Rio Grande High School

"We didn't realize we were making memories, we thought we were just having fun."

Commencement Program

• Graduation Master of Ceremony - Leslie Jackson
• Name Reader - Renato Estacio
• Valedictorian - Adamaris Mendoza
• Salutatorian - Ellis G. Mata Jurado
• Student Body Vice President - Isabella Montoya
• Senior Class President - Melannie Hernandez
• Senior Class Vice President - Esperanza Rios
• Senior Class Secretary - Amanda Torres
• Senior Sergeant of Arms - Tyler Chavez
• Bilingual Speaker - Maria Lamas Valdez

Top Ten Graduating Students of 2021

• Jamayka Mae Tweeten Baarde
• Abigail Barrera
• Desiree Gonzalez
• Taylor Marie Jones
• Ashley Abigail Lozano
• Lizbet Lozano Vasquez
• Linet Andrea Prieto
• Kyle Gene Romero
• Ellis Giordano Mata Jurado
• Adamaris Mendoza

Honor Cord & Stole Color Guide

• Gold Stole - Top Ten Student
• Gold Cord - Art
• Light Blue Cord - AP Calculus
• Peacock Blue & White Cord - AP Government
• White Cord - AP Spanish
• Kelly Green Cord - AP Statistics
• Purple Cord - AP World History
• Apricot Cord - Culinary Arts
• White Stole - AVID
• Navy Blue & Gold Twisted Cord - Drama
• Navy Blue & Gold Cord - National Honor Society
• Royal Blue & Red Cord - JAG
• Multi Color Stole - MECHA
• Light Pink Cord - Music
• Dusty Rose Cord - Photography
• Red, Turquoise & Gold Cord - Senate

Acknowledgments 

APS Board of Education

• Dr. David Peercy - President
• Lorenzo Garcia - Vice President
• Yolan da Montoya-Cordova - Secretary
• Peggy Muller‐Aragón
• Barbara Petersen
• Candelaria Patterson
• Elizabeth Armijo

APS Leadership Team

• Scott Elder - Superintendent
• Gene Saaved - Interim Associate Superintendent, Zone 1
• Dr. Antonio Gonzales - Associate Superintendent, Zone 2
• Amanda DeBell - Interim Associate Superintendent, Zone 3
• Troy Hughes - Associate Superintendent, Zone 4
• Stephanie Fascitelli - Interim Associate Superintendent, Special Education
• Dr. Madelyn Serna Mármol - Associate Superintendent, Equity, Instruction
• Tami Coleman - Chief Financial Officer
• Todd Torgerson - Chief of Human Resources and Legal Services
• Dr. Richard Bowman - Chief Information and Strategy Officer
• Dr. Gabriella Blakey - Interim Chief Operations Officer
• Yvonne Garcia - Chief of Schools
• Brenda Yager - Executive Director of Board of Education Services
• Monica Armenta - Executive Director of Communications
• Steve Gallegos - Chief of School Police
• Shannon Barnhill - Executive Director of APS Education Foundation
• Shelly Green - Executive Director of the APS Service Center
• Julianne Hix - Executive Director of Budget and Strategic Planning
• Aimee Milazzo - Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction
• Shellmarie Harris - Executive Director of Educational Technology
• Valerie Hoose - Executive Director of Labor Relations
• John Dufay -  Executive Director of Maintenance and Operations
• Dr. Kristine Meurer - Executive Director of Student, Family and Community Supports
• Penelope Buschardt - Executive Director of Title I
• Francesca Verploegh - Senior Director of Office of Innovation
• Johanna King - Director of Communications

Rio Grande High School Leadership Team

• Antoinette Valenzuela - Principal
• Jenna Bludworth - Assistant Principal
• Benjamin Garcia - Assistant Principal
• Thomas Piper - Assistant Principal
• Jennifer Blea - Dean of Restorative Practices
• Christal Reid - Dean of School Culture
• Pete Pino - Athletics Director
• Leslie Jackson - Activities Director
• Melanie Telles - Community School Liaison

Rio Grande High School Marine Corps JROTC

The color guard is under the direction of Master Sergeant Phil Carter. The Colors are presented by

• National Colors Cadet Sergeant Joaquin Martinez
• Marine Corps Colors Cadet Corporal Josseline Ruiz
• Left Rifle Cadet Corporal Kimberly Carrasco
• Right Rifle Cadet Lance Corporal Leonah Gonzales