001500 students you started your journey at the center for modern learning before we moved into our new building your sophomore year you endured a global pandemic a challenging political environment and increasing influences of social media but you're resilient you found your voice to speak up for justice compassion and those less fortunate your leaders and you seek to leave the world a better place than you found it and for that we're grateful and as we celebrate today my hope is that this is a time of reflection a time of laughter and a time of potential joyful tears please remember to silence your cell phones turn off your snap notifications and remove whatever distractions may get in the way of enjoying today joining us today in support of our graduates are the District 20 Board of Education
002representatives from District 20 Administration and the staff of the village students you are also supported by family and friends that are here to celebrate you at this point I would like to acknowledge your greatest supporters your parents with the parents of our graduates please stand and be recognized thank you so much for sharing your prized possessions with us as you all know I meet with each incoming student to talk about our school and explain the differences in our school model and I end each of these meetings by talking about our amazing staff I think we have many amazing elements to our school but the best part to me without question are the staff members you get to interact with on a daily basis at this time I would like for all Village staff members to
003stand so we can honor the amazing work you do with and for our students what an amazing group of professionals and I hope you truly understand the gift that they are to you and to me and at this time it's my pleasure to introduce Mr Tom Gregory superintendent of Academy School District 20. Mr Gregory joined the academy 20 staff in 1991 as a middle school math teacher at Challenger Middle School shortly after he transferred to Rampart High School where he served for 11 years as a math teacher math department co-chair football coach softball coach baseball coach and finally as the Rampart High School assistant principal and athletic director for four of those 11 years in 2009 Mr Gregory became our Chief Financial Officer and he served in that capacity until 2016 when he added the
004duties of Deputy superintendent along with being the CFO in 2019 Mr Gregory was named the superintendent of Academy School District 20. Mr Gregory earned his master's degree in educational leadership and principal licensure from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs hearing his bachelor degree in mathematics and secondary school teaching licensure from the University of Southern Colorado today is also a Bittersweet day for us as Mr Gregory will be retiring at the end of the school year Mr Gregory has led our district through many challenging times but he has been a fierce advocate for the village please allow me to tell a quick fun story if I may about Mr Gregory he said everywhere he goes is a bit of a roast these days so in keeping with the theme during the winter of 2019-2020 I was
005advocating for a bigger space for our school as we had quickly outgrown the center for modern learning so I invited Mr Gregory to come visit along with an area Superintendent at a time when I knew we would have over 200 students in a space that was designed for 120. during that visit Mr Gregory turned to me and said we need to find you more space as a district we began to mull over possibilities and then I got a call from Tom asking me to meet him at the old Air Academy Credit Union building to walk through it as soon as we walked in I could Envision It ultimately what the space has become but I also know Mr Gregory is a very pragmatic man so as we walked around my heart was beating faster with
006excitement but I knew Tom would want to explore all options so I tried to play it cool at the end Tom at the end Tom asked for my thoughts and I said sure I think we can make it work I later got a call from my supervisor Dr Jim Smith asking why I didn't like the building Tom thought I should be much more excited about the space than I appeared to be well we did work through that misunderstanding into Mr Gregory's Credit in foresight we were able to purchase our current space and it has been a perfect space for us so please join me in welcoming my friend Mr Gregory with a round of applause well thank you Mr gorsh and good morning Village High School congratulations graduates you've made it it's each family that's
007with us here today congratulations to you also because you've made it too before I start I'd like to take a few minutes to introduce some folks on the stage up here um from our Board of Education which none of this would be possible without them our vice president Mr will timby treasurer of the board Miss Heather Cloninger director Miss Nicole cons director Mr Aaron salt and from our central office and the supervisor of our high school's assistant superintendent Dr Jim Smith I'd like to take a moment before I get started here also to recognize one of the students of the class of the 2023 class of the Village High School Sienna Rivera you've met Sienna earlier Siena represented the village class of 2023 on my student advisory Council she was the village high school student
008voice to District leadership for this past year and represented the student perspective with maturity honesty dignity passion and compassion thank you Sienna for your time and your commitment I appreciate you and know that your feedback made a difference today's a big day after 13 years in school you are closing the first biggest chapter in your lives normally I would stand here and say I can only imagine how you must be feeling because let's face it it's been a few years since I graduated from high school however this year graduation ceremonies take on a whole new meaning for me because I'm graduating with you as Mr Gore said after 33 years I too am graduating I'm graduating from my career and on June 30th I will officially retire from a fulfilling career all in Academy District
00920. so this year as I stand before you making my final graduation speech I think we share some of the same feelings over the past week I've experienced a host of emotions I've been excited anxious eager nervous exhausted and ready to turn off the alarm clock and sleep in maybe you too have experienced some of these same emotions but when I'm not thinking about how great it will feel to sleep in I find myself reflecting reflecting on over the past year and over the past 33 years graduation day is certainly a day of Celebration but I think it's also a natural day of reflection for all of us including those in the audience when I reflect on the past 33 years of working in education I realize that in that time I've learned a lot
010and experienced a lot and have been impacted by thousands of people you too in your 13 years of school have learned a lot and experienced a lot and been impacted by many people our experiences could fill books or maybe these days get lots of likes or something throughout my life and career I've been fortunate to be around some very special people they have helped me in so many ways but often I was so wrapped up in the moment or consumed with how busy I was or thinking about what was coming next I didn't take the time to acknowledge impactful people and simply say thank you so if I could go back I would say thank you more often specifically while I have the mic I will say thank you retrospectively to one person Ms Flory
011this floor is one of my High School Math teachers she not only made math interesting and fun she made me feel confident in my mathematical knowledge and abilities and believe me they were very average at the time she was passionate about math but delivered her instruction with compassion and care for students she taught me that math was important but it was not the most important thing little did she know at that time that I would pursue math as an undergraduate and finish with a degree in mathematics so today I say thank you to miss Flory this floor is one person I wish I had thanked years ago I have so many more people to thank for their impact on me but I will spare you you get the idea take time Before 40 years pass
