RIO RANCHO — Rio Rancho High School’s Class of 2026 didn’t get their diplomas Thursday without hearing mention of the things that define their age: Generation Z, Panda Express, artificial intelligence and rapper Kanye West.
That is not to say that the 565 graduates out of 577 who walked the stage at the Rio Rancho Events Center didn’t hear a few wise words from school officials or their fellow students. Valedictorian Jacob Rice, Rio Rancho Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert “Robby” Dodd and RRHS instructor Jason Black were all given speaking slots — and managed to inject humor while doing it.
Rice, who will attend the University of Alabama to study electrical engineering, congratulated his graduating class before quoting “poet and philosopher” West’s lyrics on fame and his personal and professional evolution. Then, Rice offered some serious reflection…