June 2011 - InMaricopa.com

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Class of 2011‘lives theirmoment’ByJoyce HollisThe Maricopa High School Classof 2011 officially “turned theirtassels” on the evening of May 24after graduation ceremonies held onthe school’s football field.Following the presentation of thecolors by the school’s Air Force JROTCcadets and the national anthemsung by senior Karissa Browning,student body president and master ofceremonies Travis Moore introducedMUSD Superintendent Jeff Kleck, whowelcomed the graduates, their familiesand friends.“Embrace this hour; enjoy thismoment. You all have somethingunique and wonderful to contribute tothis world,” Kleck said. He commendedthe graduates who, in spite of increasedand more stringent requirements, hada higher graduation rate than anyMHS class in the past decade, and farexceeding the national average. “Youguys have done a fantastic job.”photos by shannon williamsAnthony “A.J.” Beltran, the classsalutatorian, is headed to ASU for adegree in computer engineering. Hereminded his fellow graduates of howmuch they had grown, fashioninga new culture with knowledge andintelligence. “It’s a journey that hascreated confidence, proving we trulyare the ‘perfect ones.’”A portable sound system “for thestudents by the students” was thesenior gift, presented by Joel Wresh,student body public relations, andSophia Wahlgren, student bodysecretary.Valedictorian Fernando EstradaJr. is also headed to ASU to studyengineering, “Unfortunately, I cannotstand before you and pretend thatlife after tonight is going to be easy;it won’t be,” Estrada told his peers.“Our success depends on ourselves.There will be unforeseen challengesand inevitable events that will attempt“Today is the first day of the rest of your life! Thinkabout that and PLEASE, don’t drink... Have a wonderfulgraduation and celebrate your success with joy!”m*a*s*hCoalition 2011Maricopa • Ak-Chin • Stanfield • Hidden Valley520-568-4843to throw you off your path. Luckily,we are armed with the experiencesand values we have gained in our timehere.”Former baseball player andbusinessman Eric Thompson, theguest speaker, spent two days workingwith the class on elevating theircollective sense of community.“I’ve not found these kids cynical,apathetic, selfish,” said Thompson, whodescribed the graduates as adaptive,possessing a refreshing value system,and “excited and optimistic, despitethe worst economic situation since theGreat Depression.”“You get it; you understand whatthe mind set of community means,”Thompson told the class, using theRams for Rebecca campaign as anexample. Its purpose was to raisefunds for injured MHS first yearmath teacher, Rebecca Holzworth.The seniors, many of whom never hadHolzworth as a teacher, raised $4,000to help her with expenses. Their checkwas presented to Holzworth duringthe graduation ceremonies.“To reach your inner brilliance,you’ll need both financial and humancapital,” Thompson said. “You’ll haveto learn to collaborate, not control. Goout; unleash your brilliance.”This year’s foreign exchangestudents, Brazilians Vitoria Almeidaand Raphael Dantas, Giacomo Ghigofrom Italy and Mengli Yang from Chinawere recognized, as were those seniorsgraduating with scholastic diplomas.Approximately half of the graduatesmet the scholastic requirement foruniversity admission along with 40hours of required community service.Governing Board President ScottBartle, Vice President Torri Andersonand members Patti Coutre and CarriedVargas presented the diplomas.Student Council gave each senior ared rose to present to the individualwho had the greatest impact on theireducation.In the stands some parents cheered;others wiped away tears, and somecompared notes on the cost of college.“Both my kids, Talia who graduatedtonight and Blane who graduatedlast year, started at the old MaricopaElementary School, and this class of2011 is the one that started at MaricopaWells during second semester in 2007,”said former MHS Spanish teacher andformer governing board member TracyDavis. “We came here from Tucsonin 1996 and have a long history withMUSD. It’s bittersweet; I’m happy andsad.”Following their official introductionas graduates, the class of 2011 turnedtheir tassels and threw their caps intothe air in the spirit of the last line oftheir class motto: “Live this moment,your moment.”14 SPECIAL GRADUATION SECTION • InMaricopa.com June 2011