012to show gratitude to the special people in your lives so today I encourage you to move forward with gratitude thank all those who support you encourage and lift you up not only will it make them feel great it will also make you feel great in fact research shows gratitude has several benefits living with gratitude improves your overall health grateful grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and Report feeling healthier than others grateful people sleep and feel better and more rested and maybe most importantly those who spread thanks and share gratitude report lower levels of stress higher levels of self-esteem and make and keep friends easier it's hard to argue with those benefits cultivating gratitude what I like to call developing an attitude of gratitude is one of the most overlooked Tools in our toolboxes the
013simple Act of saying thank you is mutually beneficial and will lead lead you to a happier and more successful life in the future my Reflections in the past week also reminded me to keep the most important things in life at the Forefront and not let the little things dominate your time or treasure I will close with a short story adapted from a college classroom that best summarizes this concept a teacher stood before her class and had some items in front of her she silently picked up a large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls she then asked the students if the jar was full they agreed that it was the teacher then picked up a box of small Pebbles and poured them into the same jar she shook the jar
014lightly the Pebbles rolled into the open spaces between the golf balls and she asked the students again if the jar was full again they agreed it was the teacher next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar and gave it a gentle Shake the sand filled up the remaining voids she asked once more if the jar was full the students responded this time with a bit more frustrated but unanimous yes now said the teacher I want you to imagine that this jar represents your life the golf balls are the most important things like your family your faith your health your friends your passions and if everything else was lost and only the golf balls remained your life would still be full the Pebbles are the other things that matter possibly like
015School your home your career your job the sand is everything else the very small stuff now think about what would happen she said if you filled the jar with sand first there would be no room for the Pebbles or the golf balls the same goes for life if you spend all of your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are most important the things that really matter pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness spend time with your siblings your parents your faith visit with friends take your grandparents out to dinner play another 18. thank a special person for being special there will always be time for the small stuff take care of the golf balls first the things that really matter the
016things you will always be grateful for set your priorities because the rest is just sand congratulations graduates I thank you for allowing me to share in your celebration go forth and make your mark on this world keep what is most important at the priority and live life with an attitude of gratitude thank you and congratulations thank you Mr Gregory and once again thank you for your support for our school and the way you've advocated for our students and our staff at each graduation members of the senior class are asked if any of them wish to speak or to do a musical performance this year we have two students that wanted to share their thoughts with you and a cello solo so to begin with batting lead off I would like to introduce Mr Kevin White
017what's up everyone all right so I am probably the least formal person but I'll try my best not to say bro or bro if that does happen though I'd like to let you all know that is an all-inclusive term just ask my mom and sisters I'd like to welcome all the graduates friends and families of the class of 2023. the amazing faculty and staff of a village as well as all of our distinguished District 20 board members of Education never would I have thought that my high school experience would be this unique I remember walking into a village on the first day and I was a lost puppy I was excited to be at a new school while still nervous because I really didn't know anybody my first interaction with a teacher at the school
018was going up to Mr Norris thinking that he was a math teacher when he was not at this point I thought that the world had ended I embarrassed myself in the first interaction I had with a teacher at my new school but this would not be my last interaction at my new school with a teacher like this and this would also not be the last time I would be embarrassed as he eventually became my mentor little did I know this interaction would not Define how the teachers are at the Village each staff member my freshman year always reiterated the point of how important it was to learn how to interact with adults especially young in your life this Foundation of encouraging interaction between students and staff is a reason I'm speaking here today this totally
019eliminated my fear of speaking in large settings and also speaking to adults Reminiscing on my sophomore year is wild within itself for those that don't remember a little thing called covet happened the 2020 election I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and for one that had the privilege to see it I seen the greatest rendition of Let It Go at prom voyage I know as a class we all more than likely face some struggles during the first semester of sophomore year due to coven although we would not let covid Define us as a class we Face adversity and it all taught us things about ourselves that we didn't know and in my books that's the definition of perseverance first semester of my sophomore year I had to teach myself some tough lessons such as how
020to be responsible and how to better conduct myself when talking about ideas which challenged my own of which I could not have achieved without the help of the faculty and staff at the village in second semester I finally decided to take cr's valuable lessons of how to be responsible such as time management skills quality over quantity and one of these lessons was taking notes even though this was a lesson she taught me early as my second week of freshman year this translated to every aspect of my life especially how to be more responsible regarding my diabetes while my responsibility was improving something that was not was my ability to have difficult conversations and stay level-headed but Susan would guide and teach me on how to understand multiple perspectives students guidance immediately changed my attitude towards
021approaching difficult conversations instead of being stuck in my ways she taught me to try and see all perspectives while you may not change someone's mind you will always have a conversation and challenge your own ideas these lessons from CR and Susan are the two biggest things I took away from my sophomore year ah junior year I could finally be out of the shadow of my older sister as she had left the village my sister and I are very different people it took me a while to understand that I didn't need to be the same person she was however this simple lesson can be applied to the students of the class of 2023. be your own person determine your own Journey there were some struggles in my junior year I hadn't quite found my own personal
022group yet there were people around me who was doing way more than I was I felt behind but some new relationships would help me push right through the sump I was in I started to explore classes that ultimately led to my choice of majoring in college which is political science these exploration in classes would also lead me to getting closer to Mr Stewart and Mr Norris simple things like building better relationships making better decisions academically and favoring my mental health our habits I build but to be honest bro Juniors seemed like the tamest year I've had at the village and naturally saving the best for last my senior at the Village gave me some of the greatest memories uh senior Sunrise Jamie and I placing out the costume contest prom and the overall relationships I've
