San Juan District High School graduates to receive diplomas

More than 200 diplomas will be presented to graduates from area high schools in the coming week as another school year comes to a close across the sprawling district.
Monticello High School graduation will take place Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
The Class of 2025 Valedictorian is Marlee Mack with Makenna Peterson as Salutatorian.
Josh Keyes will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony, which will honor the 35 members of the Senior class.
There are 90 members of the senior class at San Juan High School. The graduation ceremony will be Thursday, May 21 at 9 a.m. on the football field in Blanding.
Speakers will include Student Body President George McNaughtan, Vice President Stetson Black, and class presidents Rosalie Kartchner, Jessica Black, and Maddyn Olsen.
Summa cum laude graduates at San Juan High include Kyle Begay, Noah Begay, Jessica Black, Stetson Black, Kai Fox, Ethan Francom, Nya Hunt, Jonas Jeppesen, Brinley Jones, Rosalie Kartchner, Evelyn McCullough, George McNaughtan, Olivia Moses, Maddyn Olsen, KJ Smith,  Kaidence Mitchell, and Tripp Palmer.
Navajo Mountain High School will hold its graduation commencement ceremony on Friday, May 22 at 10 am in the school gymnasium. 
Two Jaguars are graduating: Caynise Pelt and Summer Stevens. 
Navajo Nation Vice President Richelle Montoya will attend the ceremony and offer the keynote address. 
Photos of the two Navajo Mountain High School seniors will be published in the May 27 issue of the San Juan Record.
Monument Valley High School commencement exercises are Friday, May 22 at 2 pm. Keynote Speaker is Shandiin Herrera, a MVHS graduate working at the Navajo Nation Attorney’s office.
There are 24 seniors in the class of 2026. Valedictorian is Dakotah Cly and Salutatorian is Riley Roy Stanley.
Whitehorse High School commencement will be held Saturday, May 23 at 9 a.m. There are 53 members of the senior class.
The guest speaker is Michael Jensen, Chief Operating Officer at Utah Navajo Health System.
Students graduating with honors include Ethan Begay, Keira Chee, Gabrielle Dance, Keira Little, Wachaykeah Martin, and Hope Palmer.
Additional promotion services are being held at other schools in the district. On Monday, May 18, La Sal school promotion will begin at 6 p.m.
Events on Tuesday, May 19 include Bluff Elementary at 4 pm, and Monument Valley 8th grade at 6:30 pm.
Events on Wednesday, May 20 are at 5:30 p.m. at Montezuma Creek Elementary.
Promotions on Thursday, May 22 are at Monticello Elementary at 1 p.m., 10 a.m. for kindergarten at Tse’Bii’Nidzisgai Elementary, and 1 p.m. for the sixth grade at Tse’Bii’Nidzisgai Elementary.
Friday, May 22 promotions include Blanding Elementary at 8:15 a.m., and 10 am at Albert R. Lyman Middle.
Retiring employees include Barbara Silversmith in Bluff, Sharon Jay in Montezuma Creek, and Elisa Rogers in Monticello.
Photos of the Monticello seniors will be published in this issue of the San Juan Record, while San Juan seniors will be published on May 20 and Whitehorse, Monument Valley and Navajo Mountain seniors on May 27.