Graduation 2026 - Longmont Times-Call

GRADUATION 2026

St. Vrain Valley Class of 2026

MUSICIANS REFLECT ON HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCES

By Amy Bounds abounds

Julissa Enriquez joined a mariachi group in sixth grade at Timberline PK-8, then kept playing at Skyline High School after falling in love with the music

She initially started with guitar and violin but, after fully exploring all the instrument options, settled on guitarrón the large bass guitar traditionally played in mariachi groups.

“I like mariachi because the instrument interaction is beautiful and they all flow so well together,” she said.

The Skyline mariachi group plays 15 or more concerts around the Front Range each year.

One of Enriquez’s favorite memories is a trip the mariachi group took to perform in Colorado Springs at the Colorado Music Educators Association conference her freshman year that included visiting the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo She performed again at the conference with the group her junior year. She has also performed in the district’s honor mariachi group Outside of school, she played with the Colorado Youth All State mariachi group and her own group, Mariachi Fuego en la Sangre. In December she played with Su Teatro in Denver

Graduation is my favorite time of year, and this spring, as I have the privilege of celebrating my first graduation season as superintendent of St. Vrain Valley Schools, I am overwhelmed with pride for the approximately 2,400 graduates who will walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. Standing alongside our Board of Education, our teachers and staff families, and the business and community partners who have invested so deeply in these students, there is no moment in education more powerful than

As a senior, she said, she became the mariachi “mom” and mentored this year’s freshman guitarrón player, pushing him “to be the best musician he can be. After high school, she’s planning to go to the University of Northern Colorado for music with a concentration in business and recording arts, as well as to continue performing with mariachi groups “It’s been a big part of my life for the past seven years,” she said. This school year about 3,500 St Vrain Valley high school stu-

dents, or about 40% districtwide, participated in a performing arts class, including band, choir and orchestra.

St Vrain Valley also recently was recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants or NAMM, Foundation as one of the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education, marking the district’s sixth consecutive year receiving the honor The designation celebrates school districts that “demonstrate exceptional commitment to ensuring all students have access to high-quality

music education.”

The application process evaluates districts on a variety of factors, including access to certified music educators, advanced degrees held by teaching staff funding for music programs, equitable

access for low-income students, the breadth of music courses, ensembles offered graduation requirements in the arts, and opportunities for districtwide collaboration

watching a graduate step into their future. The Class of 2026 has earned every bit of the celebration they are about to receive. I have spent my entire career in public education because I believe that public schools are the greatest pathway to opportunity in America. In a time when public education faces no shortage of criticism and political headwinds, I want our commu-

nity to know that what is happening inside St. Vrain Valley Schools should make everyone very proud. Our public schools are doing extraordinary work, and our graduates are living proof. They have been educated in a system that prioritizes opportunity through both rigorous academics and real-world relevance, tradition and innovation, and high expectations and genuine care for every child. This is the St. Vrain Advantage, and it is something we will continue to champion loudly and unapologetically.

St. Vrain Valley Schools has achieved a 96.8% on-time graduation rate, the highest in the Denver Metro Area, while maintaining among the most rigorous graduation requirements of any school district in the region and the lowest dropout rate. Our students are meeting and exceeding expectations that would challenge students anywhere in the country, and that combination of high completion and high standards reflects the commitment our teachers, counselors, and staff make to every student who walks through our

doors. This graduating class has shattered records in enrollment in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and concurrent enrollment college-level courses, earning thousands of college credits before receiving their high school diplomas. Those credits save families millions of dollars in future tuition costs and give our graduates a running start on their postsecondary journeys. Our seniors have also earned millions of dol-

2026 SENIORS APEX Homeschool Program

2026 SENIORS Crossroads

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

Musicians

spends a lot of time working on music on his own, including writing music

want to inspire future students the same way my choir teacher inspires me,” he said.

“I love exploring as many different styles as I can, but my favorite to perform is classical musical theater,” he said.

While he’s ready to graduate “to move forward and keep growing,” he said “it’s hard to leave Erie High and choir.”

“Being in that family-like environment every day with people I’m close to is something I really value,” he said “(The acapella) group is my favorite class and most of my best high school memories come from that group.”