023built with teachers I haven't interacted with such as Kevin and Jake the ones I've improved like Stewart and Norris and of course the student staff basketball game if this year has taught me anything is that you should always bet on yourself but in the moral words of the Village People no man does it all by himself I said young man put your pride on the Shelf Jake Kevin Norris and sewer and Flynn have all taught me how important it is to communicate with adults in your life I cannot give each of them enough credit to how much they have helped me grow as a person this year whether it be my physical health mental health or if I just need to talk to someone these staff members have taught me that it is okay to
024grow as a person and this I could not have done without them how honored I am that I was able to be a student of this amazing faculty and staff they've taught me how to conduct myself as a responsible young man I truly cannot thank them enough as far as for the graduates of the class of 2023 I'd like you to reflect on how these adults have made an impact in your life and have helped you accomplish your goals these teachers are the reason I saw faith in the education system thank you and congratulations to the class of 2023. [Applause] next I would like to introduce Aurora Farrell who will be performing as cello solo composed by Johann Sebastian Bach [Music] thank you foreign [Music] foreign [Music] um [Applause] thank you awesome job Aurora I
025told her if she ended up sick I'd pinch hit for I'm really glad she wasn't sick all right and then our next speaker will be Mr Grayson Crawford good morning everyone I want to start off by saying thank you to the village for being an amazing place to the teachers the staff and my fellow classmates you are truly special people and the principal Nathan thank you for creating such a unique place and having the vision to continue to tweak it into what it is today I also thank you for deciding to put your trust in me to give a speech at graduation did we really think that was a good idea before I say what I have to say I want to make sure that you all understand how much of an honor I feel
026this is it's probably important for me to mention before I start I unfortunately didn't manage to have the time to prepare a speech for you all today but before you start freaking out thinking that I'm just going to win it and end up taking 30 minutes to say what I have to say I actually want to invite you to all help me write this speech right now what do you guys think is that okay with you awesome right so here's how it's going to work I did manage to jot down a few notes as we were talking or while walking in so I'm going to list off a few sets of two ideas and I'll let you all vote on which of the two ideas I should talk about so I'll say the two ideas
027then ask for a pause and then we'll see which idea prevails at the end I hope to have three good topics that will make up my speech finally I promised that from the time I started speaking I'll be walking away from this podium in no more than five minutes how's that for creative writing better than chat GPT okay the first topic you're going going to vote for me to talk about is number one how the village is a special place that is getting National recognition for its unique structure or number two talk about why soccer is clearly the best sport in the world okay so option number one or option number two okay yikes that's close but I think I have a winner next should I talk about by one Keynes is better than Chick-fil-A
028or two I could talk about why the people at the Village helped shape me to be the person I am today so option number one option number two okay okay interesting but I think there's a winner there finally I could talk about how one our school really should be a model for how high school is done everywhere or two I could talk about the next pair of shoes I hope to be buying which should be dropping on Nike sneakers app soon option one and option two okay okay definitely a nail biter but I think we have it now I really appreciate you guys helping me with my homework today and I just want to assure all my now former Village teachers and parents that this is the only time I have ever asked anyone or
029any program to help do my homework for me actually that's not true at all when there's a will there's a way when there's a Quizlet there's an a but it seems like something I should probably say that being said thank you all for helping me write this and now I'd like to give my official exclusive graduation ceremony speech The Village's unique place that is getting National recognition thanks to all of Nathan and the staff's hard work the people at the Village have helped shape me into the person I am today and I am very grateful for them The Village should be an example to the rest of the country on what high school should really be like and I hope our school inspires many thank you all for your time no no no in all
030seriousness the opportunities that this school has given me for my future are endless and I'm beyond grateful for the experiences I've had here for example tricking out the school with LED lights for prom yes they are still up if you look hard enough takes a Keen Eye and getting dunked in the dunk tank junior year because why not I had a swimsuit in my car no one knows why or finally going fishing and ziplining as a freshman with Mr colgate's Outdoor fishing sorry Fitness class speaking of which since my freshman year the village has grown me from what being what most of my teachers would call a ball of annoying chaos to a student who knows how to manage his time well and run his own life as an adult that's truly the most special
031thing about this school not only are you learning your normal content from classes but you are also learning to become a successful adult I don't think most school students would say that without this school I would struggle to have a mindset to go to college and I would feel pretty burnt out at this point in time the relationships I've made here I will cherish the rest of my life as the two loudest people at the Village I hope me and my cousin King Joe let's all take a moment and just give some Applause for King Joe I hope we've helped leave a good Legacy behind for those looking to make the village like a second family thank you all for your time and congratulations to my fellow classmates some of which I am seeing for
032the first time today nice to meet you thanks Grayson I used to joke when we were having to track during covid and exposures and things like that I used to say if Grayson ended up with covid we'd have to shut the whole school down because I think you talk to everybody every day when I think of each graduating class I try to come up with a few words that capture the class and when I thought about the class of 2023 I just kept coming back to the same word you guys are gritty I thought of this word because of the challenges you've overcome in your personal lives and at school yet despite these challenges you all continue to show up you bounce back and you take on the next thing that life throws your way
033when I looked up the definition of gritty in the Oxford dictionary it simply States gritting means showing courage and resolve I think those words really sum up the group of students that sit in front of me today but as we talk about gritty I'd like to take us in a totally different direction and talk about sports mascots as some of you may already know the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team in the NHL have a mascot named gritty if you haven't seen him he's not very good looking in fact you can see a picture of him on the screen right now recently I saw a news story about Dave Raymond who helped create gritty Dave got his start in the mascot world when he was an intern for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team and one night he
034was forced into action portraying the Philly fanatic well that one night turned into a series of appearances as The Fanatic until it turned into his full-time job later Dave actually started his own company called Raymond entertainment which has been involved in the creation of hundreds of other mascots for colleges corporations and professional sports teams well we could spend a lot of our time today unpacking Dave's story and how life sends you in directions that you've never imagined there was a part of the news story that really got my attention did you know that as part of the process for creating a mascot they actually write a back story for each mascot that gives it its character for example the story behind gritty is that he used to live alone in a secret hideout until they
