2026 Outstanding Grads
Meet just a few of our approximately 2,400 outstanding graduates who will walk across a stage this week to receive their St. Vrain Valley Schools diploma. Congratulations to all students in the Class of 2026!
Erie High School
Sebastian Delgado Martinez
Electrical Engineering, Colorado State University
What makes your high school unique?
Erie High School is unique since it is an academy of engineering. The engineering pathway that the school offers allows students to delve into a rigorous coursework which presents experiences that very few schools in the state have.
Juliet Slater
Business, West Texas A&M
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success?
Erie High School has lots of opportunities to take high-level AP classes as well as FRCC classes and dual credit enrollment at CU Denver. This has prepared me for the workload in college and exposed me to college expectations so that I know what is expected of me at the next level. This also gives me the chance to complete some of my college credits while still in high school which can save money.
Andy Torres
International Affairs, University of Denver
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
Representing St. Vrain at the annual CASB (Colorado Association of School Boards) conference was a surreal experience. In my junior year, I attended a three day field trip to Colorado Springs. I got the chance to learn about leadership and advocacy while also getting to meet educational leaders from across the state.
Jiali Grier
Political Science, Front Range Community College
Why should a student choose to enroll in St. Vrain Valley Schools?
This district has fantastic involvement across the board, whether it’s in the arts, academics, or other after-school activities. In the events I’ve attended, there’s consistently a high level of student participation and, more importantly, a real student interest for the work being done.
Frederick High School
Zacharia Martinez Garfio
Biochemistry, University of Northern Colorado
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success?
I have taken a lot of science classes that give me insight into paths I want to take in the future. For example, the P-TECH program has prepared me to work in lab settings. Also, I’ve gained experience working in corporate pharmaceuticals. The P-TECH program has been nothing but helpful in preparing me for my future.
Alexis Walker
Neuroscience, The University of Michigan
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year?
One piece of advice I would give is to get involved. There are so many different things you can do at Frederick and in St. Vrain from classes and programs to athletics, music, theater, and clubs. It is so important to get involved and make memories with friends. The most important part of high school is having fun and the best way to do that is to find something you enjoy doing and do it with people you enjoy being with.
Joel Chambers
Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
What makes your high school unique?
During my time at Frederick I have witnessed some of the best demonstrations of humanity, primarily through advances in inclusion of students in the SSN (Significant Support Needs) program. Frederick is the first school in the district and one of the first in the state to provide a Unified Theatre program, beyond theatre we Frederick offers unified programs in basketball and bowling. In my experience as a school community, the treatment of all students is far and beyond what I’ve seen at other schools. While there are a million reasons why Frederick is unique, this is just an example of one.
Lyla Kuhn
Animal Science, Colorado State University
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
My favorite memory is my senior year of softball getting to go to state with girls I had played with since I was little. This is a memory I will hold with me for the rest of my life because even though nobody thought we were going to have an outstanding team, our friendship and dedication took us farther than any other season of my high school career.
LaunchED Virtual Academy
Corben Meyer
Emergency Medical Technician
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success?
By attending LaunchEd I was able to go to classes at the Career Elevation and Technology Center. Through these classes I have been able to get medical certifications that will help me to get a job after graduation working as an EMT.
Ahtzary Torres Soto
Business, Front Range Community College
What makes your high school unique?
What sets St. Vrain Valley Schools apart is how much they invest on their students. They help families by giving students college credits by taking college classes while still in high school. Even if college isn’t your path, they help you explore so that you will be ready in the workforce or college.
Emily Stewart
Health Sciences, Front Range Community College
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year?
My advice to students entering high school is to try everything. No matter which St. Vrain school you attend, there are endless opportunities designed to help you succeed. I made the mistake of avoiding advanced classes, career fairs, and extracurricular activities because I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school. I later realized those experiences were incredibly valuable and ultimately helped me discover my passions.
Longmont High School
Mason Hendricks
Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success?
At Longmont, we have both business and medical focus programs, and during my time here I have explored both. I am an active member of FBLA, which is part of the business program, and it has helped me improve my interview skills while also showing me that business is not the path I want to pursue. I have become more involved in the Medical and Bioscience Academy, which has led me to want to follow the pre-med track and hopefully become an orthopedic surgeon.
Matilda Garcia Stevenson
Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
What’s a favorite memory from your time in St. Vrain?
