2020 Graduation - June 7, 2020 by Cowles Publishing

- T

Main SPECIAL SECTION

S U N D AY, J U N E 7 , 2 0 2 0

Elizabeth Figueroa, Shayan Shahrabadi, Kylie Delaney, Ashley Henegar, Emma Gustin, Phillip Croft, Garrett Renner, Joshua Malolo, Yeongseo “Grace” Lee, Mary Morse

- T

Main

SPECIAL 2

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

INDEX / ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL / OPEN DOORS REENGAGEMENT

A class of their own Because of COVID-19, the graduating class of 2020 has faced obstacles unlike any other, and they have proven that they were up to the task. From online classes to drive-thru or virtual commencement ceremonies, the high school and college graduates have accomplished something that should make Spokane proud. Through their resiliency and flexibility, they have not only made it to this milestone, they have thrived. Since everything is different, The Spokesman-Review decided accordingly that it would do things differently, as well. Alongside the

profiles of remarkable high school seniors in our area, we have also included our college graduates. We hope you will join us in celebrating their accomplishments and perseverance during these difficult times. Aside from effects the coronavirus has had on this school year, the students profiled have overcome many other obstacles: trauma, isolation, poverty. They were not only up to the task of finishing what they started, but also distinguishing themselves as leaders among their peers. We should be proud of all of our graduates. Congratulations to the Class of 2020, you made it.

Malolo’s disappointment tempered by perspective Rogers grad looking toward high-flying future

ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are:

By Nina Culver FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

No one’s senior year is ending as planned this year, but Rogers High School senior Joshua Malolo suffered another loss as well. The annual Manit Day celebration focusing on the culture of students who can trace their family origins to the Marshall Islands was canceled. Malolo has helped organize the annual event, which includes recognition of students for their achievements along with food, sports tournaments and dance performances, for the past three years. He joined his school’s Islander Club his sophomore year and he and some of his friends decided they wanted to reactivate the Manit Day celebration that used to be held every year. “We came together to plan an event where the whole Marshallese community can just come together,” he said. The first year it was just for Rogers High School students. Now, Marshallese students from all Spokane County high schools are invited to attend with their families. This year’s celebration had been scheduled for early May. “That was really tough for all of us,” he said. “We spent months planning it.” Malolo was working to groom younger students to take over putting on the celebration. He said he plans to help with next year’s event, but only by giving advice and acting as a guide. “I’ll be involved, but I would like to give the opportunity to next year’s students to take charge,” he said. He’s been trying to mentor younger students in other ways as well. He has been a Link commissioner, helping plan activities for the freshman class so they feel welcome at the large school. Malolo has also been on the school’s basketball team for the past two years. “I just loved playing basketball growing up,” he said. Spokane has a large Marshallese community. Malolo’s parents arrived in Spokane from the Marshall Islands in 2000, following in

SPOKANE COUNTY OPEN DOORS REENGAGEMENT PROGRAM

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: RJ Adam Jordan AnselmoMarnach Jacob Bailey James Barber Gabriel Barskey Robin Black Noah Bleam Dashani Broomfield Dennis Brough Sierra Broyles Rindy Brunson-Knaak Tagen Burks Isaac Calep Caleb Carter Phillip Chantry Skye Christensen Caleb Clark Gino Clodius Robert Condon Dylan Darsch CJ Dial Tammy Dickinson Tristan Drake Stephanie Eisenman Zachary Ennis-Axtman Katelyn Evans Connor Feezel-Winkler DeJaun Gardner Josh Garman Tarrell Gates-Stone Daneill Gegenheimer Gavin Goodwin Kolby Goss LeSean Grant Dani Graves

COURTESY

Joshua Malolo is a member of the Rogers High School Class of 2020. the wake of others who had come before them. “They had friends and family here, but I think they mainly came here so their kids could have a good education,” he said. The family would eventually include five children; Malolo is the oldest and has three brothers and one sister. Malolo has also been a youth leader at his church and was disappointed that a leadership conference hosted by his church that he was supposed to attend was canceled this spring. He said learning leadership skills is important to him. “I just want to keep learning how to be a good leader,” he said. “Basically, I’m just a walking sponge.” This spring has just been tough, Malolo said. “I want to do all the things seniors get to do, like prom,

Graduation The Spokane County Open Doors Reengagement Program commencement plans will be determined. Principal: Larry Tanner Program manager: Terrance Nixon

Aspen Griffey Caleb Grill-Shook Lee Grogan Adin Haines Michael Hall Van Hampton Riley Haraseth Catrina Harnasch Allie Harrington Richard Hernacki Marina Hernandez Julian Hill Ariyonna Hinton Jacey Hirschberger Gage Holman Kelsee Hopkins Marcus Hughes Terrance Jim Arionna Johnson Nicholas Johnson Imani Jones Tristan Jones Rayce Kent Hayden Ledbetter Cody Littleplume Felicia Llerena Holden Manning Kevin McBee

ABOUT THIS SECTION Cover design: Chris Soprych Page designers: Lindsey Treffry, Katharine Kumangai, Madison McCord Section editor: Katharine Kumangai Editing: Universal copy desk editors Information or corrections: (509) 459-5389

senior breakfast, the senior allnighter,” he said. But despite his disappointment, he is trying his best to look toward the future. He plans to enter the aviation program at Spokane Community College in the fall. “Hopefully one day I will become a technician or an air traffic controller,” he said. “I just like the idea of directing and communicate well with everyone I work with.” And he wants to continue to be involved in the Marshallese community. He wants to create a Marshallese community center that would, among other things, help students who are struggling. “I just plan on getting the whole thing started up,” he said. “That’s a huge goal of mine.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

nculver47@gmail.com

Julian Miller Marnie Mitchell Maina Mugo Mari Muhilly Polina Muir Mindyrose Olaitiman Keenan O’Leary Raymond Onstott Nathaniel Padilla James Passmore Jamie Preston Bailee Randolph Thomas Reason Caely Rees Sojourner Reilly Seth Rettig Mary Riblet Hannah Rohr Allen Roman Jade Rose Elijah Saldivar Edward Samolovov Elijha Sampson Jae Saulibio Jerad Serdar Tatiana Shulgan Bradley Sim Justin Smith Theresa Smith Joshua Snover Ryan Stiglich James Stocker Juan Suarez Hayley Tayloe Anthony Thompson Ryan Tipton Dean Tucker Anthony Turner Royale Watley Tristan Webb Alexis Weiss Killian West Dylon Whalen Norman Wilson Ivan Zerbin Oliver Zerbin

INDEX

High schools

School Page No. Central Valley ................................18 Cheney ..........................................26 Classical Christian ........................35 Coeur d’Alene ...............................30 Coeur d’Alene Charter .................39 Community School ........................12 Deer Park ......................................35 Dishman Hills .................................43 East Valley .....................................20

East Valley Online.........................20 East Valley Parent Partnership .....21 Ferris.................................................8 Five Mile Prairie ..............................15 Freeman .........................................38 Genesis Prep .................................40 Gonzaga Prep ..................................3 Kootenai.........................................33 Lake City ........................................28 Lakeland.........................................32 Lakeside (Nine Mile) .....................36

Yasir Ahmed Anti Aine Nebol Aleu Malachi Alexander Adam Alqureishi Maryam Al Shamarti Gage Altieri Aunika Ames Aliyah Anderson David Anderson Katelyn Anderson Nikyia Anderson Emlynn Ankeid John Mark Arcenas Jaidstyn Artz Benjamin Asbury Jadien Ashby-Marshall Arieh Ayala Rosales Kelby Ball Anthony Bates Gadi Bayubahe Majel Bennett Noah Benvenuti Ryan Berklund Pamela Bertram Jada Bishop Emma Blackwell Robert Blocker Tanner Boedcher Joseph Brantley Cayson Brewer Sydney Brockie Nate Brockmier Devyn Brummett Parker Burke Serenity Burris Abby Burton Rileigh Burton Jade Butrum Meyli Callahan Hunter Campbell Kendra Campbell Molly Campbell Cheyenne Cash Cory Caudill Jersey Chaney Abbegale Chase Elvira Cheban Issak Chol Charles Coleman Mason Connerley Alex Contreras Sapphira Courtney Naydia Crespo Megan Crossley Shelbie Crowder Daryus Culbert Skylee Curtis Edmon DaJose Colton Dallara Torrey Daniels Jimmy Dao Dominic Del Real Justin Denney Jaden Drennen Hailey Druley Hollie Dunham Destiny Egleston Justin Egleston Jayden Endres Mark Enos Mary Enos Job Erakdrik Kelie Esmieu Jemima Eukenio Aries Evans Sulieman Fakhreddin Aliya Fatone Kaylynn Feldhusen Regina Flemming Noah Fletcher Michael Foehringer Tyler Fogelquist Zachary Francis Hunter Franco Brooke Free Mathew Freeman Katalina Freyer Riley Funnemark Damian Gaddy Emilio Garcia Emmanuel Garcia Esbeydi Gaytan Jaedan Gee Brodie Gibson Colton Gibson Albert Goodwin Talon Grace Elissa Grant Diana Grishko Autumn Grove Ryelle Faith Guieb Alain Gurov-Pridyuk Parmila Gurung Rabin Gurung Angelica Gutierrez Angelina Guzevatiy Tracy Ha Taren Hayes Dominic Hays Johan Hernandez Bryce Hill Chaylean Hill Dylan Hill Jonathan Hill Kylee Hofer Sydney Holmes Shayla Howerton Luisa Ingram Jaston Jacob Kiah Jaeger Kolten James

Lakeside (Plummer-Worley) .......34 Lewis and Clark ...............................9 Liberty .............................................21 Map ..................................................13 Mead ................................................14 Medical Lake ..................................41 Medical Lake Endeavors................41 Mica Peak ........................................17 Mountain View...............................32 Mt. Spokane ....................................16 New Vision.....................................29 North Central..................................10 North Idaho Christian ...................34 North Star GSL................................16 Northwest Christian......................36 NW Christian Homeschool ...........36

Graduation Rogers High School planned a virtual commencement ceremony at 4:30 p.m. June 6. The school is located at 1622 E. Wellesley Ave. Principal: Lori Wyborney Summa cum laude: Abby Burton, Megan Crossley, Jimmy Dao, Victoria Jurgens and April Wynne.

Wynne

Burton

Dao

Crossley

Jurgens

Hailey Jaynes Jacob Jensen Robert Jetnil Evelyn Jimenez Jacqueline Jimenez Shalinda John Devonte Johnson Hali Johnson Harley Johnson Kiersten Johnson Kenneth Jordan Naki Jorju Victoria Jurgens Chucky Kabua Kaide Kaios Kristefer Kane Carus Kappen Susann Karben Michael Keller Molly Kenagy Kap Sian Khual Braigh Kilgore Sebastian Killough Payton Kirkpatrick Bashar Klaib Tanya Kovalyov Kirill Krivopustov Hannah Lane Dania Lantir Nicholas LaValley Ly Le Savannah Ledoux Charlize Leinwebber Kirsten Light Taylor Link Ethan Little Eorina Lomae Josiah Lowry Amanda Lugo Levi Lyons Ibrahim Madhi Angel Maldonado Giovanni Maldonado Joshua Malolo Levi Martinez Brittan Mayer Passion McFarlane Victoria McGavran Drake McGill Raven McGlothin Bellino Jadyn McGowan Kyle McKenzie Jose Mendoza Michael Miethe Jr Cobey Mitchell Samantha Mitts Lounjin Mohamad Seenam Mohamad Nicoleta Moisenco Yeimi Mojica Charles Moore Ivy Moore Suzanna Morgan Chalee Moua Dorcas Mwange Marceline Mwange Courtney Naasz Laya Nason Eric Ndabarinze Rashelle Nelson Rhiannon Nicholas Evan Nomee Wynter Nowatchik Emmerance Nyiramugisha Austin Obie Gabriel O’Connor-Gannon Kelsey Paladino Marius Palmer Kearnin Palmisano Lidiya Pankova Emily Parks Elyssia Perry Abbigail Peterson Breyonya Peterson Lillian Phillips Alivia Plenty Kaylob Porath Austen Postelwait Susmita Pradhan

Oaks................................................37 On Track ..........................................12 Open Doors Reengagement ..........2 Post Falls........................................29 Pratt.................................................10 Riverside........................................40 Riverside Achievement ................40 Rogers ..............................................2 Shadle Park .....................................13 Spokane Valley..............................42 Spokane Valley Transition............43 St. George’s.....................................17 St. Michael’s ....................................41 TEC at Bryant .................................10 Three Springs.................................27 Timberlake .....................................32

Deon Prescott Felicia Pruteanu Anderson Ralpho Lydia Ramirez Melanie Ramirez Tyler Reid Kaytlyn Reno Jay Richart Elijah Roberts Kyle Robinson Winter Robnett Alondra Rodriguez Diovonte Rodriguez Steven Rogers Ayana Rondeau Rosina Roney Devin Ruby Liliana Ruiz Anthony Sablan Amina Said Angelina Sami Naliyah Sanchez Ivy Sarich Veronica Savenko Shee Say Bre Schaff Randy Scharff Sara Scollard Ian Searls Sway Shaffer Rana Shahpur Todd Shaw Sophia Sibulo Anthony Sinitsa Canon Sinzdak Edward Skinner Meghan Slater Elijah Smith Areena Solodyankin Romello Spotted Elk Samuel Stack Corbin Staker Aaron Stewart Tre Stewart Malachi Stuber David Stukalov Isaac Swan Bailey Sypher Ajara Tambwe Mekhi Tasby Kenneth Thiefault Telirose Thomas Amberlei Thomson Haley Thorp Peyton Torchio Dana Tran Jakob Trantum Jaunessa Trevino Akiva Troutt Jaxin Truex Anthony Tsiribko Dale VanGorder Brianna Vann Jesse Vanwinkle Samantha Varner Danielle Vick Dawson Vining Cheyenne Vue Justice-Monique Walton Damian Wapato Dannee Wayman Savanna Wickering Grace Wilkinson Tollina William Ryan Williams Charline Wilondja Loreen Wilondja Victoire Wilondja April Wynne Alasjah Young Jaylen Young Jayrene Zheng Kailee Zimmerman

University ........................................19 Upper Columbia ............................43 Valley Christian..............................38 Venture ..........................................26 West Valley....................................42

Colleges/universities

Eastern Washington .....................23 Gonzaga .........................................23 Idaho ..............................................24 North Idaho....................................23 Spokane Community ....................26 Spokane Falls ................................24 Washington State .........................24 Whitworth......................................25

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 3

GONZAGA PREPATORY SCHOOL

Figueroa overcame homelessness and poverty, excelled at Gonzaga Prep Senior headed to Gonzaga as Act Six Scholar By Nina Culver FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Sometimes Elizabeth Figueroa felt like she didn’t belong at Gonzaga Prep, even though she did well in all her classes and was a member of the debate team. She’d look back at her childhood, which included several missed years of school and at times being homeless and sleeping on the floor of her father’s tailoring shop, and feel like she shouldn’t be there. “It’s like I skipped a ton,” she said. “But I look at everything I did. I have potential, and people believe in me. Everything I did, it surprised me. I didn’t think it would be possible.” Her parents moved to Spokane from California when she was 1 year old. She attended St. Aloysius Catholic School through the second grade and then attended Trinity Catholic School. Then she was pulled out of school to be homeschooled. “My dad wanted me to skip a grade and (my mom) refused,” she said. But her parents struggled to make their business work and kept going in and out of homelessness. “It happened multiple times,” she said. “It was just a cycle. It was really scary as a kid.” Meanwhile, she and her older sister and two younger brothers were not being homeschooled. “Financial burdens got in the way of actually teaching us,” she said. “We were cooped up for four to five years under the name of home school.” When a friend started talking about going to high school, Figueroa started thinking. She didn’t want to continue a family cycle of poverty and struggle. “I really believe education will get me that power to change my life,” she said. Her mother heard about Gonzaga Prep and pushed her daughter to attend. Figueroa was far behind where she needed to be. She didn’t even know how to multiply fractions. But she was willing to work hard to get to the school where she thought she needed to be. “That summer before high school I was studying hard and trying to make up for what I lost,” she said. She arrived as a quiet and shy freshman but ended up liking the school and the teachers. “I was really attracted to how much the teachers cared about the students,” she said. “I really saw how good people could be.” Her parents divorced a couple of years ago, and Figueroa now lives with her mother and hasn’t spoken to her father since the divorce. “It’s much more stable,” she said. Despite her lack of formal education for several years, Figueroa excelled when she arrived at Gonzaga Prep. She began signing up for Advanced Placement classes in her sophomore year. She found the workload challenging. “When I first took AP World History it was a whole new ball game,” she said. “It was a shock in the beginning, but eventually you want to challenge yourself more.” MacLean Andrews was Figueroa’s debate coach for three years beginning in her freshman year. “She is, first, one of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” he said. “She came in really quiet, but she became a very passionate advo-

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Elizabeth Figueroa on April 9 at Gonzaga University. The Gonzaga Prep senior will attend GU as an Act Six scholar in the fall. “I was really attracted to how much the teachers cared about the students,” she said of her time at G-Prep. “I really saw how good people could be.”

GONZAGA PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Avery Ackerman Sydney Allen Samuel Anderson Khaleia Assih Matthew Auble Calista Babin Katelyn Bahr Liberty Bailey Samuel Barbieri Virgil Bays Jonas Bears Chase Becker Zachary Beer Jason Bell Emily Benn Luke Benson Nicholas Berg Alexandria Best Katherine Blaylock Ryan Blevins Ryland Bodey Andrew Booth Aubrey Bourn Carolyn Bozin Mason Brock Dakota Brown Christopher Browne Mary Browne Thomas Burnett Christian Campagna Cyrus Cannon Gwendolyn Carlson Leah Carney Braxton Casey Mario Casillas Jr. Thitikorn Chansasitorn Quinlyn Charon Hsiao-Tung Chen Meghan Christopher Bailey Collins Joseph Collins III Madelaine Condon Jodie Cooney Nathaniel Corbett Gwyneth Corrales Reagan Crain Matias Crespo Ryun Cross Yutong Dai Chloe Daniels Jackson Day Olivia Rose DeCaro Anthony De Leon Carson Desimone Blythe DeWitt Jamie Dickman

cate. I think she’s able to see things from different perspectives.” Andrews said Figueroa now is an accomplished public speaker and is passionate about her education. “She has this quiet confidence

Graduation The Gonzaga Preparatory School commencement will be Aug. 1 at Bullpup Stadium, Gonzaga Preparatory School, 1224 E. Euclid Ave. Principal: Cindy Reopelle Valedictorians: Alexandria Horton, Lucy Nester and Amara Vogel.