035started to build the Flyers Arena which Disturbed his otherwise peaceful life he is loyal but mischievous and he has an affinity for hot dogs true story he often gets into trouble because of his lack of social skills since he lived by himself underground and he has a very snarky Twitter account if you're like me you had absolutely no idea that a mascot had a backstory but if you think about it it kind of makes sense in order for the person wearing the costume to understand how to behave and how to react there has to be a story behind the character what in the world does this have to do with graduation because each of you also have a backstory that leads you to act in certain ways and the more you understand yourself the better
036you were able to use that for positive purposes while you may not have an affinity for hot dogs you certainly have experiences that have shaped you into the person you are today each of you have overcome loneliness the socially awkward experiences and the tendency to be snarky on social media some of you are still working through these things and we give you the time and space to do so but no matter where you are please remember Village High School is proud to be a part of your backstory and each person that you come into contact with the rest of your life also has a back story sometimes they're acting out of love sometimes they're acting out of pain and each person's story shapes them and I encourage each of you to get to know the
037backstory before you rush to judgment or to action ask great questions seek to understand be curious be vulnerable with others so they can understand you and they can understand your story listen more than you speak dig deep show up and stay gritty and to close I'd like to leave you with a quote from the great John Wayne who by the way is from my home state of Iowa as most heroes are he summed it up this way True Grit is making a decision and standing by it doing what must be done no moral man can have peace of mind if he leaves undone what he knows he should have done so as you leave today I hope you go into the world I hope you make it a better place I hope you do the
038things that must be done and I hope you go with grit because you will be a gritty Village graduate and now miss Cloninger it's with the greatest of Pride that we present to you the members of the class of 2023. as principal I hereby certify that these young men and women have met the requirements for graduation from village high school and Academy School District 20 and I recommend them for their diplomas on behalf of the Board of Education of Academy School District 20 I accept with pride and pleasure the 2023 graduating class of Village High School Mr gorsh thank you your faculty and your staff for an outstanding job [Applause] staff please prepare to present our seniors at this time one unique Village tradition is that each graduating senior has the opportunity to choose one
039of our staff members to present them this morning this is a staff member that made an impact on them during their time as a student in our school this is a very high honor for our staff and they will do their best to hold it together as they read each note front row please stand up and line up in order to receive your diplomas and it is with great pride that I now present to each of you the graduating class of 2023. Cody Ackerman I'd love to start with thanking myself if it wasn't for the courage and hard work I put into these four years I wouldn't be the person I've become however the real credit goes to my family mom dad Sarah lonan Lucas and CR you are the true heroes I'll never be
040able to thank you enough oh thank you Josiah oliphat I would like to thank Above All Else my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for shaping me into the man I am today I would also like to thank my mother and father siblings and good friends I plan to go to GCU to study mechanical engineering Trevin Alessio I want to thank my parents mentors coach Neal Steve biggery for helping me for giving me the opportunity to succeed and follow my dreams I plan on attending Hastings College in Nebraska studying exercise science and playing football I've had an amazing senior year at the village and I think every teacher and administrator that has helped me this year Tyler Allen I would like to thank my parents grandparents and siblings for always being there to support me and
041for helping me reach success in my life so far and my friends for helping me enjoy every day and a big thank you to dlg Kate margrave at Pine Creek and all of the village staff for helping me to grow and become who I am today in the fall I will be going to Colorado State University to study mechanical engineering and we'll be participating in band and Air Force ROTC Chase and Buell firstly I want to express my gratitude towards my parents and family who I completely credit for helping me reach where I am today from the countless nights of out-of-state traveling for baseball or the early mornings bringing me to tournaments I am beyond grateful I would also like to recognize the influence of my friends and teammates who have played a crucial role
042in shaping my character and help me become the person I am today although it feels like the end of a long ride for me it is only the beginning of an exciting New Journey in my life where I get to play division two baseball at Newman University Maxwell amrein thank you mother for taking care of me throughout my childhood thanks father for leaving leading me in the right direction I plan on going to UCCS and majoring in accounting Bryson Anderson I just want to thank my mom my dad Kaden Kylie and Grace for helping me through high school also a big thanks to miss fewer and Mr Colgate for always trusting I'll get my work done even when it looks impossible for the next four years I'll be attending UCCS majoring in computer science Brett
043Bailey I would like to thank my parents for everything they've done for me they have helped and supported me throughout my life and have turned me into who I am today I plan to serve a missionary for my church before heading off to college I'm excited to see where life takes me Kelly bamsberger I would like to thank everyone who supported me throughout high school special shout out to my mom sister grandma and Ty for all their support I will be continuing my education to pursue a master's degree in psychology Gavin Barr I would like to thank my parents for being the most helpful and caring people I could ask for thank you to all my friends and teammates that helped me along the years while in high school I'd like to thank my girlfriend
044Cadence and my best friend Cole for always being there for me no matter what I will be playing Junior Hockey to pursue my hockey career in hopes of playing division one NCAA hockey in the next couple of years Emma Bass I would like to thank my closest friends and family Alex mom dad and Hudson you have always been some of my biggest supporters for as long as I can remember thank you to Jenna Rachel Ezra Zack and many others whenever I was worried or stressed you guys helped me so much again thank you from the bottom of my heart lastly thank you to all the teachers at the Village you guys are truly amazing thank you for making the last two years of high school amazing Kate Bennett I would love to thank my parents
045and my sister for giving me such a wonderful life supporting me unconditionally I'd also like to thank all my friends here today for making my high school experience so memorable in the fall I plan to attend CSU Fort Collins to study business administration Matthew figurine first I'd like to thank my parents Steve and Brenda biggery you both have been my biggest supporters since day one you've pushed me to be the best version of myself I'd also like to thank my friends Trevin and all my old football teammates for mentoring me and pushing me through everything I plan on starting a business with my brother and my dad Noah bird I would like to thank my mother for always supporting me and my sister for helping me through the years I would also like to thank
046my teachers throughout the years for pushing me to be better not only as a scholar but as a person and my teammates and coaches for helping me become a better person I will be playing tier one juniors in Canada in aghl then when I decide to go to college I will pursue construction management as a major Donovan Bradford I would like to thank Matt and CR for their constant belief and reassurance to me over my four years at the village as they take the next step in my life playing Junior Hockey I will always remember your guidance and encouragement Sarah Bryant to my biggest inspiration and the person who taught me to chase after my goals and never give up you helped to make me who I am and have taught me that hard work
