KTAL-LP Broadcasts the 2020 Las Cruces Public Schools High School Senior Celebrations
Our Hosts' Reflections
Here's what out hosts have to say about the ceremonies:
Peter Goodman, co-host at the ceremonies and of Speak Up, Las Cruces!
Community radio filling an unexpected community need. Doing play-by-play for three of 'em was tiring but fun. Moved and delighted by all the energy of kids, pals, and parents, varied cars and decorations, genuine tears and laughter, joy and reflections, and the stories of kids' paths from scared newbie to proud senior.
Linda Hall, "NOLA Girl," Program Manager, Board member, co-host at the ceremonies and host of Shades of the Blues
I had the distinct pleasure of being part of the planning meetings with the LCPS and helping identify the possible broadcasters for KTAL. Although this project came together very late, as far as planning goes, working with a superb staff from LCPS and our technical team, here at KTAL, the broadcasts were pretty much spot on and all tech teams, on both sides deserve huge kudos.
Richard Kadzis and I partnered for Arrowhead Academy and Rio Grande Prep. I am so proud to have been a part of this incredible effort to provide high school graduating classes a memorable celebration, under the circumstances. Cars were decked out, mortar boards were decorated, family, friends and pets were allowed to be in the cars and most dogs along for the ride, also wore mortar boards. This was a wonderful opportunity for KTAL to help our community celebrate these incredible young adults and, for myself, some emotional moments as students laughed and cried and I did the same along with them.
Thank you KTAL for helping LCPS bring these celebrations to the public, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of these celebrations.
Richard Kadzis, "The Buzzman," co-host at the ceremonies and host for Reeling' in the Years and Tuesday Night Jazz
Being part of a special team that put extra meaning into the term "community radio" was a privilege. KTAL's partnering with Las Cruces Public Schools to broadcast six high school Class of 2020 Celebrations was brilliant, for sure! I hail from a family of teachers, so I found the Celebrations personally gratifying, and looking into the eyes of the students, parents and family, faculty, administrators and, well, just a few of us "casual" observers, these are two days I will never forget. The story behind each and every "commencing" senior makes for a compelling, collective community narrative like no other! Thank you, LCPS Superintendent Dr. Karen Trujillo, for helping make our live broadcasts so complete and so well-received!
Michael Allen, KTAL's on-site producer, who worked all six graduations!
I can say that it was fun, exhausting and very satisfying to be part of the big team that included KTAL, the LCPS TV group and the great teachers and staff from all the schools to pull off this project. (I must admit to some fear and trembling going in.) We truly were the community at it’s best, making something really good happen in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, not giving in, but finding a way to recognize our proud high school seniors and give them something they will never forget.
Marty Racine, co-host at the ceremonies and host of Cosmic Troubadours
Smiling graduates told us the virus has not stolen the joy from their ceremony. All of them looked so mature and prepared for the next stage of their journey. Kudos to the school district for pulling this off and giving these young men and women a proper farewell.
Nan Rubin, Executive Producer and host of Cafe con Leche
It was a real honor that LCPS approached KTAL Community Radio about broadcasting their drive-by senior celebrations at the Field of Dreams. We didn't have a lot of time to work out the remote logistics, how the drive-by would be organized, and what role KTAL would play. As it turned out, our hosts were able to do 'color commentary' about the students and parade of decorated cars, and provide outstanding audio for the live-stream of each of the 6 schools. Listening and watching at home, even with no students of my own, I found the celebrations entertaining, moving, and very inspiring to hear the accomplishments of so many students. Extremely proud of our seniors, our partnership with LCPS, and KTAL Radio's service to the community.These are difficult times, and we wish each and every graduate the very best of luck.
Bruce A. Ernst, General Manager, Treasurer
When LCPS approached us about broadcasting the these ceremonies, I thought it was the right thing for a community radio station to do, even though I thought that it wouldn't be "good radio." Wow, was I wrong. It was a very last-minute effort and took a lot of work, but our hosts did a great job, with a little help from Superintendent Karen Trujillo! I want to thank LCPS who made this possible, especially Kelly Jameson, Bill Fox, and Matt Dawkins, who we worked with to broadcast the ceremonies; and our great hosts and behind-the-scenes personnel who did a great job.
I was truly moved on Thursday morning watching the graduation. What a strange world these students are entering. KTAL-LP wishes them all the best!
You can also view Peter Goodman's editorial here and Walt Rubel's here.
Finally, some closing thoughts from Peter Goodman:
THEN AND NOW
the hallways long as football fields,
but skinnier, he paused.
the laughter of seniors in shades
sounded like lions at play,
and he slipped past them
silently, praying to be
invisible. He could never
be them.
Nor could he guess that in virus time
he'd wear cap and gown and shades
to the drive-by graduation, standing up
through the sunroof, grinning, driven
by his masked father, receiving
rolled-up paper from the principal --
or papa’s tears.
