Monarch High school graduates 'prevailed against all odds'
May 19—"Today is, without a doubt, my favorite day of the year," said Monarch High School Principal Mark Sibley as he addressed the hundreds of students, faculty, staff and audience members who attended the school's graduation ceremony Friday evening.
An energetic crowd filled most of the seats at the 1stBANK Center, with parents, friends and others cheering and holding signs in the stands. Some filed into the center with bouquets in hand, ready to greet their graduates after the ceremony. Sections of the audience closest to the stage stood and waved to students as the class of 2023 processed in.
This year, 387 seniors descended down the stairs, streamed around the band in two lines and filed into their seats. After all were seated and the ceremony began, those students who were joining the military, graduating with honors or graduating with a Colorado State Seal of Biliteracy were asked to stand and be recognized. Staff, faculty, school board members, the superintendent and parents were also recognized.
Later in the ceremony, both of the student speakers, Caleb Eubanks and Sahiti Balaji, touched on the unique challenges of their years in high school, which included COVID-19 and the Marshall Fire. But while Eubanks emphasized the ability of each individual to overcome adversity, Balaji celebrated the collective accomplishments of the class, noting that a number of the school's sports teams, clubs and students had excelled this school year.
Monarch Principal Mark Sibley speaks during commencement ceremonies at the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield on Friday. Sibley is retiring after 24 years at MHS.(Matthew Jonas ??
"Against all odds, against everything that was thrown our way, we prevailed," Balaji said to the crowd. However, she noted, "we couldn't have prevailed without the help of staff, teachers, parents, friends and family members guiding us along the way. ... Oftentimes we take for granted the relationships that prove to be the most important in our lives." She then called on everyone watching to turn to someone else and give them a smile.
In a speech that got a standing ovation from students, faculty and staff, Sibley — who is retiring this year after 24 years with the school — said, "It's been said by Laura Rogers that the two hardest things to say in life are hello for the first time and goodbye for the last. ... But don't be sad about it. Because today's been a beautiful day. ... At the end of today's ceremony, all of you are going to be saying hello to your incredibly bright futures. And I'm honored to have been a part of that."
Seniors from most Boulder Valley high schools will graduate this weekend. Monarch, Boulder Prep and Peak to Peak seniors graduated Friday, and on Saturday, the district will celebrate Broomfield, Boulder, Centaurus and Nederland seniors. Fairview High seniors will graduate Sunday.
About 2,400 Boulder Valley students are graduating in the class of 2023. A full list of graduations is available at bvsd.org/calendar/2023-graduations.
