One of the great rites of spring is graduation day. Relatives post endless photographs on social media of their favorite son or daughter or grandchild holding up a diploma, particularly one from a college or university.
Those accomplishments are worthy of pride and bragging but overlook a graduation that is still monumental in this country: high school graduation. Believe it or not, there are still families attending graduation with a student as the first from their family to finish high school. At the SUN, we are working hard to cover the news of all the area high school graduations.
Last week on Thursday, May 11 there was a smaller, more intimate recognition sponsored by Century Bank. It was held at the Ohkay Owingeh Casino. A total of 22 “scholars” were celebrated for their outstanding accomplishments. A story and photos of that dinner and recognition appears in today’s edition of the Rio Grande Sun.
These students represented the high schools of Penasco, Escalante, and Espanola. Each student was recognized for an impressive set of now “past accomplishments” at their schools and details were outlined about their soon-to-be stellar futures at colleges and universities.
Each student had selected someone in their lives who inspired them. One English teacher was named by several students. We need to find her and clone her.
As much as we congratulate these students we need to recognize and thank Century Bank. Local banker Thomas Martinez helped organize the dinner along with others from the Espanola bank. He’s an example of how the dreams and ambitions of a high school student can take circuitous twists and turns in their futures. Martinez believed he would follow a career connected to his love of cars and mechanics.
Whoops. He became a banker.
Business leadership is sorely needed in this valley, and it is encouraging and noteworthy to witness Century Bank giving back to Rio Arriba County. The bank sponsors the same scholar’s program in Santa Fe and has for at least 30 years.
Some leaders don’t just sit in their ivory towers and direct business. Actually, few even have ivory towers. Some, like Century Bank Chairman, Donald A. Gonzales, put their money-not just in the banks, but where their mouth is. He attended the local ceremony and provided the closing remarks spiced with words of wisdom and advice for the scholars, all in a homespun, down-to-earth manner.
The scholars set examples for other students and businesses such as Century Bank hopefully raise the bar for other businesses in Rio Arriba.