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SALUTE TO SENIORS »
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CLASS OF 2023
SVVSD seniors ready for future By Amy Bounds boundsa@dailycamera.com
If Lyons Middle/Senior High School senior Cole Thomas’ four years in high school had a theme, it would be leadership. He’s the school’s student body president, as well as president of the National Honor Society, founder and president of the debate club, the yearbook editor and the captain of the cross country and track teams. As part of the school’s science and leadership program, he visited the local elementary school once a month to help with science activities. He’s a member of both the St. Vrain Valley School District’s and the Lyons’ student advisory boards. He’s president of the Lyons Leo volunteer club and the trombone section leader in the school band. “I wanted to be part of clubs I could contribute to and make a difference in,” he said. Thomas joined St. Vrain’s advisory board as a junior because he wanted “to have a voice in what goes on in the school district.” He expanded his advisory work to the town board as a senior, providing a voice on issues that included regulating concealed carry of firearms and improving mental health resources. In National Honor Society, he organized a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s research. His interest stemmed from the death of his grandmother a year ago after she had lived with the disease for four years. Along with raising money for research, he’s considering Alzheimer’s research as a future career. “I saw how that really hollowed her out,” he said. “She couldn’t remember me or my dad. It just sucked. I really want to advance the field and hopefully work toward a cure so people don’t have to go through what she had to go through.” While he appreciated that attending a small high school offered more opportunities to take on leadership roles, he’s also looking forward to experiencing a much larger environment when he enrolls at the University of Colorado Boulder in the fall. He plans to major in biomedical engineering. “A huge reason why I’m going to CU Boulder is to switch it up a little bit and start that new chapter in my life,” he said. “I have a blank slate that I can paint in whatever way I want.”
MATTHEW JONAS — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Frederick’s Crystal Rojas Carbajal poses for a portrait on April 25. Rojas MATTHEW JONAS — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Carbajal is part of Frederick’s first graduating P-TECH class and is a Silver Creek’s Austin Brubaker poses for a portrait April 27 in Longmont. P-TECH valedictorian.
SVVSD GRADUATION SCHEDULE
Life Skills ACE: 9:30a.m. Wednesday, May 24, Main Street Auditorium LaunchED: 5p.m. Thursday, May 25, Innovation Center New Meridian: 9 a.m. Friday, May 26, Everly-Montgomery Field St. Vrain Virtual: 9a.m. Friday, May 26, Silver Creek High School Field Universal High School: 11a.m. Friday, May 26, Silver Creek High School Commons Erie High School: 10a.m. Saturday, May 27, Erie High School Field Frederick High School: 10a.m. Saturday, May 27, Frederick High Field Longmont High School: 10a.m. Saturday, May 27, Everly-Montgomery Field Lyons Senior High School: 10a.m. Saturday, May 27, John Johnson Football Field Mead High School: 9a.m. Saturday, May 27, Mead High Field Niwot High School: 10 a.m. Saturday, May 27, Niwot High Field Silver Creek High School: 10a.m. Saturday, May 27, Silver Creek Field Skyline High School: 9a.m. Saturday, May 27, Skyline High Field
‘My teachers saw potential in me’ Frederick High’s Crystal Rojas Carbajal will not only be one of the first to graduate from her school’s P-TECH program, but also the school’s first P-TECH valedictorian. The Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools program combines high
school with two years of community college. Frederick’s program focuses on biomedical sciences. “I saw myself thriving in this program,” Rojas Carbajal said. “I felt like it would be a great fit for me.” She said her parents were raised in Mexico, where her mom’s family didn’t have enough money to support her finishing middle
CLIFF GRASSMICK — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Cole Thomas of Lyons competes in the 3200meter relay during the Boulder County Track and Field Invitational at Longmont High School on April 15. school and her dad was only able to go through high school. “My family heavily supported me,” she said. “As a first generation student, the program saves my parents a lot of money. I had the perfect opportunity to get ahead of it and get my education even further.” Teachers, she said, also provided support.
“My teachers saw potential in me, and that really motivated me,” she said. Another advantage to the PTECH program, she said, is the class became like a family. “Spending as much time as we did together, we got really close to one another,” she said. “It has been extremely rewarding to see SENIORS » PAGE 2
FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Our graduates are advancing future of America have supported them in building a strong foundation for their future. As we approach our 2023 The Class of 2023 has exgraduation celebration, I want celled in high-quality instructo take a moment to recognize tional focus academics, inthe unwavering drive, strength cluding Biomedical Sciences, of character, and rigorous acaEnergy, Engineering and Aerodemic preparation that our apspace, Leadership, STEM, Visual proximately 2,000 graduates and Performing Arts, Pathways have demonstrated throughto Teaching (P-TEACH), Pathout their time in St. Vrain. The ways in Technology Early Colthunderous applause that they lege High School Associate Dewill receive as they walk across gree Program (P-TECH), and the stage to receive their dimore. They have been highly enploma is not only a testament to gaged in their school communitheir many achievements; it also ties, participating in co-curricuserves as a symbol of our comlar activities, including the arts, munity’s enduring commitment music, athletics, and numerous Don Haddad to the continued success of our advanced career and technology students, teachers, staff, parents programs. Their hours spent enand community. 2023 and recognize their high gaged in work-based internships It is an honor to serve with levels of success. From their and community service are our Board of Education, teachpreschool years to the present, nothing less than impressive. ers, staff, parents, administrathese graduates have faced sigFurther, our graduates have tors, and other community part- nificant challenges, as well as enrolled in a record number of ners to celebrate the Class of many great opportunities, which Advanced Placement, InternaBy Don Haddad
tional Baccalaureate, and concurrent enrollment college-level courses, giving them a head start on their postsecondary education, as well as thousands of college credits on their transcripts, which has saved their families millions of dollars in tuition costs. Our seniors have also received numerous recognitions for their academic achievements, talents, and innovative ideas, including Boettcher Scholarships, Daniels Scholarships, National Merit semifinalists and finalists, All-State athletes, AllState musicians, and acceptance letters from many of America’s highly competitive colleges, universities, and military institutions. Public education is one of the most powerful systems for driving positive change in our society, and we have no greater responsibility than ensuring that every child in our community
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receives a rigorous, engaging, and high-quality education. Our students are being prepared for a complex, highly-technical globalized world, with a strong competitive advantage and a drive for learning and continued growth. They are receiving a modern, cutting-edge education, rooted in rigorous traditional academics, which offers a truly personalized and comprehensive educational experience. To our graduating seniors, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude and wish you the very best in life. You are truly a class of compassionate, dedicated, and innovative people who will boldly lead our country into the future. Your contributions to our community have enriched our schools and inspired future generations of learners. I am incredibly proud of you. Don Haddad, Ed.D. Superintendent
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