Olivia Dikes Cassandra DiMaio Bryden Dodson Jacob Dominiak Haley Donovan Andrea Edwards Madeline Eggart Tomas Estuar Emerald Farrell Elizabeth Figueroa Jack Findlater Deanna Finger Gannon Flynn Daniel Foster Pablo Frank Sofia Fray Hayden Gamache Lakin Gardner Salim Ghulam Nabi Ruby Gilles Carlos Glasser Navarrete Alex Grimes Taylor Gross McKenna Guy Liam Harrington Alexander Holodnick Grace Hoppie Kathleen Horn Alexandria Horton Nicholas Horton Demi Howlett Alexis Hubbard Jacub Hughes Liam Hurley Elizabeth Hval Xzandre Jean-Francois Prapai Jingkaojai Audrey Joy Mirabai Karasu Katherine Karel Ian Keno Cayden Kerr Jacob Keyes Karan Khahera Connor Kiepe

about her that can take people by surprise,” Andrews said. Figueroa received an Act Six scholarship that provides full tuition to Gonzaga University. She said she wants to study premedicine and become a doctor because she wants to make sure

Horton

Vogel

Nester Ashton Kopczick Halle Kuhar-Pitters Maria Laiminger Cemoria Larson Chelsea Le Ireland Lefebvre Xi Li Zhuoyang Li Grant Lindquist Liam Lloyd Gabriel Mack Patrick Maddigan Johnna Manfred Anders Mark Dominic Maucione Olivia Mayer Matthew McGann Meghan McGann Talia McGillen Molly McGinn MaryKate McHenry Hannah Mears Zane Melzer Elizabeth Meyer Torrance Montgomery Sean Nave Lucy Nester Olivia Nett Hoang Nguyen Monique Nichols Jackson Nielsen Tayla Nielsen Morgan Odenthal Bailee Ojogho Rigee Olavides Erik Olsen Maricela Orellana Shecid Orellana Edward Patterson Ceinwyn Phipps Nicolina Piccolo Brett Plank

that everyone who needs health care gets it. “I remember when I was injured, my parents couldn’t afford to take me,” she said. Andrews said he encouraged her to apply for the scholarship, but she was hesitant because she

Nathan Plaster Abbigail Powers Chase Proctor Mia Puzzo Yekaterina Pyankova Jadyn Raley Jones Peyton Ramirez Annika Readel Anabelle Redder Austin Reed Sydnee Reed William Reeves Aubrey Richards Trevor Riordan Anthony Rupp Noah Russell Lexi Salinas Andrey Samolovov Karter Sayler Max Scelfo John Schmidt Paige Scholin Anna Schrecengost Lauren Schwartzenberger Maxfield Schwietert Evan Simmons Isabell Simpson Jacob Simpson Declan Sklut Bram Soldatek Shiloh Sommerfeld Emily Spiering Victoria Stefoglo Maria Strasser Daniil Sushkov Josephine Swenson Nickolaus Swenson Madeline Szacik William Thielman Matthew Thompson Megan Tiffany Maria-Jose Torres Mia Torres Paige Townsend Ines Trevino Ruperez Annabella Turner James Turpen Eva Ulrichsen Carson Valley Ryan Voelker Amara Vogel Jaiden Wagner Logan Ward Rylie Wareham Gracie Wehr Jacob Wilson Hannah Wood Julia Wright Dallas Young Artem Yushkevich Ying Anna Zhao Hao Julianna Zheng

thought other people were more worthy than she is. “She ended up getting the scholarship,” he said. “I knew all along she probably would.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

nculver47@gmail.com

- T

Main

SPECIAL 4

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP THOMAS A. DALY “I congratulate our graduates from the Catholic schools of Eastern Washington and thank parents, teachers, and pastors for helping our young people to grow in grace and wisdom. The last few months have been especially challenging for many, but we take comfort in knowing that each of the graduates will be leading us to a hopeful future by continuing their call to discipleship, and applying their unique gifts as the Gospel of Matthew calls us: “A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” May the God-given light from each of our graduates continue to nurture their faith, and guide their vocation to be disciples in our world.”

TO ALL 249 8TH GRADERS GRADUATING THIS YEAR FROM

11 OF OUR EASTERN WASHINGTON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS: All Saints Catholic School, South Hill Spokane Assumption Catholic School, Northside Spokane Assumption Catholic School, Walla Wallla Cataldo Catholic School, South Hill Spokane St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic School, Central Spokane St. Charles Catholic School, Central Spokane St. John Vianney Catholic School, Spokane Valley St. Mary Catholic School, Spokane Valley St. Thomas More Catholic School, Northside Spokane Trinity Catholic School, Central Spokane St. Patrick Catholic School, Pasco Nazareth Guild would like to thank our generous sponsors and donors. It is with your ﬁnancial help and faithful partnership that we are empowered to support students and Catholic schools. As a result of Covid-19 our Catholic schools throughout Eastern Washington transitioned from traditional classroom instruction to remote continuous learning without interruption. Leaders bundled up their schools’ core values, faith-based communities, academic instruction, and helped make the unknown easier for the students and families they serve. It’s not what our schools do, it’s why our schools do it. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NAZARETH GUILD VISIT NAZARETHGUILD.ORG OR CALL 509-744-3257

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 5

- T

Main

SPECIAL 6

SUNDAY

JUNE 7, 2020

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

$32,412,881 four-year average in scholarship money offered to our

Nicolina Piccolo

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 7

Brett Plank

Loyola University Chicago

Grand Canyon University

Nathan Plaster

Abbigail Powers

GRADUATING SENIORS

with $8,458,966 scholarship money accepted Washington State University

Chase Proctor

University of Montana

Austin Reed

Mia Puzzo

Washington State University

Sydnee Reed

Wenatchee Valley CC

Arizona State University

Lexi Salinas

Andrey Samolovov

Spokane Community College

Undecided

Lauren Schwartzenberger Maxfield Schwietert Washington State University University of Washington Tacoma

Yekaterina Pyankova Grand Canyon University

William Reeves Undecided

Karter Sayler

Washington State University

Jadyn Raley Jones North Idaho College

Aubrey Richards

Grand Canyon University

Max Scelfo

Gonzaga University

Peyton Ramirez

Annika Readel

Spokane Community College University of San Francisco

Trevor Riordan

University of Washington

John Schmidt

Washington State University

Anthony Rupp

University of Washington

Paige Scholin

Grand Canyon University

Harvard University

Anabelle Redder Eastern Washington University

Noah Russell

Montana State University

Anna Schrecengost

Washington State University

CLASS OF 2020 will be attending 63 DIFFERENT colleges & universities

Evan Simmons

Gonzaga University

Isabell Simpson

Jacob Simpson Gap Year

Declan Sklut

Washington State University

Occidental College

Daniil Sushkov

Nickolaus Swenson

Eastern Washington University

Mia Torres

Gonzaga University

Carson Valley

University of Idaho

Jacob Wilson

Spokane Falls CC

Bram Soldatek

Shiloh Sommerfeld Spokane Falls CC

Grand Canyon University

Washington State University

Josephine Swenson

Madeline Szacik

William Thielman

Matthew Thompson

Spokane Falls CC

University of Arizona

Washington State University

Maria-Jose Torres

Paige Townsend

Washington State University

Ryan Voelker

Grand Canyon University

Hannah Wood

The Master’s University

Spokane Falls CC

Amara Vogel

Washington State University

Julia Wright

Washington State University

Emily Spiering

Gonzaga University

Ines Trevino Ruperez Undecided

Jaiden Wagner

Gonzaga University

University of Idaho

Annabella Turner

University of Idaho

James Turpen

Washington State University

University of Portland

Logan Ward

Rylie Wareham

Washington State University Washington State University

Dallas Young

Gonzaga University

Victoria Stefoglo

Artem Yushkevich

Ying Anna Zhao

Eastern Washington University

University of California Davis

GONZAGA PREP CLASS OF 2020,

we send you off and pray with you, as we have every day for the last 720 school days: May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; May the Lord look upon you with favor and grant you peace. Amen.

Maria Strasser

Arizona State University

Megan Tiffany Eastern Washington University

Eva Ulrichsen

Høgtun Folkehøgskole

Gracie Wehr

Spokane Falls CC

Hao Julianna Zheng University of San Diego

- T

Main

SPECIAL 8

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

FERRIS HIGH SCHOOL

Ferris’ Caviness charts her course Runner coping with father’s death; will continue education at BYU By Jim Allen THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COURTESY

Halle Caviness, a senior at Ferris High School, is bound for Brigham Young University.

Halle Caviness has always been at home on the track, losing a few races, winning many more and always finding contentment. She was there again on the evening of May 11, warming up on the track behind Ferris High School as her classmates gathered in small groups on the grass. Local artist Tom Pettoelo had just completed a spray-paint masterpiece on the field, with the names of every member of the class of 2020. “I was a little surprised they were doing that, but I think it just felt cool for everyone to be recognized,” Caviness said. So much has been lost this spring to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for this year’s high school seniors. There were no proms or big commencement ceremonies at the Arena and no spring sports such as track and field. But few have given up more than Caviness. A distance runner since her freshman year, she lost not her senior year on the track, but the man who helped her excel. Her father, Ferris track coach Chris Caviness, died on April 20 after a 15-month battle with cancer. He was 56. A Ferris grad himself, Caviness was diagnosed early in 2019 and continued to coach while undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments during track season last spring and into the fall cross country season. “It’s been really hard, even before this spring,” Halle Caviness said. “But I’ve tried to move on and focus on things.” It’s helped that Caviness has

plenty of support through faith, family and the friendships she’s made at Ferris. “I just really loved my time at Ferris,” Caviness said. “I couldn’t imagine what it would have been like without my teachers and coaches. They’ve been so supportive no matter what stages of life I’ve been through.” Caviness also has made longlasting friendships at Ferris through her involvement in track and cross country, jazz band and National Honor Society – all while maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average. “She’s pretty fearless when it comes to doing stuff, and she’s never shied away,” said Ferris history teacher James Noble, one of her cross country coaches. Noble recalls that prior to her freshman year, Caviness had leaned toward playing volleyball. However, she hit her stride in summer training and decided to turn out for cross country. Two years later, she helped Ferris reached the state meet and finished 23rd overall. “She worked really hard and quietly motivated people all the time,” Noble said. Talented enough to compete at the college level, Caviness has received preferred walk-on invitations from Division I schools. However, she plans to attend BYU this fall and eventually major in special education or occupational therapy. “I’ve always wanted to do something that would help me work directly with people,” Caviness said. CONTACT THE WRITER:

(509) 459-5437 jima@spokesman.com

FERRIS HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Ali Abdullah Suaad Abdulmajeed Helmi Abner Lauren Achenbach Amira Adam James Adams Julia Albrecht Mali Alexander Takoda Alexander Adela Alimanovic Sabah Alkadi Mustafa Al Sabahi Aesha Al Saedi Karrar Al Shamarti Sultan Al Zouabi Amber Andersen Ajani Anderson Madison Anderson Tarynce Antolin Michael Apitz Maria Arzon-Tomeo Fatema Awad Wendy Bai Joseph Barrett Zachery Barron Jason Beine Yemesrach Bekalu Michael Beloshitsky Jason Bernardi Yacine Bitibale Honeylee Black Jonah Bloom Ethan Bludau Maria Belen Bobadilla Arana Katelyn Boone Jadon Bowton Mason Boyd Winter Boyd Isabelle Breese Jack Brekke Micheal Bridge Grace Brown Elyssa Brueggemeier Austin Brumbaugh William Bryant Andrei Burgoci Adina Burrow Hannah Burson Sierra Caballero Riona Caires Jillian Calkins Danica Campbell Justin Cardwell Ryan Casey Halle Caviness Jessyka Ceravolo Matthew Chen Zoe Cheney Stanislav Chernyy Jonathan Cinq-Mars Joshua Clark Selena Clark Jackson Clavel William Clements Megan Cline Conor Closson Lily Coan Taylor Cobb Cyprus Coleman Shelby Collins Bennett Comes Brennan Condill Katelynn Cooke Anice Cormier Robert Coulter Leonard Cox Samuel Cox Josue Cruz Echeverria Keilani Cunningham Jacob Current Shantae Cutler Jazzelle Danna-Berry Jake Davis Ortaveus Davis Collin Dean Evelyn Decker Leighton Demille Egor Demin Daniel DeNike IV Charmaine Denny Nathan Deruyter

The Ferris High School commencement was planned for June 6. Principal: Ken Schutz Summa cum laude: Wendy Bai, Jadon Bowton, Matthew Chen, Olivia Edwards, Helen Gao, Keely Hall, Abbey Hansen, Avery Loucks, Kalina Luong, Daria Markewych, Samuel Morozov, Elizabeth Seefeldt, McCoy Spink, David Sposito, Dylan Stearns, Amelia Stockdill, Elliot Wald, Mayla Ward and Maya Watson.

Lexis Dinwoodie Hunter Doggett Benjamin Duchow Makai Dulz Colby Duncan Preston Duncan Keegan Eastep Gaej Edwards Haleigh Edwards Olivia Edwards Tristan Elwood Natalie Ervin Analie Eschenbacher Solomon Farzana Avery Featherstone Ashasia Fierro Zachary Fleming Amelia Focher Cael Foster Madison Frady Jackson Frerichs Trinity Frostad Jaylynn Fuller Aidan Gaetano Arian Gahvarehchi Jacob Gano Preston Gano Helen Gao Gillian Garlick Thomas Gary IV Mckenna Gass Eh Gay Esther Gichuki Awet Gile Jessica Gipson Michael Girsberger Dallas Mykel Goering Alondra Gonzalez Medina Kaliyah Gordon Marcus Gordon Jason Graham Lindsey Griffith Lauren Grundhauser Vincent Gunter Alexander Gustaffe Andreas Gutierrez Micah Gutman Anna Hainsworth Keely Hall Max Hall Caleb Halvorsen Greyson Hamilton Jack Hampshire Abbey Hansen Brooks Hanson Evan Hanson Cole Hare Nickolas Hare Elaine Harken Zar Harrison Nicholas Hayes Isaac Haynes Mahdi Heidari Aiyana Henderson Piper Herold Nathaniel Hess Justin Hetzel Anthony Higgins Riley Hildebrand Hayden Hills Grace Hintz Casey Hocking Dawson Hone Harry Hoover Preston Housam Eh Ray Htoo Jaden Humphrey

Devin Hurst Luke Hydrick Tucker Inman Mason Irvine Iris Jacobson Jones Anthony Jennen Jacob Jennings Hannah Jeremiah Jack Jeremiah Summer Jeremiah Austin Johnson Scott Johnson Delevechi Jones Brent Jones Jr. Jason Jones II Omar Jones II Ewan Juidici Munzir Juma Abdullah Jumaah Milad Kabiri Sharlyn Kagereki Grace Kaplicky Thomas Kasimov Caitlin Kauffman Megan Kauffman Freya Keith Kaleb Kerr Ava Kerst Wesley Kimball Bridget Kirby Jamie Kizer Kayrina Klein Joshua Kobluk Emma Koontz Jacob Kotlarz Inna Kozhokar Samuel Kozlov Kimberly Krumrei Phoebe Kucera Madiro Kwenda Sydney Lafferty Thomas LaLone Isabel Landingin Isabella Lapinski Margaret Lauffer Elijah Lauritsen Claire LaVoie Ashton Lawrence Jacob Leech Oleg Lepekhin Jackson Lewis Calvin Lindsay III Tanner Litts Brett Litzenberger Elsa Longhurst Anna Lorenz Avery Loucks Allison Lukas Kalina Luong Natalie Lutz Kathryn Lyden Liam Lynch Maura Lynch Trevor Malkoski Daria Markewych Caden Martin Charlotte Martinez Erick May Elijah McCann Dan McGee Jerrod McMillin Christopher McNamara Anastacia Menefee Collins Alisher Meredith Grace Meredith-Boucher Koh Micek Lily Michael

Bai

Bowton

Chen

Edwards

Gao

Hall

Hansen

Loucks

Luong

Markewych

Morozov

Seefeldt

Spink

Sposito

Stearns

Stockdill

Wald

Ward

Watson Joshua Millet Qali Mohamed Emran Mohammadi Mehran Mohammadi Ethan Montague Brandon Montano Alexander Moore Franklin Moore Joshua Morimoto Samuel Morozov Abigail Moua Emanuel Moua Lauren Munson Sydney Munson Sophia Munter Justin Murray Kirill Nagornyy Glory Naw Paris Neeley Akberet Negash Simon Nelson Smith Jack Neupert Affy Nguyen Huyen Trang Nguyen Minhthu Nguyen Sang Nguyen Bradey Odell James O’Leary Ross Osborne Dylan Pearson Jonathan Peone Johny Perry Liam Petefish Viengsay Phetmisay Tessa Poland Nolan Popp Izzabella Porter Magnolia Price Ryan Purdum Kwame Qadir Alize Quintero Samantha Quintero Hayden Rabaglia Haley Rauth Hayden Reid Levi Reuland Gunn Kassandra Riel Ravyn Riffe

Seth Riley Alexis Riordan Jake Robbins Brody Robinson Mark Rogers Reese Roland Madison Rosentrater Trenton Roshetko Payton Royston Quinton Ruetsch Jovan Ruffin Aldijana Sabanovic Lauryn Sabori Pan Ei San Claire Sanchez Joel Sanchez Chloe Sandmeyer Alyssa Sauers Caydance Schelling McKayla Schexsnayder Noah Schilbe Nathan Schlosser Nicole Schucker Olivia Schwartz Elizabeth Seefeldt Hailey Shilley Kurtis Shipman Ethan Side Isaac Sijohn Gavin Simonds Kayla Simonds Joshua Simons Telitha Singer Mykyta Smiian Christian Smith Dylan Snyder He Wah Soe Ethan Soran Kaymiss Soto Bonilla Allannah Spiller McCoy Spink David Sposito Haleigh Stanley Dylan Stearns Scott Steele Ice’cellus Stewart Amelia Stockdill Caleb Stockwell Eric Strandquist Grace Stromberg Steele Strothers Zane Strothers Gavin Taggart Kadyn Taylor Curtis Tensley Jr. Malachi Tesarik Angelus Theobald-Geurin Hunter Thompson Keena Thompson Kylie Thompson Timothy Thompson

Morgan Thornberry Olga Tischenko Courtney Townsend Hoai Tran Corbin Traynham Savannah Triplett James Trusty Constantin Tsakarestos Tyler Tschache Cristin Turcanu Clara Turner Alina Ugrin Hailey Utzinger Aurelia VanderWilde Tyler Van Gordon Bryn Van Mansum Tess Vasecka Gabriel Vasquez Daisy Vetter Jillian Vickerman Jilliene Villanueva Hatrinh Vo Ava Vonbrethorst Alexandra Vorpahl Payton Vorpahl Kayla Vyverberg Elliot Wald Peter Wang Mayla Ward Anika Warfield Maya Watson Nolan Watts Joseph Weaser Emily Weber Walsh Gabriel Weil Lexi Weir Justina Westman Oliver White Kacie Whitten Katerina Wiese John Williamson Ethan Wilson John Wilson Benjamin Winter Luwam Yifter Andrey Zagumennyy Sebastian Zaranski Reagan Zbylski Saron Zemedkun David Znovets Abbie Zuck

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 9

LEWIS AND CLARK HIGH SCHOOL

Overcoming limitless challenges at LC Four years after arriving from Iran, Shahrabadi succeeds

“To me, the thing that stands out is that how quickly he moved toward his goals.”