Best friends athead of the classBy John StapletonClass of 2011 valedictorian FernandoEstrada, Jr. and salutatorianAnthony “A.J.” Beltranhave a lot more in common than greatgrades. They share student activities,sports, favorite teachers, tight-knitfamilies and their college of choice.Estrada was named MaricopaHigh School valedictorianwith a 4.965 weightedgrade point average. He waspresident of student counciland a member of NationalHonor Society, Key Club andLink Crew, a freshman mentoringprogram.Complementing his academicand community serviceachievements, Estradacaptained the golf team andplayed basketball, tennis andbaseball for the Rams.He is a first generationAmerican; his parents Fernandoand Ericka are from Sonora,Mexico. His sister Alejandrais a junior at MHS.“My parents have alwaysbeen there for me and have always givenme the trust I needed,” Estrada said.He credits Bernadette Russoniello,his AP Government and AP Languageteacher, as his most influential teacher.CongratulationsClass of 2011!Fernando Estrada, Jr.Anthony Lawrence Beltran, Jr.“She’s given me a lot of guidance andadvice. She’s challenged me and mademe think about things I don’t think Iwould have realized without her.”Estrada said he has always had apassion for learning and being a leader.After taking the summer to bond withfriends and possibly travel to Mexico,he will study engineering at Barrett,the Honors College at Arizona StateUniversity.Estrada was joined on stage by hisbest friend and class salutatorianBeltran.Beltran was vice presidentof student council, a memberof the National Honor Societyand played baseball. BernadetteRussoniello was alsohis most influential teacher,and Rob Hendrickson, his APcalculus teacher, was someonewho pushed him to excel.“Mr. Hendrickson givesyou a level of respect andprovides an environmentthat brought out the bestin me,” Beltran said. “Hewasn’t always looking overmy shoulder and alwaysencouraged me.”The youngest of four kids,Beltran comes from a closeknitfamily thanks to his parents,Anthony and Veronica. Beltran plansto continue playing baseball in asummer league and will be looking fora job to stay busy. He will attend ASUand study computer engineering.Though being named salutatoriancame as a surprise, Beltran said,“I’ve worked hard and always wantto do better. People may have highexpectations of me, but I’m alwayssetting new levels of expectation formyself.”ValediCTorianspeechBy Fernando EstradaGood evening ladies and gentlemen,friends and families, teachersand administration. Thankyou all for attending this momentousoccasion: the transition from fouryears of experiences, memories andlearning to a lifetime of decisions andpossibilities.The great philosopher Plato said,“The direction in which educationstarts a man will determine his futurein life.” Our future, however, will notbe defined by the ability to read andwrite or add and subtract, but by theeffect our education has on the decisionswe will make after the turning ofthe tassel.Our experience here at MaricopaHigh School was interesting, to saythe least. Like yin and yang, we are aunique, diverse culture whose differencesbring us together. Though weCongratulations Class of 2011!may be an old school, we have becomea new breed of intellectuals. We havechanged the common perception thisschool has had for years.Accepting mediocrity is a thing ofthe past, something that – becauseof us – will change the lives of thosesucceeding us in walking this path ofgreatness. I have before me the productof the renovation and rebrandingof this high school, passionate andspirited individuals establishing lastingtraditions for this rejuvenatedschool. As students of Maricopa HighSchool, we inherited a school on theverge of crumbling and, throughoutthe years, have built it up again, evenstronger than it was before.Likewise, when we cross thethreshold that lies between highschool and the future, we will be enteringan imperfect world, and it willbe our responsibility as this new breedof intellectuals to rebuild and rebrandour society, just as we have done here.Unfortunately, I cannot stand beforeyou and pretend that life after tonightis going to be easy; it won’t be.There will be unforeseen challengesand inevitable events that will attemptto throw you off your path. Luckily,we are armed with the experiencesand values we have gained in our timehere. Like Oscar Wilde stated, “Nothingthat is worth knowing can betaught.” We were not taught the experiencesthat have come to us, just aswe were not taught how to breathe.GRADUATION IS AGREAT TIME TOSMILE!CONGRATULATIONS!www.MaricopaAce.com520-494-780521083 N. John Wayne ParkwaySuite C105(520) 568-5600June 2011 SPECIAL GRADUATION SECTION • InMaricopa.com 15
Page 4: 4 InMaricopa.com June 2011Up to 100
Page 18 and 19: Elizabeth Nicole Long Jacqueline Me
Page 20 and 21: Congratulationsto Maricopa High Sch
Page 23: June 2011 InMaricopa.com 235th grad
Page 26: COMMUNITY26 InMaricopa.com June 201

June 2011 - InMaricopa.com

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?