Maricopa High School Graduation program 2024

MARICOPA HIGH SCHOOL

GRADUATION CLASS OF

2024

Brought to you by

Administration

DREAMS OVER DRUGS CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2024!

PRINCIPAL Deana McNamee

ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS Lee Bryan

EMPOWERING FUTURE BUILDERS!

Paul Becker Maria Duran Emily Maxwell Craig Moody

DEAN OF STUDENTS Maria Duran

MISSION Ensure academic success and develop skills for life after graduation.

@beawesomeyouthcoalition

@beawesomeyouth

VISION 100% of our students will graduate on time with a comprehensive post-secondary plan.

beawesomeyouth.life

D ear Graduates of 2024, Congratulations! This is a significant achievement that reflects your hard work and dedication over the years. We are proud of each one of you and your potential. Whether you're continuing your education, entering the workforce, or exploring new paths, remember the values of responsibility, integrity, and resilience. Our store is here to support you in your projects and endeavors, no matter where life takes you. Keep dreaming big and working hard—this is just the beginning of your exciting journey! Dave and Cheryl Karsten Owners Karsten’s Ace Hardware 2 4

SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Tracey Lopeman

GOVERNING BOARD PRESIDENT Robert H. Downey

VICE PRESIDENT Patti Coutré

BOARD MEMBERS Torri Anderson AnnaMarie Knorr Carolyn Lopez

2 MHS • Class of 2024

CLASS OF 2024

Dear Maricopa High Class of 2024,

Congratulations on reaching this milestone! As you stand on the threshold of the future, take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come and envision the person you aspire to be. Your achievements today are just a glimpse of your potential. With a little determination and a solid plan, you have the power to shape your own future. Remember, you have the knowledge, skills, and grit to succeed. As you step into the world, seize every opportunity, pursue your passions, and stay true to the values that define you. Your future holds endless possibilities; be bold, be audacious, and unapologetically chart your own course. Congratulations, Class of 2024! The best is yet to come!

Cheers to your next adventure,

Dr. Tracey Lopeman Superintendent Maricopa Unified School District

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4 MHS • Class of 2024

Commencement

YOUR LIFE HAS JUST BEGUN. LIVE IT.

Thursday, May 23, 2024 7:30 p.m. RAM Stadium

CLASS OF 2024

Class of 2024 Recognition Kevin Piquette | Technical Theater Director

Processional “Pomp and Circumstance” | MHS Band

Presentation of Colors Air Force JROTC Color Guard

National Anthem and Alma Mater Divisi

Welcome Address Morgan Mundell | Student Body President

FLATZ 520 CONGRATULATES ALL 2024 GRADUATES! As you embark on your next journey, consider the perfect place to call home. Our urban community offers a wealth of sophisticated onsite amenities including a resort style pool, pet park, fitness center and private entertainment spaces! Whatever your next step in life, you will find what you’re looking for at FLATZ 520!

Introduction of Speakers Morgan Mundell | Student Body President

Salutatorian Address Timothy Russoniello

Valedictorian Address Maria Harris

Military Honors Lt. Col. (Ret.) Allen E. Kirksey, Jr. Instructor, Air Force JROTC program

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Rose Ceremony Joel Ramirez | Senior Class President

Introduction of Foreign Exchange Students Jennifer Miller | English Department Chair

COUNCILMEMBER VINCENT MANFREDI Go Rams!

Introduction of Graduates Jennifer Miller | English Department Chair Amber Flores | Science Department Chair

Proclamation of Graduates Deana McNamee | MHS Principal

FLATZ520.INFO (520) 257-4920

Tassel Ceremony Joel Ramirez | Senior Class President

6 MHS • Class of 2024

Class of 2024 • MHS 7

CLASS OF 2024

Academic Awards and Honors

Since 2004 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2024!

Academic Excellence

Academic Achievement

CS CPA Group wishes every graduate continued success in pursuing your dreams and aspirations!