He’s planning to study music education in college to become a teacher

At Erie High School, graduating senior Kobe Schindler said he got into music and joined choir starting in elementary school because he looked up to his older, musical sisters. This year, he was part of Erie’s mixed chamber choir and acapella jazz group. Both junior and senior year, he was accepted into Colorado All State Jazz Choir and Colorado All State Choir. His classmates this year also nominated him for the Most Valuable Musician award. Outside of choir he’s involved in the school’s musical theater program and

“Choir and music are a big part of my life, and I

Ayden Baker is a graduating senior in Mead High School’s Unified Percussion group who also participated in the school’s marching band for three years He said he joined the percussion group as a freshman to make friends, become more established at the school and “learn how to play the drums in a fun learning environment that I otherwise would not have been able to do.”

He recommends the program to other students who want to learn to play.

“Unified percussion brings so much joy to the unified students along with

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competitive advantage

some of the most prestigious awards in the state and nation. Daniels Scholars, National Merit honorees, and students accepted to highly competitive universities, military service academies, and soughtafter apprenticeship and skilled trades programs are all represented in this graduating class From their earliest years in our high-qual-

ity preschool programs through their final days of high school, these graduates have had access to an educational experience that is unmatched They have thrived in our instructional focus academies spanning Biomedical Sciences, Engineering and Aerospace, Leadership, STEM, Visual and Performing Arts, PTEACH, P-TECH, and dozens of workforce pathways that connect classroom learning to careers in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, advanced man-

ufacturing, healthcare, aerospace, and beyond

They have logged countless hours in internships and community service, and competed on athletic fields and performed on stages across the country

They have built worldchampionship robots, earned industry certifications, conducted original medical and scientific research, and in many cases, completed associate degrees before picking up their high school diplomas. Our world-class facil-

ities like the Innovation Center and Career Elevation and Technology Center have given these students hands-on experience with emerging industries that most young people do not encounter until college

At the heart of everything we do in St. Vrain is a commitment I hold deeply: that each and every student will be recognized for their unique talents and aspirations, and receive an exceptional educational experience so they graduate with a strong,

The Class of 2026 embodies that commitment.

They are creative thinkers and problem solvers, who are collaborative, resilient, and prepared to contribute to their communities and to our country in meaningful ways. Whether they are heading to a four-year university, a community college, a technical program, the military, or directly into the workforce, they leave St. Vrain ready

To our graduating seniors, I want you to know

how incredibly proud I am of each of you. You are stepping into a world that needs your energy, empathy, brilliance, creativity, and your willingness to lead. The education you have received in St. Vrain Valley Schools has prepared you well, and the community that raised you will be cheering you on every step of the way Congratulations, Class of 2026 With pride, Jackie Kapushion,

2026 SENIORS Dawson School

the student helpers,” Baker said “You really feel like you belong and have the most fun learning how to play percussion instruments.”

He plays tenor and bass drums in the percussion group, while in marching band he played instruments that included cowbell, triangle, shaker and cabasa His favorite songs to play are “This Is Me” from “The Greatest Showman” and “Footloose.”

Baker said he’s excited to graduate because it’s a big accomplishment but nervous “because I don’t know what the future holds for me.”

After graduation, he plans to find a job and look for ways to give back to the community. He also wants to attend the University of Northern Colorado’s GOAL Program.

Myla Boehnke, a flute player since sixth grade, joined the marching and concert bands as a Frederick High School freshman In her four years, she was selected for multiple honor ensembles, including two years with the Colorado All State Band

As the flute section leader, she said, she’s had the opportunity to mentor other students by sharing playing tips and tricks. Her best advice for playing confidently even when nervous: Nerves make you tense up so relaxing your face can help you play better.

“I try to mentor other students by giving positive and constructive feedback and sharing what I have learned in my experience playing,” she said.

She said one of her favorite types of music to play is duets.

“In a flute duet, you normally have two parts of music that sound different, but when played together create a really beautiful piece,” she said “My flute teacher and I usually play duets together, and it is my favorite part of my flute lessons.”

Along with music she said, she loves art and took an advanced ceramics class this semester. Gardening is another interest. She plants flowers in her own garden beds, makes bouquets, helps her mom with her cut flower beds and took a greenhouse management class at the Career Elevation and Technology Center.

After graduation, she plans to pursue a fine arts degree with a focus in ceramics at the University of Northern Colorado, where she hopes to join the concert band to continue with flute.

Graduating senior Anthony Ivan started playing trumpet in sixth grade, then joined the Silver Creek High School jazz, marching and concert bands. Some of his favorite places to perform with the jazz band include the Dickens Opera House in Longmont and Planet Bluegrass in Lyons His most recent performance was at the University of Northern Colorado’s Jazz Festival.

