We“old folks” love to offer words of wisdom — whether or not these words are welcome. In the coming weeks, you’ll hear advice: some forgettable, some unforgettable. Among the latter, here are a few winners:
I was struggling a bit while learning to “adult” until I found Richard Carlson, author of “Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and It's All Small Stuff,” who advised, “One of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others, thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be. It's not and it won't. … When you let go of your expectations, when you accept life as it is, you're free.”
Olivia Lewis
Blynn Beltran
By Olivia Lewis
C L ASS 2O25
Apple’s Tim Cook told graduates, "There's a saying that if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life. At Apple, I learned that's a total crock. You'll work harder than you ever thought possible, but the tools will feel light in your hands.”
Bill Gates told graduates at Northern Arizona University. “You are not a slacker if you cut yourself some slack. …. Don’t wait as long as I did to learn this lesson. Take time to nurture your relationships, to celebrate your successes, and to recover from your losses. There is more to life than work.”
Chobani yogurt founder Hamdi Ulukaya said when he was starting up, “There was a commu-
nity of refugees who were having a hard time finding jobs. I said, 'Let's hire them.' I promise you that there is nothing more rewarding than showing up in the world for other people, no matter how hard it may be."
Finally, while this is not from a graduation speech, I believe John Pavlovitz had the right idea when he suggested we “keep loving people even when it seems to be a lost and fruitless art” and concluded “It’s time we give empathy the bandwidth it deserves.”
Congratulations, Class of 2025. You’ve got this.
— Ellen Miller-Goins, Editor
STAFF
Class of 2025 • High School Graduations
Taos Academy
FRIDAY MAY 16
2 P.M.
Taos Academy Campus
Moreno Valley Preparatory
SATURDAY MAY 24
10 A.M.
Angel Fire Community Center
Peñasco High School
SATURDAY MAY 24
10 A.M.
Jicarita Gymnasium
Questa High School
SATURDAY MAY 17
10 A.M.
Questa High School Gymnasium
Vista Grande High School
FRIDAY MAY 30
10 A.M.
Taos Country Club
Taos High School
SATURDAY MAY 31
10 A.M.
Anaya Field
Peñasco High School
Enrique
Jayleni
Jude
Kalista
Karizma
Madison Rael
StellaDean Lopez
Tristanee Lucero
Tyelor Yazza
SENIOR STORIES
Graduating seniors look back as they plan for the future
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ZÖE ZIMMERMAN
Every graduating class faces challenges — this year’s graduating seniors met theirs with creativity, grit and heart. From forging identities in small towns to balancing academics, jobs, sports and service, these seniors have shown what it means to grow through change. As part of our annual tradition, the Taos News invited students from regional high schools to share their stories. Their submissions give us a portrait of a generation stepping forward with purpose and resilience. Their voices reflect joy, struggle, ambition and gratitude — and, above all, hope. We are honored to celebrate these seniors from the Class of 2025.
JACQUELINE LIMAS
Iam Jacqueline Limas, a proud member of the Taos High School Class of 2025, and I am passionate about helping others. Throughout my time in high school, I have balanced a challenging academic load, leadership roles in sports, work at my family business, and a deep commitment to preparing for a future in the medical field.
This year, my goal was to take as many AP classes as I could. I am currently taking AP literature, Spanish, statistics, and government and economics. I work at my family business, Limas Construction, as a bookkeeping assistant
SENIOR STORIES
Taos High School
and during the summer, I also work as a swim instructor at Taos Youth and Family Center.
I participate in sports like cheerleading, swimming and track and field. I served as captain for both the swim and cheerleading teams and was also a member of the crosscountry team for two years. A memorable highlight from this senior year was winning homecoming queen and helping lead my team to a state championship in cheerleading.
Our senior year was full of support and discipline. We were encouraged to keep our grades up to maintain our off-campus passes
and were given Flex Fridays to provide extra support, additional time for AP classes and mentorship opportunities. Flex Fridays also helped students develop career readiness for the workforce.
The next step in my life is attending the University of New Mexico, where I plan to continue both my academic and athletic career at the collegiate level. My goal is to pursue a career in the medical field because I truly enjoy helping people.
Questa High School Class of 2025 Questa High School Class of 2025
Kiara Arellano Alexis Brown Kamryn Cardenas
James Garcia
Alianna Gonzalez
Anahi Juarez
Jacqueline Lara Sophia Martinez
Diana Montoya Carlos Ortega Ashlynn Rael
Delilah Rael
Savanna Roberts
Aliyah Santistevan Zachary Sullivan Jacob Vallejos Marlena Vallejos
Michael Fernandez
This ad sponsored by Chevron
ALYSSA ATENCIO
I’m Alyssa Atencio, a 2025 graduate of Peñasco High School, and I believe in leading with heart. Whether it’s in the classroom, on the court or with my “little” in Big Brothers Big Sisters, I give my all to the people and passions that shape who I am. I find joy in the small things — laughing with friends, diving into a good book, and chasing a basketball down the court. This year, my final, has been a journey of growth, challenge and unforgettable moments.
My interests revolve around the things that bring happiness, growth, and peace into my life. I like reading, spending time with friends and playing basketball. So far, my senior year has been full of memorable experiences, good and bad. I was the varsity volleyball and basketball team captain as well as a starter for both. Along with playing sports, I am an active student who puts her studies first. I am also an active member of the National Honor Society La Jicarita Chapter, senior class president, and a part of our student council. On top of all the activities listed above, I am also involved in a program called Big Brothers, Big Sisters. In this program, I have the honor to be a mentor and idol to my little. I have had a great time showing her that she’s not alone.
Some of my volunteer experience includes reffing for the youth basketball tournaments we host, Big Brothers Big Sisters, hosting basketball skills camp, annually
helping at our Halloween carnival we have for our youth, and sitting with kids whose guardians or parents couldn’t make it for our holiday lunches at school.
One of my favorite memories from this year was my basketball season. Although it was a rebuilding year and the season didn’t go as I had hoped or planned, I was able to be part of a team who looked out for each other, loved one another and saw each other as family. This year’s season went beyond just the game of basketball with the laughs we shared and memories we made. My team made senior year the saddest yet one of the best years.
Senior year was an interesting experience for both me and my classmates. We faced the challenges of our own personal struggles, balancing academics with the excitement of our final year activities, like planning for prom and senior trips. We’ve all experienced a mix of nostalgia and anticipation as we prepared for graduation and the next final steps of our high school career, while also creating new paths in our first steps to our future. Friendships grew stronger, and we made countless memories that we’ll cherish forever. Despite the stress and hard work, it was a year filled with growth, laughter and a sense of accomplishment. Sharing the small and big wins, we became a family.
My plan is to attend New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and major in chemical engineering. I
SENIOR STORIES Peñasco High School
hope to finish my bachelor’s degree in three years and continue to build for my master’s. After earning my bachelor’s, I hope to use it to find a job that allows me to continue my studies but also gives me the opportunity to enter the workforce. Throughout college, I want to work and get into internships as much as possible and hopefully work in fields related to what I am going to school for. Thank you to my support system that’s kept me going.
Congratulations, Class of 2025, and good luck!
HADDI RYCHLIK
I’m the kind of person who asked for a water pick for her 10th birthday.
While other kids were dreaming of dolls or video games, I was obsessed with teeth. Ever since I was little, I looked forward to trips to the dentist. That fascination grew into a dream, and after finally getting braces, I was almost certain I wanted to be an orthodontist. This year, I had the chance to intern with the Taos Dental Group and previously shadowed Vest Orthodontics — which only confirmed that dream. I would come home and tell my mom all about how cool it was to watch root canals and see the millimeter-by-millimeter realigning of teeth. I think she wondered if I was becoming ill.
