Taylor ISD’s Legacy Early College High School held graduation ceremonies for the class of 2022 Friday, May 20, at the Taylor ISD event center.
This year’s class included 41 graduates. Twenty-five of those seniors had received their college associate’s degree from Temple College the week before.
“Four years ago they took a leap of faith, committed to their future successes and chose to attend Legacy Early College High School,” said Principal Erika Elizondo. “We are grateful that they did. Their time in Taylor ISD as a Duck and as a Phoenix is full of accomplishments, and we celebrate that.”
Valedictorian Savannah Coy and Salutatorian Ryan Abbott addressed their peers. Elizondo and Superintendent Devin Padavil offered words of congratulations and encouragement, and senior Christopher Avalos gave the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge.
During the ceremony, Ryan Abbott was awarded the Mattie Baker Memorial Endowment Scholarship, the Texas A&M University-Commerce Honors College Scholarship, and the Howard Oliphant Memorial Scholarship.
Christopher Avalos was awarded the JW and AE Scholarship, and Carlos Candanosa was awarded the Distinguished Presidential Scholarship.
Savannah Coy received the Lawrence Karl Memorial Scholarship and the Live Oak Scholarship.
The Leadership Grant sponsored by SPJST was presented to Brooke Newsom, and Anthony Oranday was awarded the Tomas and Senaida Martinez Scholarship and the Empowerment Scholarship. Ashley Veselka was presented with the Catholic Union of Texas, KJT State Scholarship and Brandon Avalos was recognized for committing to serve his country in the United States Navy.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates presented a rose to someone in the audience who has had a positive impact on them during their school years.
“What an incredible group of young people they are, particularly as they have succeeded against the backdrop of the last few unique years,” said Elizondo. “I am humbled, beyond proud and extremely impressed by the collective achievements of the Class of 2022.”
