Academy of Arts & Academics Senior superlatives

While in high school, Sophia has played volleyball, participated and helped write State of Emergency and was stage manager, helped with costumes for Eurydice, interned at OCT, and was a volunteer with the recycling crew at Autzen Stadium.

JOSEY MARKEHE

HONORS: Josey Markehe is the daughter of Heather Kehe and Isaac Marquez. She is a STEM Major at the Academy of Arts and Academics. She has been accepted to Oregon State University and plans to study Architectural Engineering. While in high school, Josey has obtained 10 of college credit and has been active in the South Eugene Rowing Club and wss in Thailand on exchange with the Rotary Youth Exchange her sophomore year. During her senior year she interned for Lane County Public Works, where they used CAD programs to design ADA ramps. She has a scholarship from Oregon State University for $2,000 per year renewable for four years; a value of $8,000.

SURYA MILLER HONORS: Surya Miller is the daughter of Robert Miller and Anna Miller. Surya is a performing arts major at the Academy of Arts and Academics. During her junior year, she interned for the Center for Dialogue and Resolution where she helped create a class plan for a new pro- gram they were putting on that upcoming summer.

AMARU PALMA

HONORS: Amaru is the son of Melissa and Rodolfo Palma. He is a STEM Major at the Academy of Arts and Academics. He has been accepted to the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. He plans to study computer science at OSU. While in high school, Amaru has obtained 25 college credits through our College Now program and classes at Lane Community College. He has been a TA for Interactive Electronics with Kyle and during his junior year he interned for Workbook Factory where he helped design web pages and user interface elements. During his senior year he interned for the Springfield Schools Print Services where he helped do daily tasks as well as designing and coding a new website. He has been awarded the OSU Opportunity Grant – $3,468; Oregon Opportunity Grant – $2,352; Finley Academic Excellence Scholarship for $4,000 renewable for four years, a value of $16,000; and has accepted a Work Study position a value of $3,000

Persimmons Petersen

HONORS: Persimmons

Petersen is the child of Jayle Petersen. They're a Theater major at the Academy of Arts and Academics. They have been accepted into the University of Oregon and plan to study psychology. Persimmons has been a member of the A3 D and D club. And has been awarded the PathwayOregon, the University of Oregon’s promise to cover tuition and fees for four years, a $60,000 value as well as a $1,400 VA scholarship.

JOSHUA

Shepler

HONORS: Josh Shepler is the son of Valerie Shepler and Joel Shepler. He is a Visual Arts Major at the Academy of Arts and Academics. He has been accepted to Southern Oregon University and the University of Oregon. He plans to study Visual Arts at Southern Oregon University. While in high school, Josh has obtained 7 college credits through our College Now program. And has acted in State of Emergency, designed Eurydice poster, acted as Orpheus in Eurydice and designed the poster for the A3 Spring dance and music concert. Josh has been awarded the Churchill Scholarship from Southern Oregon University for $2,000 per year, renewable for four years; a value of 8,000. Apex scholarship from the University of Oregon for $2,000 per year, renewable for four years, valuing $8,000 total.

AYEDEN

Whitworth

HONORS: Ayeden is the son of Jesse and Raven Whitworth. He is a Music Major at the Academy of Arts and Academics and he has been accepted to the University of Oregon. Ayeden has been awarded the University of Oregon Apex Scholarship for $2,000 per year renewable for four years; a value of $8,000; and PathWayOregon, the University’s promise to cover tuition and fees over four years, a $60,000 value.

By Dana Merryday dana_merryday@yahoo.com

In his comments that veered om the adi onal s le of address which incorporates lofty platitudes and poems, Herington commented on some of the challenges that both he and his students faced in the unprecedented pandemic school years leading up to this moment. is was the rst year since taking the job that his students started and nished the year in the building, with no long breaks or distance learning required in between.

Having taken the principal’s posi on just before everything went south, Herington compared this culmina ng event of gradua on as being akin to his “ rst” year as a principal. In many ways it was.

The sentiment of overcoming unprecedented challenges was re ected also in remarks om the student speakers.

Nature itself seemed to want to punctuate the fact by sporadically raining on the students during their open-air ceremony as if to say you're

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