When my internship ended, I poured my time and energy into other passions. I served as vice president of National Honor Society, helping organize bake sales and volunteering at the Taos Enchanted Village, the Dr. Seuss event, and at TISA as a writing tutor. As snow fell, I returned to the slopes as a snowboard instructor for the fourth year in a row. Most of my students were little kids — which meant lots of wipeouts and lost gloves — but it was one of the most rewarding things I did this year. I learned how important it is to really
connect with kids, give them the space to try something new, and just have fun. Even on tough days, there were always little moments of connection and growth — for them and for me.
As a dual-credit student, I’ve dived deeper into my academic interests like math and writing. I’ve always loved reading, but this year my creative writing class pushed me to step into the writer role. I’ve seen how both math and writing challenge me in different ways, and how the skills I’ve built in one can support the other.
If I thought I didn’t have enough going on this year — between my job, internship, volunteer work, classes, baking capstone project, new friends, and college applications — I somehow squeezed in a road trip to Six Flags in Arlington, Texas, for Fright Fest with my best friend. We had talked about it for years, and as graduation grew closer, we jumped at the chance. It ended up being one of my favorite memories: almost losing our lunch on roller coasters, not letting go of each other in the haunted houses, and just getting away from all the chaos.
I am so excited to be attending the University of Denver in the fall, where I hope to meet new people, find new hobbies, continue my path toward den-
tal studies, and push myself to try new things. I am incredibly grateful for my community, teachers, friends and family for the skills and life lessons they have given me. I hope to make them proud as I take this next step in my journey, guided by all I have learned from both my failures and accomplishments.
SENIOR STORIES
Moreno Valley Preparatory
NATE WICHERS
Time is a fickle thing — it doesn’t stop, no matter how much you want it to pause for just a minute, just so you won’t feel so overwhelmed by school and the approaching vessel of adulthood. But we can’t stop time, which is why we must accept it. I’ll have to board that vessel, and when it comes, I’ll hesitate only to reflect back on my comparatively short life, and then take the next steps.
And in this big change, reflection is most important, so reflect I shall.
Ever since I was little, music has played a seemingly small but exponential role in my life. I forever have radio hits stuck in my head, and my imagination would run free, developing stories in my mind when faced with the boredom of road trips.
As I developed my music taste further, I found expression in the extreme forms of music and its styles, which inspire me and make me want to create my own music in those extreme styles. Music has always been a great remedy for stress as well, and when I want to escape from the world for a short period of time, I like to just put my headphones on and listen, let my mind wander free, and let sweet noise envelop my ears.
Music will always be part
of my life, no matter how big or small it is.
I’ve pursued music, humanities, performance and writing this year. I did one of my biggest performances yet as Hermes from the Broadway play “Hadestown,” and that has been a blast, but theater isn’t what I hope to pursue. It is a step forward in the direction I want to go — in music and music performance. I want to start performing on stage with a band, so leaving behind my stage fright in high school is important to my career, as I want to unleash all my energy into music and live performances without fear of ridicule.
I’ve also pursued the humanities, as I want to understand the world better and I hope to start writing more on the world and get introspective on it and my life.
The most memorable thing this year has been my performance in December, where I performed my own song for about 100 people. It was great, and I won’t ever forget it as my first time performing something I made. That truly sparked my passion for live performance and my confidence in myself.
So, what am I doing next after high school? I plan to go to UNM, learn music theory, start writing music and start building my music career.
SENIOR STORIES Vista Grande High School
ESTEVAN MARTINEZ
My name is Estevan Benito Rafael Martinez, and I’m proud to be a senior at Vista Grande High School.
It’s been quite a journey — one filled with books, ballots and a deep love for culture. I’ve always had an interest in history, politics, religion, classical and opera music, and art — subjects that speak to the past and guide the future.
Since middle school, I’ve been working for Ms. Jaramillo at Jaramillo Cleaning Service. It’s a job that’s taught me discipline and gratitude. More recently, I’ve had the opportunity to intern with the Town of Taos managers, a position that’s given me firsthand insight into public service and affirmed my dreams of working in government.
Besides school and work, I’ve tried to stay involved in my community. I served as the youngest member of the Fiestas de Taos council, a role that connected me more deeply to our traditions. I also took the Chicano/a studies course at UNM-Taos, and currently serve as the president of student government.
This year has been unforgettable — not just because of the challenges, but because of the accomplishments we’ve shared as a class. My favorite memories come from the work my administration has done and from the friendships that have grown along the way. Through ups and downs, we’ve become a family. It’s made this year great.
After graduation, I plan to attend college in-state. My long-term goal is to return to Taos and serve the town I love. I hope to begin a career in local politics and, eventually, move into the federal level. I want to give back, to be a voice for our community, and to continue learning and growing — always guided by the values I’ve carried with me since day one.
JACOB VALLEJOS
If there’s one thing people know about me, it’s that I’m always on the move. Whether I’m working on a car engine, tutoring kids or running across a soccer field, I like staying busy and making the most of every day. I’ve grown up with a strong work ethic, a love for the outdoors and a commitment to helping others — and my senior year has been a reflection of all that.
I have a lot of hobbies and interests which include outdoor activities, playing sports, watching movies and meeting new people. I was raised on a ranch and also like hunting and camping.
I set some goals for myself my senior year, which included getting straight As, doing my best in all sports, encouraging others and learning as many life skills as I could before I venture into the “real world” after high school. I was committed to taking on as many college classes as I could and making closer connections with my friends and family.
I work full time in the summers at my dad’s auto mechanic shop and part time throughout the school year as an elementary
school tutor. I have learned many new skills in both jobs which include but are not limited to leadership, mechanics and problemsolving.
I participate in soccer, basketball, baseball, and track and field. Additionally, I am the president of our National Honor Society and have been a member for four years.
Times that were memorable this year were hanging out with my class — going on class trips (including a trip to the state fair), camping, skiing and visiting nearby colleges. As I look to the future, I can’t help but cherish these moments with friends who I have grown up with over the years. These memories will forever be some of my favorites because of how we all have grown, learned and helped each other.
My senior year has been unforgettable, fun and a great way to send me off into adult life. Throughout the year we had our ups and downs. Our lowest was losing one of our classmates, but the support that we expressed to each other gave us a sense of togetherness and comfort.
Questa High School
As graduation approaches, I will treasure all the life experiences, fun times and high school memories. After graduation, I plan on attending the University of New Mexico and acquiring a degree in civil engineering. I have always been encouraged to be the best I can be.
I am thankful to my parents, grandparents, family, classmates, teachers, coaches, and other Questa High School staff for all their encouragement, love and support. “Don't count the days, make the days count.”
CONGRATS TO THE CLASS OF 2025!
Taos Milagro Rotary Club supports education and literacy
By Becky Roh
Each year, the Taos Milagro Rotary Club honors the hard work and aspirations of local students through its robust scholarship and literacy programs. In addition to its decade-long commitment to education, the club continues to fuel a love of learning across Taos County — one student, one book and one dream at a time.
Taos Milagro Education Grant and scholarship program
Over the past 10 years, Taos Milagro Rotary has awarded more than $204,000 to 56 graduating students from Taos County. These education grants and scholarships support students pursuing two- and four-year academic degrees, vocational training and certificate programs.
