Dublin High School graduated 85 seniors in a ceremony on Cervetto Field Friday, May 22.
Valedictorian Kassandra Rodriguez and Salutatorian Olivia Salyer delivered addresses recognizing the accomplishments of their class, the people that helped them along the way and how they are equipped to meet the challenges they will face.
“The older I get, the more I realize that people don’t always remember every achievement or award,” said Rodriguez. “What they do remember is how someone showed up for them, how someone made them feel, who stayed, and who cared. So I want to take a moment to thank the families, friends, coaches, and teachers who supported us along the way. Your love and encouragement did not go unnoticed. When people ask me what motivates me to go to college, like many of you who come from immigrant or Hispanic families, my answer is simple, it is my parents.”
In her address, Salyer said: “For me, balancing school work, sports, and college classes taught me something important: that success does not just happen all at once. It happens in small wins: staying up late to finish assignments, showing up when you’re exhausted, asking for help, and choosing to keep trying even when you doubt yourself. Years from now, we might not remember Proofs from geometry class or how we did on the STAAR test. But each of us will remember how walking across the stage made you feel and the immense pride you feel for accomplishing this win. This moment proves that we are capable of more than we thought.”
Invocation was led by Emma Mitchell while benediction was delivered by Morgan Keith.
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cassidy Adair, Makayla Facio and Nomi Thompson.
National Anthem was introduced by Sandra Vasquez as junior Addison Ivie sang the “Star Spangled Banner.”
Graduating seniors earned several accolades with the class receiving a total of $222,550 in scholarships this year.
Scholarships are as follows: Tatum Babkowski: TCMN scholarship $375 and TSUPresidential Guaranteed Scholarship $1,500.
Dalton Bullard: Dublin Lion Heart scholarship $500.
Natalie Chavez: Margie Fay Chandler Memorial scholarship $500.
Mariela Caballero: Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000.
Evelyn Candelario: Jordan Sanchez Memorial scholarship $1,000 and Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000.
Hazin Chacon: Dublin Athletic Booster Club scholarship $250.
Natalie Chavez: TSUPresidential Guaranteed Scholarship $1,000 and Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000.
Yasmin Esparza: TRIO/ Upward Bound Program Summer scholarship $1,200.
Alexis Evans: James and Dorothy Doss Foundation $1,000, TSU-Dwain and Carolyn Bruner Endowed scholarship $2,000 and Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000.
Makayla Facio: TSUTown & Country Bank scholarship $800, Bart and Ruby Greenway Memorial scholarship $1,000, TSUDwain and Carolyn Bruner Endowed scholarship $2,000 and Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000.
Gabriela Gonzalez: Dublin Athletic Booster Club scholarship $500.
Vanessa Gonzalez: Masonic Lodge $750.
David Greene: Environmental and Natural Resources Division 5 scholarship $1,000, Dublin FFABoosterClubscholarship $500, The LaNell Whitehead Memorial Scholarship $1,000 and the Dublin FFA Chapter Scholarship $500 and TSU – Tanton Family Dublin High School scholarship $5,000.
Jayden Griffin: Dublin Band Booster Club scholarship $500.
Ingrid Hernandez: Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000.
Adam Jaimes: TSUPresidential Guaranteed Scholarship $2,000.
Michael Jimenez: Welding and Ag Interview scholarship $500.
Morgan Keith: Dublin Band Booster Club scholarship $500, Rotary Club scholarship $500, Howard Payne University – Presidential Scholarship $16,500 annually for four years totaling $66,000, Howard Payne University-Central Texas Scholarship $1,000 annually for four years totaling $4,000, Howard Payne University-Music scholarship $15,000, Dublin Woman’s Thursday Club scholarship $500 and Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000.
Derby Kukla: Dublin Athletic Booster Club scholarship.
Ernesto Lopez: Dublin FFA Booster Club scholarship $500.
Angie Mendoza: TSUPresidential Guaranteed scholarship $1,000 and Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000.
Hayden Milburn: TCMN scholarship $375, Dublin Garden Club scholarship $500, Dublin Lions Club – Everett Hightower Memorial Scholarship $1,000, Annie Gibson Memorial scholarship $500, TSU-Presidential Guaranteed scholarship $1,500, The Hazelwood scholarship $1,000, The Fort Worth Scottish Rite Foundation scholarship $2,500, Dublin Athletic Booster Club scholarship $500 and the Comanche Electric Cooperative Association scholarship $2,000.
Emma Mitchell: TCMN scholarship $375, Dublin Garden Club scholarship $500, Masonic Lodge $750, Dublin Lions Club – Bob Sohm Memorial Ag Scholarship $500, Faith in the Future of Dublin scholarship $500, Dublin Athletic Booster Club scholarship $1,500 and Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000.
David Nava Rojas: Dublin Band Booster Club scholarship $500, Margie Fay Chandler Memorial scholarship $500, Rotary Club scholarship $500, TSUPresidential Guaranteed scholarship $1,000, Dublin Athletic Booster Club scholarship $250, TSU-Band Performance scholarship $4,000 and Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000 Edwin Nevarrez: TRIO/ Upward Bound Program Summer scholarship $1,200.
Yovany Ortiz: TSUPresidential Guaranteed Scholarship $1,500.
Alex Ponce De Leon: TSUPresidential Guaranteed Scholarship $1,000.
Candy Rodriguez: Dublin FFA Booster Club scholarship $1,000, Danny Prater Memorial scholarship $1,000 and the Dublin FFA Chapter scholarship $500.
Valedictorian Kassandra Rodriguez: TSU-Presidential Guaranteed Scholarship $3,000 and Highest Ranking Graduate scholarship (Freshman year is paid for) $10,000.
Victor Ruiz: James and Dorothy Doss Foundation $1,000, Rotary 4 Way Test Speech scholarship $500, UTSA – Bold Promise scholarship $44,000.
Salutatorian Olivia Salyer: TCMN scholarship $375, Dublin Garden Club scholarship $500, Dublin Lion Heart scholarship $500, TSUPresidential Guaranteed scholarship $3,000, TSUGeneral Studies Upward Bound Endowed scholarship $350, Dublin Athletic Booster Club scholarship $1,500 and Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000.
Alex Teten: Dublin Lion Heart scholarship $500 Caden Vanbebber: Dublin Lion Heart scholarship $500 and Mickey Belew Memorial Scholarship $1,000.
Sandra Vazquez: TSUDwain and Carolyn Bruner Endowed scholarship $1,000, The Hazelwood Scholarship $1,000 and Mickey Belew Memorial scholarship $1,000.