Abigail S. Kuehnl Abigayil Gindiri Aileen Soto Herrera Alexandria D. Armstrong Amaya N. Garcia Ase S. Eke Bailey F. McKenzie Blake A. Brasher Blanca Arnau Ibanez Christopher M. Cozens Corbin E. Moffitt Daniel E. Raudales Oliva Elijah Castillo Elisa A. Caserta Elliot J. Drinka Erin A. Butler Faith V. Falco Filimon G. Kednmarey Francisco J. Servian Gracie M. Rogers Graciela M. Guerra Gray S. Goodrich Holland R. Scoresby Isabel Cardona Itxclari Y. Garcia Ivy Z. Bird Jo Anne Coronado Rivas Joel Ramirez Gomez Jon-MarcoStapleton Kara J. Guidi Kayleigh L. Shaw Kelsie G. Lewis Kenya R. Martinez Lindsay R. Brown MacKenzie L. Fair Mara J. Fortunato Maria H. Harris Marissa R. Chelius Mia R. Guaderrama Mikaylin A. Whitley Morgan E. Mundell Nicholas T. Anderson Nicolas M. Yendrzeski Slade D. Miller Taylor Santiago Timothy J. Russoniello

Elsa V. Heden Aedon L. Kuhn America T. Rodarte Andrea C. Rivera Aria O. Fruchey Autumn L. Mitchell Baylie L. George Connor V. Perez Dakota R. Dolata Donovan M. Canter Dylan R. Tauriainen Elin K. Dayley Jadyn L. Infiesto Jaidence L. McAdams Janelle A. Gallegos Mia C. Chacon

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY (Blue/Gold Cords) A student inducted into the National Honor Society

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE (Gold Cord & Tassel) Awarded to students who earn a 4.0 unweighted GPA or a 4.0 weighted plus a 3.5 unweighted GPA for AP/Honor students for Semester 1 ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (Silver Cord & Tassel) Awarded to students who earn a 3.8-3.99 unweighted GPA or a 3.8-3.99 weighted plus a 3.0 unweighted GPA for AP/Honor students for Semester 1

National Honor Society

STUDENT COUNCIL (Red and Black Cord) A student who is an elected member of the Student Council

Ivy Bird Erin Butler

IsabelC ardona Marissa Chelius MacKenzie Fair Mara Fortunato

DECA (Royal Blue Cord) A student who is a member of DECA, an organization dedicated to emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in the fields of marketing, management, hospitality and finance

Amaya Garcia Gray Goodrich Graciela Guerra Zaena Hanania Maria Harris Katherine Heald Filimon Kednmarey Kelsie Lewis Kenya Martinez Jaidence McAdams Bailey McKenzie Morgan Mundell Gracie Rogers Holland Scoresby Logan Trout Nicolas Yendrzeski

LINK (White Cord) A student leader who acts as ambassador,

positive role model, motivator and mentor guiding freshmen to success as part of LINK high school transition program

Centered on your Success

CAVIT (Orange Cord) A student who graduated from a Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology program and received both high school and dual-enrollment credits while enrolled

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Photography by Victor Moreno

8 MHS • Class of 2024

CLASS OF 2024

Ensure academic success and develop skills for life after graduation.

