Sacaton Middle School promotes 47 students on to high school

June 2, 2017

Thomas R. Throssell

Gila River Indian News

Forty-seven Sacaton Middle School (SMS) students were promoted from the eighth grade at a ceremony held inside the school’s gymnasium on the evening of May 17.

Hundreds of family members, friends, and tribal dignitaries, all dressed in their Sunday best, packed into the gymnasium to witness students take the next step on their educational journey.

Guest Speaker Lt. Gov. Monica Antone said one day the students would look back and cherish the moment, when their parents, grandmas, uncles and aunties came out to support their education. She said to always remember SMS and the support the teachers have given them over the years.

She said the students being promoted were the Community’s future, and the promotion ceremony was a celebration of not only their future, but the future of the Community as well.

“You might be sitting as a council member, one of you might be the next lieutenant governor, one of you might be the governor, and that is why it is important,” she said.

“No matter where you go, this is a stepping stone to your next destination in life,” Antone said. “The Community, your family members, we can’t say enough on how proud we are of you.”

“Even if [we] part ways, always know the Community is here for you. God bless every one of you and congratulations.”

Dale Enos, who runs the Brandon G. Enos Educational Foundation, presented two students, Jayna Morago and Henry Williams, with the Enos Scholarship. Enos handed each of the students a backpack filled with school supplies, and a laptop.

Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis talked to the students about his own time spent as a middle school student at SMS. He said he remembers writing his first name in yellow on a tile inside the school, which could probably still be found today.

“This is the beginning of so much potential that you have,” said Lewis. “You have so many options available to you, going to high school is the next step, the next critical step in your educational journey,” he said. Remember, Lewis added, you are not the only ones being promoted, you are taking your parents, your ancestors and the Community with you on your educational journey, “always remember that moving forward,” he said.

Principal Phillip Bonds took to the podium and solemnly promoted the Sacaton Middle School Class of 2017.

“As you move in to this new time of your lives, remember to set your goals high, follow your heart, choose your friends carefully, maintain high expectations of yourself and everyone around you, play hard and hold your family close,” Bonds said. “Real success requires faithfulness to the highest of human values, these are: honesty, integrity, self discipline, dignity, compassion, humility, courage, personal responsibility, courtesy, and human service. You are remarkable individuals with unlimited potential.“

“I am pleased to inform you that these young men and women have successfully completed academic requirements and have earned a Sacaton Middle School promotion certificate,” he said.

Sacaton Middle School Class of 2016-2017

Alewine, Jaquar

Ameelyenah, Darrius

Anton, Heather

Antone, Rayanne

Antone, Stephanie

Boss, Gabriella

Carreno, Jessica

Cross, Deserie

Enos, Ellyse

Flores, Angelica

Hendricks, Theodore

Howard, Xavier

Jackson, Jodie

Johns, Albert

Johns, Jeriah

June, Ethan

Justin, Summer

Lewis, Serenity

Lopez, Elena

Makil, Jayce

Manuel, Trinity

Moffett, Trenton

Molina, Xavier

Morago, Jamien

Morago, Jayna

Morgan-Peña, Weston

Ochoa, Carlos

Osife, Draven

Osife, Eric

Pancott, Junior

Pasquale, Mickey

Randall, Mariah

Randall, Quincy

Rivers, Marrietta

Salkey, Aden

Santos, Tristan

Saucedo, Victor

Soto, Alfonso

Stewart, Tamara

Tashquinth, Brenton

Tekala, Destiny

Tobey, Tobias

Valenzuela, Adrian

Vazquez, Eli

Williams, Henry

Wilson, Brianna

Yazzie, Dominick