“For jazz band, you have to be a lot more self sufficient,” he said. “You’re pretty much playing your own part You have to take a lot more responsibility. It’s more nerve racking, but there are some more freedoms.”

He was the trumpet section leader last school year for marching band, then filled in for a week as section leader for summer band camp. He said the most needed quality to be a section leader is patience

“I wanted to show them what they should strive to be and give them a goal they should set for themselves,” he said. For himself, he finds inspiration in American jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard

“I just love the way he plays and his soloing,” he said

While he plans to continue to play trumpet as a

hobby, he wants to study fashion design in New York after developing a passion for sewing his junior year He started by using his mom’s old sewing machine to alter clothes, then got into making his own.

This year, he made his prom outfit, including a fur lined wool blazer that took him about eight hours

“A lot of my inspiration is shows I watch or things I see online,” he said “I would go to shops, looking for something specific, but I would never find it. Now I can just make it myself.”

Mars Caraveo, a graduating senior in Niwot High School’s orchestra, marching band and choir, took up the oboe last summer because the orchestra needed one As a saxophone player, he said, learning to play the difficult double reed instrument wasn’t easy But with the help of a private teacher, “I really fell in love with it.”

He loved it so much, he’s planning to major in oboe at Colorado State University as he studies to become a music teacher. Wanting to get a head start on the choir basics he will need to learn, he also joined Niwot’s chamber choir as a senior.

Other interests in high school included participating in speech and debate and running a Dungeons and Dragons club As he gets ready to graduate, he said, he’s going to miss the people at Niwot, from the friends he’s played music with to his band and orchestra directors.

“Musicians feel like my people,” he said “That’s why I wanted to become a teacher. I wanted to create that same community that made me fall in love with music.

Graduating senior Hailey Pulido Colis started playing violin in fifth grade, then continued in middle school

and high school, joining Longmont High’s mariachi ensemble As a senior, she also became one of the ensemble’s vocal soloists. She performed with St. Vrain Valley’s honor mariachi group this year and has performed at every school festival, concert and community performance during high school.

“I really like all the different kinds of music in mariachi,” she said. “There are sadder songs, happier songs and more intense songs. Performing is just really fun There can be stage fright But when you like the people you’re playing with and what you’re playing, it all goes kind of easier.”

An added bonus to playing in a mariachi group, she said, was getting more involved with what’s been a big part of her Mexican culture

“Mariachi helps me feel more connected to my family and my roots,” she said.

At Longmont High, she’s on the tennis team, in the honor society is a freshmen mentor and is part of the Medical and Biosciences Academy. Outside of school, she performs in a folkloric dance group.

“I really like giving back,” she said. “I like volunteering and being present and active in the community Because I’m in so many groups, there are so many communities of people and friends I have made.

I definitely will miss a lot of them.”

Her experiences in the medical academy led her to decide on nursing, ideally in neonatal care, as a career Her plans include starting at Aims Community College in Greeley, then transferring after two years to a four-year school.

Anna Johann, a senior at Lyons Middle Senior High School, is in the school’s Sapphire Singers choral ensemble, participated in Colorado All State Choir last year and was selected for the St Vrain Valley Honor Choir all four years of high

school Outside of choir, she worked as the sound engineer and then stage manager for the school’s musicals receiving this year’s Legacy Award from the drama department.

She started her choir adventures in third grade, when she joined the Pride of the Roaring Lyons choir at the elementary school Her favorite songs to perform are from musicals, while her favorite musical is “Phantom of the Opera.”

Both her elementary choir and her current group also are show choirs, which combine singing with dancing.

“It’s a full circle moment doing what I loved in third grade when I am a senior,” she said.

Working as a sound engineer and stage manager, she said, gave her a different perspective on performances

“I’ve become more familiar with being backstage than on stage,” she said “Even during choir concerts, I am constantly running mics and helping out. Being backstage is more chaotic than being on stage, but it is always rewarding when I get to see the success of the production.”

Outside of music Johann is the student body president, president of the Lyons Leo Club, president of the National Honor Society, a member of the superintendent’s Student Advisory Council and a member of the Science and Leadership program

While she’s sad to leave Lyons after living there for 18 years and will miss her friends, she said, she’s also “very excited to graduate.” She’s planning to attend the University of Colorado Boulder to study biomedical engineering and hopes to join a community choir or continue with sound engineering so she can keep music in her life.

“There are so many new experiences and things that I want to explore so I can learn more about myself and the world around me,” she said.

