Rio Grande High School
"We didn't realize we were making memories, we thought we were just having fun."
Graduation Ceremony Video
Graduation Details
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
- Time: 2:30 p.m.
- Location: Nusenda Community Stadium
- Class Flower: Osiria Rose
- Class Song: Best Day of My Life - American Authors
- Class Sponsors: Cassandra Good & Harvey Stuckey
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