Dear CCUSD Parents, Community and Staff,I would like to congratulate the class of 2021 on their high school graduation. This current senior class is like no other and I commend each one of them for their grit, resiliency and dedication. What is typically a normal 4 year high school experience for these students was first interrupted for them as a blip in March 2020 and eventually turned into a global pandemic, derailing a normal high school upperclassmen experience for them.
Not only did this experience challenge them and all of us physically, mentally, spiritually and social-emotionally, but this experience now offers them, and us, the opportunity to be better individuals due to the challenges they have been presented with and that they have faced head on with the support of their parents, family members, friends, teachers, coaches and those around them.
My challenge for the Class of 2021, myself and for all of us for that matter, is to strive to not simply return to normal, but to become a better normal and allow the good things to fall out of our lives so we can make space for the great things in life.
I would like to make note and congratulate the Class of 2021 on the following accomplishments:
-The class of 2021 has approximately 470 graduating seniors.
-Congratulations to Jessica Brashear for being named the Valedictorian, Alicia Rifkin being named Salutatorian and Katianna Blackwell Scott was named a National Merit Finalist
-The graduating class of 2021 has been awarded approximately $13,000,000 in secured scholarships to this point in time
-There were 803 Advanced Placement courses taken and 245 Dual Enrollment classes taken.
Among the many athletic recognitions earned by the Class of 2021, I would like to name a few:
Football
14- 1st and 2nd team selections for the 5A North East Valley All Region Teams
5A North East Valley Region Player of the Year: Hafeez Ahmed-Momoh
5A North East Valley Region Special Teams Player of the Year: Ryan Wintemeyer
5 players were selected for All Conference 1st and 2nd team
Cross Country
Merit Thompson individually qualified and took 5th place in the Division 2 State Cross County Meet
Swim and Dive
Girls Swim team took 3rd at State
Madelyn Bachmeier: 200 IM State Champion and 100m Backstroke State Champion
Sera Hanagan: 200 IM Runner Up
Katherine Rink: 3rd place in 50 Freestyle and 2nd place in 100 Freestyle
State Champions 200 Free Relay and the 400 Free Relay with Katherine Rink, Jenna Moore, Sera Hanagan, and Madelyn Bachmeier.
Girl’s Volleyball
Division 2 State Runner-Up
4- 1st and 2nd team selections for the 5A North East Valley All Region Teams
2- Honorable Mentions for the 5A NorthEast Valley All Region Teams
Girls Golf
Division 2 Team State Runner-Up
Calynne Rosholt: Division 2 Team Individual State Champion
Boys Golf
Division 2 Team State Champions
Jacob Tarkany: Division 2 Team Individual State Champion
Jacob Tarkany selected for the All State Boys Golf Team
Boys Basketball
5A North East Region Conference Champions
2- 1st and 2nd team selections for the 5A North East Valley All Region Teams
Cole Caruso named 5A North East Valley Region Defensive Player of the Year
3 Honorable Mentions for the 5A North East Valley All Region Team
Girls Basketball
5A North East Region Conference Champions
Boys Soccer
Sam Rojo named All Conference 2nd team
2- 1st and 2nd team selections for the 5A North East Valley All Region Teams
Girls Soccer
9 1st and 2nd team selections for the 5A NorthEast Valley All Region Teams
Emily O’Neil named All Region Offensive Player of the Year
Wrestling
Brayden Hasher placed 3rd at State
Brandon Herzog placed 2nd at State
Finally, as part of the Superintendent’s Challenge, Ryland Davidson accumulated 938.5 hours over his four years at Cactus Shadows High School of volunteer service time. Forty-eight seniors participated in this Superintendent’s Challenge and the Class of 2021 contributed a total of 12,365 volunteer hours to the community over the 4 years.
Again, congratulations to the Class of 2021 for all your successes. We love you, are proud of you, and are anxious and excited for your future journey and happiness moving into the future.
Sincerely,
Cort Monroe, Ed.D.
Superintendent