Hidden Lake Secondary School graduated 78 students on May 22 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Performing Arts Center. The ceremony marked a significant achievement for the Class of 2026, who were recognized for their perseverance and growth as Hidden Lake Heroes.
The event highlighted the importance of personal connections and support offered by the school’s smaller campus. These factors, school officials said, helped students realize their potential and become authors of their own stories.
“There is a quote on one of our classroom walls that I think perfectly captures the spirit of this graduating class. It says: ‘If you do not know, the thing to do is not to get scared, but to learn,’” said Principal Richard Diehl.
Superintendent Dr. Jeni Gotto addressed graduates during the ceremony, offering her perspective on what it means to be a Hero. “A Hidden Lake Hero is a person who had every reason to stop, but chose to keep going anyway,” Gotto told the crowd. “You are leaving here with more than just a diploma. You are leaving with the proof that you can handle the ‘heavy’ days and the ‘uphill’ climbs. The world needs people who know how to start again.”
Teacher Mark Belnay also spoke at the event, acknowledging students’ efforts: “Heroes don’t have to wear capes and fly across the sky or wield superpowers…They just need to make the world a better place through their actions, however small or seemingly unimportant,” said Belnay.
As graduates prepare for next steps including college, military service, trade schools or entering the workforce, Gotto concluded with encouragement: “Class of 2026, as you step out of this room, don’t just walk into the future—shape it,” she said. “Use that Hidden Lake strength to write a story that makes you proud… Once you are a Hidden Lake Hero, you are a hero for life.”