The application process evaluates academic achievement, community service, volunteerism, work experience, financial need and a personal essay answering: Who are you? What are your dreams, aspirations and goals? What do you hope to contribute through your education that supports honesty, integrity and a positive impact on society or your community?
This year, we are thrilled to grant $20,000 in scholarships. Congratulations to the 2025 Taos Milagro Rotary Education Grant winners:
• Alexandra Gonzales, Taos High School
• Analy Rosas, Taos Academy
• Estevan Martinez, Vista Grande High School
• Faith Aguilar, Vista Grande High School
• Julianna Flores, Taos High School
• Luna Bonny, Taos Academy
Additionally, awards from the Dollars from Dolly fund, honoring Dolly Peralta, are going to:
• Constancia Trujillo, University of New Mexico
• Kiara Arellano, Questa High School
Taos Milagro Rotary literacy projects
For the Love of Reading: 1,600 books distributed annually "For the Love of Reading" provides one-on-one reading sessions for second
Keep Growing & Shining
Class of 2025
In a town where every hand matters and every seed counts, you’ve helped our store and our community thrive. As you graduate into new adventures, know that your roots here run deep. Keep growing, keep shining, and know you always have a place to land.
Congratulations to our Class of 2025 graduates: Tatyana Quintanilla, Jake Martinez, Antonio Medina, Luna Jeantette, Monique Jordan, and Ciano Medina.
We’re so proud of you, Cid’s Food Market
CONGRATS TO THE CLASS OF 25!
and third grade students reading below grade level at Arroyos del Norte and Ranchos de Taos Elementary Schools. Volunteers are paired with two students and offer individualized 30-minute sessions weekly. Four times a year, students select a book to build their personal libraries.
We aim to improve reading proficiency, develop self-confidence, foster lifelong learning and nurture a love of reading.
Little free libraries: 1,500 books distributed annually
Taos Milagro Rotary maintains approximately 18 little free libraries throughout Taos and Taos County. Library stewards — Rotary members, community volunteers and Big Brothers Big Sisters — keep them stocked with a rotating selection of books. We encourage the "take a book, leave a book" tradition to keep the libraries thriving.
Dictionary project: 300 dictionaries gifted yearly. Every year, approximately 300 Webster’s Dictionaries are given to all third grade students in Taos County, including those at public and charter schools. During the presentation,
students are introduced to Rotary and learn dictionary skills through a fun treasure hunt activity.
Interact: Youth program
Interact is a service club for youth ages 12 to 18 who want to have fun, serve their communities and learn about the world. The Taos High School club, sponsored by Taos Milagro Rotary, organizes two projects each year: one serving the local community and one promoting international understanding.
This year, 29 students participated in Interact. Projects included:
• Hygiene bags for NEST: Students compiled a list of needed items, collected donations and created a large number of hygiene bags.
• Earth Day at Kit Carson Park: Students honored Earth Day with a community clean-up.
Thank you from Taos Milagro Rotary
We send a special thanks to our community and club members. Your generous support of our fundraising projects and donations allow us to support Taos County students year after year.
Duncan, a New Mexico native from Angel Fire, just graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering. While attending the U he was on the Dean’s list, was granted the President’s Scholarship, he earned the Rehabilitative and Assistive Technologies for the Functional and Healthcare Needs of People with Physical Disabilities Prize, DEBUT Challenge on behalf of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and VentureWell for helping to design the U-Build Bionic Knee: Transfemoral Powered Prosthetic. Duncan is currently seeking out a graduate school where he will be putting emphasis on prosthetics and orthotics. We are certain that he will make the world a better place. We love you more than you know, Mom & Dad (Heather Stewart-Jackson and Dale Jackson)
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
Congratulations Graduates From Your Friends At
'YOU CAN DO IT, MIJA!'
That’s the core message behind UNM-Taos’ Mija mentorship club, a program helping young women and girls in Northern New Mexico develop confidence, leadership skills, and their own voice.
What began as a mentorship of five UNM-Taos students and six teens in 2023 is blossoming into something bigger: a multigenerational support network of women, a safe space to discuss unhealthy relationships, and an outlet to explore career paths.
“It’s being able to know what’s important to you, to speak about it and to feel that you can actually take up space in this world and say how you think,” said Opal McCarthy, Mija program facilitator and outreach coordinator. “For me, I was a rebel teen, and I think part of the reason for that was because I wanted to have those skills of how to speak about what was important to me and connect to what was important to me.
“There’s a lot of things in our culture at-large that still discour-
by Olivia Lewis
age, and maybe even more so recently, women and girls from being able to speak in those ways. I think our program is about cultivating courage and knowing there’s somebody who has your back.”
Today, Mija has two UNM-Taos students serving as mentors and work-study facilitators: Gina RubiBauch, who’s studying criminology, and Julia Cortopassi, who’s studying film, digital and media arts. Rubi-Bauch and Cortopassi say they learn as much from their
mentees as the girls learn from them. Witnessing their excitement motivates Rubi-Bauch to keep showing up.
“It’s interacting with the girls and seeing myself in them,” RubiBauch said, “and remembering the emotions I used to feel when I was their age. How powerful it is to be supported by other women and how necessary it is. I wished I would’ve had that experience when I was their age.
“I think that a lot whenever we do mentoring sessions, and
Mija mentorship program members stand beside a collage of empowering artwork. From left: Alejandra Melendez, UNM-Taos director of strategic initiatives and research; Gina Rubi-Bauch, a Mija program mentor; Julia Cortopassi, a Mija program mentor; and Opal McCarthy, the Mija program's facilitator and outreach coordinator. PHOTO: OLIVIA LEWIS, TAOS NEWS
Congratulations to Taos Academy's Class of 2025! Congratulations to Taos Academy's Class of 2025! Congratulations of 2025! Congratulations to Taos Academy's Class of 2025!
how much I can learn from them. They’re my little teachers and they remind me to refresh my mind, so that I’m not too square or get resentful over the years as I grow into an older woman.”
Cortopassi, a yoga instructor since 2011, enjoys weaving mindfulness techniques into her mentoring.
“I like to offer them tools they can easily do on their own, seated at their desk or when they're taking a mini-break at school,” Cortopassi said. “We even worked on doing some yoga that you can do standing beside your desk or seated to try to make it really accessible.”
Beyond mentoring, the program hosts career workshops, community outings, yoga classes and crafts events. Guest speakers — from dietitians to textile artists — add new perspectives. McCar-
thy said Mija is expanding, launching smaller-scale versions of the program at local high schools.
“Over the past year, we’ve started doing programming in Taos High School,” McCarthy said. “We’ve been primarily focused on that this past program year. By the end of the school year, I think we’ll reach all freshman girls at Taos High School. That’s where Gina and Julia have been coming in and supporting some of the programming.”
While Mija is all about uplifting women, it doesn’t shy away from hard conversations.
“Rape culture, especially in Taos,” Rubi-Bauch said. “I know that’s heavy of me to say, but it’s just the reality of what goes on. There’s a lot of roofying going around and emotional manipulation. It can be hard for them to focus on anything else when
they’re trying to get validation and approval from guys who don't even understand the concept of respect.”
The program partners with Community Against Violence to help educate young women about consent and healthy relationships.
“They’re talking with each other about the issues that are affecting them, whether it’s trying to figure out relationships with friends or with boys,” said Alejandra Melendez, UNM-Taos director of strategic initiatives and research. “We’ve had some students that clearly are having a hard time at home. They don’t have safe spaces, so to our ability, we take that input and try to find things that we think can support them.”
