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Rio Rancho High School's Class of 2024 marches on

Full house

Here's how the Rio Rancho Events Center appeared Tuesday, with 538 RRHS graduates and hundreds of their family members and friends to watch their big day.

Gary Herron
Gary Herron By Gary HerronStaff writer
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Class song: “We are young” (by Fun)

Class flower: Chrysanthemum

Class quote: “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” (From Disney’s “Mulan”)

RIO RANCHO — The 26th graduating class in the history of Rio Rancho High School began its next chapter in life Tuesday afternoon after 538 members of the Class of 2024 received diplomas in a two-hour ceremony in the Rio Rancho Events Center.

There were a few laughs, some advice for the future — including some caution in the days ahead when it comes to artificial intelligence — and probably a few tears.

Millan Baca, putting the wraps on his first year as the school’s principal, summed up the seniors’ four-year stint: “It started off freshman year remotely and transitioned back … with grace. I’m happy to see them finish their journey.”

They had two journeys Tuesday morning: Fifteen minutes to get all of the seniors from outside the Events Center and into their chairs on the floor; and 44 minutes for the distribution of diplomas, form the “dignitaries” on the stage, and then from Megan Acee to Meleana Zevenbergen, another 44 minutes.

Then, it was time to switch tassels from one side to the other, pop the mass of confetti and head outside for hugs and high fives.

In the future, Baca said he hopes to see many of them ultimately “be part of our great community.”

Gleaning some advice from the participants:

“The rest of the days are ours to live,” said Class of 2024 President Jillian Montes.

“Don’t be afraid to mess up,” advised Valedictorian Dylan Cialkowski.

Superintendent Sue Cleveland spoke about AI and how it may affect their future, not necessarily always in a good way.

“I congratulate you on your decision to stay the course,” Cleveland said. “Stay human.”

Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education President Amanda Galbraith, a member of the RRHS Class of 2000, told how there was a time in her life when she wanted to be an astronaut. (Of course, she never became an astronaut; dreams change.)

“We are born similar, but we are different,” Galbraith said. “It’s your time to make your choices … We need each other.”

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