By Jon Johnson
PIMA — On Wednesday night, the Pima School Board awarded 79 diplomas to the first graduating class in the history of the new Pima High School. Pima’s new high school is a $37 million, 67,000-square-foot campus set on a sprawling 44-acre site that opened last fall.
More than half of the graduates have already earned college credit through dual enrollment programs with Eastern Arizona College and Gila Institute for Technology. Several students completed college certificates or Associate of Arts degrees before walking the stage.
The ceremony opened with Paige DeRusha and Macy Allred performing the National Anthem. Miley Preston welcomed the crowd, followed by reflections on school memories: Diesel Hughes on elementary school, Paige DeRusha on junior high, and Maisy Strowd on high school.
Salutatorian Ryan Skiba, who transferred to Pima from Thatcher as a freshman, shared how his initial apprehension gave way to a strong sense of belonging.
“I’ve never had so many friends before, and I have never felt more comfortable being myself around a group of people,” Skiba said. “Pima isn’t just a school, it’s a family. … People here care about each other. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what your background is, or what you’re interested in — there’s a place for you here.”
Valedictorian Chloe Skinner encouraged her classmates to focus less on wins and losses and more on how they carry themselves. She urged them to surround themselves with people who challenge them and to create a positive impact on others.
“We must stop letting uncertainty hold us back,” Skinner said. “So, if you guys want to be a vet, go for it. If you want to be an engineer, do it. If you want to start a business, make it happen. Just because you’re uncertain does not mean you are incapable. It means that you are aware of the work ahead and you are willing to sacrifice to get there.”
After the diplomas were presented, the new graduates turned their tassels from right to left, tossed their caps in the traditional ceremony at the end zone, and celebrated with a burst of confetti. Families and friends then gathered at midfield for a slideshow highlighting the students’ journey before the Class of 2026 officially stepped into the future.
