Breckenridge Texan

Saturday morning’s graduation ceremony for the Breckenridge High School Class of 2020 combined long-held traditions with some new practices.

Axel Puebla, the BHS 2020 Valedictorian, addresses his fellow students and the crowd of parents and friends in Buckaroo Stadium at Saturday morning’s ceremony. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The 91 graduates had one of the most unusual senior years on record when the second semester was interrupted by the new coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. The threat from the global pandemic led state and local leaders to enact strict guidelines to try and slow the spread of the disease. That included canceling in-person classes in mid-March and conducting the rest of the academic year via online classes.

By the end of May, the restrictions had been loosened up some, and the Breckenridge Independent School District was able to plan a graduation ceremony, following the rules of the Texas Education Agency.

In order to provide enough space for the families and friends of the graduates to practice proper social distancing, the ceremony was held in Buckaroo Stadium. To avoid the high temperatures expected later in the day, the graduation was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 6.

As the students walked around the perimeter of the football field, waving to the crowd, “Pomp and Circumstance” played over the speaker. Then, they took their seats on the field, with each chair placed six feet from the next. One noticeable change from previous years was that the graduates were allowed — even encouraged — to decorate the tops of their mortarboards, so many in the class wore unique caps for the ceremony.

BHS Class of 2020 Salutatorian Liberty Blades gives her speech at the graduation ceremony on Saturday in Buckaroo Stadium. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The Class of 2020’s group picture was taken by a drone flying overhead. Kooper Shook gave the invocation, and McKenly Roberts gave the benediction.

Because the annual awards ceremony for the school year was originally canceled due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the scholarships and other awards were announced at the beginning of Saturday’s ceremony.

Following speeches by Valedictorian Axel Puebla and Salutatorian Liberty Blades, BISD Superintendent Bryan Allen presented the Class of 2020 and announced that the students had met all the requirements for graduation. Then, BHS Principal Dr. William Paul announced each graduate individually, and they received their diplomas from Graham Reaugh, President of the School Board, or other school board members, as desired.

After they received their diplomas, the graduates participated in the traditional mortarboard toss and then sang the school song to close out the ceremony.

One thing the 2020 graduation ceremony wasn’t short on was photographers. To see more photos from the event, click here to see the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery. Additionally, photographer Rachelle Perry took photos of the graduates as they received their diplomas. On her Facebook page Saturday, Perry announced that she will be giving those images to the students and their families via digital download at no charge. The details on how to get the photos will be available on her Facebook page and through the school as soon as the pictures are ready.

Also, the ceremony was broadcast live on YouTube by BISD, and that video is still available for viewing. Check out the video at the end of this article.

The Breckenridge High School Class of 2020 graduates

Hade Marcelina Alvarado Quinonez
Yadhira Alvarado
Katlyne Lashay Andrade
Ariel Dillan Arreola
Erynn Adryana Arreola
Raelyn Charise Baird
Mariah Guadalupe Baladez
Micaela Siobham Baldwin
Justin Ray Bell
Victor Manuel Benitez
Chance Everett Benton
Liberty Monique Blades
Kyle Andrew Canada
Kayleigh Abigayle Cantrell
Tanner Chase Cantrell
Celeste Cardona
Azucena Hernandez Casillas
Tanner Ray Chambers
Jaydon Thomas Cooper
Kaitlyn Ann Crook
Erik Antonio Diaz
Gabriela Duenez
Sidney Grace Durham
Kassandra Abigail Duron
Jacob Dean Escalon
Elisa Escobedo
Tristian Alex Fincher
Jasmine K. Fraley
Nicholas Lebron Franco
Dakota Lee French
Eduardo Daniel Gallegos
Kelsey Genaro Gallegos
Rolando Gallegos
Vihasi Utpal Gandhi
Daniella Arias Garcia
Haleigh Nichole Garcia
Tristan Alex Garcia
Shelby Jo Givens
Bianca Alessandra Guillen
Tyler Ray Hamblin
Bailee Marie Heatley
Jacob Xander Hernandez
Layni Brooke Hinson
Cynthia Karina Huerta
Mia Chere Hughins
Taden Trey Hunt
Jose Arturo Ibarra Rocha
Cecil Ray Isham
Marissa Pazquala-Kay Jimenez
Hailey Opal Jones
Kinley Rhea Kanady
Calista Dawn Lambert
AAliyah Keyera Lawson
Levi Owen Lechner
Danial Derryl Love
Kortni Shaylene Low
Mason Blake Manuel
Quentin Keith Matthews
Austin Michael Mayfield
Rianna Nicole Maynard
Arlis Zane McKay
Aaryn Juan Medina
Miriam Itzelle Mendoza
Nayeli Giselle Mendoza
Kade Tyler Mercer
Logan Ryan Moore
Kolton Ray Myers
Alyssa Monique Opel
Christopher Lynn Otts
Gerardo Palacios
Johnathan Boyd Perez
Axel Octavio Puebla
Shayden Alexis Ramsey
Garrett Wade Raymond
Anna Victoria Reaugh
Ricardo Trejo Reyes
Britney Michelle Roberts
McKenly Lynn Roberts
Hailey Breabb Robertson
Johnathan Tanner AaronRobertson-Caraway
Angelina Marie Ruiz
Moises Anthony Ruiz
Patrick Kooper Shook
Madison Mayes Stanley
Cesar Adrian Torales
David Alejandro Torales
Hannah Jordyn Valdez
Abbegayle Brooke Vega
Payton Michael Whitaker
Owen Simmonds Woodward
Mason Lane Woolsey

