Canutillo High School celebrated the commencement of 360 graduates in a ceremony at the Don Haskins Center that highlighted the students' academic achievements and bright futures. Among the graduates, several were recognized for earning prestigious scholarships, a testament to their hard work and dedication.
Notably, some students received the highly competitive Questbridge and Gates Millennium Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to exceptional students who demonstrate significant academic achievement and leadership potential, providing them with full-ride scholarships to some of the nation's top universities.
“We are very proud of the Class of 2024,” said CHS Principal Candice Marrufo. “Our students have gone above and beyond in demonstrating that they have what it takes to compete with top students across the nation and claim some of the most prestigious and competitive scholarships out there. We are excited for the future of this new crop of graduates and look forward to their success as they pursue their goals.”
The CHS Class of 2024 boasts three Questbridge Match Scholars Including Benjamin Lerma, Christian Choi and valedictorian Angel Rodriguez. Each Questbridge Scholarship average value is $250,000. Rodriguez will attend Boston University and plans to major in biochemistry.
Newly minted graduates, Evelyn Gesualdo-Lopez and Sara Lane each earned a $200,000 dollar scholarship. Gesualdo-Lopez received the highly competitive Gates Millennium Scholarship as well as a $48,000 Impact Scholarship from UT Austin while Lane claimed a U.S. Navy ROTC scholarship to kick off her future plans of attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida to become a military pilot.
In addition to these honors, a number of graduates secured presidential scholarships from universities across the country. These scholarships are typically awarded to students with outstanding academic records, leadership qualities and a commitment to community service.
Class of 2024 salutatorian April Ruiz was the recipient of several scholarships and has selected to attend UT Austin where she will major in biomedical engineering
A highlight of the ceremony was when the family of Carlos Lerma who died in 2021, accepted a posthumous certificate of membership on his behalf. To pay him tribute, the metal structure known as the Graduation Angel created by Reyes Elementary fourth-grader Faith Murrietta together with the Girl Scouts and the Carlos Lerma Memorial Foundation, made its debut lovingly adorned with regalia and Lerma’s photo.
The 2024 CHS commencement ceremony not only celebrated the individual accomplishments of the graduates but also underscored the supportive and nurturing environment of CHS, which has successfully prepared its students for the next steps in their educational journeys. The event was a proud moment for the graduates, their families and the entire school community, marking the beginning of many promising futures.