By Jim Allen

Bob Adams

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

When Shayan Shahrabadi and his family immigrated to America from Iran four years ago, they saw unlimited opportunities. However, at first, Shahrabadi found only limitless challenges in the classroom as a freshman at Lewis and Clark High School. He spoke barely a word of English, which meant long hours in the English Language Development program and likely little chance to graduate with his peers. Four years later, Shahrabadi is graduating on time with a 3.7 grade-point average and hoping to become a dentist. His secret is simple: Just work a little harder. Early in his time at LC, the ELL students were asked to read or write two English-language stories a day. “I would do six or seven,” said Shahrabadi, whose family began life in America by living in his aunt’s home in Spokane. “It was very hard sometimes – I didn’t know any English and had to get used to my surroundings.” Shahrabadi and his two younger sisters were pushed to succeed by their parents – his mother is a phlebotomist and his father an art welder – but most of his

LEWIS AND CLARK HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Anna Ackermann Jaren Adams Netinamay Addy David Adewale Daria Alicic Jehu Allen Tyler Allen John Allison Kade Archer Eli Armstrong Morgan Armstrong Brandon Atkins Beryl Aulagne Charles Avery Bailey Babin Ian Barker Matthew Barker Noah Bartlett Ainsley Bauer Nathaniel Bender Emily Bendickson Nathaniel Betts Joshua Bewick Jacob Bewley Malcolm Bivens Nathaniel Blake Paw Blu Catherine Bodinger Jordan Boehm Tehya Boehm Henry Bond Gledhill Juno Bonnell-Jones Caleb Bopp Katherine Bourekis Noelle Brecht Emma Brett Melanie Brigham Jamie Brooks Stella Mae Brown Trystan Brown Ashley Browning Richard Browning Kenneth Bui Dmitriy Bukhantsov Luke Bumpus Jordan Butigan Lindsay Butler Aristotle Byrnes Geovanni Carter Beatriz Cebola Moutinho Santos Daniel Ceniceros Lexi Chapin Wyatt Chase Jessica Chasse Nathaniel Clark Coulter Cloninger Elijah Clopton William Cloutier Edward Cochran Forrest Coon Kimberly Costilla Hayden Cote Amelia Crawford Heim Henry Cubbage Johnathan Curley Eh Dah Emma Dailey Grant Daniel Anastasia Darling Jordyn Dashiell Ila Davis Noah Davis Isabella DeLis Logan Denlinger Sarah DeVasconcelos Madelyn Dibble Meredith Dirkman Chloe Dougherty Rachel Douglas Caymus Ducharme Nicholas Duncan Jonathan Easterbrooks Joshua Eckert Alicia Edgar Cody Eggleston Maxwell Ellingsen Louis Ellis Mali Ellis Kaitlyn Emery Isaac Engle Paul Erban Sage Erban Jasmine Ereaux Michael Estess Mia Etter Caden Evans Ayden Eyre Kolby Fairchild Sydney Fairman John Farley Shannon Farley Cate Fasbender Rose Felice Andrew Fernald John Filanoski Wyatt Finley Darby Fitzgerald Rebecca Fox Diamond Franco Alexander Franulovich Conor Franz Howard Fredericks IV Paige Galey

Lewis and Clark High School counselor, regarding senior Shayan Shahrabadi

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Lewis and Clark High School senior Shayan Shahrabadi in front of the school on May 21. motivation came from within. “To me, the thing that stands out is that how quickly he moved toward his goals,” said Bob Adams, his counselor at LC. “English is not his first language,” Adams said. “Coming into high school he had an opportunity for an education, but he really started his English education here.”

Madeline Gatewood Havivah Giangreco Anthony Goodman Erynn Gores Spencer Gorman Tyler Gorman Sydni Goulding Mackay Graper Lavinia Greer Robert Gregg Jakob Groenen Caitlin Gruver Emma Guin Keani Guthmueller Cademon Gwynn Sarah Haines Lakaija Hairston Skyler Hall Jacob Hallesy Justyn Hamilton Noah Hamilton Sara Haney Elijah Hansen Sierra Hansen Karrigen Hanson Isla Hargreaves Mohamed Haroun Rebecca Harper Amylia Hart Matlyn Hartman Oliver Hartwig Grace Haugen Courtney Haupt Halee Hazen Makenna Headlee Miles Heath Joshua Hechtman Sean Hegbloom Viviana Heinemann Emma Hendricks Soleil Hernandez Tyler Hilsendeger Sarah Hockett Mary Hoerner Elias Hollon Sarah Holman Brenna Huang Kate Hufnagel Hannah Humes Sarah Humphreys Jacob Huppin Kaitlin Hurd Ryan Ilg Wyatt Impecoven Halka Inagaki Atina Jabuwe Teddy Jackson Elizabeth James Josiah Jennings Maeve Jensen Nickolas Jeske Serine Johansen Emma John Gabriel Johnson Peyten Johnson Dalina Jonathan Caleb Jordan Kiara Julagay Gavin Juviler Robel Kahsay Gracyn Kaiser Eleanor Kappes Catelin Kashork Tobikle Katejukjuk Riley Kelley Daniel Kilwani Rylei Kintner Elysia Kinyon Joseph Kjeldgaard Michayla Knapton Gwyn Knight Joy Koston Vladislav Kozlov Maya Krueger Samiah Kuntz Molly Kurfman Sein Lah Na Da Lan Emma Lang Nathaniel Larson Jasper Larue First Name Last Name Eva Lawson Kali Ledeboer Molly Leech Isaiah Lincoln Roberto Lopez Benjamin Louie Joshua Love Sydney Lowry Katelyn MacIver Aydan Mackay Hannah Mahan Luis Mai Prabin Mangar Jolina Manoguerra Genavieve Marckini Gabriela Marquis Conner Martin Carmen Martinez Makayla Mason Jael Mateos Daniel Maxwell Caeden Mayers Aaron McAteer Tanner McCabe Juliann McCormick Dimitri McDonald James McGivern Drake McKinney Samuel McLaughlin Molly McMulkin

Adams noted that just like everyone else, students in English Language Development program must earn 24 credits in order to graduate; Shahrabadi is on target for 25 1⁄2. “It’s difficult for any of our ELD kids to graduate in four years because they get hung up” on the language proficiency requirements, said Bob Adams, a

counselor at LC who has worked with Shahrabadi throughout his high school career. “Shayan is very organized,” Adams said. “He’s kind of a quiet guy, but once you get to know him, he’s a very articulate, thoughtful guy.” “He’s also very respectful and appreciative,” Adams said. Once enrolled at LC, Shahraba-

di made the most of his opportunity. His freshman-level classes were supported, “but he moved quickly,” Adams said. Taking extra classes, Shahrabadi soon moved into general education classes and eventually to Honors geometry and precalculus and Advanced Placement physics. Shahrabadi shares the credit with his parents and with teacher Lecia Curtis, who leads the ELD program at LC. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this without her,” Shahrabadi said. “She’s helped me with everything.” More challenges await. Shahrabadi has been accepted into the University of Washington, where he hopes to major in biology and perhaps become a dentist. However, financial aid has been complicated by his immigrant status. “We’re still waiting to find out,” Shahrabadi said. CONTACT THE WRITER:

(509) 459-5437 jima@spokesman.com

Graduation The Lewis and Clark High School commencement will be Sunday at Hart Field, 3508 S. Grand Blvd, Spokane Principal: Marybeth Smith. Summa cum laude: David Adewale, Eli Armstrong, Morgan Armstrong, Melanie Brigham, Stella Brown, Lindsay Butler, Emma Dailey, Noah Davis, Meredith Dirkman, Caymus Ducharme, Maxwell Ellingsen, Mia Etter, Cate Fasbender, Rebecca Fox, Madeline Gatewood, Jacob Hallesy, Isla Hargreaves, Joshua Hechtman, Elias Hollon, Brenna Huang, Gavin Juviler, Gracyn Kaiser, Kali Ledeboer, Benjamin Louie, Luis Mai, James McGivern, Molly McMulkin, Kian Miner, Sarah Moline, Ethan Mueller, Callen Neff, Patrick North, Bennett Nye, Janet Phang, Chloe Pond, Sophie Rast, Darby Rickel, Andrew Rindge, Gwyneth Teel, Bailey VanderWilde, Chloe Wiley, Sydney Williams, Lauren Wood, Sydney Zinnecker.

Liam McPherson Annie McQuesten Shellie Meier Electra Meipel Netson Mengelwa Curran Middleton Owen Middleton Bliss Miller Erin Miller Kian Miner Mason Mitchell Miles Mitchell Sarah Moline Hsa Hay Blut Moo Hser Eh Moo Abigail Moore Donyae Moore Emma Moore Jillian Moore Malachi Moore Jackson Morehouse Samuel Morehouse Hali Morlin Jaxon Morris Aaliyah Moss Ethan Mueller Debora Mugisha Viva Mungualinipa Jordan Munir Angelique Munoz Hope Muriungi Claire Murphy Fiona Murphy Sophia Murray Ethan Nackos Khin May Naung Maverick Nazareno Keivonte Neal Callen Neff Tate Nelson Ashley Nicholson Hannah Niemi Patrick North Bennett Nye Diego Och Guarchaj Chloe Olson Emma Orndorff Sebastian Orton Ysabella Panzeri Ashley Parks-Grain Tad Patrick Taiyanna Pereira Micah Perry Kylie Pester Thailea Petry Matthew Pfeifer Alexandra Phalon Christina Phan Janet Phang Jayden Pierce Tariq Pierce Khalea Pinchak Emily Pitts Aiden Pjosek Ethan Plaster Hailey Pleake Jil Plott Serena Pollock Chloe Pond Marcel Potter Meghan Pratt Akaila Preston Jessica Quacquarini Jasiel Quesada Hernandez Piper Quimby Serafina Radford Bekalpa Rai Carlos Ramirez-Santiago Henry Rashidi Holden Rasmussen Sophie Rast Thomas Ray Matthew Read Nicole Resanovic Caden Rhine Madison Rhodes Tallia Richmond Taytum Richo Darby Rickel Elizabeth Rihani Lopez Avery Riley Andrew Rindge

Jaimie Roller Nicholas Roozekrans Daegan Roper Gunnar Rorholm Omar Rosales Mason Rose Austin Runkle Jacob Ryse Parisa Saleki Jordan Santiago Annalia Santos Alyssa Schmelzer Kaitlynn Schmidt Evan Schweifler Jonathan Schweifler Mugel See Jacob Sepinuck Shayan Shahrabadi Calvin Sherwood Shee Sho Sviatoslav Shulipa Mathew Silar Manpal Singh Camryn Smith Kyra Smith Sevrin Smith William Smith Dontae Solomon Zachary Somers Cody Spacek Kayla Stapleton Jonathan Steeber Avery Steer Jacqueline Stefanoff Josie Stenzel Zane Stephens Jack Stevens Ryonna Stewart Aiden Stiller Paige Stoick Benjamin Stone Brenden Stripedwolf Pramila Subba Christopher Sukin Dakota Sullins Duncan Sullivan David Sumner Parker Sutherland Wyatt Swaim Tylynn Tate Gwyneth Teel Jacob Tenold Broc Thomas Anna-Rae Thompson Gabriel Thompson Haily Thompson Pyper Thompson Rogan Tinsley Lauryn Tippets Khamille Townsend Joseph Trefry Morgan Valley Bailey VanderWilde Eunice Viatoshir Sydney Waddell Logan Wagner Olivia Waldenberg Abigail Ward Kalena Warrick Ethan Warring Bailey Weber Megan Wells Sarah Wheeler Grace Wick Chloe Wiley Alonzo Williams Kelsey Williams Noah Williams Sydney Williams Logan Williamson Lillian Womach Lauren Wood Cassidy Worley Norman Wyckoff Nuqu Xiong Brooklynn Yamamoto Spencer Young Yahel Zavala Arriaga Sydney Zinnecker Cassia Zurlini Joel Zylak

Adewale

E.Armstrong

M.Armstrong Brown

Butler

Dailey

Davis

Dirkman

Ducharme

Ellingsen

Etter

Fasbender

Fox

Gatewood

Hallesy

Hargreaves

Hechtman

Hollon

Huang

Juviler

Kaiser

Ledeboer

Louie

Mai

McGivern

McMulkin

Miner

Moline

Mueller

Neff

North

Nye

Phang

Pond

Rast

Rickel

Rindge

Teel

VanderWilde

Wiley

Williams

Wood

Zinnecker

Brigham

- T

Main

SPECIAL 10

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

NORTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL / PRATT ACADEMY / TEC AT BRYANT

Nixon thrives in spite of health issues North Central grad looks on bright side By Nina Culver FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

North Central High School senior Elaina Nixon spent a lot of time in the hospital as a young child after she was diagnosed with cancer, cystic fibrosis and an immune system disorder. But she has emerged from the experience determined to thrive. “It’s almost a miracle she’s even alive,” said North Central counselor Lyndsey Sabo. “She’s always been working against the odds with her body.” Yet many people Nixon went to school with don’t know anything about her struggles because she doesn’t focus on them, Sabo said. “People don’t have any idea,” she said. “She never complains about it.” But that isn’t what sets Nixon apart, Sabo said. It’s her unfailing positive attitude and optimism. “She has a great attitude,” she said. “I think she teaches us all the importance of resilience and hope. She’s just a joy to work with. We’re just really excited to see how her story unfolds.” Nixon’s health issues began when she was two weeks old but the answer didn’t come until she was five months old. “They labeled it ‘failure to thrive’ for a while until they did a test and found out I had cystic fibrosis,” she said. “I was severely malnourished.” Cystic fibrosis is a chronic, incurable disease that damages the lungs and digestive systems. Those who have it produce a thick mu-

COURTESY PHOTO

Elaina Nixon is part of the North Central High School class of 2020. cus that can clog their lungs and life expectancy is usually severely shortened. But last year a new drug was approved to treat the disease and Nixon said it has worked wonders for her. “It’s worked amazing,” she said. “I can breathe a whole lot better.” When she was 6, she and her family were visiting family in Spokane from their West Side home for Thanksgiving. Nixon landed in the emergency room with a high fever and they discovered a Wilms tumor on her kidney. She was in Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital for a month while she received cancer treatment. After extended radiation and chemotherapy, Nixon beat the cancer. “I don’t remember a lot of it,” she said. But after her treatment ended, she kept getting sick. She’d end up in the hospital three or four times a year, a lot more than her brother,

who also has cystic fibrosis. “We were baffled,” she said. Then a blood test after she received a vaccine showed no antibodies against the disease she’d just been vaccinated against. More tests revealed problems with her immune system. The body is supposed to make 14 antibodies on its own, Nixon said. “I make two of them,” she said. “I don’t make antibodies like I’m supposed to.” With the help of medication, she’s been much healthier. She’s only had one trip to the hospital in the last three years. So now her sights are set on her future. She plans to attend Spokane Falls Community College in the fall and earn an associate’s degree before transferring to Eastern Washington University for a teaching degree. Nixon said her freshman English teacher made her interested in teaching English. “He kind of just inspired me,” she said. She’d love to stay in Spokane, where she’s lived with her family for the last 10 years. She’d like to teach high school English because she wants to help make high school a good experience for students, she said. “High school was a really good time for me,” she said. But Nixon is also savoring the fact that she made it this far. “I was really determined,” she said. “It’s been kind of a wild ride.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

nculver47@gmail.com

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

TEC at Bryant senior Ezekiel Redinger poses on the empty campus of Spokane Falls Community College, where he took Running Start classes to get his associate’s degree before graduating from high school.

Redinger ventures off to wild blue yonder By Ryan Collingwood THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Ezekiel Redinger is ready for takeoff. The TEC at Bryant senior and aspiring pilot has been on the runway, waiting to receive his high school diploma. Redinger will begin to reach altitude at Central Washington University, where he’ll begin his aviation education this fall. “I want to fly commercial planes, see the world,” Redinger said. “I’d like to fly to countries for missionary work.” He’s on the right track. Redinger, who carries a 3.5 GPA and was also taking college courses, has had an affinity for aviation since he was a 5year-old onlooker at a Fairchild Air Force Base air show. “He has had his sights on being a pilot for as long as I can remember him,” TEC counselor Sara Duval said. Planes are just a drop in the bucket of Redinger’s interests, though. A young man of strong Christian faith, Redinger has long been a youth leader at his church, regularly attending virtual Bible studies during the coronavirus pandemic.

He also snowboards, reads “Avengers” comic books – The Flash is his favorite superhero – and collects action figures. TEC (The Enrichment Cooperative) is a Spokane public school, partnering with the parents of home-schooled students, giving students like Redinger an experience of both worlds. The school, located on the campus of Bryant School on North Ash Street, will have a virtual graduation this year, according to Redinger. He’ll miss it, but he’s ready for the next chapter in Ellensburg. “It was phenomenal,” he said of TEC. “The teachers made an effort to make sure I was successful. Since it was so small, it gave a sense of community I wouldn’t have received at a larger high school.” TEC will miss Redinger, too. “The thing about Zeke is he will ask you how you are, and he really wants to know,” Duval said. “It is not just a thing he says to start a conversation. “He is genuine and cares about people around him. I know he is going to be greatly missed at TEC for his leadership, laugh, compassion and love for others.”

TEC AT BRYANT

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Zuri Archer Chase Clear Nathanael Darjany Samantha Finnoe Annika Genthe Josiah Ray Ezekiel Redinger Summer Sandstrom Christopher Simmons Abigail Simpson Dane Wert

NORTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Maryam Abbas Marcus Abdel Malek Kelly Abrahamson Elizabeth Abrego Kayla Adeniran Katie Allbery Adam Allum Abbas Al Mohammed Estabraq Al Mohammed Precious Alo Idris Alzoubeir Chance Anderson Jonathan Anderson Lindsey Armijo Briana Armstrong Alexis Atchley Andrew Atkinson Abdul Mobin Azizi Andrea Baker Charlotte Baker Ayden Baldwin Summer Ball Tanner Barber Elizabeth Barker Lauren Barnes Bradford Bawden Zachery Baxter Tyisha Begs His Own Vyncent Belarde Huseni Bembe Evan Bertholf Linn Eliza Betz Carson Beville Ciara Bevins Laura Bjerke Hannah Bohnet Ali Bolkeim Olivia Bone Alisa Boston Teresa Bradley Arystalla Brand Micah Brauhn Amunique Brown Arianna Brown Karissa Buringa Briia Burnson John Byembabazi Emily Cady Ian Cady Taylor Cain Alexa Calkins Tobias Candaso Chuck Carr Lillian Carruthers Nathan Carter Samuel Cash David Cates Alexandra Chaney Anthony Chase Trevor Chase Dakotah Chastain Garrett Chavez Cameron Clarke Colton Cocke Braeden Cooper Mark Corbaley Colby Corkins Logan Cramer Molly Cricchio Kailey Crockett Victor Cruz-Ruiz Bredyn Cunningham Uriah Cunningham Cammy Current Prince Cyimana Jerome Daniels Tayte Davidson Dion Davis Triannah Dennis Corbin Dickinson Colton Dixon Vi Do Kian Dolan Joshua Drees Alexis Duffy Eris Durden Alexis Ebel Devione Edwards Silas Elison Jenna Enright Mathew Eversole Charlotte Falstad Dalton Feist Tomi Felch Nathaniel Foley Andrew Fraser Alex Fredenberg Nicholas Freese Brenden Gannaway Aurora Garcia James Gardner Kade Garvey Rocky Garza William Geddes Alexandria Geren Cade Gering Brayden Gervais Jordyn Giard Benjamin Gillespie Lorenzo Gonzalez Daniel Goodwin Tristin Goodwin Donovan Gordon Aaron Gosser Maly Grande Dylan Gregory Blake Guier Jomari Gumatay Brennen Haley Kayla Hamilton Abigail Hanson Jade Hartwig Jayden Haskins Mohammed Hassan Jaden Hastings Devlin Hatcher Ian Hicks Gretchen Hietala Grace Hilderman Kate Hilderman Erinn Hill Mia Hill Jacob Hoffmann Trinity Hogue Jacob Honeycutt Journey Hughes Michael Hume Cameron Hutyler Pedro Ibarra Miles Iseminger Heather Jackson Natalie Jacob Trey Jamme Caleb Jensen Tyler Jensen Logan Jessen Aaron Johnson Alexander Johnson Allen Jones Jerzey Kane Lexy Kapelke Brandon Key Cody Kiger Eunchan Kim Adisen Kincaid

Graduation The North Central High School planned a virtual commencement ceremony, and drive-thru diploma pickup on June 6 at the school, 1600 N. Howard St. Principal: Steve Fisk Summa cum laude: Katie Allbery, Bradford Bawden, Lillian Carruthers, Kian Dolan, Jenna Enright, Dalton Feist, Claire Liere, Teann Manser, Amaya Martin, Christina McCarty, Molly Mickey, Peter Mitchell, Kristin Murphy, Kendra Potratz, Amelu Ruff, Kyle Seedall, Tia Stangel, Jett Street, Sanda Thang and Alyssa Toney.