Cortopassi added, “Sometimes it can be pretty raw, and sometimes we just have a lot of fun. We love to do a lot of creative things
with the girls. I really enjoy seeing them create unique expressions of themselves and feel empowered by the connection we're all building between each other.”
Despite the struggles these young women face, Mija continues to live up to its name. Mija, meaning “daughter” in Spanish, is a term of endearment in many families.
“Anybody can be called ‘mija,’” Rubi-Bauch said. “I’ll call any cousin or younger girl ‘mija,’ but I think I’m not old enough yet to call other people ‘mija.’ I haven't earned that term yet. I could go to Mexico and hang out with my aunties there. If I call somebody a mija, they’d be like, ‘No, you’re not able to say that yet!’”
The women in the room laughed.
WHERE THE SKY FEELS BIGGER AND THE SOUL FEELS LIGHTER
Top Row left to right: Amara Appa, Faith Aguilar, Kary Hammer, Estevan Martinez, James Laidlaw, Christopher Hogan
Bottom Row left to right: Mataiya Bowannie, Taylor Lujan, Kandice Montoya, Jesus Pacheco, Zack Antonio
Not Pictured: Aliya Archuleta, Vianey De Santiago, Brian Garcia, Arianna Lewis, Maleah Velarde
JUNIOR DA PROGRAM
by Olivia Lewis
Geno Esparza was shot executionstyle in his restaurant. The owner of a nearby competing restaurant, Alec Benavidez, was charged with firstdegree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
This fictional case was the challenge for a group of high school students during a mock trial in December 2024 at the 8th Judicial District Courthouse. Presiding over the proceedings was Magistrate Judge Ernest Ortega. It marked the first trial for 15 participants in the junior district attorney program, which includes freshmen, sophomores and juniors.
“This is real-life education that will serve you as well as any high school class,” Ortega said. “I’ll do anything
I can to help you and help our district attorney make this program successful.”
A mock trial simulates a real-life court case, with students filling the roles of prosecutors, defense attorneys, witnesses and other courtroom figures. The hands-on experience aims to teach students how the justice system works while sharpening their critical thinking, public speaking and argumentation skills.
Mock trials rarely feature cut-and-dry cases. In New Mexico v. Alec Benavidez, students could plausibly argue innocence or guilt. Participants practiced opening statements, objections, witness examination and cross-examination.
“I felt a little nervous at first,” said Evan Winters, who played a state prosecutor. “But slowly, as I started speaking more, I got more comfortable.”
Winters, along with fellow prosecutors Layla Martinez and Melina Jeantete, argued Benavidez conspired with fictional character Randy Suazo to murder Esparza.
“This is not a story of confusion nor misunderstanding,” Winters told the jury. “This is a case of deliberate actions that violated the law and harmed Geno Esparza. As the
“I felt a little nervous at first,” said Evan Winters, who played a state prosecutor. “But slowly, as I started speaking more, I got more comfortable.”
prosecution, it’s my responsibility to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Alec Benavidez committed murder in the first degree, as well as conspiracy to commit murder.”
Meanwhile, defense attorneys Kamila King and Antonio Montez argued the state lacked sufficient evidence to convict.
“There was no evidence to prove my client conspired to kill anyone,” Montez said. “There were text messages between my client and the alleged co-conspirator — but they talked about a job after his deck had burned down, not about a murder. There's no proof the crime furthered any conspiracy.”
Throughout the trial, Ortega offered legal tips.
“There may be questions during witness examination that are improper,” he said after one student lawyer asked a witness if they should be a suspect. “Be on the lookout for that — attorneys will do everything they can to gain an edge.”
COURTESY PHOTO
A fake jury is sworn in by Judge Ernest Ortega during a student run mock trial as part of the junior district attorney program at the 8th Judicial District Courthouse in Taos in December 2024.
COURTESY PHOTO
Judge Ernest Ortega addresses a group of high school students, instructing them on the perimeters of a court case, during a student run mock trial as part of the junior district attorney program at the 8th Judicial District Courthouse in Taos in December 2024.
In Memory of Our Loving Daughter,
Arry Sophia Jeantette
December 15, 2006 to October 23, 2022
My dearest sweet baby girl,
There are so many things that you have missed, so many milestones that we will never get to see. Our lives have been turned upside down without you and our hearts shattered.
What brings me peace is how you lived life to the fullest and were never afraid of being your true self. I wish things were different and we could celebrate with you in this big moment of what would be your graduation.
I wonder where your dreams would have taken you. I know that you would be chasing down every single one of them.
I am so grateful that you chose me to be your mom and I feel lucky to have been called mama by you. Today and every day, we hold you close to our heart, sweet Arry. Your memory lives on in every smile, every laugh, and in every tear that we have cried. Your Rozie looks for you and I know she sees you and feels your love. She sits in your room basking in the sun.
We will forever honor and celebrate the beautiful girl that was our daughter. Your love remains our greatest treasure. We love and will honor you forever!
We love you to the moon and back! Mom, Dad, Jaiden and Rozie
He also explained courtroom techniques: “After the witnesses have been examined, if you want to ask another question, that’s called redirecting.”
Tamarra Howard, special program director for the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, praised the students’ work — especially given they had only one practice session.
“They received their case a month ago, but there was a lot of shifting because of absentee students,” Howard said. “We even had two witnesses learn their parts this morning.”
The junior DA program’s first cohort graduated Dec. 20, 2024 at the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office — a recognition of all they’d learned about the criminal justice system.
After presenting their cases, the jury disappeared behind closed doors. When they returned, the foreperson announced they were deadlocked. The trial ended in a hung jury.
“I’ve conducted over 300 jury trials in this court, and this was one of the best mock trials I’ve seen,” Ortega told the students. “If you haven’t considered law school, I think you should.”
Top: Antonio Montez, student defense attorney, addresses Judge Ernest Ortega during a student run mock trial as part of the junior district attorney program at the 8th Judicial District Courthouse in Taos in December 2024. Bottom: Evan Winters, student prosecutor, prepares to state his case during a student run mock trial as part of the junior district attorney program at the 8th Judicial District Courthouse in Taos in December 2024. PHOTOS: OLIVIA LEWIS, TAOS NEWS
CLUTCH PLAYS AND STATE TITLES
A banner year for sports in Northern New Mexico
by Blynn Beltran
From buzzer-beaters and banner wins to scholarship signings and amazing upsets, Northern New Mexico athletes made headlines this past year. These are a few moments that defined a standout season for local sports.
Taos and Questa Cheer take home state titles
In late March, the Taos and Questa High School cheer teams brought home their respective blue trophies at the 2025 New Mexico Activities Association State Championships at the University of New Mexico’s Pit arena.
Smaller schools in the A/2A classes began the competition early Friday, March 21. At 9:30 a.m., the Questa team performed its game-day routine, followed by its cheer-withmusic routine at 11 a.m. Questa scored 83.43 on game day and 76.83 on cheer with music, totaling 160.27. The Wildcats narrowly edged out Maxwell High, which posted a 159.33
total, to win the blue trophy. This was the team’s third state title since coaches Maria and Angelica Medina took over the program.
Later in the afternoon, it was the 4A class’ turn to compete, and Taos nailed its game-day routine with a 91.81. The Tigers’ cheer, accompanied by music, was nearly as good, earning 87.53 for a combined 179.35 points. It marked Taos’ fifth consecutive state title.
BreAnna Taylor signs with UNM Women’s Hockey
On Dec. 20, BreAnna Taylor signed her letter of intent to play for the nascent University of New Mexico’s women’s hockey team surrounded by teachers and family members.
