001foreign [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] good morning I am Brooke Parsons the very proud principal of Cortez High School on behalf of the entire staff and administration I would like to welcome you to the commencement exercises of Cortez High School which celebrates its 62nd year with the class of 2023. tradition dictates that the audience stand during the processional however to enable all of our guests to view the incoming graduates we ask that you remain seated ladies and gentlemen I present to you the graduating class of 2023. [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] thank you foreign [Music] for the singing of the National Anthem being sung by senior Soraya starchman and for the presentation of Colors by the Cortez njrotc please remain standing until the colors have been retired thank
002you mark ers oh say can you see why the dawn's early light what so proud at the twilight's last gleaming who's brought stripes and bright stars perilous fight or the brown parts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the robom's bursting in air through the night that our flag was still there [Music] yet when for the land of the free [Music] [Applause] please be seated friends and family I welcome you to the class of 2023's graduation ceremony I am Soraya starchman and I have had the wonderful opportunity of being your student body president of for the class of 2023. I'd like to take this time to congratulate my classmates for making it this far in order to accomplish this huge milestone we ended up losing some of our time at Cortez due to covid but
003nonetheless we have tried our hardest to make it to this point and I am proud of us after today we will split and Lead different important lives but for now we celebrate the four years of high school we accomplished regardless of how many were online or so-called hybrid these four years have shaped us into who we are today and who we will be tomorrow I'm grateful for the experience I've had here at Cortez High School especially being associated with student council it all started when my mom who many of you know as Miss starchman took me to help her in that tiny concession stand on Hot Summer Nights back when always sold were nachos and soda in 2011 but now 12 years later I'm thanking God and my family for pushing me to this point
004we as a class have made it so far and I'd love to leave you with some advice from Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress so remember there's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow shining at the end of every day I now present to you the Cortez High School's graduating class of 2023. I wish you all the best and good luck [Applause] the most important responsibility of a school is to promote academic excellence Cortez High School confers its highest Distinction on students in the top one percent of the graduating class I am pleased to present two students who hold the highest academic ranking for this graduating class please stand as I call your name Galilea Gonzalez Mara [Applause] Mason James Tallman [Applause] students who ranked academically in the top three percent please stand and be recognized when I
005call your name for achieving the status of high distinction Zandra Cornelius kasar Muhammad Grant Palmer [Applause] finally I wish to acknowledge those students who are ranked academically in the top 10 percent of this class and have earned honor status while I will not present them to you individually let me draw your attention to their names which are marked in the commencement program and ask the students to stand as you applaud their accomplishments [Applause] now you will hear from our students who are graduating with highest distinction Galilea Gonzalez Mora will speak first followed by Mason James Tallman following their remarks Reina senior class president will make a presentation on behalf of the senior class good morning teachers counselors distinguished guests and my fellow graduates my name is Galilea Amora Gonzalez and I stand before you as
006one of Cortez High School's class of 2023 valedictorians it is a great honor to be able to speak to you all today before I continue I want to thank some very important people ramoni Erica okay mommy ipapios de Padres immigrants [Music] Padres Amigos [Music] I also want to thank God for allowing me to be here today as the creators of Washington once said I've kept God in my life but it's kept me humble I didn't always stick with him but he's always stuck with me and finally to the class of 2023 they weren't lying when they said high school was going to go by fast these 12 years have gone by in a blink of a night and we can finally understand the feeling of our last time as we walk the stage we can
007finally say we made it it wasn't an easy Journey but look how far we come we are now going to the big world and become adults I know that it could be petrifying but I also know that each and every single one of you are able to do anything that's put in front of you lastly it is finally end of a long spiral of emotions saying goodbye to our memories and experiences now it's time to flip the next page and start writing our next chapter of Our Lives because the best is yet to come thank you all and I wish you all the best we made it [Applause] hello everyone my name is Mason Tallman this year has been probably one of the hardest years of my life but also the most impactful on me
