It was a happy but emotional day as Caliche High School said goodbye to 18 Buffaloes on Saturday at the school’s annual commencement ceremony.
The ceremony started with the graduates proceeding into the gym as the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” played. This was followed by a welcome from Principal Joe Vergilio and remarks from salutatorian Makenna Armstrong, who spoke about the challenges of high school.
“We all have gone through tough times, but those challenges and hardships are what push us to succeed. This year we took great steps to become closer as a class,” an emotional Armstrong said, talking about memories the class has made. “I know we all had our hardships and didn’t get along a lot, but we made it.”
“Now we’re taking our final step of high school and moving on to our new lives, new lives that will shape the future. As you walk across the stage today know that you made it here today, you pushed through four years of hard work and dedication to be where you are today. After you receive your diplomas, remember the laughs you had, the memories we made, and all we have gone through,” she told her classmates, encouraging them to “be thankful for everything and push yourself for success.”
After her remarks, Megan Eurich, academic advisor, thanked the donors who make it possible for Caliche students to continue their education, sharing that the Class of 2023 has been awarded $90,000 in scholarships. Students awarded scholarships include: Makenna Armstrong, Kaleb Duncan, Tanner Gerk, Aden Young, Karli Green, Kyra Hernandez, Elizabeth Kahler, Seth Marick, Nora Savolt and Imagine Torres.
Recognized in the program and with cords were graduates who passed one or more college classes through Northeastern Junior College, including: Makenna Armstrong, Brailyn Debus, Tanner Gerk, Karli Green, Elizabeth Kahler, Stormy Lyons, Seth Marick, Ryanne Nichols, Nora Savolt, Imagine Torres and Aden Young. Marick and Young passed enough classes to earn an associate’s degree from NJC.
Additionally, graduates who maintained a 3.75 grade point average through high school included: Makenna Armstrong, Brailyn Debus, Tanner Gerk, Seth Marick and Ryanne Nichols.
Graduates who maintained a 3.33 GPA include: Makenzie Bott, Aribeth Brockbank, Karli Green, Kyra Hernandez, Stormy Lyons, Nora Savolt and Imagine Torres.
Following the scholarship recognition, the graduates presented flowers to family and friends and a senior slideshow was played.
Afterward, valedictorian Seth Marick gave remarks, sharing about a TikTok video he’d seen of 40 life lessons written by an anonymous 90-year-old man. One of those lessons was: It doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be wonderful.
“No matter how you look at it, nothing is ever perfect. There’s always something that could be better within any situation but just because it wasn’t perfect doesn’t mean it was bad. There can still be amazing, or dare I say wonderful products even when things aren’t exactly as you wish they were,” Marick said.
He went on to point out that the Class of 2023 wasn’t perfect, they weren’t even close and they had their ups and downs, “however, the Class of 2023 was still as wonderful as it gets. Every individual in this class grew into the wonderful person that they were meant to be and as a group, we made countless wonderful memories.”
Marick pointed out that what his class is bringing to the real world isn’t perfect, but they do bring positivity, diversity and effort to better the world around them.
“Whether it be trade school, junior college, a university, or the workforce, the Class of 2023 will not be perfect, but then again it doesn’t have to be perfect for it to be wonderful,” he said.
In his closing, he asked those who will be taking over the school in the graduates’ absence to maintain Caliche as the wonderful place that it is and continue to make wonderful memories.
Vergilio then presented the Class of 2023 to RE-1 Valley Interim Superintendent Dr. Martin Foster, who accepted the class and the graduates made their way across the stage to receive their diplomas.
After tassels were flipped and celebratory confetti flew, the new graduates then receded out of the gym to their class song, “Time of Our Lives” by Pitbull, and on to the next chapter of their lives.
The Caliche High School Class of 2023 includes: Makenna Jo Armstrong, Alyssa Ann Becker, Makenzie Raye Bott, Benjamin Michael Breidenbach, Aribeth Skye Brockbank, Austin Dee Dallegge, Brailyn Nicole Debus, Kaleb Noah Duncan, Tanner James Gerk, Karli Jo Green, Kya Mae Hernandez, Elizabeth Ann Kahler, Stormy LeAnn Lyons, Seth Bryan Marick, Ryanne Kaylee Nichols, Nora Leigh Savolt, Imagine Lynn Torres and Aden Taylor Young.