The Taos High senior is a multisport athlete who competes in hockey with the Taos Youth Hockey League and runs track under coach Benny Mitchell. She said she never considered playing hockey at the
Taos head coach Hernando Chavez talks to his players during the final timeout of a district basketball game between Taos and Española Valley in Española in February. DANIEL PEARSON/Taos News file photo
Taos senior Mateo Salazar celebrates with his team after a touchdown rush against Bernalillo High School. BLYNN BELTRAN/Taos News file photo
The Questa High School varsity cheer team at the NMAA state spirit championships in Albuquerque. Courtesy photo
The Taos High School varsity cheer after winning their fifth consecutive title at the University of New Mexico’s Pit arena. BLYNN BELTRAN/Taos News file photo
collegiate level because she wanted to stay close to home and save money. Now, Taylor will be the first athlete from Taos to join UNM’s first hockey program.
“I was already tempted to go to UNM for the in-state tuition, and then this opportunity fell in my lap,” Taylor said after signing her scholarship.
“Soon enough, I was committed to the school, so I’m very happy with this route, and it just lined up with the plans that I was already going into.”
The program’s inaugural season is set to begin in fall 2025 and will be led by head coach Tuesday Chavez and goalie coach Kristina Lee.
Comeback over Española
On Feb. 28, the Taos Tigers varsity boys basketball team stole the district championship from the hosting Española Valley Sundevils with a 62–59 victory at Edward Medina Gym.
During the game, the Tigers trailed by 10 points (24–34) on hostile territory. Taos had lost all its games against Española earlier that season, including a heartbreaking 71–68 loss at home.
Hungry for a win, the Tigers worked as a team and slashed that lead to six by the end of the third quarter.
Junior Malakhai Ely stepped up, rebounding well and providing
reliable inside scoring in the second half. Defensively, the Tigers held the Sundevils to just 12 points in the fourth quarter. The Tigers continued to attack the paint and passed to the three-point line when the defense collapsed.
This victory punched the Tiger’s ticket for the state competition, where they took down the Pojoaque Valley Elks (61–57) in the first round but lost to Albuquerque Academy in the quarterfinals (54–43).
Lyrik Montoya’s game-saving 3s
Little did this reporter know, it was the most electric game of the basketball season thanks to Peñasco senior Lyrik Montoya’s heroics. The Lobos threw the first punch, scoring 15 points to Peñasco’s 11, but the Panthers stayed consistent and kept things even by the half at 22–22. Once again, Escalante had a great outing coming from the break and outscored the Panthers 16–9.
Down by 7, the Peñasco team grounded their visitors on defense and limited the Lobos to just 4 points, generating points from turnovers. Montoya had a quiet night and scored all his points in the fourth. With three minutes left, Montoya was first left open in the right wing for three, where he stepped in a little to bury his first of three. Next, the senior stole the ball at half-court and from
the confusion of the fast break, was left open again for another three, this time to tie the game at 42–42.
After a timeout from the Lobos, Panthers’ sophomore forward stole the ball and passed it to senior point guard Angel Romero, where he made a give-and-go play with junior teammate Kaileb Atencio. The shot missed, but Atencio got the rebound for a putback but missed as well. Somehow, the ball reached Montoya’s hand after a scramble and sank a long three to beat the Lobos 45-42.
Tigers’ football comeback against Bernalillo
The Bernalillo Spartans entered the Nov. 1 game with just one loss and ranked second in New Mexico’s 4A class. On paper, the Spartans should have beaten the Tigers handily, but Taos pulled off a 21–14 upset at Anaya Field.
“What do you want your movie to look like?” Taos varsity football head coach Johnny Olguin said to the team before the game. “It seems like being undefeated at home would be a great part to this movie and taking down the number-two seed.”
The Tigers started slowly in this game and turned the ball over at their own 25-yard line on their first possession. Luckily, Bernalillo was
held back by penalties, which set them back dozens of yards after the game’s end. Defensively, Taos locked up the competition, first with a Jedrek Jozwiak sack on Bernalillo’s Uriel Castro. Senior Tiger Jaiya Valdez snatched up a pass meant for sophomore Ulisses Castro for an interception.
Thanks to those efforts, Taos senior Mateo Salazar brought in their first touchdown of the night, and teammate Theo Blaustein converted the extra points. Bernalillo was forced to punt their possession away after being penalized nearly 50 yards but stopped the Tigers to even things at 7–7. Despite another touchdown by Salazar to make it 13–7, Bernalillo came at Taos and took the lead at 14–13 in three plays. But that was the last one as the Tigers defended their visitors well for the rest of the night: An interception came from quarterback Evan Salazar, then he threw a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jaiya Valdez, and tight end Reggie Swazo delivered for the extra points to win 21–14
Salazar led the team with 101 all-purpose yards, followed by Valdez with 60 and junior Roman Quintana contributed two receptions (45 yards) and junior Manuel Maes had 30 rushing yards.
NMAA’s J.P. Murrieta talks to senior Alianna Gonzales after their state win in the spirit competition. BLYNN BELTRAN/Taos News file photo
Peñasco senior guard Lyrik Montoya shoots a threepointer against the Escalante Lobos during the North Rio Grande Tournament in Española Valley High School in December. BLYNN BELTRAN/Taos News file photo
Taos senior BreAnna Taylor and her mother, Melissa Vigil, at Taos High School lobby as the two finish signing Taylor’s letter of intent to play hockey at the University of New Mexico. BLYNN BELTRAN/Taos News file photo
SKELETONS, ART AND HISTORY
Inside Peñasco’s hidden museum
by Olivia Lewis
Tucked inside a trailer at the Peñasco Independent School District is the Peñasco Museum of Art, History and Science. Walk inside, and one will almost immediately notice the tall skeleton with fanned ribs, a curved spine and elongated snout.
It’s a sight Roger Badash, the museum’s curator and a retired teacher with the school district, assembled himself.
“Some kids come in and they go, ‘Is that a dinosaur?’” Badash said, laughing.
The skeleton is no dinosaur. Rather, it’s the skeleton of a horse left by a
neighbor. Badash recovered it near the Santa Barbara Campground in Carson National Forest. Badash collected, cleaned and reassembled the bones, then mounted the skeleton on an armature he welded himself.
“This old horse gets to live again,” Badash said with a gleam of excitement in his eye. “There’s a lot of things that are interesting about it. The crest of the horse, they call the withers. Where you sit on the saddle is behind the withers, and they refer to horses as, ‘He’s got high withers,’ or ‘There’s no withers on that horse.’”
The Peñasco Museum of Art, History
and Science brings together a lifetime of collected artifacts Badash uses to foster students’ curiosity about history, art and the natural world. The museum includes everything from art prints and newspaper clippings, to fossils and photographs.
“It’s a lot to learn,” Badash said. “Everything in here is meant to be a springboard for something else in education. Every one of the artworks has a history to it and explains something about history. It’s meant to amplify the stuff in the textbook.”
Badash taught in the school district for 15 years and opened the museum
in late 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum was previously a portable classroom and storage space that Badash cleaned out with the permission of the school superintendent. He’s been adding to its growing collection ever since.
“Over decades of teaching, I amassed a bunch of different stuff, and it seemed a shame to just leave it in a forgotten storage building,” he said.
The museum’s natural history displays feature many local specimens, such as a magpie skull, shrew skull, wild turkey feathers, elk vertebrae and rattlesnake skin.
He leans inside one glass case and pulls out a bighorn sheep skull he recovered from the Pecos Wilderness.