10 MHS • Class of 2024

Class of 2024 • MHS 11

CLASS OF 2024

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2024

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James Adams

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Leslhy Aguilar

Misael Aguilar

Tristen Aguilar

Benjamin Alcazar Toledo

Yunique Allen

Eliana Alley

Brenna Alvarado

Arleth Alvarado Cruz

Gilberto Alvarado Rubio

Aaliyah Alvarez

Emily Alvillar

Calina Amador

Nicholas Anderson

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12 MHS • Class of 2024

CLASS OF 2024

Natalie Boger

Amaya Borbon

Diego Borbon

Shiomi Boughton

Kaliyah Boyce

Isiah Boyer

Ruby Boyle

Sierra Bragonier

Blake Brasher

Sebastian Braun

Christina Bravo

Ashlynn Briggs

Jayden Donovan Briones

Paris Brookshire

Lindsay Brown

Mckenzie Burke

Amari Burney

Ethan Burnias

Taleah Burns

Edah Butcher

Erin Butler

Ian Byers

Nyssa-Paris Callahan

Alayah Camacho

Ashley Camacho

Mia Campbell Pozos

Jackson Canaday

Giavanna Candelaria

Juan Canela

Alexys Canizales-Gualajara

Marionna Cannon

Donovan Canter

Isabel Cardona

Jennifer Cardona Camey

Ethan Carmack

Andrew Carpenter

Lucia Carrillo

Elisa Caserta

Alexa Castaneda Ortiz

Elijah Castillo

Gabrielle Castillo

Santiago Castillo Garcia

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Noah Castrejon

Marcus Castro

Kaylee Cathcart

Asa Catherman

Imani Cavers

Maria Cerecer Lopez

Mia Chacon

14 MHS • Class of 2024

CLASS OF 2024

Congratulations Class of

Daniel Chama

Mary Champley

Mitchell Chapman

Ziar Chase

Ethan Chavez

Jeremiah Chavez

Marissa Chelius

Dennis Cherry

Isiah Cirino

Ashley Clark

Daeleen Clark

Davion Clark

Lydia Clark

Amyah Clark- Martinez

Elijah Clay

Milo Coatney

Shadae Coleman

Elizabeth Coles

Julia Colocho

Alice Conklin

Cayden Cook

Delayna Cook

William Corl

Israel Corona Roman Jo Anne Coronado Rivas

Wendy Cortes Alba

Tyler Cottrill

Elyssia Coury

Bella Cox

Jeremiah Cox

Christopher Cozens

Rachel Cramer

Alexander Crandall

Honesty Crawford

Alivia Crew

Tyler Crider

Angel Cruz

Noah Cruz

Mayandy Cuellar

Jocelyn Cueto Torres

Erica Cummins

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16 MHS • Class of 2024

CLASS OF 2024

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Mara Fortunato

Jayla Fox

Jaylanize Franco

Maria Freytes Colon

Aria Fruchey

Matthew Fuller

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18 MHS • Class of 2024

CLASS OF 2024

Janelle Gallegos

Amaya Garcia

Emmanuel Garcia

Evelyn Garcia

Itxclari Garcia

Lucas Garcia

Cuauhtemoc Garner

Jessie Heard

Ruby Hearn

Elsa Heden

Noah Henderson

Savannah Hendrix

Demario Hernandez

Jorge Hernandez

Annalise Garza

Baylie George

Kaley Gianopoulos

Abigayil Gindiri

Valerie Glasglow

Rebecca Glasgow

Aaliyah Gomez

Kevin Hernandez Puentes

Dustin Hesser

Marilyn Jean Hill

Camari Hines

Jaylah Howard

Precous Howard

Elizabeth Howe

Isaiah Gomez

Jasmine Gonzalez

Eligio Gonzalez Reyes

Gray Goodrich

Ryan Rhys Gosiaco

Angelina Gracia

Kaiden Gray

Brennen Howell

Isabella Huante

Kaydalyn Hunley

Emma-Leigh Hunt

Elsa Hyryla

Jeremiah Ibarra