2026 SENIORS Erie High School

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2026 SENIORS Frederick High School

2026 SENIORS Frederick High School

2026 SENIORS Frederick High School

2026 SENIORS Longmont High School

2026 SENIORS Longmont High School

2026 SENIORS Longmont High School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

the alto saxophone in jazz band So when she joined freshman year, percussion was a new challenge. She’s played a few different instruments in winter percussion shows, including a marimba, a vibraphone and a hammered dulcimer She also played the flute in last year’s show and sang her freshman year. She said being part of the drumline community was a big draw “It’s such a tight-knit family of people,” she said “You spend so much time with these people, and you really make deeper

2026 SENIORS Lyons High School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

college opportunities

By Alissa Noe

anoe

@prairiemountainmedia.com

Editor’s note: The article was originally published on April 24, 2026.

Going back generations, cheerleaders have become synonymous with football games, something that’s been depicted time and again in Hollywood and real life At Lyons High School, cheerleading has become synonymous with everything on campus.

Since she took over the program eight years ago, Lyons head coach Julie Vasquez has made the cheerleading program the beating heart of LHS, with her squad appearing at every sporting event under the sun, the Friday night lights, and in the gym

The girls even take part in the school’s open house and back to school night

“My main goal is to build confident leaders and girls who can come out and know that they can be a part of something special,” Vasquez said.

“The year before I started coaching, there were four cheerleaders out. I just felt like something was missing in this school, school spirit-wise I decided to take the program over and that first year, I think we had 12 to 15 girls. The next year we had 20, and we’ve had 20-plus girls every year since, which is a quarter of the females in our high school population.”

Over the past few years, the Lions cheer program has sent four girls on to compete with college programs with two currently at the University of North Dakota and one currently at Colorado Mesa Next year, seniors Molly Major and Chloe Olson will join those ranks at Division I University of Northern Colorado. They’ll be roommates as freshmen.

“It’s really cool,” Olson said “(College) practices are at like 5:30 a.m., so I’m glad I’m sharing a room with somebody who also has to get out of bed (that early).” When Olson was just a freshman at LHS, she joined because her sister was a flyer. She wasn’t sure how much she would enjoy the sport at first, thinking it was “weird,” but it soon became her whole life. Now she hopes to one day coach cheer at the high school level, following Vasquez’ example.

“I think that there’s a stereotype that cheerleaders are kind of mean girls from all the movies you watch as a kid,” said said, “but then I showed up to the tryout. After meeting the coach and the other girls, I saw how strong of a family it is.

“I think a lot of cheer, especially, there’s a lot of dedication in it You have to show up to all the games, all the practices and then with state and nationals, we have 6 a.m. practices on Wednesdays I think just knowing that you’re going there to improve yourself not only as an athlete but as a leader,

this program does a really good job at that.” Olson noted that her favorite sport to cheer at was volleyball, lauding the raucous crowd that often shows up to those matches, and enjoys throwing Major into the air for flips.

Major, meanwhile, said she first joined the team four years ago because she loved the idea of hanging out with a group of girls all the time.

She’s come to appreciate the family aspect that Vasquez has nurtured, and that affinity has transcended the secondary

school Each year, the squad hosts a camp that sees dozens of middle schoolers attend.

“It’s definitely exceeded my expectations I’ve just grown to love it the more that I’ve done it,” Major said.

“I think it teaches you how to be a good person and how to respect people and to be involved in your community Being in cheer, you just cheer on other people all the time, whether that’s other sports or your teammates in general so I think you get appreciation for what showing respect for others can do.”

2026 SENIORS Mead High School

2026 SENIORS Mead High School

2026 SENIORS Mead High School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

Embracing

By Brent W. New bwnew

Editor’s note: This article was published originally on Jan. 2 2026

Born into a family of University of Oklahoma football diehards, Carter Woods was tossed into a precarious dilemma when he transferred to Mead High School his sophomore season. Mead’s mascot is a longhorn and the Mavericks wear burnt orange — same as his inherited nemesis, the University of Texas

“He was like ‘Coach do you think I could just get like a gray shirt or a black shirt?’” Mead coach

Jason Klatt snickered, thinking back to when Woods first arrived at practice “I’m like, ‘OK buddy, I’ll give you gray. I’ll give you black I’ll give you white OK? We’ll ease you into the Texas orange.’”

Three seasons later, Woods, the Longmont Times-Call defensive player of the year, finished second in career tackles for the program totaling 148 his senior year which was third-most in the state.

He never did get out of wearing Texas orange.

But he managed

“I do love burnt orange now. I guess it grew on me a little,” he cracked.

