Local News | Graduates celebrate new beginnings in St. Vrain Valley School District's Class of 2024 commencements

May 25—High school graduate Dacen Hans Wach gave one major piece of advice for the Class of 2024: Live for the journey, not the destination.

"Life is not a race to the finish," Wach, Longmont High School's salutatorian, told his classmates Saturday. "It's all about the lives we touch along the way, and the hope and traditions we instill in future generations."

On Saturday, the St. Vrain Valley School District celebrated its graduates with commencement ceremonies at Longmont, Silver Creek, Skyline, Niwot, Lyons, Mead, Erie, and Frederick high schools. The district graduated 2,422 seniors this year, 558 of whom finished with a 4.0 GPA or higher.

At Longmont High, bright blue caps and gowns marked the 277 graduates, who filled the school's football field for the ceremony. In his address, Wach also talked about his time on the school's cross-country and track teams, and how he learned to be an "anchor" for his teammates.

"The thing that matters the most is how you give back," Wach said. "I realized my purpose on the team was bigger than running fast. It was about stepping up where it matters."

Valedictorian Erik Swanson had a similar message for his Longmont High classmates, encouraging them to improve the lives of people around them.

"Find something that you love to do that brightens everyone's days," Swanson said. "We can truly make the world around us a better place."

Longmont High School principal Jeff McMurry said he was "deeply moved" by the journeys each student took to arrive at graduation day.

"You've tackled rigorous academics, excelled in athletics and contributed to our community in countless ways," McMurry told graduates. "Each of these experiences has prepared you for the future, teaching you lessons that extend far beyond the classroom."

Before students moved their tassels and threw their mortarboards in the air, Longmont High School graduate Vianca Razo congratulated her classmates on the challenges they overcame together.

"It has been amazing to see the kindness of our class, and the way we impacted the lives of others in small ways every day," Razo said. "After all, we are one big Trojan family."

At Silver Creek High School in Longmont, 315 graduates took part in a similar ceremony. In their maroon caps and gowns, the Class of 2024 listened to their peers and faculty members wish them the best in their post-secondary lives.

"It is up to you how you perceive situations thrown at you and how you handle them," said Kavya Kataria, Silver Creek's valedictorian. "If you're scared about the big life changes all of us are going through as we move onto our next chapter, view it as an opportunity to explore new possibilities and grow in ways you've never imagined."

The power of positive thinking was a theme shared by most of Silver Creek's speakers, including graduate Anderson Laughlin.

"What I want you to think about as you go through your next steps in life is finding that silver lining — some sort of hope and positivity if all else is lost," Laughlin advised his peers.

Silver Creek High School psychology teacher Julie Forbes mentioned the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the Class of 2024's freshman year. Obstacles, she explained, are something to be grateful for, too.

"You pivoted, you charted a new course, you learned something new about yourself," Forbes told graduates. "And that has made you a better person."

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CLASS OF 2024 VALEDICTORIANS AND SALUTATORIANS

Erie

Adeline Green and Aiden Buchanan, valedictorians; Ethan Mohr, salutatorian

Frederick

Lorna Heil, valedictorian; Zachary Bailey, salutatorian; Alixandria Gutsche, P-TECH valedictorian; Kylie Dionysius, P-TECH salutatorian

LaunchED Virtual Academy

Abigail Moore, valedictorian; Derreck Noah Manchego, salutatorian

Longmont

Erik Paul Swanson, valedictorian; Dacen Hans Wach, salutatorian

Lyons

Sage Wynja, valedictorian; Emma Johnson, salutatorian

Mead

Matthew Starks, valedictorian; Georgia Franks, salutatorian

New Meridian

Clara Gaelle Harper and Sophia Nicole Fisenko, valedictorians; Eva Mae Mazzotta, salutatorian

Niwot

Reema Baishya and Mia Prok, valedictorians; Berit Maute and Violet Oliver, salutatorians

Silver Creek

Kavya Kataria, valedictorian; Luke Barnett, salutatorian

Skyline

Aiden Phelan, valedictorian; Daniel Nguyen, salutatorian; Idaly Gomez-Pena, P-TECH valedictorian; Manraj Pal, P-TECH salutatorian

St. Vrain Virtual

Zachary Berkowitz, valedictorian; Nathan Waugh, salutatorian

Twin Peaks Classical Academy

Clara Pressey, valedictorian; Gunnar Nuesken, salutatorian