On May 25th, two DZ alums named Ann (Haggerty & Santos) and two named Mary (Peterson & Chandler) represented the Phoenix Alumnae Chapter at the Phoenix Day School for the Deaf high-school graduation ceremony. The auditorium was packed with the 15 graduates' families, friends, and guests. Entire families were there to celebrate the happy occasion with loud cheers and applause as the diplomas were bestowed. Of the 15 graduates, 12 were young men, dressed in blue caps and gowns. The three young ladies wore gold.
We presented $500 checks, certificates, and letters of congratulation to Mariah Rogers, who will attend SWCID, the Southwest College Institute for the Deaf, in Texas; and Francisco German, who will attend Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Most graduates of this class are going on to college, a remarkable feat. A blue and gold balloon drop provided a festive finish to the ceremony. I hope more of you will be able to come out for next year's graduation, as this is our alum chapter's major philanthropy, and everyone on our roster should witness it at least once!
We had a nice surprise as we were exiting the auditorium. An attractive woman approached to thank us for supporting the school all these years, and said she is a PDSD staff member who is a Delta Zeta! Stephanie Yeargood lives in Estrella Mountain Ranch (Goodyear), and she would make a wonderful speaker for one of our meetings next year. She was a DZ in Georgia.
All in all, it was a great evening. Thank you all for supporting our fund-raisers this past year so we could present two awards to these very deserving young people.
In Delta Zeta,
Ann Santos
