VVHS Celebrates Class Of 2021

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

Last week was a time of celebration for members of the Class of 2021 as the journey of high school came to an end and a whole world of new possibilities were opened. The Virgin Valley High School held its graduation ceremonies on Thursday, May 27; and the festivities extended from early morning until late that night.

Drive-through graduation
The school’s official Commencement Exercises took place on the VVHS campus beginning at 7:00 am. Like everything else during the year of COVID-19, it was somewhat unorthodox.

Rather than holding a large indoor gathering for graduation, the school administration planned an all outdoor drive-through graduation experience to honor the nearly 150 graduates.

Faculty and staff gathered on the grounds in front of the school bright and early. A stage was provided upon which VVHS principal Riley Frei and CCSD Assistant Superintendent Scarlett Perryman stood awaiting each graduate’s arrival.

The students came in vehicles full of family members. Each student had been given an appointed time to arrive at the school. One by one the vehicles pulled up to the front of the school. Each graduate got out of the car, had their name announced over a PA system and then ascended the platform with Frei to receive their diplomas and stand for a photo.

All this was done while their family watched, cheered and snapped photos from the car.

After receiving their diplomas, the students and their families could stop at the school’s west parking lot where there were several settings arranged for photos to be taken with families and friends.

“I thought it was an absolutely fabulous event,” said Frei. “There was plenty of time to recognize each graduate together and individually. Every student got applauded. It was a beautiful setting with perfect weather. It was just all positive.”

Community parade
Later in the day, the Virgin Valley community took over in celebrating the graduating class. At 6:30, a graduates’ parade began slowly rolling down Mesquite Blvd.

About 100 cars, trailers, ATVs and even boats on trailers; all decorated in VVHS green and white; featured 125 of the graduates who participated. With balloons, streamers, banners and flags the kids rode in style.

Before the parade began, each entry was judged and winners of the best decorated vehicle were awarded. First place and a $200 prize went to Shyrie Nice. Second place ($150) went to Savannah Cannon. And third place ($100) was awarded to a float which carried multiple graduates including Alayah Bonner, Abigail Sessions, Norma Obeso and Elizabeth Goodson.

Community members turned out in droves to line the street and congratulate the graduates as they went by.

Local resident Angela Bundy was near City Hall to celebrate her daughter Jerusha who, as a junior, had decided to accelerate through her online coursework and graduate early this year.

“This year has been a total disaster for our kids with all the uncertainty and disappointment,” Bundy said. “We are just grateful for so many members of the community who have been creative and filled in the opportunities, like this one, to allow the kids to be kids. This was perfect after such a difficult year.”

The parade was organized by local resident and business owner Karen Fielding, along with a small army of volunteers who helped. Directing traffic and regulating the parade entries were members of the Mesquite Police Department, Mesquite Fire and Rescue and the Rotary Club of Mesquite.

“I just love all of the community support,” Fielding said. “This community has raised most of these kids all through school, and to see them come out to support them now after missing so much of their senior year; it is just wonderful!”

Turning the tassles together
After the parade another graduation ceremony, this time more traditional, was held outdoors at the Mesquite Regional Sports Complex. This one was organized by VVHS students Paola Garcia and Valerie Gomez.

“With everything opening back up again after the pandemic, we really wanted to have something that we could all get together, walk across the stage and turn the tassles together like a normal graduation,” said Garcia in an interview.

In the last couple of weeks before graduation, the two girls talked to Frei about making the change to a full, live ceremony at the school. But CCSD health regulations and restrictions made that nearly impossible, Frei said.

“Just a couple of weeks ago the district did open things up to allow graduation events,” Frei said. “But even then it was only allowed in very controlled environments at very large venues in Las Vegas. In our case, we still wouldn’t have been able to have more than 250 people at a time. So it would have taken more than one session. That kind of defeats their purpose.”

Frei said that he encouraged the girls to work with the community and try to plan something off campus. That is what they did.

“The people at the City really came through for us and allowed us to use this venue,” said Garcia. “We especially thank Nick Montoya and Zach Robison who dedicated their time, resources and efforts to ensure this evening was a success.”

About 85 graduates attended this second ceremony with more than 400 people gathering on the soccer field as the audience.

Durin

g the program, Giselle Guerrero, one of the four 2021 Valedictorians, gave a brief address to her classmates about the hope of the future, despite the struggles of the pandemic year.

“We now have the potential to go out and discover who we want to be,” Guerrero said. “We have our whole lives ahead of us to try new things and put ourselves out there. Remember to believe in yourself and be kind to yourself. There is much more greatness to come.”

Celebrating all night
At 9:30 pm, the graduates convened at the Mesquite Rec Center for an all-night Senior Party sponsored by the Mesquite Police Department and a group of parent volunteers. The students partied safely through the night with the event ending at about 4:30 am.

Leading in the planning for the party was Virgin Valley resident Jodi Hughes, along with MPD Captain Quinn Averett and Lieutenant Tracy Fails.

“There was a huge number of kids there and they had a great time together,” Hughes said. “There was so much support from the community and so much was donated to make this experience special for the kids.”

A money booth had cash being blown into a wind chamber. Students could take turns in the chamber trying to grab as much money as they could.

In addition, dozens of gifts were donated for prize drawings for the attendees.
“These were very substantial prizes like electric scooters, TVs, X-box consoles, noise cancelling headphones, gift cards and more,” Hughes said. “Everyone who attended got something.”

Hughes said that the goal was to let the students know that they had a whole community behind them in all of their struggles over the past year and beyond.

“We wanted them to see that we are proud of them for getting through all of it,” Hughes said. “So we spoiled them a little, and they were so respectful that they didn’t act like they were being spoiled. They are a great class!”