Graduating Sierra Grande High School seniors wore sunglasses when walking on the stage but took them off before the ceremony began.  Sierra Grande High School senior Sofia Menchaka addresses the crowd, which was standing room only even with only 17 graduating students in the class of 2022.

COSTILLA COUNTY — With a standing-room-only crowd of family, friends, and community members gathered for the event, Sierra Grande’s graduating class of 2022 stepped into a new chapter of their lives on Friday night, vowing to “always remember” their high school years.

Given the victories and challenges the class had known — from state-level wins in athletics to the pandemic that had them learning remotely — it was fitting that the ceremony was the first graduation ceremony to be held in the new athletic facility built on the Sierra Grande High School grounds.

Sofia Menchaca, who had earned “highest honors”, gave a heartfelt invocation and message to the class of 2022, beginning with a moment of silence for the victims of the mass shooting of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas.

The Commencement Speaker was Dr. Evangeline Roybal Sena, a well-known educator born and raised on a farm outside Blanca who went on to graduate from Adams State University followed by Colorado University where she earned her doctorate.

“Be true to what you know,” she told the students, along with words of encouragement in seeking out challenges.

A significant number of scholarships were awarded with each student receiving funding for college in various amounts. Scholarships came from organizations such as the VFW, the Principal’s Scholarship, “Panther Pride”, Trinchera Ranch, Adams States University and SGHSSF, where the scholarships are made possible by the fundraising efforts of Board Members Mr. Walter Roybal and Esmeralda Martinez.

With many of the students holding bouquets as they sat on the stage and each student being cheered with equal enthusiasm suggesting the entire crowd and class of graduates were all part of the same family, the atmosphere was celebratory in honor of students who had persevered in completing school through some of the most difficult times students have known in recent memory.

Sierra Grande Class of 2022 motto: “Four years we’ll never get back, even if we did some things we regret.”

Class colors: Royal blue and silver; class flower: Japanese Cherry Blossom.