[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6220160,"mediaKeyId","3618652-9370d1bf6ad28e130bc925c74723ee49","parentId",3618652,"title","Horizonte commencement speakers share refugee, recovery and first-generation college stories","audioSeconds",1617,"startMs",841000,"endMs",2458000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618652-9370d1bf6ad28e130bc925c74723ee49&start=841&end=2458","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618652-9370d1bf6ad28e130bc925c74723ee49/thumbnail_841000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6220160/Utah/Horizonte-commencement-speakers-share-refugee-recovery-and-first-generation-college-stories","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220160-dbebf1fe62e6dd8f6400dd995fd1be8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770511940&Signature=jqo83FFyzv8ljikQiqgNz7IAoB~stYl1hUV8fqEdzRCni7T2upF6fJU-TYsGLIvUh6f9Lwen-PbcJZRcrqtZZbVWy31pf3LfkNcmOJ2Rq0iz6gB6vUAl9HTTnZ053QUDwz5ubobquBz9WB~J4ZEgkwsORIe9M~PQxCEG8gVe~qBGZJPxMaRPcrrfUGButrR0RiKGZffSWUTMdDsMDf4JNnAxq2D~-GRnWteEcnfjGIvt6-HWGKyTxOpecTdlw2ox3k~429uQxAOHGk2ISLA4oPWdJuZczndS2mFQJyLboSpMqU8t52cF6xCzbUaBHcRcu5frW77XTJI0fE8tyE-fOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-31T05:17:09Z","article","Several student speakers at Horizonte’s 2025 commencement described personal challenges and credited the school’s staff and programs with helping them graduate.

Nierazidis Peraza, who said he was born in Rwanda and later resettled in the United States, described losing family during war, arriving in the U.S. in 2017 and beginning studies at Horizonte three years ago. “I was learning so much,” Peraza said, and he thanked teachers, classmates and community members who supported him during his education.

Anthony Garcia, who identified himself to the audience as a student who transferred to Horizonte beginning his senior year, thanked his mother and invoked a passage from Philippians while urging classmates to pursue their goals. “If you have a dream, take it, grab it, cement it into your mind, and don't let anybody tell you you can't do something, not even yourself,” Garcia said.

Other speakers described arriving at Horizonte after struggling with grades and attendance at previous schools, praised staff and programs including the library and college classes, and credited peer leadership and school resources with helping them find a “fresh start.” Several speakers thanked specific teachers and staff by role — including math and language-arts teachers and the principal — for pushing them to achieve and for creating a sense of belonging.

The school’s principal and a Salt Lake City School District board member also addressed graduates. Charlotte Fife Jefferson, identified on the program as a Salt Lake City School District Board of Education member representing Precinct 2 (Glendale, Poplar Grove and Jordan Meadows), congratulated the class and said students met state diploma requirements. “Because they have met all the requirements necessary to receive a high school diploma in the state of Utah, it is my greatest honor and privilege to accept the Horizonte High School graduating class of 2025 on behalf of the Salt Lake City School District,” she said.

Speeches at the ceremony mixed personal testimony with thanks to family, community partners and staff. Students and staff closed the program with the traditional tassel movement and exit instructions for graduates and families.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Horizonte Instruction and Training Center Graduation 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple student speakers at Horizonte’s 2025 commencement recounted personal journeys — including refugee resettlement, first-generation college attendance and overcoming academic struggles — and credited school staff and programs with supporting their progress.","taxTitle","Salt Lake County School Board, Salt Lake School District , Utah School Boards, Utah","taxId",75161,"location","Utah","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6220164,"Proxima and Utah CNA honored for Horizonte partnership; alumni award presented to staff member Christina Cabrera",885,677000,1562000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618652-9370d1bf6ad28e130bc925c74723ee49&start=677&end=1562","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618652-9370d1bf6ad28e130bc925c74723ee49/thumbnail_677000.jpg","/articles/6220164/Utah/Proxima-and-Utah-CNA-honored-for-Horizonte-partnership-alumni-award-presented-to-staff-member-Christina-Cabrera","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220164-45bf87a54979f04873c80ac2473f19c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770511940&Signature=eI9q1mWtzDezH8J216h92nu8s1xip5sBpYpIMTT-VrnfxX6fxTwwVyijdqEjsHS07lCz4-2SZSnYoYHevVqncdIbA586vwpGkXnpFp45r1yi5gMNSa9XGmMBBwg2no9qNk42GAm7BxKwpvTv1CHlWa~HVnktk~JaHtqcAhRcQ9n5XDlkHp50QXRI4U1KYOCDq1L3XYPpWDNxTQUYN9t2agpPpMJ75hxebyyLnfKmqq6QLK-ARe~EBcLLsWcspEm5aZIQ3i0LTdAz2hqPKBxBEpsq04qWL41F-1XwzpP3ioN2ieej25kgUmnnMpB2xcA6qUYTLzhHDPs~5eyBeSG~QQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Horizonte presented its Community Service Award to Proxima and Utah CNA for partnering with the school on job readiness and medical-field training, and honored Christina Cabrera with an alumni award at the school’s commencement.