Allbery

Bawden

Carruthers

Dolan

Enright

Feist

Liere

Manser

Martin

McCarty

Mickey

Mitchell

Murphy

Potratz

Ruff

Seedall

Stangel

Street

Thang

Toney

Davin Kittrell Adam Klein Simeon Klimper Levi Knight Tucker Knudsen Jordan Kreitz Tori Krotzer Jaden Kruse Hailey Lacasse Sophia Laksiouer Matthew Landgren XeOnnuh Lane Austin Lashley Porter Lawrence Kyle Leaming Dominick Leas Hailey LeBret-White Anne Lewis Claire Liere Mitchel Long Ngor Lual Cooper Luce Justin Lusarreta Courtney Luther Nicole Mack Alexander Mahn Tyler Manning Teann Manser Shanda March-Haynes Valerie Marich Amaya Martin Benjamin Martin Gabrielle Mason Jaylynn Maxey Blake Maxwell David Mayfield Jurnee Mayo Jordan McBride Christina McCarty Qwyn McCollom Maggie McConnaughey Elaina McLaughlin Paige McNeil Hannah McSpadden Shardai Means Claire Menzer Benyamin Meric Zoe Meyer Molly Mickey Gloria Miller Mallory Miller Peter Mitchell Mohammad Hussain Bin Mohammad Salim Nur Azimah Binti Mohammad Salim Nur Fatimah Binti Mohammad Salim Ellaha Mohmand Bishal Mongar William Montgomery Christopher Mora Isaac Morris Kristin Murphy Angelynah Neal Tu-Vinh Nguyen Caleb Nichols Xavier Nila Elaina Nixon Saiaujah Nixon Tristan Nomee Abby Norton Alexander Ochoa Ashley Ogle Angel Ojeda Jacob Okihara Emilee Orvik Chloe Palmer Ricky Parsons Tristan Patterson Carson Pettit Gabe Phipps Carson Pieters

Exavia Piper Perris Plummer Dacota Poe Kari Polensky Kendra Potratz Brittany Pravitz Allarae Prigan Tayona Pritchard Arnes Lalit Rai Jaleina Rain Emily Ramirez Kallista Reidt Cameron Reyes Ashlynn Rima Ryland Risinger Sandra Rivera Isias Rosadovelazquez Emily Rozier Amelu Ruff Juanjose Ruiz Dorcas Rusimuka Edwige Rusimuka Adara Russell Jasmine Sanchez Jacob Satake Henry Schultz Blake Scoble Mackenzie Scott Gunnar Sebright Kyle Seedall Felix Seremet Maron Shatzer Tristin Sherrill Styleen Shoap David Shoemaker Tehani Sigrah Dallas Smilden Gabriel Smith Abbi Sohner Nikolai Spine Tia Stangel Sarah Steele Jett Street Olivia Tabish Selam Tadesse Denise Tambwe Alyssa Taylor Marielise Taylor Sanda Thang Jacob Thompson Jenae Thompson Marcus Tilton Destiny Titchenal Alyssa Toney Billy Toney Nicholas Trofimchenko Hailey Tulee Analiese Turner Lashayla Turner Madison Van Blaricom Justus Vandouris Jeramiah Vann Gunnar Van Riper Julian Vaughan Bradlee Vigil Meagan Volke Benjamin Wade Amy Wahl Jayson Waldroup Zachary Walterman Kurtis Warner Jaisa Webb Zyaira Webb Anya Wendt Nichole White Patrick Whiteside Amaya Whitney David Whittenburg Cyann Williams Noah Williams Addie Wood Presley Wycoff King Zeigler

Graduation The Enrichment Cooperative at Bryant had planned a virtual commencement ceremony. The campus is at 910 N. Ash St. in Spokane. Principal: Suzanne Smith

PRATT ACADEMY

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Anthony Bigsmoke-Mitchell Grayson Brady Gabriel Macks

Graduation The Pratt Academy commencement was scheduled last Friday in the school gymnasium, 6903 E. Fourth Ave., Spokane Valley. Principal: Lisa Pacheco.

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 11

Congratulations NORTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL f o s s a Cl

2020! We Are Family, Always!

- T

Main

SPECIAL 12

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

ON TRACK ACADEMY / THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Curiosity became Henegar’s cup of tea Alternative school worked well for teen By Cindy Hval FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Ashley Henegar found a place to thrive. The resilient teen transitioned from Mead High School to M.E.A.D. Alternative High School in her sophomore year. When that school closed last year due to budget cuts, she found her stride at On Track Academy. “Alternative education was a wonderful choice,” Henegar said. “It’s the best thing I could have done for me. I wish a lot more people could experience at least a year of alternative school.” On Track teacher Brita Gulseth credits Henegar’s success to her positive attitude and strong work ethic. “Ashley took advantage of every possible learning experience we have for students,” Gulseth said. “Her curiosity is boundless.” Some of those experiences took her out of her comfort zone. When the school hosted a health fair, Henegar volunteered to emcee the event. “She’s a little shy,” Gulseth said, “but she was interested in improving her public speaking skills.” Henegar agreed. “I’ve never been good at public speaking, but I wanted to improve, so I just stepped up,” she said. Stepping up involved introducing each of the presenters to the crowd of attendees. “I think learning to speak in front of people is import-

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

On Track Academy’s Ashley Henegar sits for a photo in the highly styled Brambleberry Cottage & Tea Shoppe in Spokane. Henegar, now 18, has been volunteering at the shop as a dishwasher and busser since age 13 and has evolved into a server, host and baker, helping her mother Laura Henegar, who is the general manager of the business. Henegar will study pastry arts at Spokane Community College. ant,” Henegar said. Gulseth said emceeing the health fair is just one example of how her student’s inquisitiveness motivated her. “What most surprised me is Ashley’s willingness to go deeper in every subject,” she said. “That curiosity is one of her most valuable traits. It will turn her into an adult that’s wellrounded and invested in the community.”

For Henegar, feeling comfortable in her learning environment gave her the freedom to explore things like leadership and hosting events. Although she may not be an extrovert, Gulseth said the teen is approachable. “She can make conversation with anyone. Ashley’s got truly exceptional listening skills,” she said. While she excelled in leadership and enjoyed

ON TRACK ACADEMY

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Dustin Ainsworth Nicholas Arnold Frisco Ayala Zackery Baarstad Lydia Barnett Nicholas Baxter Kieran Beck Sylis Bender Tristan Benjamin Dejah Best Jacob Bewley Mason Bischoff Jacob Bogdanoff Amanda Boughter Shalagh Bowers James Bowman Devyn Braun Abigail Bridges Chance Brough Sebastian Broussard Ellerie Brown Elliott Browning Caisade Burland Jace Caccamo Gabriela Calderon Leona Calderon Preston Campbell Lexi Chapin Andy Chavarria Davila Grant Cleary Patrick Cody Kristin Coffman Leigh Cogburn Brooke Cole Heavenly Collins Ethan Conroy Gavin Coumont Kaden Cozza Chase Crawford Jacob Crawford Colby Cross

Graduation The On Track Academy planned to create a graduation video June 6 that will be distributed to the families of the graduates. Principal: Lisa Mattson Bredyn Cunningham Daven Czyson Anastasia Darling Kenchasha Darrough Jolea Davis Makaela Davis Rhys Day Alyssa Denison Triannah Dennis Christian Diacogiannis Dominic Diaz Angel Douglas Rios Joshua Drees Aurionne Duncan Isaac Engle Michael Estess Lexus Fackler Brianna Fernandez Trenton Fitch Caitlyn Fite Jovan Flores Alexis Franetich Barnhill Brooke Free Tatum Freund Rosie Gale Riley Gilliland Gaje Gilreath Yajalen Gomez-Ramirez Anthony Goodman Tyler Gorman Bradlee Graham Nicholas Graupman Avian Gray Elijah Greeley Katie Groh Noah Groom

Lauren Grundhauser Quinton Haggerty Sarah Haines Savana Haller Jayden Hansen Fifield Hannah Hanson Carolean Harmon Jon Harris Brieanna Hawk Landon Haws Ashley Henegar Alexandra Hernandez Ashton Hitchens Adamae Holloway Kai Holquist Tanner Hooper Jacob Houck Dylan Howe Talyn Hutchison Eugene James Kelly Janssen Allison Johnson Evelyn Johnson Lillian Johnson Tamira Johnson Cameron Johnston Jade Jones Kaitlyn Jones Riley Jones Brent Jones Jr. Calla Jose-Villegas Jada Jura Christine Justice Rylei Kintner Joseph Kjeldgaard Kayla Knapton

working on social justice projects at On Track Academy, Henegar feels most at home in a kitchen. “I used to watch my mom baking when I was little,” she said. “I started baking in high school. I draw comfort from it, and enjoy making things for my family and other people.” Staff and students at On Track were delighted to sample some of her creations.

“She brings the most beautiful cookies to share with everyone,” Gulseth said. “She’s an amazing cook.” It’s no wonder Henegar enjoys her job at Brambleberry Cottage & Tea Shoppe, and why she plans to study culinary arts at Spokane Community College this fall. “I’d like to specialize in pastry,” she said. “I’m hoping to work in the food in-

dustry, and maybe, someday open a comic book café.” Henegar feels she’s grown in ambition and confidence, thanks to her alternative education experience. She offered her advice to younger students: “If you feel like you don’t fit in, find a place where you can be yourself.”

Cedar Knows His Gun Jayda Koger Aidan Krebs Brenden Kunze Hayley Lancaster-Bennison Ryan Landgren Heidi Lavigne Esperanza Leal Corissa LeBret Katelyn Leeper Aydan Leyde Isaiah Lincoln Taylor Link Rachel Little Emily Long Aliciana Lopez Jyheam Mack Breahana Mahoney Michael Malone Shane Mangis Alex Marciano Jazmine Martin Jurnee Mayo Daniel McCarthy Moet McCarthy Mark McCullough II Hunter McDonald Liam McPherson Hannah McSpadden Shardai Means Makayla Melius Chloe Melton Aric Merce Cheraya Moore Donyae Moore Cambria Morgan Logan Morgan Stevie Morgan Tasiah Morgan Kailey Mortimer Roman Muglia Hunter Mullins Abigail Murphy Fiona Murphy Kaya Murrell Georgy Musalin Bailey Nelson Grace Nelson

Jonathan Niemeyer Mariam Nosov Amanda Ortiz Kelton Otter Clayton Page Gabriel Parker Quinton Peel Kayleigh Perry Patricia Peter Jayden Pierce Yvette Pimentel Mariah Pla Kaylob Porath Jonah Powell Sara Prather Jillian Quam Jake Quimby Michael Rall Justice Ramirez Miranda Reihman Esmeralda Reyes Bobby Richards Dakota Richey Logan Rickus Ashlynn Rima Grace Rodriguez Jaedyn Rollins Ezekiel Ross Devin Ruby Emily Runge Jacob Runge Journey Rutz Matthew Ryplewski Jasmine Sanchez Destiny Sanders Bre Schaff Abrianna Schwartzenberger Tyler Sewell Oryen Shartle Jessica Shaw Simon Shields Audri Simon Telitha Singer Ethan Smith Hayzlene Smith Nevyn Smith Sean Smith Aaliyah Solis

Darian Solorio Staysha Springer Arielle Sprinkle Harrison Stanley Seth Stayton Ethan Stearly Masie Stewart Savana Stoeser Summer Stoeser Jason Strong Lily Strong Steele Strothers Roman Suryan Cailin Swearingen Vanessa Taylor Nicole Tedrow Broc Thomas Billy Toney Nicholas Trent Kaleb Trieschmann Kayla Ugolini Emma Van Ness Autumn Vaughn Isabella Villalobos Benjamin Wade Calub Wallace Lily Wallgren Scott Ward Grady Weakly Jacob Wenski Daetyn Wheeler Andrew White Elijah White Eric White Skyler White Levi Whitehead Zoe Wildes Hannah Williams Lemmiel Williams Adlee Wilson Leo Winkelmann Jackson Wolf Dohnal Annie Woodson George Yarno Alasjah Young Matthew Young

CONTACT THE WRITER:

dchval@juno.com

Community School grad jumps into career helping others Taking care of people fulfills Ava Munizza

THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are:

By Stefanie Pettit FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Ava Munizza is graduating from The Community School, and rather than now turning toward figuring out what she wants to do with her life, she’s already employed – and doing it. In her junior year she enrolled in the pre-nursing program at the New Tech Skill Center and has gone on to earn her certified nursing assistant (CNA) credentials. She has been working as a CNA at a nursing home/rehabilitation center for many months now. “I really didn’t know I wanted to be a nurse until last year,” said Munizza. “I had been leaning toward physical therapy, but when I did clinical work along with a CNA for six weeks, I found I loved it.” What it’s all about for her is being there and taking care of people – and their families – when they need it, especially in a health care setting. She is aware of how important that is during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Munizza grew up with her parents in a rural area outside New-

COURTESY

Ava Munizza is set to graduate from The Community School. port, Washington, near Diamond Lake, where she and her younger sister were homeschooled until it was time for high school. It was then that the family moved to Spokane, and Munizza began classes at The Community School, part of the Spokane Public Schools. Ashlee King, school counselor, explained that the curriculum is project based, and all subjects are integrated into the study of real-world matters. Munizza said she has struggled

Alex Bachman Makenzie Barton Diana Bayramkulova Cary Bonnett Zoe Cochran Owen Cunningham Jessica Day Claudine Frease-Higgins Lola Fridley Julia Fritz Chloe Garcia Jena Hahn Alessa Haseman Rena Henry Isabell Jones Kalan Koch Grady Linklater Jenna Mark Isabella Moya Ava Munizza Halie Putnam Huebel Ambria Realing Kaitlyn Ruiz

with dyslexia throughout her life. She enjoys reading but has had a hard time, especially with writing and math. Visual therapy and other work have helped her manage the condition, but dyslexia has certainly made her have to work harder to learn and to achieve, she said. She remembers hearing stories from her grandmother, who is a

Graduation The Community School commencement details were not available. Principal: Cindy McMahon

Isabella Ruiz-Raffa J’lee Schneider Jocelyn Sherod Maliki Taegel-Marko Jeremy Tait DaisyRain Teaford Adam Thompson Gabrielle Trent Grace Tucker Christian Waterman Rowan Weaver Jasmine Williams Shayla Wordell

nurse, about how much it meant to her to take care of her patients. Even with that in the background, Munizza said it’s perhaps her father’s situation that helped crystallize for her the path she wants to follow in life. Her father has had many hospitalizations and has received two kidney transplants. He is awaiting a third.

Theirs is a close-knit family, often taking road trips together, which over the course of her growing-up years have included visiting about half the states in the nation and as many national parks as possible along the way (the cliff dwellings in Utah are her favorite). “I’ve learned so much about the country and about many different people,” she said. Rock climbing, snowboarding and camping are among her favorite outdoor activities. Her focus remains on health care. She is currently working with patients who have tracheotomies, providing care for them. “When I help someone, it really makes me happy,” she added. As for the future, she expects to pursue additional education in health care – possibly pursuing an RN degree or working in criminal justice. And she hasn’t totally ruled out physical therapy just yet. “Ava is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met,” said King, her school counselor. “I think it really speaks to who she is, that she’s gotten her CNA at age 18 and in this COVID environment is doing what she’s doing, which is working in the medical field, helping people.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

upwindsailor@comcast.net

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 13

SHADLE PARK / MAP HIGH SCHOOLS SHADLE PARK HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are:

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Ryan Niles at the empty Shadle Park High School campus on May 21. “I’m very optimistic,” said the Shadle senior.

Positively focused on future Hard work, sunny outlook powers Shadle senior Niles By Joe Everson FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

To Shadle Park senior Ryan Niles, there’s no such thing as a glass half-empty. He’s a young man whose relentlessly positive attitude has impressed everyone around him. “Ryan is just a really good guy,” said his varsity football coach, Jim Mace. “He was a captain this year on our team and has been a great leader with the other guys. He’s always bought into the idea that he’s going to do his job, and his character and leadership ability have helped him make the most of his experience here.” Ryan is an all-around kind of guy, listing wrestling, tennis, and advanced theater on his résumé, in addition to football. He has done every-

thing he could to expand his horizons, including the leadership class and working with incoming freshmen “to show them that high school isn’t as scary as they think it might be.” He was planning to go out for track and field this spring until an injury and COVID-19 derailed that idea. About that injury: He was hiking at the Bowl and Pitcher in mid-February, fell off a cliff, and suffered a compound fracture in his back. He was in the hospital for two weeks and outpatient therapy for a while longer, then returned to school for a week before Washington schools were shut down for the year. “I’m very optimistic,” he said, “and I wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t been a hard worker. I try to think of

ways to make things go right. If I don’t, I won’t get anything done. My mom and dad taught me that when you get knocked down, you get up and fight for what you want. “I think that I’m defined by my work ethic. I’ve had a positive experience with everything I’ve done at Shadle. I’ve gone all-out to make these the best years of my life, and high school has opened me up and showed me who I might become. I’ve made a lot of friends and I know what I want to do with my future.” That future will start next year at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, where Ryan’s father resides. He will be enrolled in the Zoo Animal Technology program, an interest that was nurtured last summer in Florida at Busch Gardens in Tampa. He talked with a zookeeper there about the animals and the Santa Fe program, and began to check it out. Some of Ryan’s best ex-

periences in high school have come almost by accident. He never intended to be involved in theater, but after participating in an improv club during his freshman year, he was recruited by the drama instructor. The same thing happened in wrestling, where his defensive line coach, also the Shadle wrestling coach, convinced him to give it a shot. And it turned out to be, he said, probably the most fun he had in a sport. “Shadle Park helped to form me into a person who is able to handle whatever comes at me,” he said. “I hope I’ve left Shadle as an example of how a person should be, to work hard and have fun. I always try to look forward to opportunities instead of back at my mistakes, because there’s a lot more future for me than there is past.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

joseph.everson@yahoo.com

Skills study calmed Curran’s school struggles MAP grad looks for internship By Stefanie Pettit FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Kindra Curran is graduating this spring from Spokane Schools’ MAP high school program, and she’s working hard to keep the coronavirus school closure from interfering with her goal for the future. Also enrolled in the welding program at the Newtech Skills Center, she continued some distance learning but has been missing out on months of valuable hands-on practical skills, as she is also trying to get into an apprenticeship program. She has overcome many challenges in her life to get to this place, and she is determined to overcome this one, too. As a self-described late bloomer in reading, she has an IEP (individualized education program) in English, reads books to help improve her vocabulary, but has still struggled in school. As her course load began to be overwhelming, her anger issues increased. She knew she would not be able to graduate or get the

