A close-knit family
Jun. 12—WARDEN — Warden High School's class of 2022 simply was not going to let a little rain keep them from graduating.
"It's great. We get to watch our best friend graduate," said Genesis Ozuna as she sat underneath an umbrella in the back of a pickup truck parked outside the Warden High School football stadium. "It adds more spice to Warden."
Out on the football field below, a crowd gathered, umbrellas popped open, and towels were used to wipe off wet chairs and bleachers. School administrators apologized for technology that wasn't working right — the ceremony was being live-streamed, but because of the rain, the audio wasn't working.
"We were hoping for nice weather, but we'll take anything," said WHS Principal Katie Phipps after the ceremony. "We will take anything to be together."
That sentiment seemed to be a constant.
"It's all about our kids," added Superintendent Scott West.
Because of that, the 59 graduates, their teachers and families who gathered on the field were undeterred.
"Let's go Cougs 2022!" said WHS valedictorian Axel Ramirez at the beginning of his commencement speech he gave in both English and Spanish. "During the past four years of high school, our best takeaway was that nothing in life is ... a mistake. It's always a lesson."
Ramirez said during their years at school, he and his classmates learned they needed to make mistakes in order to learn the things they needed if they were going to change their lives and the world.
"As a result, the grueling journey allowed us to learn our unlimited potential," he said.
Other speakers focused on appreciation for the support family, educators and the community gave the graduates.
"Thank you for pushing us to be the best versions of ourselves, even when we didn't know we had it us," said WHS salutatorian Alyssa Valdez as she thanked parents and teachers for being there, guiding them and helping them become adults. "You are all our heroes, you have brought us up to the right and powerful young men and women who will change the world someday. And for that, we thank you."
Valdez said that no matter where they go or what they do, Warden will always be the place where this year's group of Cougars got their start.
"Following today, we will all go on and create our own lives for ourselves. Going into the workforce and moving away for college or even starting families, Warden will no longer be home, but your first home of many," she said.
And she thanked her classmates for being there, not just as friends, but as a close-knit family as well.
"I am so proud of where we are now and what we will see and accomplish and cannot wait to see what the future holds for each and every one of us," Valdez said.
Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com.
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