel-themed microphone from her community group leaders at Southwest Open School’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday evening. She because she wants to be a foreign news correspondent.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Brittany Eastin laughs as she receives her gift from her community leaders at the Southwest Open School graduation Wednesday evening.
Emily Rice/The Journal<br>
Southwest Open School held its 2018 graduation Wednesday evening in an intimate ceremony honoring students who have received their diplomas despite hardship.
Fifteen students graduated from SWOS in front of friends, family and community members.
The commencement program opened with a ceremonial performance from the Red Sky Drum Group.
Matt Keefauver, director of SWOS, said he was inspired by the graduates and their support systems.
“I personally am inspired by tonight’s graduates and the hard work that they put into their education these past few years,” Keefauver said. “I am inspired by you, the parents, guardians and community supporters who have guided these students down the pathway to graduation.”
Keefauver also thanked each teacher, board of director, staff and service dog, Olive.
A SWOS graduate and previous president of the charter board, guest speaker Uriah Hubbard, spoke to the students’ perseverance.
He said it was important to him to speak to each of the graduates about their time at SWOS.
“Every graduate I talked to told me one of the biggest reasons they were able to get here was the support, compassion and respect they received from staff and teachers,” Hubbard said.
He asked each graduate about their favorite thing about SWOS, and most said the educational trips the school takes.
“SWOS does not just teach each of these students just what they need to know academically,” Hubbard said. “It teaches them how to learn so even though you guys are graduating and going out into the real world, your education is not over.”
Hubbard also asked the graduates what they would say to students of SWOS who have not graduated yet. The advice that he received was about finishing strong, and focusing on your credits and believing in yourself. “It feels impossible until it happens,” said graduate Adrianna Martinez.
Hubbard closed his speech by telling graduates that the sense of community they found at SWOS can be found in the world.
“I know that it is sort of scary leaving SWOS and going out into the real world. You have all this support here, and maybe you feel like you do not necessarily have that out in the real world,” Hubbard said. “I want to remind you that it is out there. There are people out there that will support you when they see how special you are, and when they see your spark they will want to lift you up. Find those people and be those people.”
Diplomas were given out by Keefauver and Board Director Tamara Hamilton. Students received their diplomas, a flower and the Dr. Seuss book “Oh The Places You’ll Go!”
The school has communities that meet every morning with their teachers and staff. Each group was brought up on stage to be given gag gifts and for teachers to speak to their character and hard work.
The end of the ceremony concluded with a “time-honored tradition” of audience participation. The crowd was allowed a few moments to congratulate the graduates, many through tears.
Specific graduates honored included Alexx Earley, Deanna Hunt, Dane Kirkland and Cerra Maestas, all for concurrent enrollment; and Vansan Vinceti for her internship at The Journal. Earley was awarded a $500 Waste Management scholarship, and Cerra Maestas was awarded Jennifer Chappell’s Just Because Scholarship.
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