Jefferson/Silva Silver Foxes kick off Day 6 of EPISD's 2021 Graduation Season
(JEFFERSON/SILVA HIGH SCHOOL -- June 21, 2021) — More than 300 Silver Foxes cross the stage at the Bowie Baty-Simmang Stadium Monday morning — the penultimate ceremony during EPISD’s 2021 Graduation Season.
This year’s class of 2021 included 164 Jefferson High and Silva Health Magnet’s 163 graduates earned their diploma and nearly $5 million in total scholarships. Many Silva seniors earned certifications that will allow them to enter the healthcare industry upon graduation including eight students who received their license vocational nurse certification.
Jefferson’s Class of 2021 is led by valedictorian and All-Jefferson Boy Bryan Perez and salutatorian Sabrina Renee Rivas. All-Jefferson Girl is Jaime Alonso. Silva is led by valedictorian Melody Tsutsumi Cruz and salutatorian Jia Li Moreno. All-Silva Girl and Boy are Isabella Chavez and Giancarlo Valenzuela, respectively.
During her remarks, Tsutsumi Cruz reminisced about her high school days and how special it is to receive a diploma from Silva.
“Our story starts in 2017, when we first started in awe at the signature, three sets of Silva stairs: wow! The steepness of the steps should’ve been the first indicator that our next four years would be quite literally, an uphill battle,” Tsutsumi Cruz said. “Though we climbed through sophomore year, we eventually stumbled into 2020. Our mountain suddenly transformed into a cliff. Free-falling, we braced ourselves for rock bottom… But somehow, we latched on. Which leads us to today. Graduation. I’m not sure we’re at the top of Mount Everest, but I’d say finishing our four years at Silva is pretty high up there.”
Perez reflected on being Jeff’s valedictorian and breaking barriers.
“While this accomplishment is something special, I am nothing special. I am a kid walking into adulthood, just like you are. Did I sacrifice more than others? Maybe,” he said. “But I am just a kid from southcentral. Socioeconomic statistics predict that I shouldn’t be up here today. But here I am. Proving them wrong. I don’t let these barriers stop me, and neither should you. Countless people from southside have made it out of the struggle, some alumni even in the stands today. Let’s keep our hardworking tradition within central El Paso going. ”
Perez concluded by offering a special message to his family, most importantly his mother.
“Jefa, gracias por todo. Le prometí que me graduaría en blanco y soy hombre de mi palabra,” he said. “Mom, thanks for everything. I promised you I would graduate in white and I am a man of my word.”
To watch a rebroadcast of the Jefferson/Silva graduation, visit www.episd.org/live.
Photos by Leonel Monroy