Corbin Infiesto

Michael Green

Xzavionna Green

Rebecca Greene

Tyler Greenleaf

Heather Grissom

Mia Guaderrama

Graciela Guerra

Jadyn Infiesto

Jayson Nathanya Ittamalla

Jordan Jackson

Ryan James

Shelbee James

Nicholas Jewell

Joseph Jimenez

Anette Guerrero

Kara Guidi

Angel Gutierrez

Xzander Gutierrez

Daniel Gutierrez Flores

Jaxon Hacker

Aubrie Haley

Andrew Johnson

Angeliah Johnson

Emily Johnson

Kennedy Johnson

Maryah Johnson

Sahya Johnson

Tyshyana Johnson

Imani Hall

Nathan Hamaker

Serenity Hampton

Boston Hamrick

Zaena Hanania

Elizabeth Hanson

Paul Hanson

Khaalis Jonas

William Jones

Yolanda Jones

Abigail Judd

Elijah Judd

Hugo Kachinski

Sean Andre Kagima

Jalen Hardy

Tyee Hardy

Kian Harris

Maria Harris

Aithygian Harry

Samantha Hartell

Damian Hawks

Abdelkarim Kaloti

David Kamody

Tanner Kay

Filimon Kednmarey

Wyatt Keller

Samuel Kendrix

Lilly Kobasic-Vondra

20 MHS • Class of 2024

Class of 2024 • MHS 21

CLASS OF 2024

Cooper Krigbaum

Abigail Kuehnl

Aedon Kuhn

Ryder LaFramboise

Lucas Lambert

Amaryse Land

Brianna Landon

Kayla Meshack

Hailie Meyer

Leah Meza

Raymundo Meza

Darrekk Miller

Kaden Miller

Slade Miller

Nathen Lane

Bradely Lanier

Katherine Lanka

William Laufer

Lisa Le

Jerilyn Lee

Kelsie Lewis

Zyaire Miller

Charles Milton

Easton Minor

Autumn Mitchell

Jordyn Mitchell

Kelis Mitchell

Maliyah Mitchell

Francisco Leyva Espinoza

Tony Limon

Frankline Loitamon

Daniel Lopez

Izabella Lopez

Didedsi Lopez Rodriguez

Nicholas Lowanga

Corbin Moffitt

Brenda Mollinedo

Jacob Mondello

Matias Monjaraz

Leah Montes

Evelin Mora Paramo

Samara Morales

Maximus Lucas

Julio Lugo

Kassia Lykken

Joshua Lyndell-Lees

Joshua Maamo

Ciara Macias

Edward Madison

Andrew Morano

Matthew Morgan

Heritier Mucyo

Alysha Mueller

Morgan Mundell

Kimberly Muniz

Jireh Munoz

Leslie Malagon

Daniel Maldonado Rubio

Angela Manzanares

Dallis Margerum

Fabricio Marquez

Joel Marquez

Aleyhia Marshall

Malakai Murchison

Leon Muriuki

Aeris Myers

Jerome Myers

Niveah Nachampassack

Isaiah Nafarrate

Sayd Navarro

Eliza Martinez

Jasmyn Martinez

Kenya Martinez

Tammy Martinez

Jaidence McAdams

Bailey McKenzie

Austin Mclaughlin

Gabriel Negrete

Trinity Nesvold

Dmitri Nibbs

Alexa Norris

Olivia O’Dell

Hazel O’Laighin

Dana Olivas

Nevaeh Medina

Elijah Mejia

Jazlynn Melendez

Amber Mendez Torres

Nuvia Mendoza Luna

Alec Mentzer

Nicolas Olivas

Kyden Oliver

Haley Olson

Fernando Olvera

Arlett Olvera Pompa

Giovanni Olvera Pompa

Samantha Ordaz

Alexandra Melchor Rodriguez

22 MHS • Class of 2024

Class of 2024 • MHS 23

CLASS OF 2024

Brayan Ornelas Gonzalez

Alyssa Orona-Hardee

Ramses Oros

Jaivit Ortega Tafoya

Itzel Ortiz Castro

Jacob Pablo

Volincia Pablo

Marco Rodriguez

John Roe

Gracie Rogers

James Rogers

Rylan Rogers

Cristian Roman Rojo

Alexander Ross

Courtney Palmer

Mackenzie Palmer

Victoria Panez

Gavin Parker

Luis Parra

Andrea Parra Galaviz

Desean Patrick

Jason Ross

Angel Rubio

Anthony Ruiz

Timothy Russoniello

Cesar Salazar

Liliana Salinas

Deion Salone

Nehemiah Pearson

Ray Pena

Connor Perez

Zachary Perez

