By Jon Johnson
PIMA – Seventy-one Class of 2025 graduates helped retire Edd Hubbard Field on Wednesday as the last graduating class of the old Pima High School strode its grass one last time to accept their diplomas.
It was the final graduating class of the old Pima High School. A $40 million new Pima High School across Highway 70 is nearly complete, and its new football field will host graduations moving forward.
It was an eclectic bunch of graduates. There were Marines and entertainers, those heading off to perform church service or enter the workforce, and many furthering their education at colleges or universities.
In the case of students in the Gila Valley, thanks to Pima, the Gila Institute for Technology (GIFT), and Eastern Arizona College (EAC), students can be dual-enrolled and take college courses while still in high school. Pima schools pay for up to 14 credits per semester for dual enrollment, and students can also take college classes through GIFT. Many students have already received certificates of completion. They are on their way to obtaining associate degrees, while some have already earned an associate degree from EAC and graduated from college the week before high school.
Pima talent was displayed as Riley Flowers opened the program by playing a rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner on guitar. After the welcoming activities, Caddy Bigler performed her original song, “Dandelions.”
Kodi Ferguson and Savannah Jeffery tag-teamed the school memories portion of the evening, which was followed by Bigler’s musical performance. Salutatorian Brookie Burk and Valedictorian Kamea Nelson also delivered speeches.
“I wanted to create an acronym,” Burk told the audience. “Originally, my words were purpose, opportunity, and self-awareness. But I didn’t think that P.O.S. would be a very meaningful acronym. So, the acronym we’re going to use instead consists of the three letters we are all already very familiar with, P.H.S. – purpose, hard work, and self-awareness.”
“I would like to thank the faculty and staff here at Pima High School for helping us to make it where we are today,” Nelson said. “I would like to especially thank our amazing teachers. Because Pima is so small, we have been able to gain strong, personal connections with these educators. Their love, support, and guidance will have been and will be lifelong lessons to us graduates. You never know just how much good you have done.”
As the students moved their tassels and tossed their confetti high into the sky, they finished their time at Pima High and were prepared to move on to whatever greeted them. After graduation ceremonies on the football field, graduates, family, and friends were invited to the gymnasium for a slide show presentation.
Click here to view the Gila Herald’s photo album for the graduation.
