Graduates embrace 'importance of community' in St. Vrain Valley School District's Class of 2023 commencement

May 27—For high school graduate Ryan Gray, the Class of 2023 exemplified a community of support and friendship like no other.

"I hope that as we leave today and go off to college, work or anywhere else, we realize the importance of community, and begin to build communities that feel like the one we've built together here," Gray, the study body president of Niwot High School, told his classmates Saturday.

Saturday marked a morning of celebration for the St. Vrain Valley School District, with commencement ceremonies taking place for Erie, Longmont, Mead, Frederick, Lyons, Niwot, Silver Creek and Skyline high schools. The district graduated roughly 2,300 seniors this year.

"I hope your education in St. Vrain is just the beginning of a long lifetime of learning," SVVSD Board of Education president Karen Ragland told the Niwot graduating class.

At Niwot, the nearly 300 graduates gathered together on the school's football field. Many of their green caps sparkled in the sun, bearing glittery designs of colleges that will soon be attended by the Class of 2023.

Graduates across the district had their high school experiences characterized by the COVID-19 pandemic, as several of Niwot's speakers pointed out.

"What a wild ride you have had over the last four years," principal Eric Rauschkolb told the crowd. "However, thank goodness this school year has been the most normal year that we have had in quite some time. And boy, have you all made the most of getting back after it."

Niwot traditional valedictorian Frederick Ambrose advised his peers that "adversity can be a good teacher"; pandemic shutdowns, for instance, taught him to cherish the moments he got to spend with his teammates in person.

"While these experiences may have been hard at the time," Ambrose said, "you can look back now, laugh and realize that it was all going to be fine."

A similar celebration was on display at Frederick High School's commencement, where hundreds of family, friends, staff and community members filled the football stands and spilled onto the field for the graduation ceremony.

Attendees cheered and waved, many standing on their folding chairs, as the 292 graduates donning navy caps and gowns walked onto the field. Principal Russell Fox addressed the crowd and jokingly recounted many of his first experiences and first little mistakes.

"As soon as you drive out of our little town ... fill your life with lots of new little things that will lead you to new big things, and enjoy all the spaces in between," Fox said.

Valedictorians Cruz Zamudio and Crystal Rojas Carbajal spoke of community and the small-town experience.

"We may not have the flashy lights or busy streets of a big city, but what we lack in size, we make up for in heart and community. We have all come together to make this place really special," said Zamudio, Frederick's traditional valedictorian.

Zamudio recounted some of his favorite memories, including the seniors showing school spirit at football games. He encouraged graduates to bring their "small-town heart" to wherever they went next.

Rojas Carbajal, a first-generation Latina and the school's valedictorian for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School program, which allows students to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree focusing on biochemistry from Aims Community College, also spoke of community.

"These past four years alongside you all demonstrated the importance of community. Moving forward, I encourage you all to find a community that uplifts you," Rojas Carbajal said.

Frederick teacher Jami Revielle, despite wanting to spread the word about underwater basket weaving, decided to give graduates tips for their future.

"Embrace experiences, discover your passions, and surround yourself with a squad who uplifts and inspires you," Revielle said.

Wherever the graduates find themselves, both Rojas Carbajal and Zamudio hope they remember their time at Frederick.

"As we go on to the larger world, let's not forget this place and the people who shaped us to be who we are today," Zamudio said.

Class of 2023 valedictorians, salutatorians

—Erie: Allyson Melissa Cary, Levi Stephen Glaze, valedictorians; Oliver Nicholas Ramirez, salutatorian—Frederick: Cruz Zamudio, valedictorian; Crystal Rojas Carbajal, EagleTECH valedictorian; Gwendolyn Hanks, salutatorian; Alexis Woodruff, EagleTECH salutatorian—Lyons: Cole Thomas, valedictorian; Henry Jones, salutatorian

—Longmont: James David Wilson, valedictorian; Malia Esther Hendrick, salutatorian—Mead: Ellison Youngs, valedictorian; Kyra Haan, salutatorian—New Meridian: Autumn Palmer, valedictorian; Carson Bettencourt, America Gonzalez Chavez, salutatorians—Niwot: Olga Rokhlenko, International Baccalaureate valedictorian; Frederick Ambrose, traditional valedictorian; Chloe Kruse, IB salutatorian; Jamieson Legh, traditional salutatorian—Silver Creek: Austin Lee Randell Brubaker, valedictorian; Allie Marie Hartman, salutatorian—Skyline: Henry Kennedy, valedictorian; Kevin Tran, FalconTECH valedictorian; Thomas Livingston, salutatorian; Connor Nevin, FalconTECH salutatorian—St. Vrain Virtual: Rylan Kinzle, valedictorian; Noah Johnson, salutatorian

—LaunchED Virtual Academy: Malia Celestine Henriques, valedictorian; Melanie Angela Vazquez Galvan, salutatorian—Twin Peaks Charter Academy: Aryan Gurung, valedictorian; Elena Sickau, salutatorian