Carson High Class of 2022 graduation: ‘Fun, intense, surreal’

 Carson High School’s student body president Angelica Germain-Sanchez, 18, stakes her claim that the Class of 2022 was one of the best.

“It was fun, it was intense and it was surreal,” she says of having to go to school during a pandemic. “But the fact that most of us made it shows how well we came together.”
Carson High School celebrated 455 members of its Class of 2022 Saturday walking across the stage for graduation.

Germain-Sanchez, speaking along with senior class president Isabella Bertrand, said making memories with her peers during their high school years made going through COVID-19 worth it.


On a brisk Saturday morning, graduates entered Carson High School’s gym for their group photo while the band welcomed guests with a series of musical performances including the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance,” “Star Spangled Banner” and “Affirmation” as the recessional. Principal Bob Chambers recognized senior class achievements, and Carson City school board members presented diplomas.

Francisco Rosales was known as CHS’ “Fit Check guy” during his senior year.

Some students shared plans or expressed their gratitude as they prepared for their walk across the stage or looked back on what the past few years had meant to them.

Francisco Rosales, who turns 18 this month, said he became a father in high school and asked to thank his family, including his son, and friends for their support for providing the motivation to graduate.

Nathan Thornton, the second of two students chosen to give a senior speech at Saturday’s graduation, said he referred to Google on how to write a graduation speech.

“It’s been tough working full-time and working for (my son),” Rosales said. “But I’m starting to get the hang of it.”

Rosales was the student creator of Carson High’s Fit Check event. His interest in digital media led him to become a correspondent and he became known as the “Fit Check guy,” he said.

“It’s just different,” he said. “My life changed after I had my kid. A lot of responsibility came to me – no slack anymore.”

Lukas Taggart was one of two students who earned summa cum laude chosen by a panel of teachers to give a senior speech at Saturday’s graduation.

Hunter Matthies, 18, said he looks forward to starting in the fall at the University of Nevada, Reno.

“I feel pretty excited and nervous as well,” he said. “It was pretty rough, having to stay home and keep working as hard as I did. It’s not as fun as when I don’t get human interaction.”

He plans to enter electrical engineering.

“I think mainly because I’m surrounded by it,” he said. “It’s kind of my passion with electrical. … Teachers helped push me along to keep working, and my family supports me.”


“They are a polite, respectful class of students,” he told the Appeal. “They’ve had an awesome senior year, and I’m really, really proud of them. I’m so happy they’ve had a regular school year. They’ve been through a lot and to be able to have a full senior year with all the accoutrements is exciting.”

Hunter Matthies

 

The graduates walked off the stage to collect their diplomas, cheered on by families, friends and their peers. Members of the school board and Superintendent Richard Stokes applauded the students.

“As a community we should be proud of and inspired by these graduating seniors of the Carson High School Class of 2022,” Trustee Don Carine said. “They have been resilient, courageous and hardworking to complete their high school education during the challenges of the last several years.”

Stokes, who officiated his final graduation in the district with Saturday’s ceremony, expressed his appreciation to assist and encourage so many families in his tenure.

“Graduations are always the highlight of the school year,” Stokes said after the ceremony. “I’ve been fortunate to see a generation of students go from pre-K to the graduation stage. It’s been my honor to be a part of that here in Carson City. I’d like to thank our students, our staff and our families for a great opportunity to share those students’ lives with me.”