Seventy-nine students walked across the stage Friday, May 24 with one special presentation posthumously to the family of Eddie Hernandez who would have walked with the class of 2024 at Dublin High School’s commencement ceremony at Bob and Norma Cervetto Field.
Hernandez died in a car accident his sophomore year and his class and community have kept his memory alive in ways like the annual scholarship. A chair was set up in his honor at the ceremony, and his family accepted the diploma during commencement.
Eddie’s mom, Graciela Medina, sent a letter which was read at graduation by Dublin High School Principal Dr. Norma Briseno.
“This day is very sad for me, but I just want to thank the coaches and their teachers for their financial and moral support. I can’t repay you enough, but God will,” she wrote in the letter. “To Eddie’s friends, or ‘compa’ as he would say. They shared their lives and grew up together. They endured bad times.
Thank you for loving him. May God always protect you all.”
She also thanked all of the moms of Eddie’s friends.
“When you all remember Eddie, may God bless your minds,” she wrote. “I want to thank you all for keeping his memory alive these past two years. He has made a huge impact on others and was truly loved by all.”
Eddie’s life was commemorated as part of the Class of 2024 on the field with a special cap and gown, a photo and large green and gold #75, which was his football jersey number.
The senior class earned more than $200,000 in scholarships and had 10 students graduate from Ranger College.
Mariana Ortiz graduated as valedictorian and claimed more than $83,000 in scholarships for her hard work including an Academic Excellence Scholarship for $9,000asemester,upto$75,000 from University of Texas at Arlington where the graduate plans to attend college, a $3,000 Blanco Scholarship, a $1,000 Stephenville Eastern Star Scholarship, a $1,000 Mickey Belew Scholarship and a $1,000 scholarship for Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association and a $2,500 Dublin Athletic Booster Club Association scholarship.
During her Valedictorian speech, Ortiz thanked her fellow graduates and said that she would miss them, but would carry with her lifelong memories and lessons that she was taught.
The valedictorian shared words from Banda Los Recoditos in Spanish and thanked her dad and her family.
“De nuevo, quiero agradecer a mi familia, en especial a mi papa, te amo papiucs,” she said.
Karina Ortega graduated as salutatorian and earned more than $3,000 in scholarships including a $500 Dublin Woman’s Thursday Club Scholarship, a $2,000 Maverick Academic Scholarship and a $1,000 Mickey Belew Scholarship.
In her salutatorian speech, Ortega thanked her family and her mom, especially for encouraging her to keep going even when she wanted to give up.
“Muchas gracias mami por su apoyo y por siempre estar alli conmigo en las buenas y en las malas,” she said.
Scholarships awarded to seniors are listed below.
Jacob Arnal: Linda Raley Brogdon Memorial Scholarship ($1,000).
Lucas Azua: Dublin Lion Heart Scholarship ($500), The James and Dorothy Doss Foundation Scholarship ($1,000), DABC Scholarship ($500), Mickey Belew Scholarship ($1,000), Eddie Hernandez Memorial Scholarship ($100).
Salvador Banda: Lions Club Scholarship ($500).
Jaclyn Gibson: Tanton Family Scholarship ($3,000), Mickey Belew Scholarship ($1,000).
Elijah Gonzalez: Jordan Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), Eddie Hernandez Memorial Scholarship ($100).
Aiden Hernandez: Dublin Lion Heart Scholarship ($500), DABC Scholarship ($1,500).
Carson Ivie: Dublin Lion Heart Scholarship ($500), Masonic Lodge Scholarship ($1,000), Texas Public Education Grant ($1,500), Presidents Gap Scholarship ($1,000), Texas Classroom Teachers Association Scholarship ($250), Mickey Belew Scholarship ($1,000), Dane Lewis: Annie Gibson Memorial Scholarship ($500), DABC Scholarship ($2,500), Bart and Ruby Greenway Memorial Scholarship ($500), Mickey Belew Scholarship ($1,000).
Lucero Marquez: DABC Scholarship ($250).
Gonzalo Ortiz: DABC Scholarship ($250), Distinguished Scholarship ($1,500).
Yesenia Osorio: DABC Scholarship ($500).
Cameron Patton: Lions Club Scholarship ($1,000), DABC Scholarship ($1,000), Mickey Belew Scholarship ($1,000), Eddie Hernandez Memorial Scholarship ($100).
Kevin Patton: DABC Scholarship ($500), Mickey Belew Scholarship ($1,000).
Emmanuel Ramirez: DABC Scholarship ($250).
Elizabeth Reed: Presidents Gap Scholarship ($1,000).
Chloey Rollins: The James and Dorothy Doss Foundation Scholarship ($1,000), DABC Scholarship ($250), American Legion Scholarship ($500).
Kiara Rosalez: DABC Scholarship ($500).
Aiden Salyer: Jean Fund Intermediate School ($500), Masonic Lodge Scholarship ($1,000), Presidents Guaranteed Scholarship Program ($1,500 a semester, up to $3,000), DABC Scholarship ($1,500), Rotary Club ($500), Mickey Belew Scholarship ($1,000).
Madison Turley: DABC Scholarship ($3,000), Rotary Club ($500), Miss Dublin Ambassador Pageant Scholarship ($500).
Frida Villicana: Hazelwood Scholarship ($1,000).
Paige Wilson: Optimist Essay Contest – 3rd Place ($150); Presidential Scholar ($66,000 over the span of four years), Central Texas Scholarship ($1,000 annually), Howard Payne University Scholarship ($2,000), Stephenville Eastern Star Scholarship ($1,000).