Although I have so many good memories throughout my time in St. Vrain, my favorite must be the time I went on a field trip to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in 4th grade. We got to visit all of the exhibits and then get a behind the scenes tour. Part of the tour was getting to dissect a sheep heart! No one else in my group wanted to touch it, so I got to dissect the whole thing myself and that is what triggered my interest in the medical field! Now, eight years later, I am attending Colorado School of Mines to study Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering with an interest in becoming a pediatric physician assistant or a biomedical engineer!
Ethan Atherton
Aerospace Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year?
Some advice that I would give to students entering high school next year is to be as active as you can in your school’s community. My favorite parts of high school came from sports and clubs and being part of what our school has to offer. When I look at my friend group every single one of them has come from either playing football or basketball. I think doing extracurricular activities in high school is really important to taking full advantage of the high school experience.
Luna Ready
Early Childhood Education, Colorado State University
What makes your high school unique?
I believe that the culture at Longmont High School is very unique. There are so many different kinds of people and connections between everyone that it feels like the whole school is involved in creating an atmosphere of community that I love. Getting to be a part of three sports teams and a variety of clubs and classes has opened up so many windows into the connections I have been able to make at Longmont not only with students, but also with teachers and coaches. I have always felt that the culture of Longmont High School, welcoming and forming bonds has always been very special.
Lyons Middle Senior High School
Scott Pierce
Business Finance, University of Montana
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
St. Vrain Valley Schools has great programs to learn from as well as a tight knit community that you can rely on. These schools have amazing support from both the teachers and students. St. Vrain Valley Schools have given me amazing opportunities and a very positive experience.
Anna Johann
Biomedical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success?
Our school’s Science and Leadership program has significantly developed my leadership skills. Every Late Start, we get to lead kids through different activities. Not only do we help these kids grow, we learn how to navigate leadership. Along with many other skills, I’ve learned how to pivot when something’s not working, and engage younger kids. This program also teaches kids at a young age to care for the environment around them.
Michael Newell
Exploratory Studies, Colorado State University
What makes your high school unique?
Lyons Middle Senior is a very tight knit community where all students can find inclusion. What makes Lyons so unique is how close you get with everyone around you. There are not many schools where students can not only say they know everyone in their grade, but know them well and build relationships with your fellow students. Since I started school here in 6th grade I could not have had a better experience building friendships with fellow students.
Audrey McNeil
Communication Studies, Texas Christian University
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
One of my favorite memories is cheering during football season. I have so many amazing memories of cheering on the sidelines, listening to the national anthem, performing during half time, and going to the fifth quarter after the game. Another favorite memory is leadership class. I took this class my sophomore year and it truly helped me grow in my confidence so much. I remember specifically one time I had a job interview for a lifeguard position for the city of Longmont after school and the teacher had the class ask me mock questions to prepare. I felt so cared for and loved and having that feeling especially not knowing anyone a year before was so special to me.
Mead High School
Patricio Dobinsky Gonzalez
Aviation/Aerospace, Metro State University
What makes your high school unique?
My high school is very unique because it offers a big range of classes, and programs that spark your interest, with countless more opportunities that allow us to explore those interests. For example students can take classes in the Energy Academy, take AP classes, and also earn college credit right here on campus.
Hana Hylenski
Business Management, Montana State University
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success?
Mead High School offers a variety of programs and leadership opportunities, but the ones that have made the greatest impact on me are the Energy Academy and Future Business Leaders of America or FBLA. I am one of seven students graduating this May with an Energy Capstone, and the program has provided incredible real world experiences. Through the Energy Academy, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with industry professionals, collaborate with peers, and gain insight into how energy systems function in the real world. These experiences have helped me build both technical knowledge and professional confidence. As vice president of my school’s FBLA chapter, I developed strong leadership skills and built meaningful relationships within my school community. FBLA taught me not only business concepts, but also about teamwork, communication, and personal growth. These programs have played a major role in shaping my future goals and I’m excited to continue pursuing my interest in business management at Montana State University.
Taylor Kloss
Sociology, University of Colorado at Boulder and Army ROTC
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
One of my favorite memories from St. Vrain is earning a medal for running the most miles in 100 Mile Club at Prairie Ridge, breaking the school record of 300+ miles as a 5th grader.
Johanna Williams
Nursing, Adams State University
Why should students choose to enroll in St. Vrain Valley Schools?
St. Vrain Valley schools have such a wide variety of extra opportunities for students to further their education. In addition to AP classes, there is also the Career Elevation and Technology Center (CETC) in Longmont. In specific classes you have the opportunity to earn college credit at a very discounted rate. There are also classes that you don’t necessarily earn college credit for, but you earn experience in trade like professions. St. Vrain is such a great school district due to these extra opportunities.