COURTESY

Kindra Curran’s hard work paid off: she’s graduating from MAP High School. positive start in life she wanted without change. And so, early in her high school years she left her traditional high school and enrolled in the MAP program, which is designed for students likely to fall through the cracks due to mental health issues that interfere with their ability to learn in a traditional classroom. “I just didn’t believe in myself and would get so depressed and angry and act out,” said Curran, who lives with her mother and three older siblings. “But at MAP, the teachers and counselor have helped me deal with those things. I’ve learned to make better

choices for myself and not go down the wrong path.” They have helped her to not shut down if things don’t go as she wants or expects. “Now I know that if I’ve done my best with something and maybe it didn’t work out the way I wanted, I can just get past it.” “Kindra really put in the time and the work and understands what it takes to achieve her goals,” says her teacher, Celena Breach. “She’s a survivor kid who remains true to wanting and striving to be and do better.” When Breach suggested welding to Curran as a possible career option, she was skeptical. “It’s like nothing I ever tried before, but I like to try different things,” she said. “That’s how you grow. So I told myself to go into it with confidence even though I was nervous at first.” This young woman who also enjoys doing hair and makeup (and painting in her free time) stuck with welding, finding that she liked making things as a welder and sees it “as kind of a cool art thing.” Now she just has to be able to reach the next rung. “Kindra is truly the most

MAP HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Joshua Canady Kindra Curran Riley Humes Rachel Jones Matthew Morris Joshua Packer

Graduation The MAP High School commencement was Friday in a drive-up ceremony in the school parking lot, 1807 N. Washington St. Principal: David Crump

driven for self-improvement student I’ve ever met,” Breach said. “She is putting her all into making that happen for her.” Curran said her goal in life is simple – to have a stable life and a financially healthy future. Next step: securing that internship to help her get there. CONTACT THE WRITER:

upwindsailor@comcast.net

Alexia Affre Emily Alberry Kellen Anderson Cameron Anyan Ames Arbini Victoria Arnold Xavier Atkins Rhys Atwood Joshuah Ayars Carley Bachmeier Morgan Bagby Nicholas Baxter Maggie Benjamin Luke Bergan Sydney Bernal Kaleb Billianor Ashley Binderim Faith Blurton Amanda Boughter Madi Boyer Caitlyn Bristlin Joseph Broadhurst Anthony Brown Hunter Brown Kayla Brown Andrew Bruyer Kayden Bundrock Kisle Bundrock Kellan Burns Marcus Busby Lydia Calderon Joshua Campbell Izabella Capparelli Madilyn Carlson Addison Carman Bailey Cate Dustin Cathcart Elizabeth Cathcart Daniel Cherkashin Trinity Chobot Leanne Clark Kaitlyn Cline Patrick Cody Kristin Coffman Kevin Cons Gavin Coumont Kaden Cozza Megan Cramer Morgan Cramer Anthony Crenshaw Victoria Crone Lucille Cuzick Mya Daniels Christopher Davis Jacob Davis Nicholas Dawson Devin Dial Dominic Diaz Malachi Dizon Kyle Dokken Colton Eickstadt Ryan Elmore Ethan Ely Roy Ennis Hayden Erlandsen Nathan Erlandsen Lucas Fiechtner Liam Flowers Hannah Freund Levi Frye Kylee Fuger Seava Garcia Bayleigh Garrett Joshua Gilbert Elijah Greeley Kylee Greenfield Kobi Haines Ariel Hall Alexander Hammons Lauren Harle Sofie Harris Tyson Harris Hannah Hatcher Landon Haws Cody Hays Macey Helgesen Gracelynn Hemminger Michael Higgins Joshua Hill Mackenzie Hill Ashton Hitchens Bradley Holly Trent Holmes Isaac Hood Drake Hoxie Leviticus Irey Gabe Jacobson Jonathan Jaynes Chase Jensen Alfreda Johnson Darrell Johnson Lillian Johnson Erin Jonckers Reese Jones Riley Jones Trevor Jones Christine Justice Denham Kehr Shamus Kennedy Devin Kerbs Savanna Kerr Samantha Keys Christina Kieu Jamison King Toby Knapp Heather Knight Jane Kohls Chase Hailey Kostenyuk Kasie Kowzan Zachary Krotzer Enya LaFrance James Landsiedel Nicole Law Tiara Lee Tyler Lehman Destiny Licea Ian Lochrie Zachary Lockhoff Megan Lohr Nicholas Longacre Vina Lopez Anastazia Love Jordan Mackenzie Stewie Maldonado Trystan Marksbury Levi Martinez Gage McCleese Kiefer McConnell Hunter McDonald Jared McDougall Nathaniel Medina Jasmine Melby

Graduation The Shadle Park High School commencement will be June 7 at school, 4327 N. Ash St. Principal: Julie Lee Summa cum laude: Ariel Hall and Jared McDougall.

Hall

McDougall

Andrew Mellstrom Nathaniel Mesa Brendon Mesler Braeden Metler Eric Meyers Rayne Miller Kaitlynn Mitchell Darin Moreland Nicholas Morris Mackenzie Mortlock Luke Moses Leonardo Mota Abigail Murphy Elijah Nelson Bryce Newland Ryan Niles Christian Norman Ethan Omans Kaeleb O’Neall Savannah Opap Chasen Palting Alfred Parker Nathan Parker Nina Parrish David Payton Tristen Peckham Kaylee Pelozzie Olivia Perkins Jackson Pettina Micah Phipps Eren Plasencia Joel Poffenroth Kelsey Prochnow Boe Prouty Trinity Quale Jacob Quimby Michael Rall Brandon Rauscher Jacob Rees Joshua Reyna Robert Richards Jacob Ring Trent Ripley Takara Ritdecha Whitney Roane Tasia Roberts Cole Robinson Daylen Rogers Hailey Rolen Maria Roodman Angel Rose Rachael Saari Nicholas Sanders Danielle Santerno Chloe Sayas Marissa Schopfer Blake Scott Afton Shuck Ashley Sinclair Jordon Sinclair Nathan Smilari Abby Smith Sean Smith Bryan Soderquist Jr. Donovan Solis Brynn Solverson Daphne Sombke Camden Spear Alexander Sprague Arielle Sprinkle Ethan Stalder Zachary Starkey Mackenzie Stephens Asher Sterling Alicia Stewart Hannah Stewart Seirra Stober Adriana Stone Andrew Strickland Jason Strong Evan Summers Parker Swanson Devon Thornburg Elijah Thorne Charlotte Titchenal Hill Olivia Tobey Eden Tonasket Khoi Truong Cameron Tucker Dylan Tutt Jordan VanGelder Ariel Vanhook Emily Varecha Ronald Varner II Amer Vejzovic Allison Wade Janelle Wadsworth Buster Wagner II Rebecca Weddle Ariana Westby Brandon Westover Andrew White Jocelyn Whitney Mason Williams Ben Wilson Natalie Wilson Sebastian Woodgeard Chase Woolsey Darius Young Julia Zosel

Make Your Grad's Day More Special By Celebrating Graduation At Historic Flight. Drive the airport tarmac within the Felts Field Historic District. Salute your graduate among our fantastic collection of vintage aircraft.

For scheduling information contact Sheila Geraghty at 509-535-6000 or sheila@historicflight.org

- T

Main

SPECIAL 14

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

MEAD HIGH SCHOOL

At Mead, Woods is ‘one of the helpers’ Talented, humble, bound for WSU By Cindy Hval FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

From spotting high school girls on the balance beam, to caring for children so their young moms can get a break, Kaylin Woods is a helper. “She doesn’t draw attention to herself, she’s just there to help,” said Mead High School counselor Mike Phillips. “She’s a talented kid, but very humble.” A member of the National Honor Society, Woods is no slouch as a student, but she’s most at home with an instrument in her hands. She’s been involved in music throughout her high school career. “I play baritone, tenor and alto sax and oboe,” she said. “I’ve been in marching band, jazz band and wind ensemble.” While many kids get their first taste of band in 4th or 5th grade, Woods said she started late. “I didn’t join band until middle school.” She also picked up tennis late in her high school career. “I started my junior year,” she said. “I love tennis!” Though she’d participated in gymnastics for many years, when high school rolled around she immersed herself in music. But then at

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Mead High School’s notable senior Kaylin Woods, seen at Youth For Christ in Spokane on April 7, has been a volunteer for Young Lives for two years, and takes care of infants while their teen parents receive support. a friend’s urging, Woods joined Mead’s gymnastics team during her senior year. “It was hard, but fun,” she said. “I was on ‘C’ team with the younger girls. I had the background and knowledge, but my skills were rusty.” When she fell off the beam and sprained her ankle midway through the season, she

still found a way to be part of the team. “I just helped and spotted the girls,” she said. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, lessons she learned during her freshman art class have come in handy. Woods has picked up a paintbrush. “I started painting during

the quarantine. I love it!” she said. Academically, Woods excels at mathematics, something she said just came easily to her. She plans to expand those math skills at Washington State University this fall, where she’ll major in business. “I’m the first Coug in the

family.” Phillips fully expects Woods to be an asset to WSU and to the community. He’s seen how she’s made a difference in the lives of young moms and their children as a volunteer for the North Side Young Lives group. Young Lives operates under the umbrella of Young

Life, (a nondenominational Christian ministry for adolescents). Young Lives reaches out to middle school- and high school-age girls who are pregnant or raising a child. Woods cares for the kids while their moms (and sometimes dads), share a meal, connect with mentors and socialize with each other. “Her presence there is really important,” said Phillips. “I’ve seen her feeding the kids during the meeting. She’s so calm in the midst of the chaos! She’s even recruited other kids from school to help.” Woods said she enjoys working with the children and hanging out with their moms. “The girls are so sweet. Some of them are my age, and one of them is like my big sister,” she said. In fact, she’s already missing the kids and the connections she made while volunteering at Young Lives. Wherever her education and career plans take her, Phillips is certain Woods will find a way to assist others. “Fred Rogers said ‘Look for the helpers. You’ll always find people who are helping,’ ” Phillips said. “Kaylin is absolutely like that. She’s one of the helpers.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

dchval@juno.com

MEAD HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Collan Abbott Evan Abel Rebecca Abell Sydney Ackerman Collin Adams Megan Albertson Liam Aldrich Grant Aleshkin Joshua Allen Aubrey Alley Elizabeth Anders Ainsley Anderson Christopher Anderson Jaden Anderson Sydnie Anderson Matthew Asan Mika-Cassandra Astudillo Sierra Atiya Tejnoor Aulakh Leah Bade Jamison Baier Nathan Baker Nicole Bantilan Teighan Barber Isabella Barker Graham Bailey Barnett Andrew Barrow Alec Barthell Entegra Beck Angela Beckley Gage Behmer Kaitlyn Bishop Vanessa Black Kolby Blackler Ryan Blair Zachary Blair Ashley Blocker Chance Boe Braydon Booke Ashley Borders Isaac Bradley Emily Brady Lillian Braun Christopher Brewington Garet Broughton Parker Brown Trey Buell Hannah Burchard Kendall Buries Grace Burrows Trevor Butz Allison Bybee Kienin Calkins Jerimiah Camp Jessah Camyn Michael Max Cannon Ludovica Capponi Megan Cardenas Christine Carlson Jordan Casady Jackson Caviness Michael Cervantes Ashton Chamberlain Elijah Child Gracie-Joe Chimienti Aaron Christie Ella Clark Tyler Cook Nathaniel Cox Haley Crabbe Jonathan Cross Peyton Cushner Nicole Daggett Lauren Dause-Hughes Dylan Davis Emily Davis Quincee Davis Zane Davis Brennan Dean Jack Dean Jackson Deese Jordyn DelPizzo Olivia DeShazo Alexis Dillard Hailee Dituri Carter Dixson Trevor Dorman Grace Dudash Aydan Eggleston Avery Elam Eli Eldridge Andrew English Lane Enright Peyton Epler Emily Erickson Robert Evans Sofia Faidutti Maggie Farmer Logan Faulkner Samuel Ferguson Mackenzie Fillmore Megan Findley Delaney Fiske Sylvia Fleming Allie Flynn Hunter Ford Landyn Fountain Jordyn Fox Ethan Franek Emily Frank Trace Franks Katie Frase

Graduation Mead High School planned a virtual commencement at 7 p.m. June 5 on SWX Online. Principal: Jeff Naslund Valedictorians: Collin Adams, Megan Albertson, Aubrey Alley, Jessah Camyn, Emily Erickson, Landyn Fountain, Kaden Gardner, Colby Grosse, Anjali Gunning, Hannah Hardy, Ronald Hardy, McKenna Ives, Bethany Johnson, Connor Jones, Jonae Keffeler, Caleb Kingsford, Kyle Kuka, Nathan LaVoie, Jacob Lines, Eric Liu, Dylan McKee, Bella Memeo, Carley Menner, Phoebe Milatz, Madisen Paradiso, Elizabeth Phillips, Nicholas Rice, Charlotte Robison, Mackenzi Sandberg, Margo Schoesler, Olivia Schwab, Annaka Tibbits, Keegan Tran, Nathan Tullis, Bailey Yochum and Trevor Zalud. Jessica Frazier Joshua Fritz Joshua Froman Carson Fuchs Geoffrey Gady Ariel Galbraith Benjamin Gallaway Macy Gans Kaden Gardner Michael Garrison Genevieve Gaura Colby Gibson Eli Gilbert Hannah Glaser Makayla Godwin James Golan Calli Graham Marshall Gravatt Jaclyn Gray Noah Graybeal Daniel Grebenchuk Caleb Green Katherine Green William Greiner Colby Grosse Elijah Gruen Joshua Gunderson Anjali Gunning Rachel Guthrie Gage Hall Tanzy Halliburton-Link Corbin Hansen Charles Harding Hannah Hardy Ronald Hardy Gracie Hartman Eleanor Hawkes Devon Hawkins Hannah Hawkins Micaiah Hayes Stephen Helms Thomas Henneberg Tristan Hennessy Dylan Heritage Ryann Heritage Seth Holcomb Kacy Hollowell Caleb Hoogendam Julianna Hougen Olivia Housden Kendal Houston Josephine Howard Emily Hughes Allison Husted Ignacio Isorna Parejo McKenna Ives Henry Jacobson Nicholas James Capri Jamison Noelle Jarvie Dylan Jenkins Vincent Jimno Bethany Johnson Carter Johnson Masen Johnson Connor Jones Matt Jones Mikenna Jones Steven Jones Zanna Jones Dylan Jordan Sydney Kahabka Madeleine Kannberg Ethan Kargol Madison Karnes William Keefer Jonae Keffeler William Kelly Gianna Kieffer Ethyn Killinger Caleb Kingsford Alexis Kirschke Aaron Knigge Cameron Knowlton Louie Knutson Emily Koester Christopher Kole Madison Kolkman Hunter Kosek Josephine Kriegh Wit’who’wit Krous

Danielle Krygier Andrew Kudrna Brayden Kuhl Kyle Kuka Etalem Laher Tran Lam Raider LaVigne Nathan LaVoie Jillian Lee Yumin Lee Serina Lewis William Lindkvist Calvin Lindsey Jacob Lines Eric Liu Justen Liu Caleb Lloyd Andrew Logan Brayden Losh Liam Lovering Erin Lynch Harley Macpherson Justice Maddox Kylee Maldonado Isaac Mann Dominic Mantese Melissa Mantz Benjamin Maple Leilani Mar Hunter Marler Cody Marshall Abraham Matelich Emily Mattson Lilinoe McCanna Megan McCracken Dylan McKee Molly McLaughlin Jacob McMurtrey Thomas McShane Daysha Melendez Shayla Melendez Bella Memeo Carley Menner Eva Meredith Marshall Miacolo Corrin Michaud Alexander Michels Regina Midkiff Colin Miethe Phoebe Milatz Cayden Miller Kate Miller Ashyiah Mitchell Connor Mitchell Cerissa Moeller Regan Moeller Nicole Molina-Aguilar Joelnell Momberg Josie Montgomery Isabelle Moorby Caleb Moore Wyatt Moore Tristan Mospan Jordan Mulder Kaylynn Nast Shay Neely Pierson Neet Nicholas Nelson Olivia Nelson Thanhvy Nguyen Makenzi Nicholson Necole Nicosia Andrew Niska Alyson Noel Emily Olsen Dylan Olson Claire O’Neill Daniel Ordonez Ryan Owsley Madisen Paradiso Isaiah Parrish Dylan Pascua Cage Patterson Paige Patterson Aj Paulson Dylan Paz Hannah Pegram Brayden Perrins Ava Peterman Ethan Peterson Mitchell Peterson

Adams

Albertson

Alley

Camyn

Erickson

Fountain

Gardner

Grosse

Gunning

H. Hardy

R. Hardy

Ives

Johnson

Jones

Keffeler

Kingsford

Kuka

LaVoie

Lines

Liu

McKee

Memeo

Menner

Milatz

Paradiso

Phillips

Rice

Robison

Sandberg

Schoesler

Schwab

Tibbits

Tran

Tullis

Yochum

Zalud

Theodore Petrides Dakota Phillips Elizabeth Phillips Cameron Pierre Megan Poffenroth Bryson Pooler Breanna Pope Elizabeth Powers Ellison Powers Evan Preuninger Sydnie Price Ashley Raap Brooke Radford Chase Randall Moises Raya-Gourneau Amy Reathaford Nicholas Rice Nicholas Ridgely Ciara Riordan Jadyn Roberts Charlotte Robison Thomas Roche Alyssa Rodriguez Jayla Rodriguez Tyson Rogalette Brigham Romish Ashley Rose Jake Rose Emma Rothstein Blakely Rudolph Carter Russo Quinton Salstrom Mackenzi Sandberg Justin Sanders Destiny Sandifer Devon Sands Evelina Sapelkina Kevin Sarenac Brian Schadt Hadassah Schneider Margo Schoesler Gabriel Schuh Jadyn Schulte Olivia Schwab Emma Scott Jakob Selden Nicholas Selden William Sentenn Jacob Sety

Ciarra Shaffer Austin Shay Brian Sherwood Brandon Shoff Alexander Sicilia Ashley Sill Sabrina Simmons Samuel Simmons Judaea Simone Clara Singley Kaylee Skinner Riley Sloan Ava Smith Grace Smith Irie Smith Joshua Smith Alyssa Sorce Tabitha Sotelo Karsyn Spackman Cody Spangle Dylan Spiger Aubrey Springer Rachel Starr Brielle Stern Ashton Strobel Emily Stumbo Castan Sturm Haiden Swan Jaedon Tabino Noah Taigen River Takeshita Kyron Tate Tilomai Tauiliili Willow Temple Kenneth Tenney Isaac Teo Garrett Terrill Mikah Thies Regis Thola Talia Thomas Maxwell Thompson Ashton Thorne Brandon Thornton Annaka Tibbits Makayla Tipke-Youngman Faith Tobiason Alexa Tomkowiak Alyssa Toone Laura Toop

Olivia Tracy Keegan Tran Allen Truong Joshua Tubbs Andrew Tucker Nathan Tullis Abbey Turner Kokoro Uechi Natalie Uht Cameron Urquhart Parker Utt Jonathan Vincent Susanna Vinnikova Emily Voight Benjamin Voigtlaender Violeta Voropay Canaan Walker Mackenzie Walker Samuel Walker Sierra Walker Robert Walko Caleb Wallace Carolyn Ward Kaitlyn Ward Luke Ward Maureen Waunch Alec Webster Hannah Wells Connell West Marcus Whisnant Evan Wiersma Bailey Wilks Elliot Williams Bryce Wilson Danielle Wolf Alyson Wood Jolene Wood Alec Woodard Kaylin Woods Skyler Wrenn Bailey Yochum Keli’i Zalopany Trevor Zalud Taylor Zavala Noah Zeiler Kylie Zickler

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 15

FIVE MILE PRAIRIE SCHOOL FIVE MILE PRAIRIE

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Alvina Anghelceva Elijah Belich Ashley Betts Michael Brock Anastasiya Chalyuk Brooke Chisholm Peyton Denton Violeta Dragomir Shaina French Annie Gellatly Ryan Hueter Abagail Kerr Kelsie Lewis Grace Lodgard Addison Pagniano Makenna Pagniano Ellie Pavlovey Nazariy Pogoriliy Samuel Shirshin Innessa Sipko Owen Stanford David Tanchin Mark Tsebriy Gabriella Walters Mackenzie Willett Bailey Wilson Bogdan Zgherea

Owen Stanford is a notable senior from Five Mile Prairie School. Stanford has Aspberger’s syndrome and had to work extra hard to overcome the challenges of the school environment and hone his strengths while on the autism Spectrum.