“This is like your fingernails,” Badash said, pulling off the horn’s curled outer layer to reveal the attached bony protrusion underneath. “It grows each year, and that’s why the young ones have little nubs. This guy here was a bunch of years old … This is a true horn because it grows out of the skull, whereas antlers shed every year on the deer and elk.”
Over the years, Badash led Peñasco students on educational trips to different countries and brought back items with him. Another glass display case — the maritime exhibit — is chock-full with creatures from more far-flung travels, including a blowfish,
horseshoe crab skeleton and shark heads.
“What students like to see on this is ... look in the mouth at the way all the teeth are pointed,” Badash said of a grey shark head purchased from a fisherman in Mexico. “If you put your finger in there, everything goes in, but nothing’s meant to come back out.”
The museum also displays photographs from World War II and various periods of American history. Framed art prints include those by renowned artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as local artists like Jerome Salazar, a Peñasco High School graduate from Picuris Pueblo. Each print is accompanied by an educational description detailing the artist, themes and time period.
Some items are donated. Badash disappears behind a corner and returns with an American Civil War-era rifle, circa 1863.
“This is the real deal,” Badash said. “It says 1863. It’s a Civil War rifle that was donated. I cleaned it up as best I could. … It was somebody here in the community who had it through their family.”
In the future, Badash hopes to utilize a trailer adjacent to the museum for additional space and add more exhibits, including two elk skeletons waiting in the wings. He’d also like to invite students from other school districts and more community members.
“Part of my long-range hope is to open up on maybe alternate Sundays
for a few hours for the community and general public to come in,” Badash said. “Because it’s obviously not just of value to school kids, but the community. I’ve had some people look at the posters. One woman who was very elderly and from the World War II generation started crying when she saw them. It was moving for everybody.”
“It expands your knowledge of the world, which then expands your knowledge of yourself and your own country,” Badash said of the value of museums. “You take lessons from it and hopefully emulate the good and not emulate the bad.”
Teachers can arrange student tours with Badash by appointment by contacting him at 575-613-5025.
L- Roger Badash, curator of the Peñasco Museum of Art, History, and Science, laughs as he puts his finger in a shark skull skeleton which is showcased at the museum. C- Roger Badash stands next to the skeletal remains of a horse which he recovered from Santa Barbara Canyon and then restructured around an armature that he welded together. R- A minuscule shrew skull from a display case at the museum. PHOTOS: OLIVIA LEWIS, TAOS NEWS
Congratulations Class of 2025
new experiences. We know our graduates and their loved ones are excited about what lies ahead. We share that anticipation of promising new beginnings with them.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN…
An ELEPHANT MOLAR from Cameroon, West Africa? Elephants have twelve molars, the size of a brick and each can weigh five pounds.
DEHYDRATED POTATOES from Peru where more than 800 years ago the people would freeze-dry their potatoes to preserve them for eating when they became scarce?
“CHEVRON” BEAD NECKLACES? They were produced In Venice and Island of Murano, Italy between 1400-1700 and used as money to trade in West Africa. Christopher Columbus brought Chevron beads to America in 1492.
SNUFF BOTTLES from China, used for processed tobacco, which have tiny and elaborate river and countryside scenes painted on the inside of the bottles using a paintbrush with curved bristles?
A TEA SET from the same porcelain company - Lomonosov St. Petersburg - that the Tsars of Russia ordered their dinnerware?
OBJECTS from CARTHAGE, the Phoenician port in Tunisia in North Africa that was destroyed by the Romans in 147 BC and rebuilt by the Romans in the 2nd Century AD and now protected by UNESCO World Heritage?
WHEATON MUSEUM OF WORLD ARTIFACTS A unique travel collection
Open May thru October Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 2:00 p.m.
25 Congratulations on your grad uation. I am so proud of all you have accomplished my baby girl. May God Bless you with an
25
Ku’we’chume, meaning Spring floods-run offs, I Am So Proud to Be Your Mama. I am so Grateful that you understood how important it was to wake up in the morning to get to school. I’m so Blessed that You are so Brave, Courageous, & Strong in Heart. You’re an old soul, full of wisdom, & connected to your own spirituality. I ask GOD in my Prayers to Lead & Guide You to be the person HE wants you to be & I ask HIM to continue to Protect You & Bless You in Abundance every day.
We are So Proud of You & Love You So Very Much. – Mama & Your Family
25 Brandy Jean Mckneely
The time you have been waiting for has finally come. Time to take all the challenges and experiences you have learned and go out and spread your wings. You have become a remarkable person. We are so proud of you.
With all our love. Mom, Grams, and Pop
To our First Love, know that you are enough. You make us so proud to be called mom and dad. We Love You ! proud of you and all you have accomplished! Looking forward to your next chapter!
Mom, Juno, Grandpa Faustin, Great Grandpa Faustin, Great Grandma Flora
TAOS ACADEMY
25
Josefina Sanchez TAOS ACADEMY
Josefina,
My heart fills with joy seeing you achieve your goals, one step at a time. You are such an inspiration, keep shining and follow your dreams. Congratulations!
Love, Mom, Dad and Diego
25 Armani R Patterson
To our amazing son, Congratulations on your high school graduation. Words cannot fully express how proud we are of you. This achievement reflects not just your intelligence and hard work , but the strength of your spirit and the kindness of your heart. As you begin this new chapter, know that our love and support will always be with you.
– Love, Mom & Dad
25 Julianna Flores
Congratulations on your graduation! Over the years, you have given us many reasons to hold our heads up high with pride. We know without a doubt that you are made for great things. Wherever the road may lead, remember we are here to support and cheer you on.
God bless you always. We love you!! Mom, Dad, and sisters
25 Lilliana Inez Vigil
To our beloved daughter, We are so proud of the woman you’ve become & are amazed at the beautiful soul that you have! May God continue to bless your brilliant mind, incredible strength & never doubt the beauty that radiates from within YOU. Look out ENMU!!
We love you, Dad, Mom, Amorita & Josiah
25
TAOS
Hayden Greywolf
Congratulations Student-Athlete Extraordinaire! It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves ~ Act 1, Scene II, Julius Caesar Carry the power of your honor & strength, and the grace of your kind heart. Keep close to the mountains, but find the sea. The path you pick will always run true to your goal.
WIth all our love, Mom, Dad, Keenan & Sage, Granny Applesauce, and Nana & Papa
TAOS
TAOS
Aliyah, we are so incredibly proud of who you have become and all that you have accomplished. Your journey has been truly inspiring, and we believe in all the wonderful things you will continue to achieve. Always remember that you are surrounded by love and support as you follow your dreams. Grandma Doris is looking down on you with a heart full of pride and love for you. We pray that the Dear Lord protects you always. Mom & Dad
Congratulations, Kalila! We are all so proud of you and your many accomplishments. You are destined for great things and we are so excited to see how far your talent and drive takes you. Good luck and blessings with everything you do.
Love, your family
25 Anthony J. Sandoval
Congratulations AJ Sandoval! We are all very proud of you! Your guardian angels are always with you, stay strong! Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined! Love you very much, The Lefthand’s, Pemberton’s and Sandoval families.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. (Jer. 29:11) BreAnna, you were made for this moment. God’s work in you is just getting started. Keep going – even when you can’t see the whole road ahead! We’re so proud of you, and WE ALL LOVE YOU!
Angel, look at you! It was a long and rocky journey but here you are, you made it! Take pride in how far you’ve come and have faith in how far you will go. The sky is the limit, now just keep going and never give up on your dreams! We’re extremely proud of you! Congratulations!
Con mucho Amor Siempre, Mom, & Chilo!
