Gallup High graduates 329
Grads sit 'tall in the saddle'

Gallup High School graduates cheer during Friday's ceremony at Red Rock Park. Over 350 students graduated from the school this year. [Photo by Brian Leddy/Independent]

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Staff Writer

GALLUP — The Gallup High School Class of 2007 have officially taken a pinnacle step into young adulthood by receiving their high school diplomas.

Their joy was obvious Friday night, as they made their way into Red Rock Park cheering and hugging one another. Elated family members and friends shared their enthusiasm while sitting on the bleachers. Others sat on the red rocks and lined up against stage, searching for their graduate.

Even long after the graduation ceremony began, family members and friends stood waiting in line outside the park to be part of the celebration.Steve Wargo, history teacher and guest speaker, first expressed his honor to be selected by the class to speak.

"It's the greatest honor of my whole entire teaching career to do this," said Wargo.

"You're all equals right now," he said. "Just because you graduated first doesn't guarantee you success. Just because you graduated 329, and one of you did, doesn't mean you can't have success."

He congratulated the graduates for the challenges they have overcome in life so far, but reminded them that high school graduation was only the beginning.

"Leave here tonight at your starting point proud, but not satisfied," he said.

He asked them to take a moment to reflect on themselves and reminded them to do it frequently throughout their journey through life.

"What type of person do you want to be in life?" said Wargo.He advised them to work hard and be resilient."When you have balance in your life, you have perspective," he said. "I wish you nothing but success with your future."

Mike Butkovich, principal, addressed the crowd, and first acknowledged the students going into the military, asking them to stand.

"As you can see ladies and gentleman," he said. "We got a lot of courage in this group."

Butkovich expressed his appreciation to the teachers and parents.

"As you can see right now, what a wonderful job what you have done with these kids," he said. "Did you notice I said kids? But in a half-hour, you won't be kids."

The graduates screamed in delight just before Butkovich offered his own encouraging words.

Butkovich pointed out some of the chaos in the world, but expressed his faith in the new graduates to make a difference in the world.

"These types of people here, I believe we can change things," he said.He closed his words of encouragement by referring to a song by Chris LeDoux that he felt said it all for the graduates.

"Sit tall in the saddle, hold your head up high, keep your eyes fixed where the trail meets the sky, and live like you ain't afraid to die."

Humoring the graduates, he closed his address by talking like Arnold Schwarzenegger."Don't do anything stupid, or I'm going to go down in the stands," he said, mimicking Schwarzenegger. "Cause if you're not nice, you'll be back."

Casey Balok and Heidi Overton, co-valedictorians, and Noelle Baca and Teresa Leslie, co-salutatorians, chose not to highlight their individual accomplishments, goals, or personally thank their family.

Instead, they used their moment o share their own downfalls and recognize that each of them were equals at that one moment.

"Take a look around," said Balok. "We're all dressed in our caps and gowns, we all look the same. We don't look like jocks, nerds, preps, punks. We look like one class, one single group. Right now, all of us are the same."

"We all screw up. A lot," she said. "But we try to put our whole selves into everything we do."Balok said while some of the class may be going to college, others to the military, and some straight to work, she told her classmates to give it their all.

"Whatever we end up doing, we have do it will all our hearts," she said.