Saturday morning’s ceremony closed with the recent graduates singing the BHS school song. For more photos from the ceremony, click here to see the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Scholarships

At the ceremony, the following scholarship awards were announced:

Valedictorian by First National Bank
Axel Octavio Puebla

Salutatorian by Breckenridge InterBank
Liberty Monique Blades

Adam Nicholas Garcia Ag Memorial Scholarship
Jake Escalon

BISD Scholarship by Rotary Club
Liberty Blades and Kolton Myers

BLOC Scholarship
Angelina Ruiz, Layni Hinson, Anna Reaugh and Daniella Garcia

BLOC & MOB Flag Runner Scholarship
Kayleigh Cantrell

Bowers Memorial Scholarship by First United Methodist Church
Levi Lechner

Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce Scholarship
Kinley Kanday, McKenly Roberts, Axel Puebla, Mia Hughins, Cynthia Huerta and AAliyah Lawson

Breckenridge Elks – Floyd Watts Scholarship
Kaitlyn Crook

Breckenridge Golf Scholarship in Memory of Ken Blades
Owen Woodward, Jake Escalon and Kooper Shook

Breckenridge Lion’s Club Scholarship
Rolando Gallegos, Sydney Durham and Mia Hughins

Breckenridge Masonic Lodge Scholarship
Kolton Myers, Rolando Gallegos and Axel Puebla

Casey Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship
Tristan Garcia, Mariah Baladez, Layni Hinson, Sydney Durham and Kyle Canada

Cindi Woodward Breckenridge Buckaroo Cheerleader Scholarship
Layni Hinson, Anna Reaugh, Angelina Ruiz and Hailey Robertson

Class of 1960 in Memory of Deceased Classmates
Kolton Myers

Class of 1961 in Memory of Margie Warren
Liberty Blades

Class of 1965
Anna Reaugh

Class of 1974
Sydney Durham

Cody Owen Memorial Scholarship by First United Methodist Church
Levi Lechner

Copperleaf Properties Johnny Lewis Memorial Scholarship
Sydney Durham and Kinley Kanady

Dee Escalon Scholarship
Owen Woodward, Jake Escalon, Aaryn Medina, Kyle Canada, Tristan Garcia and Kooper Shook

Frank Casey Memorial Scholarship
Axel Puebla

Friends of Johnny Corbett and Mitchel Sullivan Memorial Scholarship
Kaitlyn Crook and Calista Lambert

Furr Scholarship by First United Methodist Church
Levi Lechner

Howard Pardue Memorial Scholarship by Paige Townson and Leigh Murray
Calista Lambert

Jerry Tubbs Scholarship
Axel Puebla

Jimmy McCullough United Girls Softball Association Scholarship
Kaitlyn Crook and Bailee Heatley

Joe Crousen Memorial Scholarship
Aaryn Medina

John and Kate Bailey Memorial Scholarship
Kinley Kanday and Kolton Myers

Kimberley Brooke Pardue Memorial Scholarship by Lois Smalley
McKenly Roberts

KLXK/Lance Kitchens Scholarship
Sydney Durham and Hailey Robertson

Larry Parker Memorial Scholarship
Owen Woodward, Aaryn Medina and Kinley Kanady

Lester Clark Leadership Scholarship
Axel Puebla

Little Bucks Volleyball Scholarship
Kinley Kanady, Calista Lambert and Aaliyah Lawson

Margaret Hallauer Memorial Scholarship
Levi Lechner and McKenly Roberts

Marylyn Arnot Leadership Scholarship
McKenly Roberts

Maude Allison Memorial Scholarship
Levi Lechner

Marquis Martin Memorial Scholarship
Jake Escalon and Kinley Kanady

Mitchel and Terry Sullivan Memorial Scholarship by Rotary Club
Kaitlyn Crook

Owen D. Woodward Memorial Scholarship
Owen Woodward, Anna Reaugh, Tristan Garcia, Madison Stanley, Kinley Kanady and Kooper Shook

Pamela Pardue Midkiff Memorial Scholarship by Lois Smalley
Madison Stanley

Ron Downing Memorial Scholarship by Rotary Club
Jake Escalon

Rotary Club Academic Excellence Scholarship
Axel Puebla

Scotty Brown Memorial Scholarship
AAliyah Lawson

Stephens County 4-H Scholarship
McKenly Roberts

Stephens County Farm Bureau Scholarship
Kolton Myers, McKenly Roberts and Kinley Kanady

Stephens County Jr. Livestock Show Scholarship
Kaitlyn Crook, Jake Escalon, Kinley Kanady and McKenly Roberts

Stephens Memorial Hospital Foundation Scholarship
McKenly Roberts and Calista Lambert

Tanner Ray French Memorial Scholarship
Axel Puebla, Sydney Durham, Kinley Kanady, Kyle Canada, Kolton Myers and Vihasi Gandhi

The Way and Recovery Outreach Ministry
AAliyah Lawson and Azucena Hernandez Casillas

Turner/Williams Memorial Scholarship
Jake Escalon

University of Texas Exes Scholarship
Axel Puebla

Weldon Edwards Memorial Scholarship
AAliyah Lawson

Woman’s Forum Scholarship
McKenly Roberts

Video of the Breckenridge High School Class of 2020 Graduation

(Video courtesy of Dwayne Dove/Breckenridge Independent School District)

Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge High School seniors Jaydon Cooper and Tristan Garcia congratulate each other after receiving their diplomas in Buckaroo Stadium on Saturday morning, June 6. For more photos from the graduation ceremony, click here to see the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)