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Finding right place to flourish Five Mile Prairie School right setting for Owen Stanford to show strengths By Cindy Hval FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

At Five Mile Prairie School students come and go. The school partners with families who choose to do some or all of their child’s education from home, and it’s uncommon for students to attend the school throughout elementary and secondary grades. But Owen Stanford is an uncommon student. “Owen has been with us since third grade,” said teacher Marcella Lybbert. “It was a rough start in elementary, but he has matured and honed his strengths significantly.” Stanford is on the autism spectrum and struggled in the traditional school setting. “I couldn’t handle my normal elementary school,” he said. “It was all too overwhelming, too loud, too crowded. It was sensory overload.”

When he transitioned to Five Mile Prairie, he found the environment to be much more relaxed, and he slowly began to shine. “Teachers could see early on that he had a very focused way of learning,” Lybbert said. “But he was always passionate and enthusiastic.” From seventh through 12th grade the staff watched Stanford make amazing growth and progress. Lybbert attributes much of that progress to the involvement of his parents. “His parents have been tremendous in working with him, and have made many sacrifices to help Owen socially and academically,” she said. “We appreciate how they’ve prioritized their son and his education.” As Stanford learned to self-manage, his witty sense of humor emerged and his participation brightened classroom discussions.

“He contributes greatly to our classes when it comes to discussions and deeper thinking,” Lybbert said. “He’s incredibly humorous, with a dry, quick wit.” That wit allowed him to present a unique spin on assignments. When tasked with a book report on “Huckleberry Finn,” Stanford turned to his favorite medium – video. “I got some help from Dad and pretty much played every character,” Stanford recalled, laughing. “I acted like a doofus for the whole video!” He enjoys English, writing and history, but video games and filmmaking are his true passions. “At the Skills Center, he was working with video and film editing,” Lybbert said. “He’s grown into an independent learner.” As Stanford reflected on his bumpy start in public education, he thought of something he wishes he could have told that overwhelmed elementary student. “I wish I could tell my younger self, ‘You’re going to go through

some rough patches, but you’ll get through it,” he said. For now, he’s focused on the future. “I love video games,” he said. “I’d love to make one!” He said he has lots of inspiration and creative ideas-- things he’s never seen done before, but that he’d like to. His teacher has no doubt that he’ll see some of those dreams realized. “Owen is incredibly bright-- a dedicated student who takes initiative and always wants to do well,” said Lybbert. Stanford plans to attend Spokane Falls Community College and explore the film program. Though he took improve classes at the Blue Door Theatre, acting doesn’t ignite his passion the way writing and directing does. “I’d love to see some of my work finished and realized on the screen in some way,” he said. CONTACT THE WRITER:

dchval@juno.com

Dragomir

Gellatly

Walters

Graduation The Five Mile Prairie commencement is to be determined. Principal: Josh Westermann Valedictorians: Violeta Dragomir, Annie Gellatly and Gabriella Walters.

- T

Main

SPECIAL 16

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

MT. SPOKANE HIGH SCHOOL / NORTH STAR GSL

McKernan shows leadership Sledding accident changed her life, but nothing can stop her By Cindy Hval FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COURTESY

Allison McKernan is graduating with the Mt. Spokane Class of 2020, with Gonzaga in her bright future.

MT. SPOKANE HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Ali Abdulhadi Jedai Abo Kololina Aikau Riton Aine Tomer Aine Mason Albertson Scott Alexander Keira Allard Maryam Al Mafrachi Jose Alvarez-Renteria Malina Ama Samuel Ames Grace Anderson Natalee Anderson Hannah Ankien Casey Arsenault Carsen Asterino Austin Atchley Danyon Attaway Dayton Atwood Zane Baker Jennah Balandis Noah Balandis Jesiah Balcom Devon Baldwin Benjamin Barcellos Alexandra Baribault Erin Barnes Beau Barrington Isabella Beckley Kailyn Beierle Helani Ben Kade Benak Whitney Bertholic Sophia Bertotti Metoyer Zoe Bettencourt Hayden Bingley Alora Blackerby Brian Blankenship Sydney Blough Elizabeth Bolich Melquin Bonilla Aranda Allison Borchers William Bork Logan Borske Todd Bos Anna Boyer Donovan Bragiel Katie Brickner Cooper Bronson Mason Brooks Lukas Brown Erick Brown Jr. Brandon Buckley Ryne Byus Lydia Cameron Leslie Campos Jacob Carr Braden Cary Jadyn Champoux Heather Cihal Chloe Clark Tyler Clark Kimberly Clawson Ashleigh Clayton Melyssa Comstock Megan Conroy Camielle Coolbaugh Tayton Cousineau Isabella Craig Grant Cummings

Justice Cunningham Daniel Cyr Danielle Dallas Nicholas Dallas Tyler Dallas Beau Dalsanders Ethan Davis Gemma Davis Malina Davis Jesse Delcid Catherine DelPizzo Megan DeSonia Cole Dinwoodie Imani Doctor Gina Eberly Macallyster Edmondson Madeline Ehlert Grant Erickson Constance Ericson Maria Faria Cierra Farnworth Gavin Fausett William Fievez Kainoa Figueira Jonah Foo Gabriel Foster-Bise Nikita Foust Romey Fox Madelyn Franz Andrew Frasher Grace Frazier Carson Frost Rachel Fullmer David Funk Gavin Furulie Jaden Gallion Eduardo Garcia Grant Garcia Trenton Gardella Katelyn Geibel Kaylee Gibbs Alexandra Gibson Gunnar Gifford Dawson Gilbert Abe Gleaton Mia Gomez Joseph Gonzalez Gabriel Goodwin Dylan Graffia Charity Gray Isabella Green Summer Green John Gregg Jacob Griffiths Madison Gross Audri Guerena Lillyanna Guerin Mackenzie Guimond Catherine Gurske Colton Gutsche Kyler Haffner Connor Hale Khloe Hammond William Haney III Isabella Hansen Journey Hansen Michael Hanson Jaden Hardy Braden Harrison Michael Harrison Murydia Haskins Julian Hernandez Sophia Hess Chloe Hesskamp

In 2015, what had promised to be a fun-filled, snowy New Year’s Eve outing forever changed Alli McKernan’s world. “I was sledding in Newport, Washington, and hit a tree,” she said. Her neck was broken, and the spinal injury resulted in paralysis from the neck down. “I was 12, and my life changed in every way I can think of. I was always into sports, but that was taken away in a manner of seconds,” McKernan said. She paused for a moment. “But I think I definitely came out on top.” With hard work and countless hours of intense physical therapy, McKernan has regained some movement in her upper bo-

Matthew Higgins Thomas Higgins Noah Hildebrandt Mason Hill Clinton Hogan Carly Hopp Andrew House Auja Howder Hunter Howell Nur Husson Caleb Hutchinson Ecaterina Iapara Eric Iguina Brandon Ivanich Emily Iverson Manasek Jaloob Dredon James-St.Pierre Emma Jay Amy Johnson Bailey Johnson Ian Johnson Preston Johnson Rhiannon Johnson April Johnston Annalee Joireman Elisabeth Joireman Julie Jones Ratanna Jones Roseline Jorbon Aziz Kamal Noor Kamal Cameron Kaminski Braden Kangas Mitchell Katzarski Kannon Katzer Mikayla Kaufman Brandon Keen Jaisha Keiser Gabryella Kelp Katelyn Kemink Kyle Kerr Cari Keyser Sama Khalid Cheyenne King Skyler Kingson Josh Kink Rylan Kitchen Jared Klein Travis Klemmer Dylan Kleven Ella Klingback Kasey Knighten Shae Kober Kiara Koerper-Williams Grace Kolman Marli Krantz Justin Kurp Allie Lafferty Helina Lajkan James Lake Cooper Lanman Tonica Lard Madeline Lasby Max Lawrence Jonathan Lemeza Casey Lemon Alisa Leschinskiy Paxton Lester Jacob Lewis Vincent Li Allyson Lies-Swatman Olivia Lindner Elizabeth Lineback Sila Livai Arton Lobju Breelyn Long Kierstin Loosier Kalli Losser

dy, but she still uses a power wheelchair. Her resilience, optimism and positive attitude make her stand out among her peers at Mt. Spokane High School. “Alli is happiness and sunshine personified,” counselor Drew Wendle said. And more than that – she embodies the qualities of initiative and leadership that staff and fellow students admire. “Whenever we talk about leadership, Alli’s name is mentioned. She’s very well respected as a student and as a young lady,” Wendle said. “She leads by example – she shows up. She’s a fixture at all our choir, theater and athletic activities. I coach volleyball, and I know when varsity volleyball starts, she’ll be there, front and center. She’s a very present person.”

McKernan led by title as well, when she was elected ASB president. “I’m super into leadership,” she said. “I felt like this was a good way to involve myself in school, and I like being involved. My goal going into it was to make sure everyone felt heard and accepted. “ She also wants to destigmatize disabilities of every kind. “I want to show people by just being myself that having a disability doesn’t make you any less, and you shouldn’t be seen as any less,” McKernan said. Even with her leadership responsibilities and constant presence at school functions, McKernan, a member of the National Honor Society, maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout high school. “School is really important to me,” she said. “I didn’t let my accident change that about me.” She took all four years of the Project Lead the Way engineering course, and

Graduation Mt. Spokane High School planned a commencement for 5 p.m. June 5 at the school, 6015 E. Mt. Spokane Park Dr. Principal: Darren Nelson Valedictorians: Chloe Hesskamp, Carly Hopp and Justin Phipps.

Hesskamp Jacob Lucas Ryan Luders Jordyn Lungo Devon Lusk Gavin Lyon Thomas Madill Samantha Maher Emma Main Haley Malcolm Joel Manning Joslyn Martin Trevor Mason Mitchel Matson Jadiauna McCullum Bryan McGehee Mia McGinnity Nicole McIntire Margaret McIntyre Isabelle McKee Allison McKernan Alyssa McKibbon Katherine McKinnis Sam McQuarrie Cydney Melville Nyah Metze Nyla Metze Hallie Miller Ryan Miller Lauren Moffat Bjorn Monsen Lee Montgomery Cruz Montufar Nikolas Moran Christopher Morelan Mackenzie Morris Jeffrey Morrow Camden Moyer Benjamin Mularchuk Carson Murto Seth Myers Nathan Naccarato Brycen Neis Jillian Netzel Abigail Newcomb Jayda Noble Garret Norman John Nortness Robert Nortness Shanley Oakes Anna O’Connor Madilyn Odiorne

Hopp

Phipps Jacob Osmun Joshua Osso Gotan Pablo Alexander Panferov Gabriel Panferov Sophia Pardue Jake Parent Taylor Parks Taylor Patten Tyler Patten Madison Paul Anna Pearsall Zachary Pearsall Ethan Pearson Sydney Pedersen Malachi Pehl Arely Perez Alexus Perrenoud Klaire Perry Alex Peterson Ashlyn Phillips Justin Phipps Nathan Pichette Ian Pollock Addison Potter Jonah Potts Ethan Preston Nicole Priest Jonathan Ray Rebekah Reed Sophia Reeves Kennedi Rehn Ethan Reno-Walker Sandy Rhodes Taylor Ricard Emma Richards Alexxander Riedinger Atiwell Rilang Yamera Rilang Ethan Ritchie Samantha Ritchie Kaeden Rodenbough Daniel Rodgers Sydney Rogers Kate Ross Derek Rosselet Brandon Rust Samuel Salts Ava Sargent Gabriel Schauer Sadie Schrooten

Berendes blazed his own trail at North Star Self-starter graduating ahead of schedule By Cindy Hval FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

From a once-struggling student, to taking charge of his education and graduating early, Calvin Berendes exemplifies what grit and determination can accomplish. Berendes had floundered during his freshman year at Mead High School. “Calvin came to us at M.E.A.D. Alternative High School at the beginning of his sophomore year,” said teacher Teri Inman. “He was bright and motivated, but the atmosphere at Mead was too stressful for him, academically.” He quickly found his feet at the alternative school. “I loved how close the community was,” he said. “Instead of just a school, it was like a family.” His independent nature made it a great fit for him. “It was a nice light at the end of the tunnel,” said Berendes. “I felt like I had more freedom and I owned my own education.” That freedom bolstered his confidence. “I believed more in myself. I

started to flourish,” he said. “My teachers called me a mentor.” Then came the news that budget cuts would force the closure of the alternative school. “It was very stressful,” Berendes said. Despite his sadness, he showed up in July to help his teachers pack boxes and load pallets. Inman said the staff appreciated his assistance. “He’s such a good kid,” she said. “Kind, compassionate and generous with his time.” Berendes had thrived academically and socially in M.E.A.D.’s independent atmosphere. He didn’t want lose the ground he’d gained, so he chose to complete his education at North Star School in its Guided Student Learning Program. The program is designed specifically for students who are self-motivated and organized learners who are attending Running Start, Skill Center, are parenting, or have another life challenge that keeps them from participating in traditional school. Each student is completely responsible and ac-

COURTESY

Self-starter Calvin Berendes is graduating from North Star GSL. countable for managing their time and coursework; this mirrors the college atmosphere and prepares students to be responsible adults. Inman knew it would be a good fit for this self-directed student. “Calvin was so disappointed by the school closure,” she said. “But he’s hell-bent on being successful and having a great life.”

Students at North Star GSL meet for one hour a week, one-onone, with their adviser. Together, they design each class based on the student’s learning style. Once this is determined, the student can work as quickly or as slowly as needed to complete the work. Berendes chose to work quickly, and graduated in January. “I surprised myself,” he said. “I thought I’d have to go an extra year instead of graduating a half a year early.” He’s been accepted into the automotive program at Spokane Community College and will start in September. Berendes laughed when asked what he plans to tell his future children about his high school years: “I’ll tell them I survived a pandemic and graduated a half a year early!’ Inman isn’t at all surprised by how her student has flourished despite challenges. “Calvin doesn’t do anything halfway. He does his very best at everything,” she said. “I’m glad he’s part of our community.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

dchval@juno.com

found another passion. “The teachers in the engineering program really inspired me,” she said. Though no slouch at math and science, she really enjoys the design aspect of engineering. “I feel like I can express my creativity,” McKernan said. In the fall, she’ll be attending Gonzaga University, where she plans to major in engineering management. Wendle has no doubt she’ll do well. “Whatever she’s interested in, she will excel at and improve it,” he said. He has no doubt that she’ll lead the way while still being true to herself. “I made it my goal to put myself out there and show people I’m comfortable in my own skin,” McKernan said. “I think the best way to get people to accept you is to show them that you accept yourself.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

dchval@juno.com

Alli Schuerman Sarah Schupp Andrea Scott Austin Seemann Zachary Sells Kimberly Sevy Jarret Sharp Dylan Shaw Alex Shipman Allison Shortell Isaac Simpson Cameron Sing Jr. Cameron Singley Connor Singley Annalee Smith Jaret Smith Kylie Smith Mason Smith Mathew Snell Hunter Snyder Logan Sparber Mitchell Stengle Bayley Stern Jaylene Storer Caleb Sutton Colton Swanson Carlina Tarbit Meadow Taylor Lisa Ternovets Benjamin Theirl Oliver Thollot Piper Thompson Lily Thoren Nicholas Torchia Erin Toulou Vivian Tran Gavin Tritt Micah Tucker Dalainy Tugaw Angela Turner Ethan Turner Brennan Twiggs Amy Veitenheimer Sara Viehman Jacob Vierra Micah VonBehren Kaitlin Vullo Ethan Wagner Rajaiah Waldt Anastasia Warner Callista Waterbly Jacob Waters Spencer Welch Jacob Wendle Kiffen Wendle Brady Werhan Amy West Hailey White Joshua Wilcox Brooklyn Wilkerson Abigail Wilkes Kyler Willard Aaron Williams Ikaika Williams Julianna Williams Logan Wilson Parker Wilson Serenity Wise Sydney Wiyrick Matheu Woodson Justice Yi Kegan Young SadieMarie Young Zane Zak Braxton Ziegler Danielle Ziegler

NORTH STAR GUIDED STUDENT LEARNING

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Calvin Berendes Dylan Boller Brooklyn Brownlee Tonilyn Busch Noah Fields Abigail Hosheit Jordan Jones Sierra LeBret Shayla Locher Eshton McClure Gabrael Moore Jackson O’Donnal Kylen O’Donnal Brandon Prouty Anastasia Roseboom Cody Seagle Cierra Sirmans Deven Smith Mabel Stame Lincoln Stockler Delaney Thompson Hannah Zerbst Milo Zimmerman

Graduation The North Star GSL commencement was scheduled last Thursday at Mead High School Theater, 302 W. Hastings Road, Mead. Principal: Josh Westermann

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 17

ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL / MICA PEAK HIGH SCHOOL “I was nervous because I was younger than the other students, but when you get the chance to do something like that, you have to take it.”

SCHOOL’S ATMOSPHERE HELPED SENIOR TO GROW, LEARN

Marshall Roll St. George’s graduate, on his summer in Nicaragua

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Nate Bird, who is graduating with the Mica Peak High School class of 2020, is the ASB sergeant-at-arms for the Spokane Valley school: “I just do what I can, make sure everyone is doing all right.”

COURTESY OF MARSHALL ROLL

Marshall Roll spent the summer before ninth grade in Nicaragua for a service project.

PROJECT BROADENED ROLL’S HORIZONS Nicaragua trip in ninth grade changed St. George’s senior’s perspective By Joe Everson FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

There have been many hard lessons this spring for high school seniors in the Class of 2020, but St. George’s Marshall Roll had already figured at least one of them out: Change is the only constant. Marshall was enrolled at St. George’s since he was in kindergarten, and as he was about to enter ninth grade, he figured that high school would be more of the same for him – introverted, focusing on academics, in particular his STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) courses. But when he traveled to Nicaragua for a service project during the summer that year, his life and the way he perceived high school and the world around him were changed. “I was nervous because I was younger than the other students,” he said, “but when you get the chance to do something like that, you have to take it. I began to realize that watching your life pass by is not the way to live; you need to take an active role. From that experience, I learned that it was OK to take risks, to be flexible and to roll with the punches.” Roll credits St. George’s for creating an environment that allowed him the opportunity to grow, with a sense of community that encourages students to figure out who they are and who they want to become. “St. George’s has given me the ability to think for myself,” he said. “The school allows us to come to our own ideas and explore what we have to offer given who we are. There are lots of different types of leadership. I’m quieter, so I think I lead by my personality.” And lead he does. Roll is

editor of the school newspaper, an Associated Student Body class representative, and was selected as student speaker for the graduation ceremony. He’s been active in the peer mentoring program, where upperclassmen are matched with younger students to help guide them at the beginning of their high school years. One of Roll’s high school instructors who knows him well is Spanish teacher Cassey Buchmann. “From the time I got to know him on the Nicaragua trip, Marshall has exceeded every expectation I had for him,” Buchmann said. “He’s very aware of his abilities, but he’s thoughtful, he never boasts or shows off, and he always works up to his potential. He’s an amazing kid who does amazing things.” Roll will continue his journey next fall at either Macalester College or Carleton College, both located in Minnesota. He’s unsure of his career aspirations, which previously were STEM-related, but now may include something in the humanities. “I chose those schools because I want to get a different world view, but not necessarily from all the way across the country,” he said. “I think that either school will allow me the opportunity to reflect on what I have and how I can live in a productive way. “That’s important, because a lot of us at St. George’s come from very privileged backgrounds, and it’s important to me to get a broader perspective on different lifestyles, and to reflect on what our lives would be without things we take for granted. My biggest challenge will be to find my own path, and to be openminded moving forward.”

