Tombstone High School graduate Rubi Mae Luinstra, a gold diploma and top-10 graduate, gives family and friends a joyful wave as she prepares to step into the "Pomp and Circumstance" processional march Thursday on the school's Mike Hayhurst Field.
Elyssa Durr holds a stuffed tiger, representing Hobbes from the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. The tiger's presence at the graduation is in remembrance of Calvin Mossman, a Huachuca City School third grader who died in 2014. He would have been a member of the school's class of 2023.
From left, Killan Wharton, Arceli Blackwell and Addilyn Thomasson are three of the 85 Tombstone High school graduates honored at a packed Mike Hayhurst Field Thursday.
From left, wearing caps and gowns of Yellow Jackets black and gold, Jasmine McWherter, Joanna Devine and David Munoz enjoy a quick chat while waiting for Tombstone High School's 101st commencement program to begin.
Tombstone High School graduates celebrate while turning the tassels from the right side of their caps to the left at the end of Thursday's commencement program.
Tombstone High School graduate Rubi Mae Luinstra, a gold diploma and top-10 graduate, gives family and friends a joyful wave as she prepares to step into the "Pomp and Circumstance" processional march Thursday on the school's Mike Hayhurst Field.
Elyssa Durr holds a stuffed tiger, representing Hobbes from the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. The tiger's presence at the graduation is in remembrance of Calvin Mossman, a Huachuca City School third grader who died in 2014. He would have been a member of the school's class of 2023.
From left, Killan Wharton, Arceli Blackwell and Addilyn Thomasson are three of the 85 Tombstone High school graduates honored at a packed Mike Hayhurst Field Thursday.
From left, wearing caps and gowns of Yellow Jackets black and gold, Jasmine McWherter, Joanna Devine and David Munoz enjoy a quick chat while waiting for Tombstone High School's 101st commencement program to begin.
Tombstone High School graduates celebrate while turning the tassels from the right side of their caps to the left at the end of Thursday's commencement program.
A huge crowd packed Tombstone High School’s Mike Hayhurst Field Thursday for the school’s 101st commencement program.
Draped in Yellow Jackets black and gold, the class of 2023 celebrated 85 graduates. In a program filled with all the traditional ceremonial flair, from the “Pomp and Circumstance” processional march, JROTC presentation of colors, to the national anthem sung by Linda Dailing, the graduates also remembered Calvin Mossman, a Huachuca City School student who died in 2014 while in the third grade.
“Calvin is with you in spirit here tonight,” Tombstone High School Principal David Thursby said, noting an empty chair in remembrance of the popular young child who died way too soon. “Calvin’s family is with us tonight.”
The evening featured Cochise County School Superintendent Jacqui Clay, who delivered an energetic keynote address, filled with positive messages of future accomplishments and success.
“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do,” Clay advised the graduates. “You were created for a purpose ... we are honoring you today because of your accomplishments and your ‘never quit’ attitudes.”
In her salutatory address, Kiersten Schilling shared a story about her involvement in a rollover car accident that she described as an “eye opener” that resulted in deep introspection. Grateful for the emergency responders who saved her life, Schilling has decided to pursue a career path as a paramedic firefighter.
Class valedictorian Skyler Mazzanti spoke about some of the tough challenges students face in high school and urged graduates to meet life’s challenges head-on.
“Challenges are what help us grow and every single hard thing we accomplish will make us a better person,” she said. “Never take the easy way, always challenge yourself and strive for high accomplishments in all aspects of your life.”
Several THS graduates received scholarship money, for a combined total of about $900,000, some of which represents renewable scholarships up to four years.
Discuss the news on NABUR, a place to have local conversations The Neighborhood Alliance for Better Understanding and Respect ✔ A site just for our local community ✔ Focused on facts, not misinformation ✔ Free for everyone
