CCHS 2017 class to march

Two-hundred and thirty six graduates will walk to collect their diploma at the Churchill County High School graduation tonight at 7 p.m. on the Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex’s football field.

Ten students earned their associate degree through Western Nevada College Fallon’s Jump Start option and marched Monday in Carson City to take hold of their AA. The CCHS class of 2017 has also earned about $1.9 million in scholarship award money and about $100,000 stems from local area scholarships.

Melinda Fagundes, Joe Terry and Ally Steele graduated with a 4.8 or above GPA, and 10 more students completed the honors school.

“They are a great class and will be missed at CCHS,” said CCHS Principal Kevin Lords of the 2017 graduates.

The guest speaker at commencement is Anne Hale-Smith, a CCHS physical education teacher and the women’s varsity basketball coach. Hale-Smith led her team to clutch the 3A state championship this year.

The coach said she plans to talk about what her basketball players call “life lessons,” though she said she doesn’t give advice; she noted jokingly she has a tough enough time getting through her own life.

Graduation will also feature a Naval Air Station Fallon aircraft flyover.

Each senior received seven tickets to invite guests for field seating; all other guests may sit in the grandstands. Gates for parking and the stadium open at 5:30 p.m. (There is no seat-saving before 5:30 p.m.)

Guests should park in the student lot off Sheckler Road and enter the stadium through the ticket gate off that lot. Additional parking will be at the fairgrounds when the student lot is full. Handicapped parking will be available as well as golf carts for transporting handicapped individuals to the field.

The Grad Nite Party is going to be at NAS Fallon with bowling, games, go-karts, food and beverages. The class also had an evening at the skating rink and a Fallon Theatres movie and ice cream social this week.

See insert for the CCHS Class of 2017 graduation highlights.