047is required to chase your dreams you are the biggest reason why I am heading to Tarleton to achieve my dreams thank you Dad Michael Carden it's safe to say High School would would have been a lot more difficult if it hadn't been for a lot of people but unfortunately I don't have time to thank them all some of the most key people were and it's not a surprise my parents who drove me to do things greater than I thought I was capable of the next group of people I would like to thank are all the wonderful teachers of the village and maybe most importantly my mentor CR who is not only an amazing teacher but also a great friend throughout my high school years thank you Mackenzie Carrington I'd like to thank my parents for
048everything my brothers for always making me laugh and protecting me for my friends and family for their support and for my teachers I'd like to thank the Lord for the path he has created I will be continuing my education at the Masters University in pre-nursing with a goal of becoming a nurse practitioner and specializing in Pediatrics Eli considine I would like to thank my mentor Norris and all the other teachers who influenced my high school career having such amazing understanding and helpful teachers has allowed me to grow and succeed here next year I am planning on attending UCCS to study mechanical engineering Emma considine I would like to thank Mrs redinger and all the other teachers who have done so much for me especially reddinger sorry for adding classes all the time I really appreciate
049all the support and friendship I plan to attend college next year in state and thanks to parents for all you've done love ya Andrew Converse I would like to thank my parents for supporting me throughout my high school careers highs and lows and my siblings for keeping me humble I would also like to thank both mentors I had Linda trumbauer and Susan Nolan my future plans include going to Colorado School of Mines to graduate with a degree in computer science Grayson Crawford living overseas for much of my life meant living far from families so it's great having so many of them here today thanks Mr Stewart for being my mentor teacher and also a life mentor coach Marcus for developing my soccer skills and molding my character Bradley Joe and Ellis for helping me survive
050the village finally my parents Brad and Alicia for always supporting me I will study business management and play soccer at laterno University in Longview Texas next year awesome Isabel cutter I would like to thank my parents who have supported and encouraged me throughout my entire life I couldn't have gotten to this point without them I plan to attend Delaware State University in the fall and study psychology Chloe dance I want to thank my parents siblings teachers and mentors for helping me get to graduation thank you for all the encouragement and support you have given me to get to this point I so appreciate you all post-graduation I'm planning to go to North Central University in Minneapolis Minnesota to major in ASL interpreting Jordan Davis thank you to my family friends and teachers especially my mom
051for believing in me and helping me get to where I am today thank you jaina fland Carly Erica Jake and Kimmy for always being there for me I will be attending Grand Canyon University to pursue a dual degree in elementary education and special education Lopes of Willow Davis I would like to thank all of my teachers here at the Village who have helped me I also have a great family who have been incredibly supportive and loving after leaving the village I'm planning on taking a gap year to travel and explore my interests in culinary arts Amy Dominguez thank you to my mentor CR for being with me throughout my whole High School career also thank you to all my family who have always been supportive of me my future plans are to study biology at
052Baylor University Sarah Dunn I would like to thank my parents for helping pave the way for me to get where I am today I certainly would not be here if it wasn't for their support I would like to thank my sisters Becca and Anna for being my forever friends and always being there for me I'd like to thank Maria de la Garza for advising and supporting me over the past two years I truly appreciate it I'm heading to Colorado Mesa University in the fall to major in business and play soccer Max EK Vlad I would like to thank my parents for helping me step out of my comfort zone I also thank my friends for giving me an amazing experience at the village that has been unlike any other in my future I hope to
053meet others like me in the study of biology Alicia Elliott I want to thank all my friends and family that have supported and pushed me toward my goals I also want to thank my school and dance teachers that have also been there for me next year I plan to take a gap year and look into different fields of work Aurora Farrell Mom Dad Kimmy Stacy CR Susan Miss redinger and My Cello teacher Megan thank you for all your support and encouragement I'm so excited to begin my education in music therapy and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to heal people through music Sebastian Figueroa I am so grateful to have been accepted to the Village it was a wonderful change from my previous school I really couldn't have done it without Susan and all
054the love and attention she's given me I am so happy I chose this school and so grateful for the opportunity Dylan Frederick first of all I want to thank God for guiding and helping me throughout High School I also want to thank my dad mom sister and everyone who has impacted my life I wouldn't be the person I am today without their guidance prayers love and support I plan on majoring in computer science with a concentration in cyber security adrick Garcia I would like to thank my parents friends teachers and Mentor for getting me this far I couldn't do it without you all I want to become an X-ray tech as my career in life I'm looking forward to a new chapter in my life Parker gavitt I would like to thank my mom and
055dad for supporting me throughout my high school career even when I didn't make it easy on them I would also like to thank Ms Sherry for guiding me through this whole journey last I want to thank all my friends that stood by my side and helped me out when I needed it Sophia Goodall I want to thank not only my parents but my second mom the one who helped me tackle my hard days and was there to share my best days Carolyn Mullins was my biggest blessing throughout my education journey and through navigating life I will miss her being with me every step of the way in her warm hugs I will be attending University of Northern Colorado to pursue my education further in becoming a teacher for special needs children [Music] Ellis Goodwin I
056would like to thank the whole village staff for believing in me I needed it more specifically thank you to Mr Colgate and Miss fear for making sure I graduated and for putting up with my constant procrastination last but not least thank you Mom Dad Grayson and Cooper for keeping me sane Kimora Gordon I want to thank my friends the Lily sage and Kelly for making my transition to Colorado 10 times easier I also want to thank my parents for supporting me through every decision I've made lastly I want to thank Jake without him I wouldn't have made it through the year literally this fall I plan on attending Biola University in California to further my academic and athletic career majoring in kinesiology thank you to everyone for everything Gabe Groth thank you to my friends
057Josiah Brett Max and Kimmy thank you to my parents as well as Mr Savage Miss Kimmy and even my brothers as for me and what's next I want to travel the world and read lots of books I will never forget this magical school though I wish I could forget freshman health class Audrey Griswold I want to thank God my dad my mom my dear friends and teachers who helped me throughout High School I don't know how I could have graduated without them I also want to thank my priests and God Parents my plans for next year are to go to college and become the best writer I can be no matter what happens I will never forget the wonderful memories of village high school glory to God and bless America foreign I'd like to thank
