Packed House Watches Class of 2018 Graduate

by Ronnie Zamora/LFCISD

More than 9,000 people packed the bleachers and encircled the Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium track to watch about 750 Los Fresnos High School seniors graduate Saturday.

When the gates opened at 6 p.m., about 150 people were there waiting to go in and find the best seats for the 7:30 p.m. ceremony.
About 1,000 people lined the fence that encircles the south side of the stadium.

The last major event at the stadium was in December, where about 8,000 people witnessed the LFHS Falcons take on eventual state finalist Lake Travis in the Class 6A region semifinals.

This time, it was all of the seniors who had the attention. Families came in droves. One student had about 40 relatives in attendance to watch him graduate – parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Families were allowed on the field after the graduates retreated to the north end of the stadium at about 10 p.m. at the event’s conclusion.

The top 10 academic students had speaking parts in the ceremony. They included:

1. Valedictorian Mariah Gutierrez: Aspirations
2. Salutatorian Khrista Trovela: Reflections
3. Edric Salazar: Challenge
4. Julian Echevarria: Farewell
5. Norma Perales: Appreciation
6. Louis Turrubiartes: Presentation of platform guests
7. Joriam Martinez; Pledge of Allegiance
8. Jonathan Sandlin: Welcome
9. Alyssa Hurtado: Class Poem
10. Carlos Alvarez: Alma Mater

The recessional was highlighted by the playing and singing of the song “Los Golondrinas” (The Swallows) by the LFHS Mariachi Halcón that drew the loudest applauses of the evening.

The song, appropriate for the culturally rich area of the border, is symbolic in the story of a departing swallow who leaves the nest not knowing where it will land. However, the swallow always knows that it has a home to return to if it chooses.

► MORE PHOTOS AND VIDEO AT  www.flickr.com/photos/losfresnos/sets/