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Approximately 5,500 attend graduation ceremony at Hopi High


Jacqueline Poleahla and Mackenzie Davis received the Kathy Steele Memorial Scholarship from Kymberle Secklestewa. Stan Bindell/NHO
6/5/2012 9:53:00 AM

 By Stan Bindell

 POLACCA, Ariz. - Jose Acevido, keynote speaker for the Hopi High graduation ceremony, told the graduates to remember kindness and gentleness because that's the makeup of the Hopi community. Acevido, a 2007 graduate of Hopi High, focused on telling the students how to prepare for the mean old world.

 POLACCA, Ariz. - Jose Acevido, keynote speaker for the Hopi High graduation ceremony, told the graduates to remember kindness and gentleness because that's the makeup of the Hopi community. Acevido, a 2007 graduate of Hopi High, focused on telling the students how to prepare for the mean old world.

"Don't give into the machines. You have the love of humanity," he said.

Approximately 5,500 relatives, friends and educators packed into Bruin Stadium for the May 24 graduation.

The Hopi High Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps posted the colors, Aryn Namoki sang the national anthem, Miss Hopi High Tawny Koiyaquaptewa gave the invocation, advisor Lavonne Adams recognized the 10 graduating National Honor Society members, Special Education Director Kymberle Seckletstewa gave out the Kathy Steele Memorial Scholarship and Mr. Hopi High Quentin Ramirez gave the benediction.

Acevido, who is working on his Master's degree in landscape architecture at Arizona State University, thanked those in the audience who had given their support to the graduates. He thanked the educators at Hopi High who always kept children in mind as their number one goal.

"The system has pushed, challenged and molded you," he told the graduates. "Go out there and make a change: Large and small."

Acevido said the world can be hard and complicated because of greed and the misuse of technology. He said despite breakthroughs in technology that many people feel that they are missing something.

"Don't fight for the average or the mundane. You the people have the power to create and make life wonderful. Let us all unite for a decent tomorrow," he said.

Hopi Tribal Chairman LeRoy Shingoitewa praised the graduates for their many talents. He noted that long before Nike had its motto of "Just Do It" that Hopi had a similar saying that meant "Don't give up."

Chairman Shingoitewa told the graduates that all the relatives in the audience are proud of them, but now they have to find their way through life - and it won't always be easy. He recounted how he had dropped out of college before going on to earn several degrees and how he had lost several jobs before finding better ones.

"We don't know what we're going to face until we get the challenge," he said. "But you need to show people that you can carry responsibilities."

Shingoitewa said many people ask him why Hopi schools are so successful. He responds because "we have the best administrators, best teachers, best parents and best students."

Hopi Vice Chairman Herman Honani said he believed in the graduates talents and abilities which they have shown during the past four years. He said regardless of whether the students go to universities, community colleges or vocational schools that they should not give up.

"Go after your dreams," he said.

Vice Chairman Honani said he sought his dreams, failing at some and achieving others. He urged the graduates to take care of themselves and listen to the wisdom of their older relatives.

"Do the best you can, apply your talents and don't give up," he said.

Co-Valedictorians Hayley Keith and Brooke Namoki also offered their words of wisdom.

Keith, an Anglo, recounted how she grew up in Ganado and Hopi, saying the reservation has always been her home. She said the past four years have been the best, but they are now ending and the graduates will be going their different ways.

"We'll be going many different ways. You must choose what is best for you," she said.

Keith urged her classmates to act like poet Robert Frost and take the road less traveled.

Namoki, who is Navajo/Hopi/Tewa, thanked her parents before recounting several successful people who had failed before they became successful. This list included Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein.

Tisheena Nez, who is Navajo, thanked family, friends, teachers and classmates who helped her. She urged her classmates to put their heart into everything they do.

"Don't let anyone bring you down," she said.

Nez warned her fellow students that not everyone will like them because that's the way life is, but she urged them to be nice to everybody.

Hopi High School Student Body President Kyle Yoyokie started off by telling his classmates to "Just Do It" when they have a challenge in front of them.

"The saying is overrated and overused, but it's straight forward and understood," he said.

Yoyokie said everybody makes mistakes, but they need to learn from them.

"Go out into the big bad world and strive for the best," he said.

Kelsy Jones, class president, thanked everyone who has helped all of the graduates.

Hopi High Principal Glenn Gilman commended the graduates for overcoming personal challenges to graduate.

He called this class overwhelmingly successful for having two Gates Millennium scholarships, 10 National Honor Society graduates and students who excelled in the arts, music, radio broadcast, journalism and athletics.

Principal Gilman said new jobs are evolving in science and vocational education as the wind and solar fields advance. He said Hopi High has given the graduates the tools to compete.

"Now go out and maximize your potential," he said. "Because of your years of hard work, the sky is the limit."


 

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