058my parents teachers and my friends for making my high school experience the best it could have been coming to the Village was the best decision of my teen years and my mentor has made things infinitely better my future plans are to go to college and I couldn't have achieved that without all the Fantastic teachers here Tyler gunler Dad thank you for always pushing me to do my best you have done so much for me and I don't think I could ever repay you I probably wouldn't have graduated if it wasn't for my mom thank you for always being there for me especially when times were stressful thanks to all my family and friends love you all Gracie gutsman I want to share my deepest gratitude to my parents for their constant support without them I
059would not be where I am today I also want to thank my teachers for their dedication to their work as well as their continual kindness in the fall I will be attending Pikes Peak State College to pursue a career as a dental hygienist Malia Harrelson Miss Katie and Miss Krista thank you so much for being there for me without your help I don't know where I would be I appreciate that you would go the extra mile to be there for me to make my days better even when I stressed out about some of the assignments your hard work dedication and encouragement to help me be more outgoing and reach my goals made a big difference in my life Mom and Dad thank you for letting me come to the Village I can't imagine having been
060anywhere else and I wouldn't be reaching my goals without this school next year I will be finishing my vet tech assistant program at Pikes Peak and can't wait to be working with animals in the future Brooke hillstrom I would like to thank my family friends teachers and coaches for helping me reach this point in my life all of you have made me the person I am today I'm thankful for every single one of you I will be majoring in Zoology at Colorado State University Nolan Hollis I would like to thank my parents and sisters for so much support through both my academic and baseball journey I would also like to recognize my teachers and friends for helping create such a positive High School experience without these people I'd be nowhere near where I am today
061and I know they will be by my side the whole way through this next chapter I am beyond excited to further my academic career studying economics and playing baseball at Miami of Ohio University I'd like to thank my mom and dad for all the support throughout life I would also like to thank my mentor Mr Colgate for helping me stay on track my plan for next year is to attend college at UCCS to study business finance Zach Johnson I would personally like to thank my family especially my mom and dad for always being there for me throughout all my years in school I would like to thank my friends for always being there for me I would finally like to thank the outstandingly amazing staff here at the Village special thanks to Sean Reed and
062Kevin for Baton for always being great teachers and Mentor figures I will be going to UCCS I don't know what I will study but I know it'll be profitable my goal is to live life to the fullest and amazing along the way Madison Jones I'd like to express my appreciation to all my teachers and counselors especially Mr Erickson for inspiring my interest in computer science Jake for never being too busy for all my questions and Sherry for always caring and encouraging me thank you to my parents for pushing me to do the hard things and the rest of my family for their constant support I'm looking forward to studying computer science in the fall Ellie cam I would like to thank my parents my mentor Ms Maria and everyone who has helped me and supported
063me to get to this Milestone this diploma means so much to me it is a symbol of my hard work and the love and support I have received from amazing people in my life thank you I couldn't have done it without you I plan to continue my education at UCCS in the fall and continue training for my goal of the 2026 Winter Olympics mccaden Carlin to my friends family and coaches this is an occasion that I will cherish for the rest of my life and I am so grateful to have you all here to celebrate with me throughout my academic and Diving career I have been blessed with your unwavering support encouragement and love your belief in me has been a constant source of inspiration and motivation and I could not have made it to
064this point without you I'm excited to for the next four years to represent UNC as a division one diver Heather Canon kenning not sure how to begin to thank everyone for getting me to this point in my life where I can really start to make my life my own firstly I would like to thank my parents for always encouraging me to pursue my dreams thank you to my grandparents for letting me catch frogs in your creek thank you to my brothers and best friends for always sticking by my side and finally a thank you to my teachers and all the staff at the village for helping to prepare me for life you each have played a part in my going to Colorado Christian University to pursue a career in Psychology I love you all Catherine
065kleinhexel I would like to thank my family for supporting me throughout all my years of school and putting up with needing to take me to about a million different places I also wish to thank my friends for providing me with smiles and a shoulder to lean on when things got hard I plan to go to Pikes Peak State College to study nursing Jimmy condert I would like to thank my parents grandparents mentors teachers coaches and everyone else who's helped me through these past 12 years of school high school has not been easy but thanks to the people who helped me I made it I'm going to Colorado Mesa University to study mechanical engineering go Mavs super lark I would like to thank my parents my sister my grandparents and girlfriend for helping keep me on
066the right path to reach graduation I would also like to thank my mentor who is reading this she has done everything to help me reach this point my plans are to continue playing soccer and start my own business Alyssa Lewis I I'd like to thank the teachers at the village for their seemingly never-ending compassion especially my mentor dlg who talked to people when I didn't want to I'm grateful to my mom for always encouraging me my dad who drove me to several school buildings a day all freshmen and sophomore years and my grandparents who always want to come support me I want to thank all the friends I made along the way even though many of them are not in this Arena my future plan as of now includes making mistakes while I still can
067as well as working and traveling for a year before College Garrett Lindsey I would like to begin by thanking my parents for always supporting me thank you for always being there for me thank you for all the coaches to all the coaches I have had throughout the years for pushing me to always be the best best athlete team player in human being I'd like to thank CR and Jake for always checking in on me and keeping me focused and doing my best as I graduate today my goal with the help of my parents and coaches is to pursue my dreams of playing hockey at the highest level while earning a college degree Christian Lopez Riviera I would like to give all glory to God I wouldn't be anywhere without him I would also like to
068give thanks to my mom dad and sister for being there for me when I was alone and for my school mentors Sierra and Stewart for teaching me so much not only about school but about life lastly I would like to pursue a career in acting at ppcc or UCCS Tori Lewis I would like to thank my family friends and teachers for all of their support and encouragement I appreciate all the growth and progress that I've made throughout my journey with the school I plan to attend college to earn a business degree while pursuing my passion for martial arts as a teacher and director Sam Lyon I would like to thank the many teachers students advisors and family that have supported me through my high school career while difficult at times pandemic and all I am
069thankful for the care shown for for perseverance and what the future holds starting this summer I will be pursuing outdoor mountaineering and possibly a career in welding next year Arielle McDowell I would like to thank my brilliant Mom and Dad Sydney Autumn Diane and my teachers for seeing me through this transformative season I can't stop thanking the lord for you guys I wouldn't have made it without your constant love and wisdom I love you so much Meyer thank you to my friends and family for coming along this wild Journey with me a special thank you to all the staff and teachers for pushing me and giving me such amazing experiences I will be attending Colorado Christian University this fall majoring in psychology Kayla Moore I would like to thank my family friends teachers and coaches
