Chino Valley High School Commencement 2018

The 172 members of the Chino Valley High School Class of 2018 just before Commencement at the Prescott Valley Event Center Wednesday, May 23, 2018. Pick up Friday’s Courier for the annual graduation special section. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

By Les Stukenberg

Originally Published: May 24, 2018 8:01 a.m.

Photo Gallery

2018 Chino Valley Commencement

Bradley Nelson Trevor Kuntz, Paige Achten, Kaleb Chacon, Wyatt Dodds, Kaelyn Darst and Rebecca Tupper before the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Ashley Schuck, Greg Sallee and Braydon Duey before the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Lauren Joseph, Alexis Mastin and Sophia Davis-Babb take a selfie before the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Devon Kirk and Autumn Turner make final adjustments before the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Jamison Shawver is ready to go for the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Decorated mortar boards before the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Tyler Hixson, Keigan Willingham, Zach Paris and Madilyn Lawrence before the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

The Class of 2018 at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

The Class of 2018 and their decorated mortar boards before the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Student government mug before the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Sometimes its hard to see through the balloons at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Walking in the processional at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Final adjustments before the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Cowboys only take their hats off for one thing, a Smokey and the Bandit paraphrase, at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

The choir waits to sing the National Anthem at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Walking in the processional at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Looking for family members at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Removing their mortar boards for the National Anthem at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Student Body President Yenifer Gomez speaks at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Senior Class President Rocky Rodriguez speaks at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Student Council Seniors speak at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Keynote speaker teacher Kevin Schoenfeld speaks at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Salutatorian Chase Call speaks at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Valedictorian Alaina Rowitsch speaks at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

The large crowd at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Watching the senior memories video on the big screens at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Turning of the tassles at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Mortar boards skyward at the Chino Valley Commencement held Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Prescott Valley Event Center. (Les Stukenberg/Courier)

Chino Valley High School Class of 2018 held their commencement at the Prescott Valley Event Center Wednesday, May 23, 2018. With 172 graduating seniors receiving $1.4 million in scholarship offers, more than half of them receiving technical school certificates and six enlisting in the military service it looks like a bright future for the graduates.

CLICK HERE to view the annual graduation special section, which is available at the Courier's office in Prescott Valley.