The 2012-2013 school year at Northglenn High School was filled with many changes and successes.

With the addition of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) more educational opportunities were available to students in the engineering and biomedical field.

“As we communicate our new STEM focus to the community, the reaction and influx of new students has astonished us as we plan for the first full-fledged, four-year STEM class to enter,” said vice principal Michael James. “Many of the current seniors have benefitted from the STEM lab-based classes and will continuing to thrive in the future because of their influence.”

In terms of academic accomplishments, James said the class of 2013 has surpassed many others that have come before them.

One good example is the estimate that four students alone have accumulated more scholarship money than the entire class of 2007.

They are:

• Ryan Mera Evans, co-valedictorian, has received the Questbridge Scholarship and Gates Millennium Scholarships and will attend Yale University;

• Zachary Swanson, co-valedictorian, will be attending the Colorado School of Mines with more than $80,000 granted in scholarship funding;

• Rory Moore has received both the Gates Millennium Scholarship and the Daniel’s Fund Scholarship and will attend the University of Denver on a full ride — paying for both his undergrad and post-graduate studies;

•  Andy Orozco Rivas received a tuition-free scholarship to Colorado College.

“There are many more examples of the accomplishments, and we are proud of them all,” James said.

The graduating class of 340 students’ motto this year is “A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step,” and they have chosen “Hall of Fame” by the Script as their class song.