Now what he can’t know is
how decades will slip past,
not seeing these friends,
while how they know each other
survives.
Here's what out hosts have to say about the ceremonies:
Peter Goodman, co-host at the ceremonies and of Speak Up, Las Cruces!
Community radio filling an unexpected community need. Doing play-by-play for three of 'em was tiring but fun. Moved and delighted by all the energy of kids, pals, and parents, varied cars and decorations, genuine tears and laughter, joy and reflections, and the stories of kids' paths from scared newbie to proud senior.
Linda Hall, "NOLA Girl," Program Manager, Board member, co-host at the ceremonies and host of Shades of the Blues
I had the distinct pleasure of being part of the planning meetings with the LCPS and helping identify the possible broadcasters for KTAL. Although this project came together very late, as far as planning goes, working with a superb staff from LCPS and our technical team, here at KTAL, the broadcasts were pretty much spot on and all tech teams, on both sides deserve huge kudos.
Richard Kadzis and I partnered for Arrowhead Academy and Rio Grande Prep. I am so proud to have been a part of this incredible effort to provide high school graduating classes a memorable celebration, under the circumstances. Cars were decked out, mortar boards were decorated, family, friends and pets were allowed to be in the cars and most dogs along for the ride, also wore mortar boards. This was a wonderful opportunity for KTAL to help our community celebrate these incredible young adults and, for myself, some emotional moments as students laughed and cried and I did the same along with them.
Thank you KTAL for helping LCPS bring these celebrations to the public, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of these celebrations.
Richard Kadzis, "The Buzzman," co-host at the ceremonies and host for Reeling' in the Years and Tuesday Night Jazz
Being part of a special team that put extra meaning into the term "community radio" was a privilege. KTAL's partnering with Las Cruces Public Schools to broadcast six high school Class of 2020 Celebrations was brilliant, for sure! I hail from a family of teachers, so I found the Celebrations personally gratifying, and looking into the eyes of the students, parents and family, faculty, administrators and, well, just a few of us "casual" observers, these are two days I will never forget. The story behind each and every "commencing" senior makes for a compelling, collective community narrative like no other! Thank you, LCPS Superintendent Dr. Karen Trujillo, for helping make our live broadcasts so complete and so well-received!
Michael Allen, KTAL's on-site producer, who worked all six graduations!
I can say that it was fun, exhausting and very satisfying to be part of the big team that included KTAL, the LCPS TV group and the great teachers and staff from all the schools to pull off this project. (I must admit to some fear and trembling going in.) We truly were the community at it’s best, making something really good happen in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, not giving in, but finding a way to recognize our proud high school seniors and give them something they will never forget.
Marty Racine, co-host at the ceremonies and host of Cosmic Troubadours
Smiling graduates told us the virus has not stolen the joy from their ceremony. All of them looked so mature and prepared for the next stage of their journey. Kudos to the school district for pulling this off and giving these young men and women a proper farewell.
Nan Rubin, Executive Producer and host of Cafe con Leche
It was a real honor that LCPS approached KTAL Community Radio about broadcasting their drive-by senior celebrations at the Field of Dreams. We didn't have a lot of time to work out the remote logistics, how the drive-by would be organized, and what role KTAL would play. As it turned out, our hosts were able to do 'color commentary' about the students and parade of decorated cars, and provide outstanding audio for the live-stream of each of the 6 schools. Listening and watching at home, even with no students of my own, I found the celebrations entertaining, moving, and very inspiring to hear the accomplishments of so many students. Extremely proud of our seniors, our partnership with LCPS, and KTAL Radio's service to the community.These are difficult times, and we wish each and every graduate the very best of luck.
Bruce A. Ernst, General Manager, Treasurer
When LCPS approached us about broadcasting the these ceremonies, I thought it was the right thing for a community radio station to do, even though I thought that it wouldn't be "good radio." Wow, was I wrong. It was a very last-minute effort and took a lot of work, but our hosts did a great job, with a little help from Superintendent Karen Trujillo! I want to thank LCPS who made this possible, especially Kelly Jameson, Bill Fox, and Matt Dawkins, who we worked with to broadcast the ceremonies; and our great hosts and behind-the-scenes personnel who did a great job.
I was truly moved on Thursday morning watching the graduation. What a strange world these students are entering. KTAL-LP wishes them all the best!
You can also view Peter Goodman's editorial here and Walt Rubel's here.
Finally, some closing thoughts from Peter Goodman:
THEN AND NOW
the hallways long as football fields,
but skinnier, he paused.
the laughter of seniors in shades
sounded like lions at play,
and he slipped past them
silently, praying to be
invisible. He could never
be them.
Nor could he guess that in virus time
he'd wear cap and gown and shades
to the drive-by graduation, standing up
through the sunroof, grinning, driven
by his masked father, receiving
rolled-up paper from the principal --
or papa’s tears.
Now what he can’t know is
how decades will slip past,
not seeing these friends,
while how they know each other
survives.