The graduating class of 2021 overcame a lot of obstacles throughout their senior year, including a switch from remote learning to in-person and a hybrid of the two. All made the best of their senior year, but here is a spotlight on a few of them.

Samuel Geovany Hunsinger

Denver East High School

Future plans: Employed at the YMCA this summer.

“I made many interesting friends throughout my high school experience and I learned that we could stay in touch even through a pandemic.”

Elise Rebecca Meara

Cherry Creek High School (resident of Denver’s University neighborhood)

Future plans: Enter into the Human Development and Family Studies program at Colorado State University.

“I will take the importance of all the friendships that were built in high school and bring that with me to learn how to make and keep new friendships in the future.”

Arielle Montoya

DSST: Cole

Future plans: A trip to Germany and attend the Colorado School of Mines in the fall as the first in her family to go to college on a scholarship covering full tuition.

“I have learned that I am very independent — I worked and did school full-time. As difficult as this was, I always completed my work on time without any extensions. I will take this dedication with me in my future because it has pushed me to move forward and know that I am capable of balancing my time management to successfully accomplish my goals.”

Kevin Jareth Muruato Venegas

DSST: Cole

Future plans: Study sports medicine at Colorado State University and obtain a job to help his mom pay bills.

“No matter what circumstances you face, you have to continue. Sometimes life is going to be hard, but you have to use those obstacles as motivation to continue and not let those obstacles stop you from meeting your goals and purpose in life.”

Quintin Yates

Denver South High School

Future plans: Attend Loyola Marymount University in California this fall and double major in physics and philosophy.

“No matter the environment you wind up in, a little compassion and understanding goes a long way for getting what you need.”