25 Donaciano Medina
There are no words to express how proud I am of you. This is only the beginning of your incredible journey. I am so proud of you.
Love always, Mom
25 Erica Christie
Congratulations Erica!
We are so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. Your journey has been full of hard work and resilience and this moment reflects your strength and dedication. As you head to Eastern New Mexico University to pursue your dream of teaching, know that you already inspire others just by being YOU! We can’t wait to see the incredible impact you’ll make in the lives of future students.
With so much love forever and always, Mom, Dad, Devin, Grandma and Pappy, Onee and Grandma Far Away
25 Nathan Timothy Celestino
We are proud of our Taos High Graduate Nathan Timothy Celestino . Grateful to God for His continual guidance, protection and help over every area of your life. God’s got your future son! Praying the best for you!
With love, Dad, Mom, Caleb, Mallorie & Judah, Adam & Naomi & Bethany.
25 Kris Perez
– M&J TAOS
Congratulations on your graduation, Godson! This is such a proud and special moment, and I’m in awe of your strength and heart. Keep believing in yourself and chasing your dreams; we’re so proud of you and love you!
– Eve, Tim, and Family Kris, we are so proud of what you have accomplished! Congratulations!!
– Love, Nana and Beanpa
We love you so much and are so proud of you!
– Papa, Grandma, and Tony Rock On! Yay!! Congratulations! We love you!
TAOS
TAOS
TAOS ACADEMY
TAOS
ALL STARS
Judah Daffron
CELEBRATES HIS AWARD-WINNING
By Blynn Beltran
SEASON
As the 2024–25 school year winds down, one of Taos’ premier distance runners, junior Judah Daffron, reflected on his goals for the remainder of the season during the Tigers Invite in late April. The Taos track team cheered in the background as he spoke about his accomplishments, but Daffron remained humble and only hoped to be the best version of himself.
“I’m just trying to make myself a little bit better every single day and that when state comes around, I’m the best version of me that I can be,” Daffron said. “I’m just hoping to perform.”
According to Daffron, his love of running came from his parents, both runners who introduced him to the sport in kindergarten. He began racing in elementary school at Enos Garcia. But he wasn’t always a one-sport athlete — he played soccer predominantly from eighth grade through his freshman
year before deciding to focus on running.
Daffron had already achieved two state championships in cross-country, and came in third for the 2-mile and sixth for the mile at the state track and field championship meet in Albuquerque. The junior also received all-district selections three times for cross-country and was the district champ for track.
In addition to all those accolades, Daffron also excels academically, having earned a spot on the honor roll.
Second state championship
During the cross-country season, Daffron consistently finished in the top 10 in nearly every event. He topped the field at the ATC Invitational in Santa Fe in August and the Los Alamos XC Invite in October. He also competed out of state and performed well against national competition.
was able to win again. [The competition] was so fierce. They never gave up once, and they refused to. They refused to back down, and I admire them for it. As for my team, I’m so proud of them. They worked so hard, and they deserve this more than any other team.”
Breaking Ben Ortega’s mile record
The highlight of Daffron’s 2024 season came when he captured his second individual cross-country state championship and helped lead his team to a third-place finish in the 4A classification. He clocked 15:28.80 to beat Albuquerque Academy’s Nicholas Ponte for first place. Third went to Billy Romero Jr., who finished about 10 seconds later in 15:44.80.
Daffron shaved nearly 30 seconds off his 2023 championship time of 16:02 on the same course. Romero Jr. also improved significantly, cutting 32 seconds from his previous time of 16:06.
“It feels great. It feels even better than the first time,” Daffron said after the race. “The first time was easier, but this year, I worked twice as hard, and so I’m happy I
Amid the cross-country season, a Taos High legend joined the Tigers XC team for a workout: Ben Ortega, who held the school’s distance records in the mile and two-mile. Now a lawyer based in Albuquerque, Ortega still follows Taos athletics. He encouraged Daffron and teammate Billy Romero Jr. to break his 26-year-old records.
“I wanted to see if there’s anything I could do to help them advance,” Ortega said. “I got to know Judah and Billy, and I encouraged them to break my records. When I set these records, I intended to get something started at the high school. I was hoping that some of my teammates would break those records, and it didn’t happen. If those records were an inspiration in any way, that’s what I was hoping for.”
Little did Ortega know — or maybe he did — Daffron
would break that record just a few months later. On March 29, Daffron competed at the Artesia Invitational, running the 800-meter and 1,600-meter races. In the mile, he broke Ortega’s 4:26 record with a 4:22.27 finish. He placed second, just behind Artesia senior Zaine Baize, who ran a schoolrecord 4:21.65.
“I’m one person running a race, but I wouldn’t be having this kind of success without everything that’s come along the way: coaches, friends, teammates and family. They’ve all helped me get to where I am, and I wouldn’t even be close to the type of athlete or person without them,” Daffron said.
After the race, Taos head track coach Benny Mitchell praised Daffron for the record-breaking run and called both Daffron and Romero Jr. one of the best distance-running duos in the state.
“Twenty-six years for a record is a lot,” Mitchell said of Daffron’s performance in Artesia. “[Ortega’s 2-mile record] stands for now, but who knows? I think what you have is some of the best tandems in Billy and Judah. They are one of the best tandem runners in the state right now.”
OF THE YEAR
Top- Taos junior distance runner Judah Daffron takes his second state title in this picture as he runs to the finish on Albuquerque Academy’s cross-country track in November. Bottom- Judah Daffron talks to NMAA’s J.P. Murrieta after the junior took his second consecutive individual state for crosscountry in class 4A. PHOTO: BLYNN BELTRAN, TAOS NEWS
TAOS COUNTY SPORTS ALL STARS
By Blynn Beltran
Top Athletes
BREANNA TAYLOR
The two-sport athlete who ran track for head coach Benny Mitchell made history when she signed her letter of intent to play hockey for the University of New Mexico’s first women’s hockey team. The senior played hockey for the Albuquerque Ice Wolves due to the August fire at the Taos Youth and Family Center and finished her last season for the track team.
MALAKHAI ELY
The junior center for the Taos varsity boy’s basketball team led the squad in points (16.1 per game), rebounds (8.7 per game) and blocks (2.4 per game). Ely was instrumental in securing the district championship on Española Valley’s home court and helped earn a decisive victory over Pojoaque Valley in the first round of the state playoffs.
CHLOE MACHARDY
The senior middle blocker and hitter led the Taos varsity volleyball team in kills per set (3.7) and hitting percentage (0.357). She also led the team with 119 total kills and 59 blocks. MacHardy helped the team reach the state playoffs and was named District 2-4A Player of the Year.
MATEO SALAZAR
The senior athlete totaled nearly 900 all-purpose yards in his final football season for the Tigers: 446 rushing yards, 492 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns. Salazar ended his career with more than 2,100 combined yards and helped the Tigers basketball team reach the playoffs and win a series against Pojoaque Valley.
AMADEA GALLEGOS
As one of the captains of the Taos cheer team, Gallegos had been with the program since eighth grade and helped the Tigers claim their fifth consecutive state title. During an interview at the state competition, she had this to say before the last performance of her high school career: “We’re going to win. We’re going to get that fifth one. I would advise my teammates to enjoy every second because you’re going to be like me, crying because that was my last step on the mat for this team.”
PHOTOS BY BLYNN BELTRAN, TAOS NEWS
ALIANNA GONZALES
Gonzales is another multisport athlete who helped Questa cheer earn its third state title, contributed to the Ladycats’ state volleyball run, and is a perennial state competitor in track and field. In volleyball, she averaged 1.9 kills per game with a total of 144, leading Questa in both categories. She’s also part of the relay teams and is a standout pole vaulter.
