Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Mesalands gave $531 to each of class of eight.
San Jon High's 2018 Valedictorian Brevin Stoner speaks to fellow graduates and community members Friday at graduation ceremonies.
For a graduation class of eight students, San Jon High School's Class of 2018 walked away with a big share of financial aid for higher education.
At Friday evening's graduation ceremony, the biggest scholarship announced was a $12,000 "starter" scholarship from Eastern New Mexico University, which went to Brevin Stoner, the class valedictorian.
Stoner plans to study biochemistry at ENMU, San Jon Schools Superintendent Colin Taylor, who acted as master of ceremonies, said to people attending Friday's graduation ceremony in the San Jon Schools gymnasium.
Among other scholarship winners were:
n Allison Fryman, Altrusa scholarship, $400 ; and Farmers Electric Coop, $1,000.
n Austin Bayes, Farmers Electric Coop, $1,000
n Kyla Mock, T4 Ranch Scholarship, $1,000
n Jacob Thurman, T4 Ranch, $1,000
Jessica Gonzales, financial aid director at Mesalands Community College, announced the college would provide $531 scholarships to all eight of the graduates.
In his salutatorian's address, Thurman told the audience his fellow students, "have kept me on my toes. I've been lucky to have you as friends."
Court Watson, an officer with Everyone's Federal Credit Union, was the guest speaker.
"You will have highs and lows. You will experience success and failure," he said. Don't be afraid of failure. Failure brings humility and learning."
Further, he advised, "Count your blessings instead of your money."
In his valedictory speech, Stoner said, "No matter where we end up, we will always have this village - our friends, teachers, the community and our parents.
"We will always have a place to come back to, and that place is here."
In alphabetical order the graduates included Austin Bayes, Allison Fryman, Alexxus Gallegos, Jerry Jaramillo, Kylee McKinley, Brevin Stoner and Jacob Thurman.