008as a person a freshman me saw the present me right now he probably wouldn't believe what he was seeing I obviously couldn't have gotten this far without some important people in my life so I'd like to take this moment to thank my family my teachers and my amazing friends for getting me to this point I love you guys and you mean the world to me there was a time during high school when I thought that I might not be around to attend graduation but thanks to my family and friends here I am able to look forward to a future where I'm in control of my life and I'm grateful for that this speech isn't that long so I'll wrap it up here good luck with the future everyone and Grammy I hope you're watching me
009from up there Godspeed [Applause] good morning friends family faculty and most importantly the graduating class of 2023. my name is Rina and I'm your senior class president as cliche as it may sound I want to start off this speech by saying we did it I stand here today wondering what the future holds for us and where life will take us as these new beginnings start for us we would also like the future Cortez the students of Cortez High School to have a fresh start I would like to present this year's junior class gift with pride and honor this gift will not only give our campus a new feel but as well as better entertainment so with that saying our senior class gift this year is a new and improved Scoreboard on the football field we
010leave this gift behind in hopes to not only bring our students to come together and make memories but as well as the sports teams that play on the field the senior class leaves with hopes dreams and memories I want to end this speech off with some words by Pitbull himself this is for everyone going through tough times believe me been there done that but every day above ground is a great day remember that congratulations class of 2023 [Applause] Rena on behalf of the students and faculty of Cortez High School I want to thank you in the senior class for the thoughtful and generous gift at this time I would like to introduce two special guests Mr Brian capistran superintendent of the Glendale Union High School District and Mrs Patty Kennedy the governing board president Mrs
011Kennedy is a long time resident of the guhsd and was elected in November of 2010. she graduated from Moon Valley High School and her two children also attended Moon Valley High School Mrs Kennedy and her husband Brendan own a business evaluation firm in Phoenix and are active in rotary youth Exchange program please join me in welcoming our governing board president Patty Kennedy to the podium [Applause] good morning Cortez class of 2023 it is so great to be here to celebrate with all of you your family and your friends before I address the graduates I first want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who have helped them get to this important day to the parents families and friends of today's graduates thank you for your support assistance guidance and maybe most of all
012your patience during these high school years I would also like to extend a huge thank you to the faculty and staff and administration of Cortez High School it is due in no small part to your dedication and your support that these graduates are well on their way to being productive well-educated and active members of our community it's been a long time graduates since I graduated from another High School in this District yet I still remember that feeling on graduation day the feeling of accomplishment the feeling of Freedom the feeling that I could do anything that I knew everything and that the life plan that I had locked away in my head was absolutely perfect I've learned a few some things since that day and I want to share those with you most importantly know that
013life doesn't always go according to plan being adaptable is an essential life skill it is so important to utilize the critical thinking skills that I hope that you all have learned over the past four years and I'm sure that people are already telling you to find your passion but here's the thing you guys already know what your passion is you know it's in your hearts it's what you spend your time doing it's how you choose to spend your money so find a way to turn that passion into your work but also realize that your passions may change or evolve over time you need to be able to change and adapt with them make the time to really know yourself what makes you wake up in the morning just raring to go what are your personal
014set of standards what makes your stomach churn what makes you grind your teeth what defines you separately from what anyone else thinks of or about you knowing yourself will help you guide you when unexpected events both good and bad plant themselves on your path always find the courage to fight with all your heart for those things that are just and right fight to make the world a better place you must be ready for my generation to constantly tell you everything that can't be done things like getting the money out of politics ending world hunger lowering the world's carbon emissions or ending racial tensions and my generation knows those things can't be done right after all we're the ones not doing them however you guys give me hope because I know you can succeed where my