New Meridian High School
Noah Chavez
Diesel Technician
What makes your high school unique?
New Meridian High School pushes you to do more than just pass your classes and earn your credits. The staff helps students explore postsecondary options and access career pathways.
Makenna “MJ” Guinn LePenske
Automotive Mechanics
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
My favorite memory from going to school in St. Vrain would be getting to New Meridian and just having such good relationships with my teachers. I’ll always remember and appreciate my Principal, Ms. Niccoli, for always caring about how I was doing and helping me when I was struggling, no matter the circumstances. It was great connecting with Ms. Nolan, our Student Engagement Specialist, as she helped me through the subjects I’ve always struggled with and was just a great staff member to talk to about things. I especially enjoyed being in Mr. Halsey’s classes. He challenged me to really try, and was just a positive person to see. He always created a great learning environment for all his students and cared for everyone in his classes. I could confidently say that I have very good memories of my teachers at New Meridian.
Tyler Audas
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success?
They taught me independence and gave me control over my own learning. Having that responsibility now has made me feel prepared to handle the real world. Because I’ve learned how to manage myself and my goals here, I know I’m ready to take on whatever comes next after graduation.
Giselle Moreno
Nursing, Front Range Community College
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success?
My school’s focus programs have prepared me for post-secondary success by allowing me to complete my high school credits while simultaneously taking college courses. The second semester of my senior year has been filled with college courses. This has opened a path for me to begin prerequisites for a nursing program a semester early and also obtain my national certification in phlebotomy.
Niwot High School
Henry Noblin
Business Finance, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year?
My biggest advice for students entering high school is to take risks and try new things early. Get involved in sports, clubs, classes, or anything that interests you, because the earlier you put yourself out there, the faster you figure out what you enjoy. That makes it easier to focus your time and eagerly on things that matter most to you and will set you up for greater success in high school and beyond.
Aanijah Henry
Sociology, Clark Atlanta University
What makes your high school unique?
People have been so supportive and l’ve met amazing faculty members who have helped me navigate learning with my 504 plan, and within the school community as a whole, the clubs are very passionate about what they do!
Nikhil Nijhawan
Sports and Exercise Science, University of Nottingham
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success?
Specifically for me I want to study Sports and Exercise science which discusses essentially all the sciences like biology, chemistry, psychology, and anatomy. So, having been able to take all those classes has really helped me get a base understanding of topics talked about in that major but also helped prove to me that Sport and Exercise Science is a major I’m truly interested in.
Julia Klein
Hospitality Management, University of South Carolina
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
My favorite memory from my time at St. Vrain was being a Link Crew leader. Link Crew is a volunteer based opportunity that welcomes incoming students into Niwot. Being able to make new students feel welcome and comfortable at their new high school was so rewarding for me. Getting to show them around, answer questions, and put a smile on their face made me realize more of how great of a school I was a part of.
Silver Creek High School
Max Vanderschaaf
Mechanical Engineering, Princeton University
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year?
Be adventurous—find what you love and then go all-in on it. Whether that’s math, music, a sport, making friends, or something entirely new, learning how to push yourself is vastly important for your high-school development. It is way easier to feel more emotionally connected and fulfilled by the things around you when you put your entire heart into them. And remember, it’s always okay to take a step back and take a breath! You’re going to get lost once, twice, or many times. Progress takes time; your heart is a muscle and it will grow slowly. You can do this, and don’t forget to bring your peers with you as you succeed!
Natelise Frea
Neuroscience, Emory University
What makes your high school unique?
The Silver Creek Leadership Academy is a unique opportunity that allows students to build skills beyond the common boundaries of academics. Being a part of this program’s classes and volunteer projects over my four years in high school has taught me how to not only lead my peers in positively impacting others, but also how to take action to create change in myself and the communities I am a part of.
Ronan Avila
Cybersecurity, Purdue University
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success?
Silver Creek’s focus programs, like SCLA and RaptorTECH, are amazing and ensure you have a community of like-minded or known people. I was in RaptorTECH, and while there were some bumps in the road to graduation, the smaller community made it easy to excel and go beyond the regular limits of high school classes and work. As a result of our hard work, we received interviews from local cybersecurity companies and had the opportunity to have a cybersecurity internship! In addition, we even had several workshops on scholarships, resume building, post-graduation planning, and other topics that most wouldn’t learn until college.
