Ten LAHS Native American students received their 2026 sashes during a Sash Ceremony attended by family, friends, LAPS staff members, tribal representatives and other dignitaries. Pictured with Santa Clara Pueblo/Jicarilla Apache Cris Velarde are Hannah Waldschmidt, Alessandra Valencia, Hailey Duran, Laila Muller, Graeme Martinez, Liliana Griego, James Gurule, Abegail Brown, River Sheppard and Steven Romero. Courtesy/LAPS
Santa Clara Pueblo/Jicarilla Apache Weaver Cris Velarde tells the story of the sash. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Ten Los Alamos High School (LAHS) Native American seniors were presented with handwoven sashes during the 2026 Sash Ceremony, hosted by Los Alamos Public Schools. The students will wear the sashes during the high school graduation ceremony on May 23.
Members of the Class of 2026 who received sashes during the ceremony include Abegail Brown, Diné; Hailey Duran, Pueblo of Tesuque; Liliana Griego, Pueblo of Nambé; James Gurule, Pueblo of Santa Clara; Graeme Martinez, Pueblo of San Ildefonso; Laila Muller, Pueblo of Nambé; Steven Romero, Pueblo of Tesuque; River Sheppard, Penobscot Nation/Diné/Mi’kmaq/’Malecite/Hopi; Alessandra Valencia, Pueblo of Pojoaque; and Hannah Waldschmidt, Pueblo of Ysleta del Sur.
This is the eighth year for this event, which was attended by family members, friends, tribal representatives, supporting staff of Los Alamos Public Schools, and other dignitaries.
LAPS Superintendent Jennifer Guy was Master of Ceremony. Darren Harvey (Navajo Nation) and Native American Parent Advisory Council (NAPAC) president, and Miranda Kitts, Pueblo of Nambé, gave opening remarks.
Cris Velarde, Santa Clara Pueblo/Jicarilla Apache, is a traditional belt and rain sash weaver. Velarde has been designing the sashes for LAHS graduates since 2019 and has designed and woven sashes for many other Native American graduates in Northern New Mexico over the years. Velarde shares that each year’s sash design is unique and comes into being after careful prayer and consideration.
Jovita Mowrer (Diné), LAPS Native American Student Support played an integral role in planning this event. She also shared remarks with the graduates and their families, and conducted the smudging – burning of sage – after students received their sashes.
“The success of our Native American students speaks to the strength of our school district and our shared commitment to helping all students thrive,” Mowrer said. “Our Native American students remind us that success is not singular, it’s collective and that cultural knowledge is a gift that is cyclical and intended to be shared communally rather than captured individually.”
The evening also included a dance performance by the Tewa Dancers from the North, and encouraging remarks from tribal leaders to the Class of 2026. The Tewa Dancers from North are from Northern Ohkay Owingeh and were formed in 1974 by the late Andrew Garcia Sr. to give the youth within his community an alternative way of life, steering them away from drugs and alcohol. Andrew’s passion for sharing teachings of regalia making, traditional songs and dance, as well as the fight against substance abuse, continues with his grandsons today.
The Los Alamos High School 2026 graduation ceremony takes place Saturday at Sullivan Field.
The graduates will wear the 2026 sashes during the graduation ceremony on May 23. Courtesy/LAPS