ALYSE LOVATO
The junior played basketball and ran track for Questa’s varsity girls team. Lovato led the Ladycats in points (12.7 per game), rebounds (6.8), steals (4.9) and free-throw percentage (63 percent). She totaled 344 points, 183 rebounds and 131 steals. In track, she showed her readi ness for state by topping the triple jump and high jump at the 2025 Taos Tigers Invite.
This senior played nearly every sport Questa offered: cheer, basketball, football, soccer and baseball. Ortega assisted on the sidelines during the Wildcat cheer state championship, but his strongest sport is baseball. As of this writing, he has a 0.357 on-base percentage, with 13 RBIs, 22 runs and 3 home runs. As a pitcher, he has 15 strikeouts this
ALEXIS BROWN
Brown played volleyball and basketball in the 2024–25 school year. She helped Questa’s volleyball team reach the state quarterfinals and assisted the basketball team in advancing to the playoffs. She led the volleyball squad with 4.5 digs per set (400 total), 62 aces and 257 receptions. Though she only played basketball her senior year, Brown averaged 8.4 points, 1.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, scoring 228 points for the season.
ALIYAH SANTISTEVAN
This Questa senior played three sports: cheer, basketball and baseball. Santistevan was the Ladycats’ shot-blocker for varsity basketball, recording 64 blocks and averaging 2.5 per game. After basketball games, she would put on her cheer uniform and cheer for the boys game that followed. She helped Questa secure its third state cheer title and is cur rently finishing her final baseball season as a first baseman and pitcher.
Top Athletes
DYLAN GARCIA
The sophomore led the Peñasco boys team with a 13th-place finish at the state cross-country compe tition at Albuquerque Academy. Garcia clocked a time of 17:32.6 and averaged a 5:39 pace, helping the Panthers secure a fourthplace team finish. He also played basketball as a reserve.
The junior made a major leap in scoring this year, leading the Lady Panthers with 16.7 points per game and totaling 384 for the season. She also led the team in steals (4.2 per game), assists (2.5) and blocks (0.5).
ROCHELLE LOPEZ
LYRIK MONTOYA
Montoya thrived in a sixth-man role on the Peñasco varsity basketball team. The three-and-D specialist led the team with a 47 percent three-point shooting percentage and made 15 threes his senior year. Montoya’s primary sport was baseball, where he holds a career 0.374 batting average and a 0.446 on-base percentage. As of this writing, he’s hitting a career-high 0.688 with 7 RBIs and 26 runs — both season highs.
ANGEL ROMERO
The senior point guard was one of the leaders of the 2024–25 Panthers varsity and served as the team’s primary playmaker. Romero led the team in assists (76), steals (71) and blocks (8), and was the second-highest scorer with 10.7 points per game.
ALYSSA ATENCIO
As captain of the Peñasco girls varsity team, the senior comple mented Rochelle Lopez’s scoring. Atencio averaged 8.8 points and six rebounds per game, and led the team with 138 total rebounds. In a district matchup against the Escalante Lady Lobos, she scored a career- and season-high 28 points, with four rebounds and two steals.
MORE THAN A GAME
Cyberbullying, hazing and the push for safer schools
by Olivia Lewis
Taos High School students gathered in early December for a cyberbullying prevention training aimed at helping them understand the long-term impacts of online behavior and ways to seek help.
The event, coordinated by the New Mexico Department of Justice and the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, also addressed hazing. It’s part of a new athletic curriculum spearheaded by Taos Municipal Schools’ Athletic Director Johnny Olguin.
“I wanted to make sure that we jumped up ahead, and I got lucky enough to get [8th Judicial] District Attorney [Marcus] Montoya and the Department of Justice to be a part of it,” Olguin told the Taos News. “There’s been a lot of hazing incidents at some of the local high schools in the state. A lot of people have lost their jobs, and a lot of kids were hurt. We have to really be ahead of it and make sure we have all of our policies and procedures set in place, so if something does happen, we have guides and a path to follow.”
One in five American teens have experienced cyberbullying, according to 2023 data from the Cyberbullying Research Center. A separate 2023 Pew Research Center survey found approximately 41 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 have been harassed or bullied online.
Jenny Bartos, an advocacy and education leader for the New Mexico Department of Justice, discussed different types of cyberbullying with students, including stalking, doxing, sextortion and general online harassment.
“I know it’s scary, but all of this is scary,” Bartos said. “We’re kind of in an age where it’s the worldwide web, but it’s not hopeless. We all play a role in it. We all have a responsibility in it. We all have
to be good digital citizens engaged in respectful behavior. Not everybody honors that, so this is just to tell you: Don’t lose hope, and there is help available.”
Social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat are the most cited for cyberbullying. In a 2023 survey by the Cyberbullying Research Center, 50 percent of teens said they
photos from the internet by assigning images a unique “hash value” that participating platforms use to locate and delete them.
“Because you’re growing up in the age of artificial intelligence, images can be created of you,” Bartos said. “Maybe you’ve never shared an explicit image of yourself. If someone has a picture of your face, there’s these ‘nudify’ apps
experienced cyberbullying through social media, compared to 25 percent who reported harassment through text messages.
According to Bartos, 90 percent of teens post photos showcasing their daily experiences. She stressed the importance of maintaining a light digital footprint — setting accounts to private and remembering nothing posted online is ever truly deleted.
This becomes critical when it comes to “sextortion,” where perpetrators threaten to expose sexual media or information if victims don’t comply with demands. Bartos recommended a website called Take It Down, a free service that helps remove sensitive
now, right? The app will just remove the clothing and artificial intelligence can create pornographic images of you. When those images get out, remember this resource.”
In the training’s second half, Montoya tackled the topic of hazing and its effect on student athletes. While some hazing can seem like harmless team bonding, Montoya warned it’s a “slippery slope.”
“Hazing is a form of bullying, and maybe ask yourself those questions,” Montoya said. “Where’s the slippery slope? Where is it? Where does it cross the line, where does it become criminal and where does it become fatal?”
He opened the floor to students, asking what hazing meant to them.
“It’s when a group of people pressure someone to do something to fit in,” one student said.
“It’s like a rite of passage to get on the team,” another added.
Most students agreed asking underclassmen to fetch water didn’t cross the line, but scenarios involving drugs and alcohol clearly did.
Lloyd Garcia, a former lieutenant for the Taos Police Department and now an investigator at the district attorney’s office, shared his experience.
“It was a big issue,” Garcia said of his prior work with hazing and cyberbullying incidents. “It was happening a lot in the schools. We had our school resource officers in the schools trying to prevent that from happening. We had meetings with the administrators to make them aware that this exists, to catch on and try to prevent it.”
Of the training, Garcia added, “I think it’s good awareness ... They need to know there’s resources to be aware of it and stop it. It does exist, unfortunately; it does exist. It’s happening more and more as social media and technology becomes part of everybody’s life.”
As the session wrapped up, Montoya encouraged students to reach out to trusted adults — friends, family, teachers or his office — if they needed help.
“You’re not going to be able to entirely eliminate the haters,” Montoya said. “So maybe try to find mechanisms by how you reinforce and empower yourself and those around you. Because there are ways to be empowered and to be supported, but also to empower and to support. There are ways, so lean on each other for that.”
Eighth Judicial District Attorney Marcus Montoya discusses hazing with students during a cyberbullying prevention training session held at Taos High School in December. Olivia Lewis/Taos News file photo