This past fall Woods was the catalyst for one of the state’s top defenses, a group that allowed just 10.5 points per game.

The Mavericks started the season with a bang, posting back-toback shutouts and four by season’s end. At the heart was Woods at middle linebacker. The senior had 15 more tackles than anybody else in Class 3A, nine coming behind the line of scrimmage. He forced a fumble, recovered another and took his two interceptions of the season back for scores.

“Our D-linemen do all the work,” Woods said. “They keep

blockers off of me so I can get to go make tackles and make fun plays and force turnovers.”

He’s being modest, of course.

“He was everything for us this year on defense,” Klatt said “He’s a kid you can’t replace. He did so much for us in terms of his leadership ability, his hard work, his willingness to be coached and his team play. He was such a good teammate and was always trying to encourage guys.” It was his newfound voice that carried Mead through the most tumultuous part of its season, when it lost starting quarter-

back Ethan Elmore to a broken leg Oct. 9 A “lead by example” player in years’ past had become the Mavericks’ rally cry “One of his pick-sixes came that night, and he pretty much singlehandedly won the game. I think he had like 20 tackles,” Klatt said “I probably didn’t do a great job as a head coach because emotionally, I was torn up that night I felt awful for Ethan. He’d worked so hard to get to that point. So, I don’t know if I really handled it emotionally well from the team standpoint of, ‘All right guys, let’s go.’ But the guy

who did was Carter He was like, ‘Coach, we’re good.’ He picked us up emotionally.” Woods sparked the Mavericks to a 21-10 win that night, then did his best in the coming weeks to keep morale up as the team won four of its final five games of the regular season.

Eventually, Mead bowed out to Holy Family in the 3A state quarterfinals — a game in which Woods had 16 tackles, two for loss to go along with his seventh rushing TD of the season.

“This season is a really fun memory for me,” Woods said “It

was my senior year so getting to go out and compete, and more than anything, having those fun memories with the players and coaches I built there it was great.” Woods is already weeks into the wrestling season, where he’s currently ranked as the No 1 wrestler by On The Mat in the 4A 190-pound weight class. He finished third at 190s at the state tournament a year ago and is eyeing a state championship in February. He’s committed to Dordt

2026 SENIORS New Meridian High School

fort to improve the on-time graduation rate. For the class of 2024, close to 90% graduated on time, while the dropout rate was less than 3%. Along with New Meridian she oversees the district’s Career Elevation and Technology Center, which offers eight technical education program pathways

Niccoli recently was named the 2026 Colorado High School Principal of the Year by the Colorado Association of Secondary School Principals, a department of the Colorado Association of School Executives As the Colorado award winner, she will compete for the national principal of the year award through the National Association of Secondary School Principals

At New Meridian, she redesigned the master schedule to include credit recovery and intervention during the school day, as well as creating a free summer school program that serves about 30% of students. In collaboration with teachers, she also developed “Operation Graduation,” an initiative that pairs every student with

“It’s about creating the opportunity and getting the students to believe in themselves so they take the opportunity,” she said. “There’s so much excitement in students coming in to our school They’re saying they want to graduate on time and we’re giving them a pathway to do it.

“There’s a push for more, a push for

and getting students to believe in themselves,” she said

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2026 SENIORS Niwot High School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

Niwot boys dominate for three-peat

Girls nab 7th title in eight seasons

By Brent W. New bwnew

@prairiemountainmedia.com

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on Nov. 2, 2025

COLORADO SPRINGS >> Addy and Jude Ritzenhein are openly competitive They race in the swimming pool, then battle for “Mario Kart” dominance They even play a game of ‘Who can eat the most gross-flavored jelly beans?

Hard to determine the real winner there

Running-wise, however, they’re

strictly supportive.

On Saturday at the CHSAA state cross country championships, senior Addy added to her already decorated high school legacy, sealing an individual threepeat by winning the 5A girls race. Jude, meanwhile, finished sixth in his freshman debut, and the Cougars celebrated both a girls’ and boys’ team title

“It’s so special to have this last year with him,” Addy, the Northern Arizona commit, said. In cold conditions at Norris Penrose Event Center, the state’s biggest name in girls running couldn’t break the course record (16:54.70) she set in 2024, but she still won the 5A race by more than 30 seconds, at 17:08.50.

“Jude is so talented,” she went on “Like, he is going to be a big name in the next couple of years

I know he’s going to do something super special and shock everyone but I also want to make sure there’s no pressure on him.”