Bird finds his place to soar at Mica Peak By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Four years ago, as he was finishing his eighth-grade year, Nate Bird was, as he put it, “not even trying.” And then high school started the same way. “I was anxious coming out of eighth grade,” he said. “I wasn’t the greatest student in middle school, and I wasn’t making much effort. In high school, there was no way I was going to make it. I was failing my classes from the beginning.” Then, about halfway through his freshman year, Bird’s mom learned about Mica Peak High School, a Central Valley School District program which offers a lifeline to students who are unlikely to find academic success in a traditional school setting. Mica Peak is a fully accredited, diploma-granting school within the district. “Mica Peak has been an awesome experience for me,” Bird said. “There wasn’t much change for me right off the bat, but I slowly got more comfortable and started to grow into myself. Eventually I got involved in the Leadership and Fitness programs, and those have been great for me.

Once I was on the Leadership team, I knew I needed to be a good example and get good grades. “The smaller atmosphere has really helped. It’s easy to fit in here and be more than just a number. The biggest classes don’t have more than 15 students. When the light bulb went on for me, I realized that I could graduate, and that probably never would have happened at my old school. It’s nothing against University; it just wasn’t a good fit for me, either academically or for my mental health, and I needed other options. “I wasn’t too involved in the transfer. I’m very fortunate to have my Ma. I don’t know where I’d be if it wasn’t for her.” Bird is enrolled in the CORE program at Mica Peak, which until this spring offered in-class teacher-driven direct instruction. The FLEX program is oriented toward online and independent study options. The most important thing he’s learned at Mica Peak, Bird said, is that he can accomplish things if he puts in the work, that he has the ability to finish assignments and do them well. He knows that time and increased maturity have contributed to that shift, but the support and help he’s re-

ceived there have opened his eyes and helped him to believe in himself. His anchors at Mica Peak, besides the academic work, are Leadership and Fitness. His Leadership instructor, John Griffiths, is one of Bird’s biggest fans. “Nate started in Leadership last year,” Griffiths said. “Graduating students pick their replacements based on the personal values they see in other students. Integrity is the biggest one, and it’s important for our team members to figure out their own leadership style. “Nate is a quiet leader. I can give any task to him, and he is 100% committed to completing it. He has a tremendous work ethic, and he has a rare skill, the ability to ask the right questions. I am super proud of him, and how he’s thrived here.” Nate isn’t sure what comes next. He’s thinking about pursuing an apprenticeship of some kind, or perhaps the military. But whatever he chooses, he knows now that he can take what he’s been taught, put it to work, and continue the success story he’s begun at Mica Peak. CONTACT THE WRITER:

joseph.everson@yahoo.com

MICA PEAK HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Ethan Arnold Nate Bird Kyle Brady Delaynee Brown Nicholas Calais Brianna Call Jacob Carey Andrew Carney Marcos Ceresero Leah Collins Crystal Contreras Katlyn Dauenhauer Trinity Devereaux Lexi Ergeson Jakob Faughender Robbie Flood Josie Ford

Sean Fuchs Catrina Fuller Carissa Gamber Amanda Gumede Jaydn Hatch Robert Hatten Jose Hernandez Amy Krug Kaylan Kysar Josie LaClair Alexia Lastella Kaidon Lazo Brayden Lyons Tyler McDonald Dylan McLaughlin Parker McLean Garreth Mertens Sarah Minton Suzanne Moehle Allison Mors

Mica Peak High School plans a virtual commencement Wednesday or Thursday. The school is at 15111 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley. Principal: Kamiel Youseph Keegan Ostman Dennis Perkins Skyler Pixler Carson Pyles Mia Rawlings Michael Read Hailey Renner Samantha Rider Armando Rodriguez Alycia Schadl Aaliyah Schiller Yohann Sharma

Demetrius Sims Heaven Smothers Zachary Soltero Austin Steele William Sutton Jojo Trask Trevor Usher Aleygha Wendling Chelsea Whitson Jolyn Williams Mikhailah Williams Emilee Worley

s n o i t a l u t a r g Con 0 2 0 2 f o s s a l C

ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL

Graduation From wire reports Class of 2020 Expected to graduate are: Alex Anderson Oscar Angell Mary Bade Lydia Bergquist Norma Broderick Bennett Clark Sarah Coleman Liam Elsensohn Caleb Flegel Noah Galow Callie Gee Grace Harrill Rongyi He Yue Huang Miya Jacobs Elijah Kangas Skyler King Sydney Lennemann Jinhan Liao Maria Madero Marcus Manson Michael McCarthy Christopher McIndoe Kahlysta McKethen Kathryn Moon Alexander Nittolo Sarah Nolte

North Side Store 102 E Francis Ave. 509.483.3033

The St. George's School commencement will be at XXXXXXXXXXX July 30 at St. George's School. Principal: Francesca Mulazzi

Winston Poppel Tung Quach Chiara Ravasia Braxton Rickard Dan Rigsby Marshall Roll Taylor Sande Caiden Snyder Jocelyn Thew Sydney Wilcox Sarah Wu Lucy Yan Zilin Yang Zhiyuan Yao Ruihan Yuan Xiaoyu Zhong Zhiyuan Zhu

Spokane Valley Store 15530 E Sprague Ave 509.926.5009

www.deleonfoods.net

Gonzaga District 1801 N. Hamilton St 509.863.9591 North Side 10208 N Division St. 509.822.7907

South Hill 2718 E 57th Ave 509.381.5540

www.deleonstacoandbar.com

- T

Main

SPECIAL 18

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

CENTRAL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL CENTRAL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Tiffany Abrams Jacob Abshire Grace Acre Aliyah Adams Analeah Adams Juan Aguilera Joshua Aguirre Boden Albright Kawthar Ali Al Abdullah Dori Ames Andrew Amusavi Katelyn Anderson Michael Anderson Zachary Anderson Felipe Andrews Madison Anglin Gabriel Araiza Addison Arlint Seth Arthur Abigail Austin Eloise Austin Julissa Avila Victoria Axtell Spencer Ayer Josie Babington Cameron Bailey Jacob Ballard Jeremy Baum Jeff Bays Drake Beale Jacquelyn Beckford Kylee Behar Tenya Benjamin Bryce Benzel Violet Benzie Conrad Bertone Alexander Beverlin Brooklyn Bilbruck Nicole Bippes Jennifer Bissell Annika Bliesner Hunter Bly Megan Bodily Andrew Bollinger Brooke Bos Alyssa Bradley Elijah Brandal Brenna Brantner Paige Bridgens Cameron Bringhurst Joshua Burk Garrett Burns Audrey Busch Talitha Call Payton Campbell Joshua Cannon Chad Carlson Gracie Carlson Kobe Carter Daniel Cathey Nuala Caughie Arlette Chacon Simranjit Chahal Anika Chalich Askia Chalich Eric Chandler Adre’ Charvat Julianna Chase Natalya Chicks Carter Childress Charisma Chitwood Logan Chodorowski Kamry Christensen Owen Christensen Hunter Clark Kieleen Clark Wyatt Clark Quinn Clark-Lojek Aidan Coate Sera Coate Holt Connole Noah Connors Clayton Conrad Elizabeth Conrad Katlyn Cooper Tate Cornell Brandi Cozino Ashleigh Creeger Briana Creeger Kaitlin Creeger Jason Crigger Clayton Crockett Reagan Crosby Daniel Cross Jake Culpepper Mikayla Cummings Isaiah Cunningham Maritza Cutino Leyva Colton Dauenhauer Shelbi Dawkins Savannah Dayton Emma DeBoer Josiah DeJulia Cesar De La O Edgar De La O Milka De La O Gianna DeMaderios Kimball Demars Kyrsten Denny Gabriel Doering Levi Drager Jennifer Drinkwine Teah Driver-Conner Jorren Dumo Jennifer Duong Kevin Edwards Robert Edwards Benjamin Ely Michael Emerson Jade Eng Alessa Eoff Brett Ernst Alaura Erwin Amabelle Erwin Ira Etzel Alissa Evans Rachel Ewers Andrew Fightmaster Benjamin Fillis Bradley Fillis Madisyn Findley Samantha Finley Jared Fisher Alora FitzGerald Henry Flint Jared Folsom Cooper Foote Marie Ford Keegan Forney Kylie Forsyth Lea Foster Monique Foster Sawyer Foucault Hannah Fountain Kolby Franks Rylee Freelander-Ward Sky Freer Jeremy Fuhriman Xavier Fulkerson Matthew Gabbert Wendy Gallegos Martinez Jamison Galloway Sydney Gannon Nathaniel Garza Paulette-Josephine Gass Julia Gaydarzhi Karissa Geissinger Dylan Gibson Alexis Gist Taylor Glenn Georgia Goldfeldt Esha Gollapalli Eunice Gonzalez Randolph Grant Sophia Grassel Jules Greenberg Ava Gress Gurkirat Grewal Noah Gribble Zachary Griffin Luke Grisafi Taylor Grizzle Preston Grote Jaden Guinn Ryan Hagerty Leah Hamilton Grace Hampton Rachel Hamry Katelyn Hansen Sunny Hansen Grace Hanson Christi Harms

Graduation

‘EYE ON THE PRIZE’

The Central Valley High School commencement will be Monday at the theater, where the school will produce videos of each senior, all of which will be compiled into a graduation video with speeches and awards. The graduation video will be available at end of June. The school is at 821 S. Sullivan Road in Spokane Valley. Principal: Kerri Ames Valedictorian: Tyler Hunter

Hunter Connor Harnack Emil Haroldsen Ryan Harper Andrew Harter Morgen Hartshorn Taryn Harvey Xander Haugen Caeleb Haulet Lindsey Hayes Daniel Haynes Adeline Haynie Haley Heck Joshua Hermes Johnathan Herrera Emily Heskett John Heskett Essence Hiatt Lindsey Hickson Aaron Hobbs Alexandria Holland Riley Holman Abigail Houchin Calli Howard Peyton Howard Scott Howard Breanna Hronek Karina Hronek Natalie Hulvey Hayden Humphries Tyler Hunter Vierna Jabuwe Olivia Jackman Carolyn Jackson Ricky Jankord Mike Jarmin Tyler Jarvis Cameron Jayne Josie Jennings Fantasia Jensen Isabella Jeppson Caleb Jerdon Brelin Johns Caden Johnson Faith Johnson Kayanna Johnson Quinn Johnson Adam Jones Collyn Jones Kyle Jones Tyler Jones Abbie Judd Carson Judd Mohammad Kaddoura Kaitlyn Kaluza Kyle Kaminskas Marisa Karns Kylie Keller Madison Kelley Griffin Keys Salsabel Khalid Hannah Kiehn Madelyn Kiourkas Ayden Klontz Madelynn Knight Alexander Knudsen Artem Kolesnikov Emilee Kopelson Olivia Kory Asmaa Kourma Miranda Kuhlmann Mykola Kushnir Dartanian Kutz Velana (Aj) Lakjin Aidan Lamkins Haley Lance Justin Lance Ally Lang Jared Laws Ashley Lawson Karma Lazzeri Adam Lemley Myah Lemons Sydney Levine Garrett Lidman Theodore Linde Nicole Livingston Mackenzie Longwill Fernando Lopez Joseph Lopez Andrew Luck Micky Lutes Haylee Lynch Kayla MacKelvie Bonnett Mallory Jessie Marshall Jacob May Timothy McCrea Sara McGill Addison McLelland Bridger McMahon Ryan McMahon Bryce McManus Kimberly McManus Brock McNeilly Mason McNeilly Madison McVey Jacob Measel Gustavo Mendoza Colin Mercer Nathan Mercer Jake Merrill Nisa Meshal Aidan Meyer Braxton Mikesell Owen Miley Olivia Minnick Dalton Mitchell-Rising Ryan Mobley Mia Morales Ethan Moriniti Kiara Morse Josef Mueller Madeline Mularski Alivia Mulligan Shawn Mulligan Emily Munn Dominick Nason Rebbecah Natimama Jonas Naumann Brandon Neer Ashley Nelsen Alexis Nelson Nicholas Nelson Nathan Ness Madelyn Newcomb Garrett Newell Brenna Niemi Emma Nigh Ethan Noakes Colby Nootenboom Claudia Norczyk Sara Nyffler Madelynn Ochse Emma O’Donnell Emma Ohlsen Ethan Oliver Michael Olson Lily O’Neel Erik Osipenko Reese Overly Ryan Ovnicek Terran Ovnicek Kyle Page

Bekah Palmer Amanda Parker Christopher Parrish Adria Paul Alaina Paul Taylor Pearson Nick Perez Jasmyn Persicke Alexander Pesina Carly Petersen Anna Peterson Caleb Peterson Haley Pfau Jonathan Phelps Michael Pitts Blake Pleasant Angelyna Plybon Tim Polishchuk Austin Porter Skye Suraja Potter Aiden Powers Dallin Prince Colby Putnam Cody Quirico Carsen Raab Makenzie Raab Olivia Rachoy Hannah Rappold Rylan Redden Meaghan Redmond Haley Regalado Landon Rehkow Gavin Renzi Ruben Reyna-Romero John Rhodes Ashley Rich Kole Richardson Lucas Richardson Korbyn Rider Hunter Roberge Melissa Robinson Skylar Robles Roseanna Rodden Ashlyn Rogers Joshua Rogers Mia Rogers Evan Rohm Dawson Rubino Conner Russell Mirlinda Salihu Gustavo Salinas Lynae Sanders Noah Sanders Marissa Sannes Alexander Sayrs Clare Scherer Amy Schlomer Hailey Schmedtje Gabrielle Schmidt Arriel Schmitz Daisy Schoonover Gavin Schulhauser Drew Scott Cameron Sheley Taylor Shepard Jensen Shypitka Benjamin Sides Jayce Simmons Johnny Simmons Jeana Simpson Julia Simpson Olivia Sine Kaliyah Singsavaddy-Carter Cody Smith Jaylen Smith Jocelyn Smith Madison Smith Noah Smith Brandon Snider Tyler Snider Kedrik Solis Alexandra Solorio Logan Sommer Jenna Sotin Carson Spence Brayden Stafford Seth St Clair Benton Stephens Emily St John Mariele Stockman Natalie Stretch Marissa Suarez Luke Sukut Nikita Susin Sydney Sutton Galbhar Suwaed Gannon Swain Matthew Szymanski Tyson Talbot Devin Tanak Suheyla Tanak Spencer Taylor Kyle Telkamp Devin Thelen Kohlton Thielen Joseph Thomas Braden Thompson Brooke Tiffany Tyler Todd Igor Topov Thanh Binh Tran Kalani Trotter Katelyn Troyer Tracy Tulensa Taylor Turner Julie Ulyanchuk Kellen Ungaro Ryan Ungaro Chase Urbiha Kaleb Vakaloloma Sol Vandeman Jonny Vannavuth Jessica Vargas Dakota Vasquez Darci Vasquez Kody Vaughn Aubri Velazquez Ezra Verlinde Jonavan Villagomez Saidu Ville Denys Vinnikov Cole Vinson Tien Vo Lilly Wagner Tiara Walker Ethan Walters Robert Warnock Sailor Watson Serena Watters Abbey Webb Kiersten Webb Evelyn Wehrlie Korbin Weiler Savannah Weiler Claire Westby Benjamin Wicker Matti Wickham Maxine Wigen Autymn Wilde Tavin Wilhelm Emma Wilkerson Dylan Williams Isaak Williams Spencer Wilson Mitchell Wing Simon Xiong Danielle Yelland Anessa Yim Olivia Yoseph Brittany Zamora Cameron Zanol Emely Zavala Aubrey Zeutschel Christopher Zeutschel

COURTESY

Taylor Grizzle is a member of Central Valley’s Class of 2020.