Jazmin Perry-Marr

Emily Peters

Jose Delgado

Andrew Sampayo Martinez

Estrella Sanchez

Eliza Sanderson

Mia Sandoval

Taylor Santiago

Sarayda Santos Contreras

Easton Schroeder

Jasmine Piergrossi

Kevin Pilar

Paxston Pinkstaff

LisaRaye Placencio

Marley Polosky

Dante Prieto

Patricia Prill

Holland Scoresby

Davien Scott

Rhianna Semallie

George Serrano

Joseph Serrano

Francisco Servian

Kaylee Setzer

Kyler Pross

Aaron Pulford

Ana Pumarino Arcos

Joel Ramirez Gomez

Daniel Raudales Oliva

Alvin Reaback

Isaiah Rees

Kayleigh Shaw

Dakauri Shelby

Malik Shelton

Charles Shuler

Maxwell Siegel

Kaiyanah Silva

Aniza Simental

Neeko Reyes

Michelle Reyes Guzman

Robert Rhode

Aolanis Rice

Colton Richardson

Jada Rieves

Aden Rios

Damian Simental

Alaiya Smith

Aliyah Smith

Nathan Smith

Carson Snitker

Matias Soto

Aileen Soto Herrera

Adrian Rivas

Andrea Rivera

Malcolm Robinson

Jessica Robles Gonzalez

America Rodarte

Ivan Rodriguez

Julie Rodriguez

Ailse Soto Herrera

Isabelle Spudich

Emily Staggs

Jon-marco Stapleton

Leenna Stevens

Steven Stiles

Kenneth Stillwell

24 MHS • Class of 2024

Class of 2024 • MHS 25

CLASS OF 2024

Cyan Stratman

Zekeul Struthers Cacy

Michael Stuhmer

Markel Summons

Isaiah Tamayo

Araya Tannehill

Mya Tarcola

Steven Watson

Marion Wayerski

Tony Weaver

Jesse Wenses

Daulton Westerfield

Dante Westmiller

Mikaylin Whitley

Dylan Tauriainen

Blessed Taylor

Jacob Tedesco

Mario Tello

Aleyaneh Tezegera

Ryliegh Thomas

Elianna Thompson

Rhianna Wickland

Kioni Wilks

Miesha Wilks

Kikiyo Williams

Makayla Williams

Malachi Williams

Sarah Willie

Kristel Tibayan

Julie Torres

Jaime Torres Hernandez

Ricky Tran

Elijah Trast

Kayanna Treadway

Logan Trout

Evelyn Willman

Kamara Wilson

Kenton Wilson

Matthew Wresh

Courtney Yateman

Nicolas Yendrzeski

Dominic Yerhart

Camille Troyer

Nolan Tsosie

Anthony Valadez

Isabella Valdez

Tyleshia Valdez

Marcelo Valle

Alan Vargas

Paul Yerhart

Neila Zavala

Angela Reyes Elena Richter Aaron Roberts

Ana Luisa Llanes Garcia Valerie Loera Brian Lopez Anton Angelina Lostritto Gabriel Mandujano Diaz Daniel Marin Bryson Maxwell Megan Maynard Dylan McConnell Alejandro Medina Michael James Mendez Olen Milner Julius Moffett Tamarynn Moore Killian Morales Alexander Moreno Alexia Moreno Luis Moreno Mejia Asiah Moser Kristopher Murdock David Navarro

Natalia Cervantes Andrew Chadha Aarion Coleman Justin Cordova Jose Delgado Ricky Devorkin Emily Dominguez Astorga Daniel Duarte Zion Ellis

Adolfo Nunez Aldaco Gladys Panduro Felix Ismael Pena Aaron Pulford Ivan Rodriguez Cesar Salazar-Atondo Kaiyanah Silva Jorge Soto Aysia Thompson Isaiah Thompson Yetzel Villazana Santiago Kikiyo Wiliams Yahaira Zazueta Valle

Ram Acadamy Graduates Brooklyn Adams Logan Brown Nevaeh Cantu Santiago Castillo Garcia Diego Chagollan Jocelyn Cueto Torres Dominic Diamond Sincere Dozier Arleth Escontrias Genesis Fernandez Monique Fields Maximino Gomez Heather Grissom Colin Hall Jorge Hernandez Palomares Marcus Johnson Hugo Kachinski Ivan Luna Daniel Maldonado Rubio Daniel Marin Abigael Marita Alejandro Medina Nuvia Mendoza Luna