Like Addy, Jude and the Cougars’ boys team dominated en route to a third straight title, scoring just 28 points in one of the most dominant showings ever seen at the state meet.

The only time fewer team points were posted in a state race scoring five boys runners over the past decade was Cheyenne Mountain’s 26 in 2021. It was also the last time the Cougars didn’t win the team crown as they finished second to Red-Tailed Hawks in 4A that season.

“Like at the start of the season I didn’t think I’d even be on varsity,” Jude admitted “And I knew I wasn’t going to be as good as (Addy) my freshman season. But

then, I come into state, and get sixth as a freshman and that’s just, like, so cool.”

Hunter Robbie led five Niwot runners in the top 10, placing second (15:06.40). He followed in Mountain Vista’s Benjamin Adams (15:03.30), who did an icecold gesture — either in celebration or because temperatures were in the 30s — as he crossed the line for the individual win Quinn Sullivan was third (15:14.30) for the Cougars, Jude was sixth (15:19.40) Ryder Keeton seventh (15:21.60) and Gabriel Marshall 10th (15:27.10).

“Coming in, obviously our goal was to win a state title,” said Robbie who’ll next lead MileSplit’s top-ranked team in the nation at Nike Cross Regionals-Southwest in Arizona later this month. “We just wanted to have fun with it.”

Less than 90 minutes after the boys’ win, Addy blew away the 5A girls field as the Cougars (103 points) edged Heritage (107) for the team title Elise Hagen (18:39.00) was 22nd for Niwot Anna Prok (18:42.90) 25th, Siona Kelly 36th (18:46.90) and Emily Bolda 39th. It was the seventh girls title in eight seasons for the Cougars — they finished fifth in their first year in 5A a season ago For the program as a whole, it was the fourth time since 2018 it won the boys and girls team title in the same season They now a dozen team titles between them. For the Ritzenheins, the latest two felt most special of all “I will always be his No 1 supporter,” Addy said of her brother Jude “And I know he’s probably my No. 1 supporter as well.”

2026 SENIORS Silver Creek High School

2026 SENIORS Silver Creek High School

2026 SENIORS Silver Creek High School

Times-Call, complete with fold lines, ink smudges and legitimate headlines you could read over coffee, if you weren’t too busy watching a musical Since “Newsies” is, at its core a musical about newspapers, it makes sense that the Times-Call is a starring character. First staged in 2011 and adapted from the 1992 film the show draws from the book by Harvey Fierstein, features songs by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman, and more than one case of tap-dancing labor activism It’s based on the real-life newsboy strike of 1899, when young newspaper sellers in New York organized against a price hike imposed by notorious newspaper magnates Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. At Silver Creek, roughly 60 students are involved in the show, spanning grades nine through 12 and encompassing both cast and crew. That scale was intentional according to theater director Tracy Knick, who is in her fourth year leading the program. According to Knick, this play, in particular offered a rare kind of flexibility, one that allowed the department to say yes to everyone who wanted to participate.

While “Newsies” has traditionally been associated with male performers, Disney’s stage version allows for gender flexibility, an option that matters at Silver Creek as the composition of the audition pool shifted in recent years

“When I first came into this role in 2021, we were very female-heavy in terms of who was auditioning, so that influenced the shows we chose,” Knick said. “Then last year, during auditions for ‘Mean Girls,’ all of a sudden we had this group of ninth-grade boys audition, including for lead and ensemble roles. Our musical director Bill Legg, and I looked at each other and said, ‘This really opens things up.

She added: “When we met to brainstorm the next show, it honestly couldn’t have been scripted better. We both said ‘Newsies’ at the exact same time.”

Choosing “Newsies,” Knick said, opened doors for newer students and allowed the department to cast roles without defaulting to gender, seniority, or how the show has tradition-

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ally looked in past productions. It also gave the program room to do what it does best: build something student-driven, that’s larger than life.

The newspapers are central to that process, not just as props, but as teaching tools

Early in rehearsals, Knick ran her students through a historical budgeting exercise meant to illustrate the real-world issues behind the plot Using a resource provided by Disney, she asked them to calculate how much paper carriers might have earned selling papers in 1899, and then recalculate that number after Joseph Pulitzer raised the price of those papers as he does in the show

The math told a grim story. Even if a carrier sold the same number of papers, the price hike meant their earnings dropped and as a result, the difference came out of their meals Later in the show, the Newsies realize that as long as someone else controls the paper, they don’t control the story, so they print their own.

“There’s a line in Newsies that says, ‘If it’s not in the paper, did it really happen?’” Knick said.

