Pahrump Valley senior overcomes stroke, earns graduation, eyes culinary arts

Cayla Moreno’s path to a Pahrump Valley High School diploma was anything but ordinary. The senior, whose profile was published April 9, said graduation meant more than a ceremony and a gown. It marked perseverance, growth and a hard-won belief that she could finish what doctors once doubted she would.

Moreno had a stroke at a young age, and there was a time when getting from class to class was difficult. She moved from a contained classroom setting to a full schedule of seven classes, kept her grades up and arrived on time. That shift became one of the clearest signs of how much she had pushed herself through high school.

A major part of that progress came from self-advocacy. Moreno said one of the most important lessons she learned was how to speak for herself instead of waiting for someone else to do it. She learned to go directly to teachers and staff about what she needed to succeed, and that skill became central to her PVHS years. She also stayed focused through fitness, making the gym part of her routine even though she did not take part in traditional extracurricular activities.

Her story lands in a broader county education picture that shows how much graduation still depends on persistence and support. Nye County School District’s Class of 2024 four-year graduation rate rose to 86.1 percent, up 6.12 percentage points from the year before. The Nevada Report Card lists Pahrump Valley High School at 89 percent graduation, with 1,333 students enrolled and a chronic absenteeism rate of 35.2 percent.

Moreno’s success also connects to what is happening inside the school itself. Pahrump Valley High has an active culinary program that has recently hosted student-led dining events, a fitting backdrop for a student who plans to study culinary arts in college, especially baking. She wants to create cakes and sweets and eventually open her own business.

For younger students, Moreno’s advice is direct: show up, stay focused, believe in yourself and stay away from distractions and unnecessary drama. In a community where many students face attendance and academic hurdles, her journey from a contained classroom to graduation stands as a concrete example of what determination and self-advocacy can make possible.