In reality it’s a compliment but it probably wasn’t easy to hear.

Spring sprang, and now summer has set in.

Close to a thousand high school seniors tossed their caps up to the evening sky as Desert Vista and Mountain Pointe high schools hosted commencement ceremonies on their home football fields Thursday.

The mass exodus the last two seasons has people wondering about the level of talent remaining in the Desert Vista football program.

The city of Phoenix recently recognized the 2013 Outstanding Young Man and Young Woman of the Year winners at the 27th annual awards event. Sixteen students were selected as council district winners were recognized at the event, along with the teacher who inspired them the most. Each of the district winners received a $250 cash award.

The Infinity Wrestling Academy, run by Chuck Barbee, will host three different camps this summer at Desert Vista.

Desert Vista High School students this week presented a near-complete application for teacher evaluations to be rolled out in the fall, a project more than a year in the making.

Brock Wilson, captain of the Desert Vista Volleyball team (one of two captains, the other is Ryan Adams), played Salpointe May 7 and swept them 3-0. The Thunder, seeded No. 1, lost 3-1 to No. 4 Gilbert in the state semifinals.

Team Phoenix, a youth basketball program in Ahwatukee Foothills, will have a Family Fun Movie Night and Raffle Fundraiser on Friday at the AMC Ahwatukee 24, 4915 E. Ray Road.

Even though “The Great Gatsby” has gotten the movie treatment several times in the past, no film adaptation has ever really stood out as the definitive version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s celebrated novel. Director Baz Luhrmann’s film is certainly the most visually arresting interpretation of “The Great Gatsby” ever produced. Catherine Martin, who previous worked with Luhrmann on “Moulin Rouge,” “Romeo + Juliet,” and “Australia,” deserves multiple Oscar nominations for her hyper sets and eye-popping costumes. As wonderful as Luhrmann’s “Great Gatsby” is to look at, the enchanting visuals are also ironically the movie’s downfall. In the midst of the art direction, costumes, and music, the story and characters that made Fitzgerald’s book a classic become a mere afterthought.

The scenes were about 20 miles and three hours apart on Thursday, but nonetheless felt much the same.

Sun Devil and Wildcat fans will get to show their school pride at Florencia Pizza Bistro in Ahwatukee tomorrow during the “Duel in the Desert” fundraiser.

For the past two years, Desert Vista High School teacher Debra Benedict has seen her students grow in writing, leadership and in their understanding of the issues within education.

As thick dark clouds rolled in over Chaparral High School and a light drizzle started to fall, it seemed like Mother Nature stole some of Desert Vista’s thunder.