Willa Moeller
Undeclared, Smith College
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
My favorite memory from my time at St. Vrain is planning and leading the RaptorTECH winter celebration event last year. I got to work with some of my closest friends to pull together a successful large-scale event from start to finish.The experience was a lot of fun throughout and very rewarding.
Skyline High School
Josue Ruiz
Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University
What makes your high school unique?
Skyline is unique because of the atmosphere of acceptance and the students are encouraged to try new things. I enjoyed being in P-Tech and I like attending the VPA concerts. Sports are well promoted and work hard to get students engaged.
Kylie Paul
Psychology, Colorado State University
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? Opportunities through AP and the innovative classes I have taken have helped me to focus on my education on what I plan to do with my career and my future.
Ash Berkowitz
International Affairs, University of Denver
Why should a student choose to enroll in St. Vrain Valley Schools?
I would say we have very passionate educators in St. Vrain. In my opinion there is a very strong community of people who focus on student success.
Nayeli Lara Fernandez
Human Biology, University of Colorado – Denver
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
My favorite memory is watching the drone shows. This showcases student talent and how much they have been able to grow and learn in their time in St. Vrain. My absolute favorite was the homecoming drone show from my senior year.
St. Vrain Virtual High School
Vittoria Pugina
Violin Performance, Eastman School of Music
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year?
While high school may initially seem intimidating, use it as an opportunity to challenge yourself beyond what you thought possible. My experience in high school has taught me that I am capable of a lot more than I give myself credit for—this also includes knowing when to pace myself versus push forward. Balancing a hefty academic course load provides valuable life lessons into managing your priorities, knowing when to take breaks, and also finding excitement in learning. Many students, such as myself, realize what they truly enjoy learning about during high school, and allowing all doors to be open during that time is crucial. I advise all students to not dismiss any opportunity, and try to see learning as an important part of becoming an educated, well-rounded human being.
Aidan Gamache
Paramedicine
Why should a student choose to enroll in St. Vrain Valley Schools?
St. Vrain is a school district that is built around the student. In almost every level of education within the district, students are offered some sort of club or elective that may pertain to the subject they are most interested in, or their potential career path. Students are offered resources to help them succeed and achieve their goals. A majority of the district staff are welcoming, friendly, and inclusive, and the district holds them all to a high standard. If one school does not meet the needs of child, there’s always another within the district that can offer more which allows families to have options available.
APEX Homeschool Program
Mattea McQueen
Finance, University of Colorado Boulder
How has your school’s focus program(s) prepared you for postsecondary success?
Being a part of APEX has allowed me to explore multiple career options throughout high school. Through the Innovation Center, I learned my passion to pursue a career in business specifically in finance. This combined with my leadership as Treasurer in both the National Honor Society and Student Council at Apex has shaped me into someone who has a specific vision in the career I am committed to pursuing. By serving different communities while also growing my understanding of certain aspects of finance, it has developed my desire to educate kids and teens on the importance of financial literacy through budgeting, long-term investment, and passive income.
Ezra Keller
Forestry, Colorado State University
What makes your high school unique?
APEX is incredibly unique and is structured in a very thoughtful and deliberate way in order to set up students for success. APEX offers high level classes that are part time in person and part time at home, allowing students the freedom and flexibility to create a schedule that works for them. APEX’s small class sizes result in an excellent teacher/student ratio and provides its students with every opportunity to reach their goals.
Solana Rodriguez
Secondary English Education, University of Colorado Boulder
Why should a student choose to enroll in St. Vrain Valley Schools?
St. Vrain Valley Schools is such a unique district, focusing on intentional academic design and accessibility, which is something that I am personally passionate about as an aspiring educator. Because of their intentional and individual student support, St. Vrain Valley Schools allows students to prepare for their futures, fosters their success, and nurtures a learning community that allows students to truly dream.
Elliana Sievers
Gap-year and studying at Capernwray Hall in England and then attending a four year university to pursue education
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
I have made countless memories during my time at St. Vrain but some of my favorites are while participating in theater. Musical Theater has fostered some of my fondest memories and has been a substantial part of my time at St. Vrain. I remember doing my first musical at my school in fifth grade and being so nervous to try out for it. It was much more work than I was expecting and I honestly didn’t think I could get through the year; I decided to try and make it through the performances and I’m extremely glad I did! After I performed the first show on stage I was hooked and I’ve been a part of the APEX theater program ever since.