Tribute to 2009 MHS graduating class

Editor’s note: MUSD governing board member Carrie Vargas gave the following commencement speech at Maricopa High School last Friday evening. She is sharing it here “so the community has the opportunity to see what I see: an outstanding graduating class that is ready to take on the world.”

When I was asked to speak before this incredible graduating class, I felt honored, having spent two years teaching, mentoring and learning from many of these students.

Graduates, before looking forward, I think it’s important to look at where you have come from. In the last four years, Maricopa High School’s population grew from 370 back in 2005 to 1,374 currently. You have the distinction of being a class that has endured incredible change. Even though the campus looked like a war zone at times, this graduating class has seen a lot of success, earning scholarships, creating a strong school climate, rising above the unwarranted stereotypes that have been associated with the school in the past and participating in activities that have blossomed during your tenure at MHS.

Sports teams have given blood, sweat and tears. We have seen you go to state championships, giving every ounce you had. Shout outs to:

Our cheer squad, state champions in 3A
Band for their state success
Girl’s Cross Country
Boy’s Cross Country: Santino Smith was All-State
Boy’s Basketball
Girl’s Basketball-Regional champs: Erin Litchfield made second team all- regionals
Wrestling: seven wrestlers to state, including JD Masterson, Ty Mundt, Mike DePaz and Matt Sanders
Boy’s Track & Field: JJ Pierson, Christian Collett
Girl’s Track & Field
Boy’s Soccer- Regional champs, undefeated season

These are huge successes that this graduating class helped to accomplish.

As freshman, you had two honors and two AP courses offered to you. Today you have 26 honors and AP class selections. There were six fine arts when you began, and now there are 28 fine arts classes. We have grown from 20 Career and Technical Education programs to 36 and can boast that 18 of you are leaving this school ready to start your career. Amazing! Many of you participated in and ran several of the clubs on campus or student government.

I am extremely proud to say that 80 percent of this graduating class has been accepted to several different colleges. You earned 1.3 million dollars in scholarship money! AIMS scores have gone up, AP testing numbers have gone up and you have successfully competed in several academic competitions.

You have accomplished so much. There is a billboard on Highway 347 advertising that Maricopa Unified offers a “world class education.” YOU are proof that this class is ready to commence from MHS as world-class citizens, ready to take on the challenges you will face in the future, whatever you choose them to be.

My favorite thing about this class is not only the pride you take in yourselves, but also the pride you take in your school. You have accomplished fund-raisers, working with PALS and other programs to support students in the elementary and middle schools; you, along with your junior grade classmates, gave your time to the Link programs to support and mentor the freshman class. And you single handedly converted the MPR into a beautiful French street for prom last year.

Graduates, you have wonderful teachers who have motivated you and supported you during their tenure. You have administrative and support staff who work hard to make school function. Most importantly, you have parents/guardians working to support you and guide you every day of your life. And while you deserve their praise and recognition, they deserve your greatest applause. Thank you to the staff and parents, you have done well, and you have amazing young adults sitting before you.

As you are about to embark on the next stage of your journey, I encourage you to remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Class of 2009, you have had an amazing start blazing the trail. I know you will blaze many more. Know that the community and the Maricopa Unified School District are proud and excited to see where your paths may lead.

Congratulations, graduates of the Maricopa High School class of 2009! You did it!

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