070for pushing me to become the person I am today next year I plan to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix Arizona well I would where I will be studying business management and marketing I have overflowing gratitude for the people and opportunities that have gotten me to where I am and I can't wait to see what my future holds Naomi Moore some people who really helped me reach graduation and made an impact on my education are Mr Oman and Mrs Colgate I will always remember them I plan to go to University of Nebraska to master an interior design Chloe Morales the journey that leads me to where I stand today has been all but smooth I have faced several obstacles and yet here I stand I cannot express how thankful I am for my loving family
071especially my parents and brother my loyal friends and the kind-hearted teachers who have helped and guided me through this journey and who are without a doubt the reason I stand here today in the following years I plan to graduate from college and then live life to the fullest Leo Morales throughout my time in high school and in my life generally I've been to many places and met many people since I've had such experiences it is impossible for me to thank one individual or one group of individuals so to those who can hear it I want to thank you for being part of my life for guiding me to the place and person I am today I'm not exactly sure what my future holds but I want to graduate with my associate's degree while finding my
072passion once I've done that and I will work towards that passion whether it means getting my bachelors or taking other steps until I've succeeded in reaching it Joseph King Joe Morrow I would like to thank the team of teachers who helped me in many meetings in the study hall and a special thank you to Katie fuhrer for going above and beyond to help me get here Bradley and Grayson all miss going to school with you guys I want to thank my parents my siblings grandparents Aunt uncle and cousins for being there for loving me for always helping me achieve my goals and for showing up for my games next year I hope to be working in District 20 as a paraprofessional working with Elementary aged kids thank you I love you guys and go Ducks
073Emma Nordstrom I would like to thank all of my wonderful family for all of your love and support throughout my school journey I would especially like to thank my aunts and my grandparents for all their encouragement and advice to my mom I can't thank you enough for all you have poured into me to bring me to this point in my life My Success is because of all the millions of little things reading to me helping me with homework and for providing encouragement when the path forward wasn't easy it is because of you your love and constantly being there that I am ready to take my next big steps in life in the fall I plan to attend UCCS to pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing Abby O'Dell most importantly I want to thank my parents
074for their endless support and love throughout the last four years I'm also incredibly grateful for my family who has provided me with encouragement and perseverance last but certainly not least thank you to all of the wonderful teachers I've had without whom I couldn't have done this I plan to attend college for creative writing Lane Olmstead I want to start off by thanking my family for always helping me when I need it I also want to thank Mrs redinger for always pushing me to be better in my classes and getting me to this point in life I will be attending IEC to become an electrician Brandon pakaya it's only right to thank my mom she was the one that pushed me to make it this far then I would like to thank the nice teachers at
075the village for making this school feel One of a Kind lastly I have to thank my mentor Mr Savage for never giving up on me when I was struggling Alyssa piano first I want to thank God for being a solid foundation to lean on in times when I needed strength next I want to thank my parents my friends my sisters and my brother for being uplifting and encouraging lastly I want to thank every Mentor in my life for listening and guiding me to be the best and most successful version of myself I can be I am excited to play NAIA D1 volleyball and study Elementary education at opsu in the fall Cole peepenberg I would like to thank my mom dad brother and sister for helping me grow and for supporting me in everything I
076have done I would also like to thank my best friends Gavin Barr and Cooper Conway for being by my side throughout my journey you all mean more to me than you will ever know I would be lying if I said I wasn't super excited about being done with school for a bit but I'm also excited to be able to concentrate solely on hockey and see where that can take me Sage Pierce I would like to thank my family who has supported me non-stop over these last 12 years and for always being by my side even when it was difficult I would also like to thank the teachers who have pushed me when they knew I could do more and have been both mentors to me and friends to me I plan on attending Colorado Mesa
077University and studying Kinesiology to pursue a career in physical therapy Aiden raddick I would like to first thank my mom and dad for all their support thank you to all my teachers coaches teammates and to miss Sherry who have all made me a better person I plan to go to college down the road and I plan on doing another two years of hockey before College Chandler Rollins I would like to thank my parents and teachers for helping me along this journey my future plans will be to attend college at UCCS after college I plan to pursue a career in criminal justice Corinne redinger I would like to thank Stuart who has been my mentor since eighth grade readinger who has been my mom since birth my friends both old and new my family and my
078dog next year I will be studying criminal psychology at Colorado Mesa University Jonathan rice thank you to my parents and family for helping me out along the way I could not have done it without you guys thank you to my teachers for all the support and help over the past four years I will be attending Auburn University in the fall for Aviation War Eagle Sienna Rivera thank you Mom and Dad for always being there to support me thank you Mrs Colgate and Mrs dlg for being the best mentors I could have ever ever asked for and last but not least thank you Officer Jeff for always being a friendly face and keeping us safe Aeneas Rodriguez Sanchez I would like to thank my parents for always being there helping me when needed and pushing me
079to accomplish my dreams I would also like to thank Ms Sherry for welcoming me with open arms standing with me through ups and downs and teaching me to be myself my goal after graduation is to attend UCCS and get my degree in Psychology and criminology I appreciate everyone who has helped me accomplish what I have already Luke rusco I would like to thank my parents coaches mentors and my friends my mom and dad have constantly pushed me to be the absolute best version of myself I would like to thank my coaches and friends for training and working out with me to get me to to college for football coach farmer also has been a great coach and has done countless walkthroughs with me I intend to go to Hastings College to play football and major
080in construction management Davin Sanders I would like to thank my mom dad grandparents and all my family and friends who supported me through school my future plans are to finish auto collision and paint cars for a living Cody Cypress my mom friends mentors teachers and extensions have all helped me graduate I'm happy they put up with my procrastination all four years and I can't wait to continue procrastinating in college as for college I'm not sure where I'm going to go as as I'm writing this but I plan on studying some science degree and swimming division one if possible Lance Scott to start off I would like to thank my mom and dad for making me do my work even though I didn't want to I would also like to thank the fellows for being there
