Falcons Honor Class of 2025

Falcons Honor Class of 2025

By Misty Cryer

Loving High School celebrated graduation on the morning of May 23 in the high school gym. The Village of Loving, being a small community, has a unique perspective for seniors, including Falcons Senior Day and Falcon Words of Wisdom.

“One of the traditions we started a few years ago is the day we practice, we call it Falcons Senior Day. Breakfast is provided to the seniors by the Falcon Fest Board that morning, and then they walk through all three schools,” said LHS principal Catherine Bass. She said the seniors start at the elementary, then walk over to the middle school, and back to the high school.

“That’s their time to get cheers from all the students. Some of the students really go all out at elementary and middle school,” said Bass. She said they make signs, there are lots of hugs, and seniors get to see the teachers from their elementary and middle school years while wearing their gowns.

This year, Bass said, the seniors walked back to the elementary school after the initial walk and did a “time machine” video that is featured on the school’s Facebook page. “The walk almost coincided with the kindergarten graduation, so the kindergarteners had their red gowns on,” she said.

Bass said the Loving graduation is an elegant ceremony, a time-honored event with distinction. “We have the Eddy County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard that presents the colors, so that adds an extra element to the distinction,” she said.

A few years ago, Bass said, as principal of the high school, she started Falcon Words of Wisdom as a replacement for keynote speakers, bringing back alumni to speak at graduation. Bass said she thinks it is more meaningful because they walked the halls. “We had two speakers this year,” she said.

“The 2015 Valedictorian came back and spoke to the seniors. The 1995 Valedictorian could not make it, so her brother came,” Bass said. The speakers for the Falcon Words of Wisdom this year included Raelyn Fields, Valedictorian of the Class of 2015, and Gabriel Chavez, from the Class of 1993, who was an honor student and a state champion athlete at Loving, she said.

This year’s Valedictorian is Joslynn Abernathy, who said the trips she went on for FFA (Future Farmers of America) are her greatest memory of high school. “I went to state for four years, and then I had the opportunity to go to nationals two years in a row,” she said.

“My plans are to attend Texas Tech and to go to nursing school,” she said, adding she aims to pursue a career in either NICU or Pediatrics.

Joslynn’s mother is Cristal Alt, her stepdad is Micheal Alt, and her dad is Jeremy Abernathy. “Growing up I had a lot of foster kids coming into my family,” she said, naming them her inspiration for her chosen career. “I come from a blended family. I feel like I’m passionate about caring for young kids.”

Angelina Ortiz, Salutatorian of Loving High School’s Class of 2025, said she transferred to Loving High School from Carlsbad High School in the middle of her sophomore year.

“At Loving, my fondest memory is being able to play sports with the team there,” Angelina said. “I played volleyball, basketball, and softball. I won last year’s state at softball,” she said.

Angelina plans to move to Albuquerque after high school. “I got accepted to the nursing program at CNM (Central New Mexico Community College),” said Angelina. “I plan to study and further my career in anesthesiology,” she said.

Angelina said her mom and Auntie Ginger were most inspirational in her career choice because both went to nursing school. “My Auntie helped me understand the dynamic of the nursing school and everything that I would have to go through,” she said.

Angelina’s parents are Jessica Lopez, Ramon Lopez, and Richard Ortiz.