On June 26, inside the Talking Stick Resort Ballroom, nearly 100 Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community graduates were celebrated for their academic achievements this past year.

The ceremonial banquet dinner is an annual tradition in the Community that celebrates all graduates from the SRPMIC while surrounded by family and loved ones. The ceremony recognizes graduates at every academic level, including those with GED certificates, high school diplomas and doctoral degrees. 

SRPMIC Injury Prevention Coordinator Monte Yazzie hosted this year’s ceremony. A graduate of Arizona State University, Yazzie provided his congratulations to the graduates and their families. 

“Congratulations to everyone for working so hard for your education, you’ve all worked so hard throughout the school year to achieve this great accomplishment,” Yazzie said. 

Following Yazzie’s opening remarks, SRPMIC Council member Michael Dallas Sr. provided the invocation, asking for continued blessings to the graduates and their families. Salt River Schools Superintendent Sheryl Houston then delivered the official welcome. 

“It is humbling to stand in front of so much achievement tonight,” Houston said. “I am truly blessed to be here to celebrate all that you have done and all that you have accomplished. It is such a privilege for me to serve as Salt River Schools superintendent.”

Houston congratulated graduates on their hard work and achievements. She reiterated the importance of culture and traditions as she wished the graduates good luck in their future endeavors. 

“Your culture, your traditions, your language and your stories are not just beautiful, they are powerful,” Houston said. “They carry wisdom our world truly needs you to share, now more than ever.”

Gila River Indian Community comedian Wolf Brown provided the entertainment for the evening. Recently, Brown placed third in a state-wide competition for “Funniest Comedian in Arizona.”

Later in the program, Kathy Toney and Marty Lewis approached the lectern and announced the winner of this year’s Roxie Andrews Award.  The award is given out to a high school graduate who has demonstrated academic success while overcoming obstacles and challenges. This year’s recipient was Oliyana Norris, who received a plaque and a heap of applause as she was congratulated on stage by Toney, Lewis and Roxie Andrews herself.

“Congratulations to all graduates,” said Andrews. “You’ve worked so hard to get where you’re at, don’t stop. Give it your all, it’s worth it in the end.”

Additional achievements were celebrated as Denelle Prieto handed out the Higher Education Outstanding Graduate Award to four graduates: Heaven Sepulveda, Isabella Dockerty, April M. Gilbert and Ellyse Andreas. 

Leah James and Davina Leon then announced the names, schools and diploma levels each graduate in attendance. Each Community graduate walked up to the stage and were congratulated by the SRPMIC Council, the Salt River Schools Education Board and Salt River Schools Administration. 

As the ceremony neared its conclusion, SRPMIC Council member Jacob Butler delivered an emotional closing. 

“When we talk about breaking cycles, for some of you, you’re the first in your family to graduate from high school or to get a Doctorate. For some of us, going back to school means going back and getting your GED, so I say thank you to all of you,” Butler said. 

Butler continued, “The other day, we were saying farewell to previous royalty. We say, ‘You’re the future leaders of the Community,’ and then a Hopi elder told me, ‘They’re already leaders.’ And that’s so true. The things you did to get to where you are tonight, shows a level of leadership that isn’t found in everybody. I just want to say thank you.”

To conclude the ceremony, Heaven Sepulveda provided the benediction and reminded the graduates the importance of remaining true to oneself. 

“None of us walk this path alone, today we celebrate not just individual achievements, but the collective strength that has brought us to this moment,” she said. “For generations, education was used to take our