Cyber Academy graduate Isaiah Reifschneider talks with his recruiters after the ceremony. Reifschneider will attend U.S. Army basic training in the summer. Mike Sandoval photo.

Dealing with a pandemic your senior year and the loss of a classmate two years earlier is a lot to overcome.
The senior class of Rio Rancho Cyber Academy did it. They were rewarded with their diplomas May 14 at Haynes Park.
Graduating senior Isaiah Reifschneider, who will attend U.S. Army basic training this summer, talked about how important RRCA was in helping him be successful.
“I chose Cyber Academy for personal reasons,” he said. “I had to take care of my mother — and they were able to fit my work schedule.
“I’ve actually learned a lot more here,” Reifschneider said.
Student Kendrick Johns, who died in 2019 and would have graduated with this class, was remembered during the ceremony when his parents, Kim and Erik Johns, gave two scholarships in his name.
They were then presented with a shadow box containing a graduation cap and diploma from RRCA.

For more photos from the Rio Rancho Cyber Academy graduation ceremony, pick up a copy of the May 23 Observer. For lists of graduates, thoughts from the valedictorian and salutatorian, and other graduation-related content, stop by our office at 409 NM 528, Ste. 101, for a copy of our graduation special section.