Just three years in, Holy Cross Catholic High School is having their first graduating class Friday.
Commencement is at 7 p.m. at the Way Retreat Center, 4014 N. County Road 1160, which is where the high school is located.
Head of School Carolyn Gonzalez said they are excited, but sad at the same time. There are three students in the senior class.
Gonzalez said they are thankful that God allowed them to open the school, find a home and have students who stayed with the school to graduate.
The next senior class should be larger as there are 17 juniors.
The school signed a 50-year lease with the Way Retreat Center and their name is in front now, Gonzalez said.
Kaley Madrid, 17, Kaleigh Franklin, 19, and Matt Crawley, 18, are the school’s first graduates.
“I think graduating is pretty cool because it’s not something I think everyone gets to experience at some point. … I think it’s cool, and especially being the first group to graduate from here adds to that,” Crawley said.
He was going to the University of Hawaii, but decided he’s going to work for a little bit before he decides to go to school.
Madrid said she is honored to graduate. Being part of the first class makes her feel special.
“I didn’t go to (this) school for my whole high school. This is my first and last year here, so it makes it even more special,” Madrid said.
What drew her to Holy Cross is that they care.
“It’s more like a family than an actual school,” Madrid said.
She added that she plans to attend Midland College to become a nurse.
Franklin said she thinks graduating is amazing.
“For me, it’s been a long time coming. I’ve spent five years in high school. I stayed back a year so I could go to this school. I’m really sad to go … but at the same time, I’m ready to start the next chapter of my life,” Franklin said.
“I’m going to miss everybody, but they’ve helped me become the young woman I am. Thanks to them, I’m ready to start the next chapter of my life,” she added.
She plans to attend Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio to become a secondary English teacher.
“I’m also on full academic scholarship, so my first year is entirely paid for off of scholarships that I’ve earned,” Franklin said.
Her mother found Holy Cross and when Franklin met her, she realized this was where she was supposed to be.
“I figure that sacrificing a year was more than worth continuing my Catholic education,” Franklin said.
Crawley said he was home schooled until sophomore year. He arrived at Holy Cross a week late, but he had never been to a school before.
When he was introduced to Gonzalez and his classmates, he knew it would be OK.
He added that he likes the small class size because if you have a question the teachers will take time to talk to you about it.
Gonzalez said she is appreciative of the students staying with Holy Cross and fighting hard to graduate.
“Kaley Madrid had to take a leap of faith. She was at a high school for three years and didn’t want to leave. (She) loved her high school and then had to have a leap of faith that her parents were making the right decision in bringing her to Catholic high school,” Gonzalez said.
But Madrid has loved the school because it’s small and “we do introduce their faith to them in a different way.” She recently graduated with her associate degree from Odessa College through dual credit.
“I also think we have the most amazing teachers who love our kids and will teach their hearts out every single day and every minute to ensure that our kids are successful,” Gonzalez said.
Odessa and Midland colleges have been working with Holy Cross to offer dual credit.
“The partnerships that we have with the businesses and the colleges; Odessa College has been amazing to work with and Midland College, we’re just beginning. It’s just been nice to have a community that supports our young people and will work with them to make sure that they’re successful at the end,” she added.