Seniors not photographed

Aaliyah Robinson Keana Robinson Darian Rodriguez Mariah Rodriguez Amali Rodriguez Baltazar Sherlyn Rodriguez Gonzalez Gerado Rojas Andrew Roman

David Acosta Nieblas Dominic Alvarez Sarena Amador Cerenidy Angulo Mendez Aleena Antone Jasmine Ard Raymundo Melannie Avalos Diamonique Bahati-Warner Joseph Bailey Sebastian Barnes

Esmarelda Vazquez

Matthew Vazquez

Diego Vazquez Ortiz

Sofia Vela

David Velarde

Kevin Velazquez Espinosa

Sofia Venegas

Le’Darion Enoch Jermany Enriquez Alissa Farinas

Steve Roman Kai Sanchez Marco Santos Choy Jocelyn Sauceda John-Charles Shuler Braydon South

Byron Fedd Erick Fields Jadin Gomez Luis Gonzalez Zavala Karyna Hernandez Gonzales Kolten Hesser Emma Hoellwarth Xavier Holland Anthony Holliday Jacob Jackson

Hernan Barron Jade Bencomo Hasin Benn

Arianna Berger Mikel Bobosha Julio Borbolla Gonzalez Isabel Brandenburg Miranda Briseno Rascon Kiana Brooks Aubrea Brothers Kalel Brown Lloyd Burris Jenell Bush Corbin Butts Itzel Campos Deande Catlin-Thibeaux Faitima Celaya Flores

Aysia Thompson Jonathan Turner Brandon Velarde Esquivel

Robert Verdugo

Wyatt Vick

Tyler Villa

Gisselle Villarreal

Alain Villazana Santiago

William Vishon

Maximilian Voigt

Briseyda Verduzco Charleston Walker Marcus Walker Snyder White George Williams Robert Williams Gianna Young

Xavier Oatis Ismael Pena

Ashton Jamison Damian Jimmy Danielle Johnson Latrell Johnson Marcus Johnson Jordan Jones Savanna Jones Isaac Kachinski

Ileana Pettigrew Hayden Phillips Demitri Pietropaolo Eileen Quintero Ashley Ramirez Hernandez Troy Ramsey Jesse Requena

Raymundo Meza Jadalynn Molina Evelin Mora Paramo Enyia Moses

Charleston Walker

Ja’Lexyia Walker

Antwon Wallace

Jeremy Wallace

Collin Warren

Amaya Washington

Chance Watahomigie

26 MHS • Class of 2024

Class of 2024 • MHS 27

CLASS OF 2024

Valedictorian | Maria Harris

Congratulations graduating class of 2024

It is all too often that we convince ourselves that we are less than we are. Or, whether it be in the hallway or scrolling social media, we determine our value based on a comparison. I want us to know that we are our own person and that is something nobody can take away from us. So, how do we find the way to push forward? When others doubt you and you begin to doubt yourself, how do we persevere? We hold onto hope and give it our all. Comparing ourselves to others takes us down a rabbit hole that only inspires lies that you tell yourself. I have told myself that I will never be good enough or that I am just a waste of space and time, but it wasn’t until I stopped comparing myself that I recognized the value I had. Despite my doubts, I focused on what my mom taught me, “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good is better and your better is the best.” These words remind me that I had to worry about being my best – not someone else’s. I knew that there were people that did more than I did or were better than me, but trying to be better than I was is what led to my success. Whether it’s at school, a future occupation or even a small personal goal, we will face doubt from ourselves and others. The times when we are told we are less than enough is when we need to hold onto the hope we have in ourselves. Instilling confidence and being accepting of each other and ourselves is how we see each other’s value. As we gather here today for our graduation, I will leave you with this quote from Herb Brooks, “This is your moment. You’re meant to be here.” Life is a journey of self-discovery, and high school is only the beginning. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, we should embrace our uniqueness and strive to become the best version of who we are, celebrating our individual strengths and achievements along the way. Congratulations class of 2024! Thank you.

