Forty-six Ignacio seniors received their diplomas Saturday morning. Family members and friends filled the high school gym to cheer them on.
Senior class sponsor, wrestling coach, and welding teacher Cody Haga's rap performance was a big hit. He paced back and forth on the stage, scorning the podium, and sported a black suit with red pinstripes, a red shirt, and black shoes with red laces. Haga was Salutatorian for the IHS Class of 2007.
After the rap, Haga launched into a more conventional commencement speech. "It was kind of like pulling teeth trying to include things like math and writing in welding," he said, adding that he heard a lot of "I'll do what I want," from his students. "But you got the job done," he told the Class of 2016. He admonished them that going out into life on their own, "It all comes down to what you are going to do when your mom isn't here to wake you up."
He urged them to take obstacles as a challenge, continue learning, and grab opportunities for self-growth. "You can have a positive or a negative mind-set. ... Be grateful for what you have. You never know when it will be taken away. Take care of your body. It's the only one you've got. ... Time is precious. That clock doesn't stop ticking. Each minute that passes, you don't get it back."
He got a standing ovation from the seniors.
Selena Cook gave the invocation and asked to be shown how she can make the world a better place.
Valedictorian Austin McCaw cited the school's success in sports and academics. He took a light-hearted dig at Bayfield, saying he asked his dad how to write a valedictorian speech. His dad (IHS graduate and former school board president Ed McCaw) said, "Go ask your mother." He did. He said mom Kelly McCaw (a current Ignacio School Board member and Bayfield graduate) responded, "What's a valedictorian? We didn't have those in Bayfield. Go ask your father."
He urged his classmates to "Give it your all. Don't give up."
Salutatorian Chrystianne Valdez told classmates, "People spend their whole lives worrying and planning for the future. We can follow other people's scripts or write our own story. We are friends, real friends, and that means no matter how far we go, we'll all be here for each other."
Miel Diaz led the parent dedication, then the seniors fanned out around the gym to give red roses to parents and other people who were important in their lives.
IHS Principal Melanie Taylor recognized seniors who earned honors diplomas - McCaw, Valdez, Wyatt Hayes, Jerica Jackson, Antonia Mejia, and Ellie Seibel.
Seniors were called to cross the stage one by one to receive their diplomas, congratulations from school, town, and tribal dignitaries, and pause for photos. Then came the ceremonial toss of mortarboards.
Afterwards, everyone filed out into bright sunshine and headed off to parties, the Southern Ute Bear Dance, or the Bear Dance Pow Wow.
