Valedictorian Leticia Ahutzi
BY DEBBIE BRYCE
For the Journal
FORT HALL — Commencement ceremonies at the Shoshone Bannock Jr./ Sr. High School were a melding of hope and commitment for the future and respect for culture and tradition.
Local drum group Medicine Thunder performed an honor song as U.S. Marine Corps veterans Ernest Wahtomy and Sgt. Daniel Lamczyk posted the flag and the school’s 16 graduates made their way to their seats.
Three of the drum group’s members are past graduates of the Shoshone Bannock school. The graduates wore an eagle plume on their caps along with the school’s red, white and black tassel.
The ceremony depicted the class theme, “Go with the flow and ride with the tide.” For valedictorian Leticia Ahutzi, graduation was the first step. The 18-year-old plans to attend the University of Idaho this year, and she’s seeking a degree in criminal justice.
Ahutzi’s mother is Yevonna Capps of Fort Hall. Leticia told her classmates it had been a good year.
“During the past four years, we learned a lot, not just from the teachers, but from each other,” Leticia said.
Leticia said she’s known most of her classmates since kindergarten. She was active in volleyball, basketball and track at Shoshone Bannock school.
During the commencement ceremony, Superintendent Eric Lords recognized long-time teacher Kris Hansen who is retiring after more than two decades in education. Hansen was presented a Pendleton blanket for her service and dedication to the Shoshone Bannock Jr/Sr High School.
Salutatorian Jawana Graves bid an emotional farewell to her friends and faculty, and she thanked all of the people that helped her get there.
“Class of 2015, we did it,” Graves told the graduates.
Along with their diploma, each graduate received a Pendleton blanket, and the former students were honored at a reception in the Chief’s Cafeteria.