• • • • • • • • • •

ood evening, faculty, parents, friends, distinguished guests and class of 2024. It is an honor to be speaking to you today. Last year after my older sister, Diana, was told she would be valedictorian, a close friend of ours asked me if I would be like my sister by being the valedictorian of my class. This simple question reminded me that anything I did would

be in comparison with her. Being close in age with my sister, her successes were hers and any of my same successes were compared to hers. It felt like I lived in her shadow, forever intended to be another version of my sister. It seemed as though the world needed another Diana and I didn’t matter. To add to that, last year, someone I’m close with told me that I wouldn’t get accepted into a good university because I didn’t do enough. Any doubt in myself that I had was confirmed by her observation. I told myself that I would never be good enough. While I know my value isn’t dependent on my academic success, it still hurts to hear that a goal of mine wouldn’t be achieved because I simply wasn’t enough.

28 MHS • Class of 2024

Class of 2024 • MHS 29

CLASS OF 2024

Salutatorian | Timothy Russoniello

Congratulations Class of 2024!

one in mine. I believe that at the end of the day, it seems like rational decision. The marginal benefit of doing another day consistently falls short of the marginal cost. Nonetheless adding marginal benefit to your day can be done. The human capacity for despair, true and unrivaled despair is large. It is a pit with no edges or bottom. The only thing to illuminate that pit is the emotion with unremitting and infinite light, passion. Find something that makes life worth living and pursue it like a rabid dog. Anything and everything that adds even an ounce of joy to your day is worth spending the day on. For me, that passion is for learning and growing my intellect, but I have also found passion in music, running, praying, and friends. Passion. No, hope is everywhere. And in a world, in a system so bogged down by mundane repetitive day-to-day it’s easy to overlook that beautiful, that most important facet of being alive. I would like to ask you all to see the hope within you always. Commit to holding onto it. And moving forward, regardless of what happens to you after high school, or what challenges you face, hold onto it. For in hope you find life. That is the single most important thing I learned from high school and the single most important thing I could tell you all. Hold onto your hope. Thank you.

ell, we made it. We survived. We’re here, right now. Everybody here has been tested in flame and forged into the people I see. But, looking back on my high school years, I see that my hardest challenge wasn’t

the classes, it wasn’t the social stress, it wasn’t not falling asleep in class. It was those first few moments of every day. For in those moments, you make the conscious decision to get up and do it all again. Grades aside, rank aside, life aside, I would like to congratulate every single one of you for choosing to not just live, but to live for yourself every day, it is no easy choice. Life is the flame, tempering us to a certain degree, and preparing us for when the hammer of decision strikes. I refuse to trivialize that or to pretend I’m any more deserving of recognition when that is the bulk of the challenge and we all won, or are winning, right now. I feel compelled to offer advice on this issue. Because over the past 10 years, I have lost friends, fellow athletes, and classmates to suicide. In the 7th grade, I nearly lost myself. I do not know how large a role that incredibly difficult subject matter has played in everyone’s life but it has been a large

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Better Business Bureau

30 MHS • Class of 2024

Robert H. Downey PRESIDENT

Congratulations Maricopa High School and Maricopa Virtual Academy Class of 2024! Congratulations, graduates of Maricopa High and Maricopa Virtual Academy! You have much to celebrate! Your perseverance, dedication, and hard work have brought you to this moment, and we couldn’t be more proud. On behalf of the Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board, we applaud your success and are excited to see the new paths you pursue. As you enter the next exciting chapter of your lives, hold onto the cherished memories you have made at MHS and MVA. Let them be your guiding light as you reach for the stars! We will be right here cheering for you!

Patti Coutré VICE PRESIDENT

Torri Anderson BOARD MEMBER

With pride and best wishes,

Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board

AnnaMarie Knorr BOARD MEMBER

Carolyn Lopez BOARD MEMBER

(520) 568-5100 www.musd20.org

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