081and making School more enjoyable my future plans are to start a business and bless as many people as I can thank you Kaya schatzer I would like to say thank you to everyone in my life you've all helped me become who I am today and I'm so grateful for it thank you to my teachers for pushing me to do my best to my golf people for standing by me through the bad and the good my grandparents for making life fun to my dogs for loving me unconditionally and my family for always being there I'm excited to start this next part of my life where I will be double made double majoring in Psychology and education and playing golf for Hastings College Cara Simmons as this chapter of my life closes and a new one begins
082I want to start off by saying I will never be able to sum up my gratitude for my family and friends in these four sentences I gave everything to my education and I'm proud to be walking on this stage today I have a lot of people to thank for helping me get here and I hope you know who you are when I say thank you for everything the biggest thank you of all has to go out to my mom who pushed me supported me cried and cheered with me throughout this journey thank you all Addison Smith I would like to thank my parents family and friends for their unwavering support and love I am also grateful to all the teachers at the Village who have helped and supported me throughout my journey it is such
083a blessing to be surrounded by these wonderful people as of next year I will be attending Regis University and pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree Gabriella Snyder my biggest Thanks goes out to my family friends and the incredible teachers I had throughout my life who got me to this point I'm excited to further my education at Colorado State University studying nutritional sciences and political science I'm thankful to have attended a school where I can look back with the fondest of memories Preston spaith as I graduate I would like to thank my family for supporting me and helping me Reach This goal in my life I would especially like to thank my mom for always being there uplifting and encouraging me my future plans are to travel and further my education Lily Stowell I
084want to thank first and foremost my family who has supported me and always helped me strive for what's best I am also grateful for my strong faith in God that has guided me in my high school years I also couldn't have done it without my amazing friends and teachers who have taught me so much I will be attending Biola University in California in the fall to major in communication sciences and disorders as I hope to be a speech therapist in the future Elena stutzman I want to thank my family who's always been my support system and my friends new and old you all mean so much to me and are always there for me I want to thank also thank my wonderful teachers who have checked in on me and made my last few years
085of high school worth it I plan on attending Paul Mitchell Beauty School this year to start my journey of being an esthetician Abigail I just want to say thank you to my Mom Dad Grandma and all my teachers who have helped me get to this point thank you for all the support and guidance I have learned a lot about myself through the course of my high school experience which has steered me towards the health field Health Care field thank you everyone I am looking forward to what the future holds Tanner Volante I would like to say a huge thank you to my parents and my sister for always being supportive and for guiding me along this journey every step has been a valuable experience I'm planning on getting a degree in the visual arts and
086will pursue a future involving art and business Marley Vols high school has been a long journey for me a year and a half ago I never thought I would be walking on a stage receiving my high school diploma I know I never could have made it here without my supportive parents and the teachers that I have been so lucky to meet over the last few years at the Village I will be attending University of South Dakota in the fall Elizabeth Galen Wade I would like to thank my family and teachers for being so supportive of me and my path I plan to continue what I've spent so long working on in life ballet it's been my dream since I was little and I'm so thankful for Carolyn Mullins and Susan Nolan for showing so much
087love and compassion towards me since I first entered the village Kevin White first I'd like to thank my amazing friends and family my mom and dad for always being there for me and all my siblings for teaching me valuable lessons I'd like to thank the amazing staff at the Village more specifically Mr Norris Mr Stewart Dale CR and plan I'll be attending Oregon state in the fall to study political science thank you Village go beaves Keegan William I would like first to thank the Lord for constantly giving me peace strength and joy throughout these four years I would also like to thank my family teachers and youth leaders for constantly being there for me supporting me and calling me higher I plan to attend Grand Canyon University in the fall in studying Elementary education Anna
088Winslow I'll never forget my four years here at the village and especially CR for being my favorite person at school because of her wisdom and counsel and her help with everything from computers and Life to encouragement when I was down I would like to thank my parents for raising me to be just as proud of myself as they are I also want to thank my brother and best friend for hyping me up to be myself and work hard I will keep living as an artist an adventurer and a free spirit Brandon Wu I would like to thank my mother for sacrificing so much to allow me to reach this goal and to help me push forward on this journey I would also like to thank my father for being an inspiration to me and giving
089me ideas and knowledge to help me through life lastly I would like to thank my mentor Katie Flanagan for being such a health mental health-wise and timing-wise to help me finish my high school experience on a strong note my plans for the future are to get a doctorate at the Colorado School of Mines Joe Ezra Wyman thank you to everyone in my support system you are you all have put up with my Antics and encouraged me to grow my family for sticking by me through the hard times and my friends both new and old my teachers who I may or may not have had before high school who aren't just teachers but friends Jack yamakowski I would like to thank my family and friends for all the help and support thank you to the teachers
090and staff that never gave up on me I am open to all possibilities and dreams that lie ahead of me while I am not sure what I am doing yet I know my path will lead to great things foreign twenty three please stand please move your tassel from the left side and place it on the right that's it good job all right staff at this time please prepare to receive our graduates all right seniors don't forget to pick up your diploma for Miss Stacy who has a table set up in the hockey arena thank you again to the Board of Education Miss Cloninger and Mr Gregory class of 2023 you will now begin the recessional as high school graduates thank you [Music] I close my eyes and I can see a world that's waiting up
091for me that I call my own Through The Dark Through the Door through where no one's been far but it feels like home they can say they can say it all sounds crazy [Music] I don't care I don't care so call me crazy we can live in a world that we desire cause every night [Music] [Applause] for the world we're gonna make [Music] there's a house we can build every room inside is filled with things from far away special things I compile each one there to make you smile on a rainy day [Music] say they can say it all sounds crazy [Music] they can say they can say we've lost our minds I don't care I don't care if they call us crazy [Music] the colors fill my head a Million Dreams [Music] what the
092world could be a vision of the one I see a Million Dreams is all it's gonna turn thank you for being here you are dismissed as you exit today we would ask that you would please leave on the side opposite of where most of you came in so the 13 12 14 side if you had anything that was taken from you that was prohibited it will be on that side as you exit again if we could head out to the other side that will be helpful for the next uh high school that will be coming in to take the seats to the world I close my eyes [Music] a Million Dreams A Million Dreams [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] we're gonna [Applause] for the world we're gonna make [Music] foreign