Gila Crossing Community School Celebrates 8th Grade Promotion in Big Way

Kyle Knox

Gila River Indian News

As the school year closes for all, Gila Crossing Community School celebrated its eighth-grade promotion ceremony May 21. Despite the logistic challenges of their original location, the school secured an excellent new site at one of the conference rooms at the Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino’s Event Center. The ceremony honored the Class of 2019 of 54 eighth-grade students that will most likely transition to either Cesar Chavez or Betty Fairfax High Schools next school year.

The principal of Gila Crossing, Dr. Brian Taylor, said, “the facility was impressive, and the graduates were equally impressive, they were dressed appropriately and carried themselves well with good behavior.” This past school year was Dr. Taylor’s first, and the closeness of the community moved him. He saw this closeness throughout the school year and again at the ceremony with a large number of family members in attendance.

There were honors and accolades presented at the ceremony including Salutatorian, Azarriona Harvey, and Valedictorian, Samuel Dillon. Maya Lewis received the Brandon G. Enos Educational Foundation scholarship, which provides school supplies for her when she begins high school.  Also, Maya Lewis and David Tashquinth were accepted to the Native American Business Institute conference, hosted in Michigan this month.

The ceremony’s location was made possible through an agreement facilitated by Gila Crossing Board Member Angie Flores.  The new setting was beyond initial expectations, but organizers underestimated the attendance amount this year as many were left standing. Regardless the ceremony went off without any issues and had a good showing of community leadership. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis and Community Council Representative Evans were in attendance as well as the entire Gila Crossing School Board.