015generation failed today it is a really popular Pastime to blame politicians for everything that's wrong in the world but here's the truth politicians are duly elected by the people that is why it is so important for you guys to be active in your communities wherever that ends up being get to know your neighbors hear or wherever you end up the founding fathers put the future of our Republic into our hands and the system will only work if all of us are active involved and if we vote I also challenge you to never stop learning whatever path you choose wherever your next adventure takes you whether it's to a university a community college technical school the military or some other path learn all you can every day because knowledge is power I've been fortunate to be
016able to visit you guys in your classrooms with a maybe two-year break in there I've talked with you some of you and I've talked with your teachers who know you better than I do and I will tell you this you all give me hope so on behalf of the governing board I want to congratulate you and thank you for your extraordinary efforts over the past few years whatever decisions you make whatever path you choose we wish for you much success happiness and a really bright future congratulations [Applause] Mrs Parsons will you join me at the podium as a member of the governing board of the Glendale Union High School District and by the authority vested in Me by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Arizona I accept and confirm that the Cortez
017High School class of 2023 has met the graduation requirements established by the Glendale Union High School District governing board Mrs Parsons please present your graduates to receive their diplomas [Applause] seniors will those of you seated in the front row please rise and prepare to receive your diplomas [Applause] um Soraya Elise starchman [Applause] [Music] Galileo Gonzalez Mora Abigail run home Mason Tallman Alisa Morgan Rina Alexia Janae Pearson Grant Albert Pulver Crystal win foreign Muhammad Emily Jade Sanchez Crystal Janez Cortez Elias Anthony Xavier payares Mary Guadalupe saucedo Ian Soto Villalobos Gutierrez Luis Reyes Daniel Pham Serrano urelli Valencia Lance fan Frank Ayala [Applause] Miriam Cabrera morio Benjamin Shay Brown Anais Selena casarez Amy Lugo Montgomery Anna Marie Chung Enrique radicel Maciel Alex Perez pass Arlene Emily Reyes [Applause] Alondra Roman Alcazar [Music] Aileen Hernandez Ortiz [Music] Tatiana
018Nevaeh twos Milan Renee Hall Gabriella Marie delbridge Adriano Ryan Henry Potts Fernando Barraza [Music] Joseph Alonso Gomez Franco nor George Nicholas Daniel Joseph Sanchez Snyder Frank Evangelista Montiel Z Lee Witt Joshua ceballos orona Dalia M James Uriel Garcia Aguilar Rocky Hernandez Soto Jr Fabian Yael Cortez Sunny James Hopper Giovanni Evangelista Martinez Cortez Maximo Madrid Joanna Magdalena Allen Javier Elijah Higgins Xavian George Jonathan Yount Joe Nang dar th Jesse Ian ion Cervantes Trevor David Tellez winberg too Serenity Susan Rose Miller Alexis Jane the burn hey Zeus Gomez Martinez Jeffrey Alexander Gentry Tanya Hernandez Hernandez Andres Alejandro Felix Ramirez Yasmine Lachey key Guadalupe Garcia osoria Cindy Ma oriatna Kristen Garcia Romero Isaiah Jordan Sattler harpin Diana Castro ordonio madriana Evas Andres Elizabeth Leon Garcia Kaylee Chavez Martinez our Newfound Ruiz Carrillo [Music] Miriam ifunga Dayanara Hernandez Ortega
019aluta Danita Jimenez Ibarra [Music] Delena hadish Marcos Realm arsha fanu Marcos Carlos Robles Coronado Marissa Rachelle galavis [Music] Hasina Amiri Damien Ruiz Morrow Cruz hilberto Herrera Castro cavion Cashman Anthony Brown Alfa moralos Pardo Ezekiel Cabrera shamway Eileen fergosa Hernandez David Perez Dulce aguir Omar Rocha Luna Fiora Yvette Barnett Fernando osario Sanchez Denise Cruz Arona [Music] Joshua Mendoza Calderon Etta Amaya Morris Cruz Natalie Cabrera Stephanie Reyes Castro Iris Cruz Velasco Genesis Lopez Leonel for men Yesenia Aguilar Venetia willick Diana Cervantes magania Kimberly Flores adimi Christina Juan Banya Juarez Maria dravian Edison be gay faraja madika Damien Gary Pedraza Elizabeth Adriana Rocio Mata Adriana Marie Ellis Alexandra Mendoza Leticia Maria almodova [Music] yes Valenzuela Gina Dominguez lagunas Emily Alvarez Delgado [Music] Alonso Guadalupe Gonzalez Eric Mania Lopez Genevieve Cruz Lopez and held Mesa Fernandez Ashley Baska height
020Rodriguez Kevin Mora Corrales Marco Flores Cadena Miguel Alvarez Dera Rosa Jesus Axel Guerrero Tyler Jaden Fletcher [Music] Christian Emmanuel Miranda Rosalia camboa Chris Angel Serrano Cortez Sophia Cordova Summer Ray Rojo Kevin Diaz [Applause] [Music] Brianna Elisa Delgado John Asia Amari Stacy Chavarria Hora Michelle Burgos Lopez Juan Cardenas Marcos Nakai Smith Abed abwa [Applause] Jaden kiyahi Jim faizi Ferdinand celestina Rivas Emmanuel bazira Eric Cruz Castro Sasha K loudner Garcia Simon Marcus Hammonds yaritza Villalobos Gutierrez Darius Jordan dreams [Applause] Charlie Velasquez Davion Marquis Henry Alexis amabiska nissani Haley Kim fatuma mobiliso katutola yeah graduates the faculty and staff of Cortez High School are extremely proud of your perseverance and grit as you tackle this school year accomplishment today showcases that you are destined to achieve greatness remember you are a cult s are focused and Colts possess
021intensity that will keep you from backing away from any challenge it is now your time to dig in your Hooves and chase your dreams seniors please rise [Applause] all right seniors you may now move your tassels from right to left [Applause] parents and guests may I present to you the graduated class of 2023. [Applause] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign