May 28, 2015
Become a weekly subscriber for as little as 38¢ per week.
VOLUME 95 | ISSUE 14 | 75¢
See ad inside for detials.
EnglewoodHerald.net A R A P A H O E C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
WHAT’S INSIDE
Hugs and tears mark rose ceremony Members of Class of 2015 presented flowers to someone special By Tom Munds
tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Honoring the ultimate sacrifice: Fort Logan National Cemetery hosts Memorial Day ceremony. See Page 8
Emotions ran high May 22 during the rose ceremony for the 2015 graduates of Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice. The evening started with awards ceremonies and the presentation of scholarships by donating agencies. The event is a school tradition. Principal Bobbie Skaggs-Renaud said the red rose was selected because it is considered a symbol of love and appreciation and she explained that each graduate was given a red rose to present to the person that helped him or her reach this milestone in life. The principal also said each graduate would receive a special school hoodie because, for the graduates, the school emblem on the hoodie is gold instead of white. The emotional comments made during presentations sometimes led to tears and always led to hugs. One young lady was so emotional she asked her teacher to read her comments for her. Many of the graduates talked about the individual or individuals who helped them work through challenges in their lives so they could graduate from high school. For example, graduate Thomas Green talked
Significant works: Eight women show off a variety of art in a new exhibit. See Page 18
All-star effort: Littleton’s Joe Timm notches a goal in gathering of top players. See Page 25
Bobbi Skaggs-Renaud, principal of Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice, explains the event during the May 22 rose ceremony that accompanies each graduation. The ceremony provides each graduate with a rose, and in turn, the grad presents it to the person who helped them the most to get to this milestone in their lives. Photo by Tom Munds about being rescued from a broken home and presented the rose to his adoptive mom, who, in turn, thanked God for bringing Thomas into their family. Graduates presented roses to teachers, parents, grandparents, friends and relatives. In making the presentations, graduates frequently used phrases like he or she pushed me and that he or she was there to support me. In almost every
Boatman receives two scholarships
POSTAL ADDRESS
ENGLEWOOD HERALD
(ISSN 1058-7837) (USPS 176-680) OFFICE: 7315 S. Revere Pkwy., Ste. 603 Centennial, CO 80112 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Englewood, Colorado, the Englewood Herald is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 7315 S. Revere Pkwy., Ste. 603 Centennial, CO 80112 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legals: Fri. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 5 p.m.
PL E ASE RECYCLE T HI S C OPY
Graduate Ivy Boatman said the encouragement and support of her grandparents and the staff at Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice changed her life. “I was struggling in the traditional school. I had passed few classes since the sixth grade,” she said. “There I was just a face in the back of the classroom and I was always hearing that I wasn’t trying hard enough and what I was doing would never be good enough.” Boatman said Colorado’s Finest staff took an individual approach and helped her through some very tough time. “I spent three weeks recovering from hurting myself, something I have now dealt with and put behind me,” she said. “But Mom, my grandparents and my teachers were there for me. In particular, my teacher Chris Anderson was very understanding and he worked with me so I could get caught up on all my
Ivy Boatman studies so I could graduate with my classmates.” She said she has so many interests that she doesn’t have firm plans for the immediate future. “I want to dabble in a number of areas like marine biology, nursing, writing and photography because I don’t want to be confined to doing one thing my whole life,” she said. “My horizons were broadened tonight as I received two scholarships, so I now have much wider choices about where I will continue my education.”
Sever plans to be vet tech Spencer Sever talked about the future as he prepared to graduate from Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice. The 17-year-old is an Englewood resident who went to Englewood schools since he was in kindergarten. “I chose to go to middle school classes at Englewood Leadership Academy and then decided to come here for high school because this is a step up from the ELA system,” the 17-year-old said. “I also came to Colorado’s Finest because my dad graduated from here in ‘89 and, thanks to all the faculty did for me, I am graduating early.” He said he is going to take a break until he turns 18 then attend school to become a veterinary technician.” He said he has always been a fanatic about helping animals
Spencer Sever and taking care of them. Plans include volunteering at an animal shelter until he gets ready to start school.” He said he likes helping people and animals, so volunteering is a big part of Sever’s life. He was presented the school’s community service award. Principal Bobbi Skaggs-Renaud said Sever met the 20-hour requirement early in his time at the school but continued his active volunteer efforts.
presentation, a graduate said that, without the recipient’s help and encouragement, the student wouldn’t be here. All but one graduate presented the rose to an individual. However, Breanna Fognani said she wished she had a huge bunch of roses because she wanted to thank so many people but, since she had only one rose, she would give a petal to each person.
Holguin earned diploma in a year Things weren’t working at two other schools for Diamond Holguin so she transferred to Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice with no high school credits and completed four years’ requirements in a little more than one year. “Everything is different about this school,” she said. “It is a warm school, everyone is friendly and the teachers are awesome. I was a freshman when I came here last year but, with a lot of help from the faculty and support from my family, I receive my diploma tomorrow.” She said at Colorado’s Finest you work at your own pace so while most students take six or seven classes a session, she took nine and attended summer school in order to be ready to graduate on May 23. She said the school also prepared her for the future.
Diamond Holguin “The school also paid for me to take two semesters of classes at Arapahoe Community College, and I am now a certified nurse assistant,” she said. “I plan to get a job but I also have registered to attend classes at Red Rocks Community College for a year, and then go to medical school at CU Boulder to study cardiology.” To help her further her education she was presented with a $1,500 scholarship by the Englewood Education Foundation.
Snow wants to see the world Trevor Snow said he wasn’t doing well at a traditional high school but that changed when he transferred to Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice. “I was struggling at my old school and I wasn’t doing well. Then I heard about this school, came here to visit, liked it and enrolled. This school made a huge difference for me,” the 18-yearold said. “The teachers here are ready to help you, the pace and way of teaching is more personal and you are an individual not just someone in the class.” He anticipates continuing his education but he said his immediate plans were created by his desire to see the world. “Right after graduation, a friend and I have planned a threemonth backpacking trip through Europe and Asia,” he said. “I be-
Trevor Snow lieve you can expand your education by traveling as well as going to school, and I want to see other cultures and learn more about other areas of the world.” Snow said the trip will help him prepare for the next step in his plans for the future. “I plan to come back home for a short time after we complete the trip,” he said. “Then I am going to enroll at Western State College to study anthropology.”