A school presenter described Proxima and Utah CNA as partners that provide “high quality instruction, job readiness training, and access to medical field employment,” saying their work has “opened life changing opportunities for our students.” The school asked graduates and guests to applaud both organizations.

Separately, the school presented the Horizonte Alumni Award to Christina Cabrera, who staff described as having worked at Horizonte since 2015 and serving in a contracted registrar role since 2018. A presenter said Cabrera handles records, diploma preparation and graduation logistics and praised her as “one of the kindest, most deeply caring people I’ve ever known,” while noting she balances work with family responsibilities.

School leaders thanked community partners, donors and volunteers for supporting programmatic opportunities that the school said help students transition to employment and further education. The ceremony featured public recognition rather than any formal board vote or contract action; the presenters characterized the partnerships as ongoing.

The presenters invited representatives from Proxima and Utah CNA to come forward and asked the audience to acknowledge Cabrera’s role in supporting students and graduation logistics. The school did not provide specific details of the organizations’ contracts, the number of students placed in jobs, or any monetary value for the partnerships during the remarks.","Horizonte recognized Proxima and Utah CNA with a community service award for job-readiness partnerships and presented an alumni award to longtime staff member Christina Cabrera during commencement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6220169,"Horizonte establishes scholarship honoring Ara Gutierrez Sanchez; first recipient named",233,1805000,2038000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3618652-9370d1bf6ad28e130bc925c74723ee49&start=1805&end=2038","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3618652-9370d1bf6ad28e130bc925c74723ee49/thumbnail_1805000.jpg","/articles/6220169/Utah/Horizonte-establishes-scholarship-honoring-Ara-Gutierrez-Sanchez-first-recipient-named","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6220169-e5b502e443dc7245bb11f525cdc2e0e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770511940&Signature=PnYu2Cm8OdXgxbn9R6ra1SnXAMTB1eCLAocFYvP~3fwNDMbppEbQLzF6Kn2dRvNtpHbyRZt2owfWHI-wyl-Q~9yYhEdd8CpkG01zRIXdbX8NlJ81sCHZ9-tpXWRuxl6BDfk2VNv5YM164reeEyJcoISrIq5~VIQTpGT0V5KCOwXGSbADg3Oze3GJBicpvmw1HXqblFdtGrxMoQTtns1Ck8yi2l4gX3UZ83GmCxinHO-Bs7w5f7E-1CPrBT6Ob8WTP6lLpXiQ0kqwisiOI9aJ5DLRrV4Jr-oJcz1FwdSjqiZ5y926x2K4gDVtnU38asRAfMfQPVSO2IHoEHIznlC4Zg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Horizonte announced a new scholarship in memory of Ara Gutierrez Sanchez and presented the first award to Speratha Niazidez during the school’s 2025 commencement ceremony.

School counselor Eleanor Chase said the Horizonte community established the Ara Gutierrez Sanchez scholarship to continue the late staff member’s work supporting students who demonstrate commitment and growth.

Chase told graduates the scholarship is intended to provide additional opportunities to students who have “shown up despite the struggles they may carry,” and the school publicly thanked multiple foundations, businesses and individual donors for supporting student aid. Donors named at the ceremony included the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Mariner S. Eccles Foundation, Archer Family Foundation, Beasley Family Foundation, Medallion Bank, Rotary Club of Salt Lake City and several individual benefactors.

Yoretsi Gutierrez, identified at the ceremony as the daughter of Ara Gutierrez Sanchez, spoke about her mother’s connection to Horizonte. “My mom was a part of Horizonte in more ways than one,” Gutierrez said, describing her mother’s years as a student and later a staff member and saying the family was honored the school had chosen to memorialize her work.

Chase and other staff presented this year’s Aura/Ara Gutierrez scholarship to Speratha Niazidez; the recipient was recognized from the stage and congratulated by attendees.

School leaders described the scholarships given at the ceremony as “thousands of dollars” collectively but did not state award amounts for the new scholarship or individual recipients. The principal and counselor acknowledged that donor support is a key source of those awards; the precise funding mix for the new Ara Gutierrez Sanchez scholarship and the specific award amount to the recipient were not specified at the ceremony.

The scholarship announcement followed a segment in which school counselors recognized multiple donors and invited scholarship recipients to stand for recognition. The school said the new award will be offered in future years to students who meet the scholarship criteria.

Horizonte staff and family members asked audience members to celebrate recipients and to continue supporting scholarship programs that the school said help graduating students pursue college and job training opportunities.","Horizonte announced a new scholarship in memory of former staff member Ara Gutierrez Sanchez and recognized donors who support student scholarships; the ceremony named Speratha Niazidez as this year’s recipient.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Horizonte commencement speakers share refugee, recovery and first-generation college stories

Proxima and Utah CNA honored for Horizonte partnership; alumni award presented to staff member Christina Cabrera

Horizonte establishes scholarship honoring Ara Gutierrez Sanchez; first recipient named