Red Canyon High School, World Academy send 74 graduates into the world

Graduation Day for Red Canyon High School and World Academy is more than a celebration of academic achievement. It’s also a celebration of the power of alternative education and dedication.

That power brought former school principal Troy Dudley back to the podium for a few brief remarks. Dudley spent 20 years at Red Canyon. Now a consultant, and member of a state board for alternative schools, Dudley noted that he’s discovered the joys of coffee shops, places people gather to just enjoy drinking coffee, not just drink the stuff to stay alert. Dudley noted that there are scores of alternative schools around Colorado, a tribute to the fact that for some, there’s a need for schools that fit students, not the other way around.

During her remarks during Friday’s ceremony at 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott, graduate Kaitlyn Gallegos noted that for her, Red Canyon is more than a school. “It’s part of my family’s story,” she said, adding that her sisters, Adriana and Monica, were part of the school’s early days.

“Back when Red Canyon was just a small house with a handful of students, they helped lay the foundation of this school.”

Holding back tears, Gallegos noted that while her sister Monica is “no longer with us, I carry her with me as I stand here today and I dedicate this moment to her. And because of all my siblings who graduated here, I had a place where I could belong, a place where I can grow, be seen and truly thrive.”

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‘Respect, community, hope and self-awareness’

Graduate Lydia Ponce shared her affection for her school in her senior message. Red Canyon, she said, is “a family where respect, community, hope and self-awareness are promoted. With these norms being the focus of our school, we are set up to be great individuals heading into our future.”

Students have to do the hard work of getting through school, of course, but those students are guided by a 32-person staff.

In his remarks to the overflow audience, graduate Anthony Pina thanked members of the staff.

“All of my classmaates and I have had a teacher or staff member go out of their way to be that support or helping hand for us in anything we may need … Thank you for personally making a special effort to always make school a very positive experience through exciting projects that I could actually enjoy about topics that were actually interesting,” Pina said.

“From helpful advice to real-world learning, Red Canyon High School staff create a high school experience different from most. You have really gone the extra mile to ensure we succeed,” he added.

That extra mile took a few extra steps as the 61 Red Canyon and 13 World Academy graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas.

Messages of hope and encouragement

A rotating cast of staffers greeted every graduate with a personal message about their personality and accomplishments, along with encouragement for their future success. Hugs accompanied every message before the formal congratulations from Eagle County School District Superintendent Phil Qualman, Assistant Superintendent Katie Jarnot and members of the district’s school board.

At every Red Canyon graduation, there are always far more people attending than available chairs, adults and youths having come to celebrate the accomplishments of sons, daughters, relatives and friends. It’s a raucous cheering section, with applause, flowers and one shout of “That’s my baby brother!”

Before the graduates turned their tassels from right to left and tossed their caps high into the warm spring sky, Jordan Bamberger, one of Red Canyon’s two school counselors, gave her charge to the graduating class.

She asked the graduates to remember three things: Stay curious. Resist thievery — those thieves being fear of failure and fear of judgement. And practice radical acceptance of a situation for what it is, “without judgement of the need for personal agreement.”

That, she said, “is a different kind of freedom.”

Beyond those things, Bamberger urged the graduates to “continue your already existing legacy of incredible resilience.”