That line, she said, is still resonant in 2026, even in a media landscape that looks ever so slightly different

from 1899.

For Silver Creek’s production, using real newspapers matters precisely because of how often they are handled, Knick said. They are sold Folded Thrown Stepped on Their texture and weight become part of the choreography Some are pristine Others are intentionally worn. The difference is visible and meaningful

That’s where the TimesCall shines. Rather than re-

lying on faux props, the production will use real newspapers that were donated for the show Knick described them as “the real deal,” a practical choice that also carries weight for students who are constantly interacting with them onstage.

“It makes it tangible,” she said “It makes it authentic.”

For Knick, that kind of real-world connection aligns with the broader philosophy of the theater program

she has led for the past four years. After stepping into the role during a period of transition, she has focused on building a program that emphasizes student leadership at every level. Students program the lighting Crew members design the costumes, and students dabble in method acting as they develop backstories for characters who are not even named in the script.

“Every single newsie is not named in the script,”

Knick said, “but every single one of our Newsies has a name because our students really thought about their backstory, who they are and how everything in this show impacts them, and I think that that makes for a much richer audience experience.” She continued, “The work these students do is real work. My students who handle lighting, program the lighting themselves. I don’t do it and then hand them buttons to push We’re trying to teach all sorts of skills in theater, and building student leadership is a really important part of the program I’m putting together Costuming is the same way I work with my costume designers, but it’s up to them to create the vision for what everyone is going to look like Everything is student-led.”

The result, Knick hopes, is a production that surprises audiences who arrive expecting something smaller or simpler, because it is a high school show.

One of the most exciting moments in “Newsies” arrives early in Act Two, when the musical opens with “King of New York,” a large ensemble number that leans heavily on tap dancing. In the context of the show it’s a burst of optimism, swagger and forward motion, a moment when the Newsies imagine themselves on top of the world before reality inevitably reasserts itself In the context of a high school production in 2026 it is also notable for another reason: tap dancing is no longer exactly having a cultural moment.

“Not a lot of students take tap anymore,” Knick said “It’s kind of a lost form of dance. But we have some students that have limited experience, and I have to tell you they really step up. Even though they don’t have the formal training that I think a lot of performers who do that form of art have, they have wowed us.”

Consider this a chance to see a high school musical that takes its set design seriously, approaches tap numbers with ambition and whirls your local newspaper through a level of physical theatrics it rarely experiences outside of being flung onto a driveway any given morning.

“Newsies” is on stage at 7 p.m. Feb 25-28 at the Silver Creek High School auditorium 4901 Nelson Rd Longmont Tickets are priced at $8 to $12. Learn more at schs.svvsd.org

2026 SENIORS Skyline High School

2026 SENIORS Skyline High School

2026 SENIORS Skyline High School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

Skyline, behind Morales, thumps Longmont

Senior quarterback scored all 8 TDs for Falcons

By Alissa Noe

@prairiemountainmedia.com

Editor’s note: This article was originally published Oct. 19, 2025

LONGMONT >> Much like the roads during a cold Colorado winter, Skyline’s Servando Morales was slick as ice when the Falcons faced off with Longmont at Everly-Montgomery Field on Friday night

From start to finish in their 5533 win, the senior quarterback continuously gave the Trojans the cold shoulder, taking part in every single touchdown that the Falcons scored He said that his ability to adapt has been a major boon for their offense all year.

“I used to rely on my feet a lot,” Morales said “I was the run-first quarterback, which I still am, but I felt like I got a lot better at throwing the ball. Now we’re a true spread team instead of just myself relying on running the whole time.”

His performance handed the Falcons their third victory of the season (3-5, 2-1 in the 4A North 2 League), which is more than they’ve had in the past two years combined Morales himself has been a hurricane this year, hurling debris in the form of 1,030 passing yards, while bringing an added storm surge of 916 rushing yards and scoring 24 total touchdowns.

He passed for 254 yards and four touchdowns, then ran for 192 and four more scores against the Trojans alone

The team, in general, looked much more seasoned than when it played Longmont a year ago

“It’s just a lot of mental reps, a lot of team time We spent a lot more time in the classroom this offseason (watching film), and I think that helped a lot even though we started off kind of slow. We started way back in

like November,” Morales said “I watched the film from this game from last year and a lot of us just were playing scared. We were crunching up before contact, but I think that changed a lot this year

At the point of contact, we aren’t backing down (now) We’re trying to run through and get the extra yards that we need, and I guess it paid off a lot.”

