A graduation to remember
Lightning forces last-second move indoors for DHS Class of 2026
BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan
While it wasn’t exactly the graduation ceremony that anyone wanted, the Dalhart High Class of 2026 definitely had what may be the most memorable graduation ceremony in a very long time. (The ceremony in 2020 during the COVID pandemic was memorable for a different reason, as rules were forced on the school by various authorities that, looking back, were probably completely unnecessary and involved handing diplomas through car windows.)
Weather forecasters changed their predictions for Thursday May 21 throughout the week. At one point they were saying that rain was likely, then as the ceremony neared the forecasts changed to a much smaller chanced of scattered rain. The school did make preliminary plans for a ceremony in the high school auditorium, which will hold more people than any other building in town, and each senior was given six tickets. Then, as Thursday came around and the forecast seemed to point to little chance of rain during the ceremony, practice was held in Memorial Stadium, and it seemed like the possibility of moving the ceremony indoors had become remote.
While there were some clouds around, as late at 6:30 p.m. it still seemed that the graduation ceremony would be held at Memorial Stadium, in the normal extremely windy conditions that seem to accompany graduation ceremonies. At about 6:45 p.m. however, a lightning strike was detected within 10 miles of the stadium, and so the stands had to be cleared and the ceremony moved back 30 minutes. Lightning strikes continued, and it quickly became clear from radar that even if there wasn’t any rain, there would continue to be lightning for at least two to three more hours within 10 miles, making it impossible to hold the ceremony outside.
At that point the decision was made to move the ceremony into the auditorium, with the doors opening at approximately 7:45 p.m. and the ceremony starting at 8:15 p.m. The maintenance staff, with help from some students, moved the chairs from the stadium to the auditorium, while teachers and other staff members set up TVs in the gym and a projector in the cafeteria so that those who didn’t have tickets would be able to watch the ceremony on YouTube. Senior Circe Johnson made the suggestion that all the seniors walk through the cafeteria and gym before entering the auditorium just to give everyone a chance to see them in person, and that was implemented as part of the processional. School secretary Lori Garcia and some of the senior sponsors quickly made slight rearrangements to the order that the seniors would use during the processional to get them in the chairs on the stage in the correct order to receive their diplomas, while other teachers stood at the doors of the auditorium to take tickets.
Once the ceremony began, things proceeded fairly normally. Despite no practice at all, the seniors walked through the cafeteria and gym and then walked down the two aisles of the auditorium and up on to the stage and the chairs that had been placed there.
Dalhart High principal Staci Maddox welcomed everyone, noting that an unusual graduation ceremony it had become. She then called up class president Kammi Maddox, student council president Gezsela Dominguez, student council secretary Kirsten Foust, and Hailey Nolt, senior class treasurer. They welcomed everyone to the ceremony, and explained the class motto. Then Staci Maddox had student council vice president Avi Day come up to give the invocation, while class secretary Audra Jobe led the pledge the American flag and student council historian Maggie Meeks led the pledge to the Texas flag. The National Anthem was then played from a recording.
Staci Maddox introduced Hunter Trusler, the salutatorian, who gave his speech. That was followed by the valedictory speech by Addison Ramirez. After that, Staci Maddox verified to superintendent Jeff Byrd and the school board that the seniors had met the qualifications for graduation. Assistant principal Anthony Catherall read each student’s name while Staci Maddox presented the diplomas, except that testing coordinator/ ESL Director Marlo Byrd presented a diploma to Jake Byrd and school board member Reynoldo Encinias presented a diploma to Avian Encinias.
Several graduates had managed to sneak in confetti cannons and set them off after the final diploma was presented. The senior cheerleaders led the crowd in singing the Dalhart Alma Mater, and then graduates were told to switch the tassels on their caps from right to left to signify graduation. The class officers ended the ceremony by counting down from five, and all the graduates threw their caps into the air.
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