Following a 28-27 Skyline lead at the half, the Falcons wasted no time asserting their newfound hubris Morales led three straight scores two on the run and one 14-yard pass to Logan Mault — before the Trojans were allowed to score again

By that point, with 4 1/2 minutes remaining the game was too far gone for Longmont

The win should give the Falcons a nice boost in the Class 4A Selection & Seeding Index, where they were ranked No 33 before. The

decision did, however, hurt a 1-7 (0-2) Longmont team that’s been teetering on the edge of postseason inclusion at No. 24. Only the top 24 teams make the playoffs. Perhaps worse, sophomore running back Jacob Foot went down with an apparent injury in the second half after putting up 199 yards of offense Longmont will look to bounce back against Grand Junction Central next Friday, while Skyline faces off with Adams City on Thursday.

“We have small staff (of players) so I think that makes every injury hurt a lot worse,” said Longmont junior running back Jaden Ramirez, who scored twice.

“We had a couple kids step up, and some of us really appreciated that We had (Jakobe Coronado) — he was our right guard I believe. Several of our wide receivers usually do not play, but they got the reps at it.”

Best

2026 SENIORS St. Vrain Virtual High School

2026 SENIORS Twin Peaks Classical Academy

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

By Dana Cadey

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 25, 2025

Seniors across the St. Vrain Valley School District tossed their caps to the sky and looked toward the future at commencement ceremonies this weekend

On Saturday, the district celebrated its graduates with ceremonies at Longmont, Silver Creek, Skyline, Niwot Lyons, Mead, Erie and Frederick high schools

The district graduated about 2,300 seniors this year, including 519 who finished with a 4.0 GPA or higher. Around 200 seniors were on track to earn a Seal of Biliteracy, which demonstrates proficiency in English and another language, by graduation this year

At Skyline High in Longmont,

the school’s athletic field area hosted the ceremony for the class, which included roughly 250 graduates. Family members and loved ones cheered them on from the sidelines while Skyline Principal Anthony Barela addressed the students

“You are capable prepared and needed in this world,” Barela told the graduates. “Pursue your goals boldly Live with purpose, and never stop learning.”

Barela congratulated the Skyline class of 2025 for securing over $2.1 million in scholarships.

“You leave behind a legacy of excellence, and I am beyond proud of each and every one of you,” he said.

Skyline students were recognized for their involvement in school activities such as the Visual and Performing Arts Academy, and the Pathways in Technology Early College High School program. Assistant Principal Greg

Stephens also asked a few graduates to stand and be recognized for enlisting or intending to enlist in the U.S. military.

“Thank you for your commitment and your service,” Stephens told them.

In Lyons, a few dozen graduates experienced an intimate ceremony with Lyons Middle Senior High School staff Each graduate was praised by a faculty member for the unique skills and qualities they brought to the school. With the Lyons foothills behind them, the graduates listened as their peers advised them on how to make the most of their futures.

“I firmly believe that every person holds within them millions of passions and they simply haven’t yet discovered them,” student speaker Scarlett Voss said “By trying new things and traveling to unfamiliar places, we open our eyes to an entirely new world.”

Graduating student Matthew Carter talked about the literal and metaphorical mountains, or challenges he conquered during his time at Lyons High.

“Life always gives me mountains,” Carter said. “Whatever you do, just put on your boots and start hiking.”

Wyatt Saunders, Lyons High valediction, told his classmates they were able to overcome the hardships of high school — from wildfire to calculus tests — together

“Because of these challenges, this moment is a testament to our commitment to success,” Saunders said Saturday “The challenges we have faced have shaped us, but it is our future that will define us.” Class of 2025

valedictorians and salutatorians

LaunchED Virtual Academy

Danica Moen, valedictorian; Wynson Easley, salutatorian Longmont Jacoby Barber, valedictorian; Anya Wieder, salutatorian

Lyons Wyatt Saunders, valedictorian; Hadley Larson, salutatorian

Mead Reese Ormsby, valedictorian; Elena Freed, salutatorian

Niwot Benjamin Gabrielson, valedictorian; Mohi Bauer, salutatorian

Silver Creek Brooklyn Baum, valedictorian; Lorielle Vincent, salutatorian

Skyline Natalie Shaeffer, valedictorian; Eleanor Legg, salutatorian

St. Vrain Virtual Aidan Dodge, valedictorian; Luca Fowler, salutatorian

New Meridian Patricia Melanson, valedictorian; Jonathan Fisenko and Wylie Leigh, salutatorians