Positive Grizzle proves power of perseverance Hard work allowed Central Valley senior to overcome stigma of dyslexia By Jim Allen THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

It took a few years, but Taylor Grizzle has finally found his comfort zone. More than anything, the Central Valley senior found it within himself – through hard work and growing self-confidence. Diagnosed at an early age with dyslexia, Grizzle struggled in and out of the classroom. Lessons were difficult; so was the social pressure of being the kid who’s “different.” “He’s worked hard for everything,” said Erin Teterud, a counselor at Central Valley. “He’s had to toe the line and make some hard adjustments, but he’s the kind of kid who just hunkers down. “He’s just very resilient. He’s decided that he’ll do what he needs to get things done.” The payoff comes this month, as Grizzle will earn his diploma. That much wasn’t in doubt, but Grizzle will get to the podium with less assistance than most students with similar issues. “It was definitely a struggle at times, and I’ve had to overcome some hardships with reading and memorizing,” Grizzle said. “But I’ve figured out ways to cope.” He also learned to cope with that sense of feeling a bit “different.” “When you’re that age, people look at you differently when they find out that you’re in a different class,” said his mother, Amy Grizzle. “He had to overcome that, and

he’s gotten to the point where he’s much more comfortable being in those classes because he understands that they are helping him – and they really have helped him.” Those classes include only two subjects, English and math. Grizzle is otherwise enrolled in regular classes at Central Valley. “Taylor exemplifies the kid that grew up with everything against him, has been on an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and has struggled with all the pressures from friends,” counselor Kara Twining said. “However, he has overcome. We are very proud of his perseverance when things are tough and his positive attitude toward life. He has his eyes on the prize of graduation and great hope in his future.” For now, that includes working with his stepfather, painting and staining doors and molding for Everhart Painting in Spokane Valley. Poised with one eye toward college, Grizzle also enjoys the handson work. “Probably because it’s simple, and I like the physical work,” said Grizzle, who also wants to save some money should he go on to community college or a four-year school. Reflecting on his years of struggle and triumph, Grizzle said, “There’s always something you can do, to not feel embarrassed and to help yourself grow.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

(509) 459-5437 jima@spokesman.com

“However, he has overcome. We are very proud of his perseverance when things are tough and his positive attitude toward life. He has his eyes on the prize of graduation and great hope in his future.” Kara Twining Central Valley counselor

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 19

UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL

Change of plans doesn’t faze Reinhart U-Hi senior’s Germany year was cut short By Nina Culver FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

University High School senior Hana Reinhart spent two years working to earn a foreign exchange student spot in Germany and got it. She was set to do her entire senior year there, until the coronavirus pandemic intervened. “We got sent home early,” she said. But she has fond memories of her time there. When she first arrived, she attended a month-long language camp then moved in with a host family in the small town of Tornesch. The family had chickens and horses and she played on the school volleyball team. She’d often take the train into Hamburg or other nearby cities. “Every week I would take a train and take my bike and volunteer at the animal shelter,” she said. At first, Reinhart thought it might be safe to stay in Germany as the virus spread, but soon began to worry that if she didn’t go home, she might be trapped there. In late March, she was told she had to go home and given only two days notice. “It was so quick you couldn’t really say goodbye,” she said. Counselor Jenny Brant said she’s had a lot of kids come in to her office during her career wanting to be a

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

University High School senior Hana Reinhart, seen April 8 at the school in Spokane Valley, plans to study veterinary medicine. foreign exchange student. But when they find out what is required, including a lot of paperwork and a few thousand dollars, they don’t pursue it further. She’s had only five successfully complete the process in 22 years. “It’s hard to do this,” she said. “You have to completely immerse yourself. You have to be pretty on the ball and motivated.” One of the biggest hurdles is that students need to be familiar with the language spoken in the country

they want to visit. “The kids have to get that on their own,” she said. Brant said Reinhart was disappointed to have to come home early. “She took that with aplomb,” she said. “She understood.” The exchange student experience gave Reinhart the chance to play volleyball again, which she hadn’t done since she was a student at Horizon Middle School. She had a lot of fun playing, but didn’t continue in high school because she thought she wasn’t good

enough to join the team. Her family roots are in Germany and Reinhart said her mother was a foreign exchange student in Germany when she was in high school and taught her children some German. That started Reinhart’s love of language. “I really want to learn so many languages and travel the world,” she said. “German was just the first.” Her skill with languages earned her third place in the annual Spokane Scholars competition in the world

world languages category this year, something that caught her off guard. “I was really surprised,” she said. Her mother works as a pastor at Veradale United Church of Christ and as a photographer. After years of tagging along to her photo shoots, Reinhart has developed her own skill with a camera. “Since we could click a button, we’ve been using her cameras,” she said of herself and her brother. As a very young child, Reinhart wanted to be a dog when she grew up. Once she

UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Marcus Ady Ethan Aikman Chloe Akins Justin Albers Christopher Alexander Brayden Allen Lily Allen Natilee Alviar Sophia Ammons Christian Anderson Bina Anej Aspen Angel Syvana Arwood Sierra Asbury Hannah Avery Shauni Bachman Logan Bailey Maxwell Bailey Justin Baker II Hailey Balo Kyra Barnes Ian Barville Peyton Bastine Mia Beaman Cameron Behm Amanda Beier Nicholas Beier Micah Bell Wyatt Bellus Makaila Belt Kyle Bennett Robert Benson Brooklyn Bergquist Garrett Bergquist Isabella Blackwood Shyla Bledsoe Jessica Block Katherine Blycker Jace Blythe Elizabeth Boni Bethany Bowden Rowan Bowers Trinity Boyd Ethan Brake Cheyenne Bray Savawn Bretthauer Nikeo Bridges-Reynolds Nicholas Brock Rachael Bronson Exli Brooks-Lederle Emily Brown Mariah Brown Jennifer Brunner William Bryant Ethan Buchanan Jackson Bucher Isabelle Busch Anna Byquist Altyn Cader Chloe Cajigas Kolbe Cammack Hunter Campbell Avery Carbajal Cade Carlson Andrew Carney Alice Carothers

Maxwell Carper Elijah Carroll Hannah Carver Megan Carver Kenneth Castro Centeno David Caudillo Joshua Cavender Carlee Chamberlin Madison Chandler Alexis Chapman Lauren Chester Gabriel Chiacchia Isaac Clemons Bridget Cline Charlise Cobb Stephen Coe Cole Coleman Riley Conroy Dava Copenhaver Makia Corson Reagan Cox Madison Crandall Austin Croach Gracen Crosby Meggie Cross Brianna Crowley Jacob Crowley Avery Cunningham Caelah Cutlip Jack Dao Wyatt Dauer Samantha Denniston Preston Devenish Ellie Dickinson Rosemary Diener Conor Dobbin Cole Dobson Connor Dobson Bradden Dolese Peyton Dowland Jayden Dudley Reid Dudley Jacob Easton Gabriel Edgar Alec Edwards CarolAnn Edwards Everett Edwards-Dickman Daniel Eggers Antonio Eidson Aaron Engel Catelyn Epperly Vanessa Esposito Naolin Evans Hunter Evanson Nathaniel Farley Hyrum Farnsworth Jackson Fechser Trinity Finley Madison Fischer Lexie Fisher Jasmine Fleck Lauren Fleury Isaiah Foster Austin Fox Kimarie Fox Isaiah France Jason Franklin Zephyr Freeman Aayiana Fuller

University High School planned a commencement June 8. The school is at 12420 E. 32nd Ave. in Spokane Valley. Principal: Keven Frandsen Valedictorian: Isabelle Busch

Zamirah Fuller Cooper Gardner Tanyel Gast Austin George Kobe Gilbert Ethan Gillespie Adriana Gilrein Boris Godun Ashton Goff Georgia Goff Aaron Goodwin Andrew Goodwin Emily Green Josalynn Green Ty Greene Frank Guerrero Gianna Haberman Kassidy Hammell Jasmine Hanson Nolan Harding Kristian Harju Gabriel Hawkins Lukas Hawley Andrew Heesh Lyssa Henderson Libbie Henry Myranda Henry Paul Heppner Emily Herbert Tiawna Hermann Anya Hernandez Emily Hodges Jessica Hofstee Caleb Holschen Joseph Hone Cheyenne Hood Travis Hood Reegan Horton Ceana Inman Josie Jackson Jacob Jacquet Alyssa James Elizabeth Jansen Camryn Jennings Madison Jeross Angela Johnson Jacob Johnson Logan Johnson Michael Jones Justine Jordan Abby Jorgensen Savannah Kahl Emily Kaiser Jaedyn Kawazoe Faye Keevy Alexys Keltz Kathryn Kemble Larry Kennedy Sara Kern

Victoria Keto Larissa Kettelhut Kaiden King Sarai King Jumon Kios Ariana Knapp Aidan Knighton Ashley Kriske Elizabeth Kuntz Emily Kushnerchuk Avery Lakes Courtney Lang Micah Lang Camdyn Larson Justus Lasiter Mikaila Lawson Spencer Lee Scott Li Jacob Lissy Kiya Liston Ashlan Liswig Kiara Little Kaitlin Loe Nicholas Long Sydney Longie Rocco Longoria Amilcar Lopez Jr. Zackery Loss Kyrsten Love Hayley Lyon Lauren MacDonald Tanner Madison Benjamin Mallonee Ethan Mankins Isabelle Manos Marcus Marshall Caleb Mascarelli Robert Matheson Fayth McAvoy Yousuf McCarty Jacksen McCliment-Call Tyler McCliment-Call Donovan McCorkle Tyler McCorkle Alysha McCullough Haley McDaniel Victoria McGrath Blake McLean Riley McLuskie Megan McMulkin Abigail McVicker Jordan Medeiros Cody Mee Morgan Meeks Sandra Mendez Dallin Meredith Daniel Meyer Alyse Miller David Miller

Busch Jacob Miller Kasey Miller Marquise Milton Austin Minter Gage Moland Darrion Momon-Fleck Emily Monteressi Amy Morin Elijah Morse Emily Moua Marissa Moxcey Jacob Moxley Tristen Mulligan Iman Munawar Noah Myers Nyomi Nauta Christian Neely-Bockman Gage Nelson Alexander Nguyen Gabriel Nicholls Tyson Niva Brandon Novak Victoria Ntaloishi Mackenzie Ohmann Allysa Olp Jumariea Palmer Karen Parker Kathryn Parry Kyle Parsley Dakota Patterson Lacey Pedersen Brookelyn Peringer Xavier Pernell Tessa Peschel Xavier Pharr Mikah Picou Victoria Pock Joliana Poplawski Meghan Potts Zander Powell Dakota Predmore Cammey Ragsdale Isaac Ramirez Luisa Ramirez Benjamin Randolph Cooper Razey Katherine Reinbolt Kalem Reiner Hana Reinhardt Ainsley Rell Hailey Renner David Roberts Lance Rogers Lincoln Rogers Samantha Romine Madison Rowland Chazden Rowley Jordyn Ruhl Victoria Ruiz Alec Russell Riley Rust Stephanie Sampson Sebastian Sanders

realized that was impossible, she set her sights on being a veterinarian. She plans to earn a degree in pre-veterinary science from Washington State University. She wants to keep traveling and learning about other cultures. She said she plans to look into the study abroad options while she’s in college. “There are a lot of opportunities there, so I’m excited,” she said. CONTACT THE WRITER:

nculver47@gmail.com

Pution San Nicolas James Savage Katelyn Schilling Keith Schlienz Jack Schneider Jerod Schwartzenberger Raphael Self Dalton Senter Devin Shea Emily Sheard Breanna Shelp Tiyenna Shelton Rose Shores Dominic Siegel Taylor Silbaugh Christopher Simon Mateo Simpson Parker Simpson Eric Slocum Eric Smart Emma Smith Michael Smith Hudson Somerlott Gavin Sorenson-Wheeler Connor Spiering Liam Spring Anastacia Staben Gracen Stack Dustin Stauffer Natalie Stephens Cole Stewart David Storey Dylan Stradley Nahun Suncin Jasmine Tatu Nathaniel Teague Lasea Thorp Kristah Tiffany Ryan Tobiasson Michael Travis III Aedyn Triplett Joshwa Trombly Gabrielle Turner Wesley Ueland Carsen Ursillo Allison VanSlyke Jordan Vazquez Peyton Vernier Emma Viles Gabrielle Wagoner Hannah Walker Brandon Walter Tristan Warn Hannah Watkins Ryan Weitzel Brandon West Christian Weygint Endia Wheeler Travis Whitaker Trevor Whitaker Ashley White Carissa White Sophia Williams Adonis Winkler-Coty Kirsten Wold Elizabeth Wolfe Cameron Wollam Brooklyn Worsham Kira Ybarra Laken Young Avary Zachary

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2020 from the Dance Center of Spokane! Now Enrolling for: Summer Preschool STEAM camps, Dance and Cheer camps! Fall Dance Classes and Creative Minds Bright Minds Preschool 2020/21 season.

One week summer dance camps at incredible prices! Classical Ballet • Jazz • Hiphop • Tap • Advanced Classes

448-2464 • 1407 E. 57th You can now enroll online at www.dancecenterofspokane.com

- T

Main

SPECIAL 20

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

EAST VALLEY ONLINE / EAST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

EV grad finds groove working at own pace Ellersick gave up in-class study for freedom of online

Graduation East Valley Online Learning will join other East Valley School District high schools for a graduation event Monday.

By Dave Nichols THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Learning can take place in many different environments. And the most common environment may not present as best for every student. Even under the best of circumstances, high school can be chaotic. With hundreds to more than a thousand students and only dozens of teachers and administrators, even the best and most engaged students can feel lost at some point. For others, it can be overwhelming. It used to be that the most standard education model – jamming 15 to 40 students into a tiny classroom with one teacher – was the only option. The pandemic is redefining normal with online learning, but even before that, some students were finding their own pace online. Grace Ellersick, participating in East Valley High School Online Learning, is “a great representative for online learning,” said East Valley counselor Mary-Hope Lakin. “She came from a large comprehensive high school where she felt lost and overwhelmed,” Lakin said. “She knew a couple of family friends who were in the program, and she thought she would try it.” Ellersick spent her first year of high school at Central Valley, but realized quickly the traditional route wasn’t for her. It wasn’t the school, per se, but the atmosphere. “I just didn’t like it,” she said. “I felt like I didn’t really have a chance to focus on studies, it was too social for me. I was a little more focused on what was going to happen after high school rather

EAST VALLEY ONLINE

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are:

COURTESY

Grace Ellersick is a graduate of East Valley High School Online Learning. than what was happening during it.” The first online learning program Ellersick tried didn’t fit either. When she switched to the East Valley program, though, things started to click for her. She met with her advisor, picked classes, then worked through the curriculum at her own pace: “I was able to do more classes through online than I would have at regular high school.” Curriculum-specific teachers were available for extra help or tutoring if needed. But students in the program must be willing to speak up for themselves. “You need to be a strong selfadvocate, as teachers will not necessarily know you need help unless you ask,” said Lakin. Ellersick completed 17 classes her sophomore year. “I was able to actually focus on

what I wanted to focus on studywise instead of worrying so much about drama and what was happening at public school,” she said. According to the district website, East Valley Online Learning offers students in grades 7 through 12 a flexible opportunity for online education. Enrollment is not residential-based; the program serves the students of the entire district and state. Students must have reliable internet access, maintain communications with instructors and complete assignments under strict deadline. Ellersick enjoyed the freedom online learning gave her, where students work at their own pace. “Some needed to take things slower. For me, I wanted to go quicker.” She wanted to get core classes out of the way as quickly as possible in order to join the Running Start program at Eastern Wash-

ington in her junior year. “As soon as I finished a class, I didn’t have to wait for the next quarter – I could just pick a new one and start it right away and get it done on my own time.” Ellersick found the transition from high school to college – while still in high school – tricky to start. “It was strange just to be back in a classroom setting, for sure. That was a big adjustment,” she said. At the beginning, she added, the college courses seemed slow compared to the pace she had set for herself. “But now that I’m a little more specialized, not so much,” she explained. “In fact, they go a little quick. But at first, yes. I felt like after a couple classes I could take the final and be done.” Ellersick plans to major in psychology with a minor in sociology, with the possibility of law school

Joseph Aguilar Christopher (Benny) Antim Maximillian Avdeyev Zackery Beckham Racheal Beeler Brianna Burton Imogine Douglas Grace Ellersick Alexis Grout Jacob Hedrick Ashley Miles Savannah Morrey Danyelle Plunkett Victoria Pottorff Sierra Suddreth Lacey Teague Gwendolyn Webb

or pursuing forensic psychology down the road. While there are things about the traditional high school experience she missed, finding her own path was more important. “I didn’t feel like I was missing out on too much socially,” she said. “But there were definitely things I had to sacrifice. “There are times when I feel, ‘Oh, I could have done this, I could have done this,’ ” she admitted. “Obviously now, I wouldn’t have been able to go to prom or graduation anyway. But when I first made the decision to leave and I chose to give up those things, it made me sad – but also, I’m going to have a college graduation, and that can be more exciting for me, because I’m going to feel like I worked really hard for that.”

East Valley’s Acosta compelled to succeed By Stefanie Pettit FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Raymond Acosta Jr. has drive. Literally and figuratively. The 18-year-old, who is graduating this month from Spokane Valley’s East Valley High School, has always been a gearhead and also focused on making a good life for himself. His family has always had a hard time, he acknowledges, and is still struggling. “I don’t want to struggle anymore,” he said. He lives with his father, Raymond Sr., a maintenance supervisor, and two younger siblings. He has an older sister in Spokane, two step-siblings in Ohio, and his

EAST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Hannah Achenbaugh Raymond Acosta Jr. Adam Affeldt Rayna Anderson Brycen Autrey Maximillian Avdeyev Autumn Bailey Tyler Baldwin David Bare Bodie Bedow Mavrick Benoscek Dawson Binder Natalie Black Cody Bliesner Alicia Bliss Blaine Bowman Deyshawn Brown Shaylee Brown Tyrell Brown-Cole George Brown III Dylan Buchanan Raylynn Bucher Kaden Burkhart Logan Bush Makayla Bushnell Alizeia Butler Maelin Campbell Alexander Carlson Bailey Carter Malachite Charbonneau Hailey Charles Darcie Chavis Nicole Chen Brooklyn Child Julius Christensen Emilia Clemente April Clifton Kaylee Coburn Jacob Collinsworth Chase Coy Taner Cronin Drayven Crowe Kayden Crowe Kenneth Cutler Aashika Dahal Deieinera Daugherty Ryean Davaz Marcello De Antunano Tyen Delaunay Angelina Denke Kai Denton Karla Diaz Kelvin Diaz Gopar Noah Dietzel Binh Doan Mason Dormaier

two youngest siblings live with his mother in Idaho. He attended several elementary schools in Spokane and hit his stride at East Acosta Valley, where Heidi Youseph, a counselor there, recognized how dedicated he was to his career path and to complete his high school education. She said: “Raymond is a young man who has demonstrated exceptional strength and determination as he focuses on his postsecondary goals.” He’s been attending the Skills Center for automotive training and is already en-

rolled for this fall’s Spokane Community College’s Toyota Technician and Education Network (T-TEN) Program, a partnership between SCC and the auto manufacturer to provide both classroom and hands-on automotive technician training. He’s been working at a local tire store for some time and also recently taken on extra hours at a big-box store. It’s always been about cars for him. Ever since he was a little boy, he’s been at his father’s side working on cars. It was fun for him and gave him the satisfaction of having a part in getting cars fixed up and on the road again, as well as being able to do things with his father.

When he was a freshman, they bought a gold 1996 Saturn SL2 for $95 for him. He and his father rebuilt the engine and suspension system and made other improvements (including adding a stereo system) to get the car operational again. He takes pride in the fact that the car he drives has been repaired and put in good shape with their own hands and skills, together, father and son. Acosta said his father is open with him about mistakes he’s made in his own life and has talked with him about the fact that if he goes down certain paths, he’ll have a hard life. “My dad always wants us to be good,” he said. “He tells us to do

Graduation East Valley High School planned an evening commencement June 8 in the school parking lot, 15711 E. Wellesley Ave., Spokane Valley. The event will be a drive-thru where students receive their diploma covers and have an opportunity for a picture in their cap and gown. Virtual commencement speeches also were planned. Principal: Matthew Stevens Valedictorian: Alexander Carlson, Jacob Collinsworth, Aashika Dahal, Destiny Hillyard, Jessica Ho, Brie Holecek, Vera Korchemnaya and Terra Munns. Ethan Downing Abigail Drown Alessandro Duncan Bryan Dybvig Jacob Ealy Kylee Eleazar Patrick Elliott Paul Elliott Kylie Ellis Talon Epefanio Lyric Erickson Isabell Esmieu Anthony Everhart Kylie Fail Madison Fallang Thomas Farrar Sasha Faust Benjamin Fetters Ainsley Fox Samuel Freeze Carter Fyre Jorge Garcia Briley Gates Natalie Geary Joshua Glubrecht Mackynzie Glubrecht Jaclyn Grant Haylie Greenwood Cameron Gross Monica Grytdal Brooklyn Gulliford Jaclyn Gulliford Julian Gunderson-Bridges Shane Gustin Felicia Guzman Noah Haight Rylee Hale Zane Haley Logan Hancock Madison Hani Julia Hansen

Adreyan Hargrave Amlyann Harry Warren Hart Kaitlyn Harvey Makayla Hay Anna Hedemark Jacob Hedrick Gage Henderson Isabella Hernandez Danielle Hillyard Destiny Hillyard Jake Hillyard Lauren Hinds Jessica Ho Darby Hodgen Taylor Hofstee Brie Holecek Zachary Honegger Benjamin Honer Carter Hosking Faith House Andrew Howder Elisia Hoyle Chelsea Iakopo Manuel Ibarra Shanna Jacobsen Gunnar Johnson Samuel Joklur Dallin Jolstead River Justin Zanis Kaskevics Kevin Kehoe Kameron Keller Aryanna Kendall Kyle Kent Jacob Kessinger Dezirae Kiki Trevor King Vera Korchemnaya Viktoriya Kovtun Kiley Krant

Carlson

Collinsworth

Dahal

Hillyard

Holecek

Korchemnaya

Munns

Kirill Kuznetsov Joseph Lacroix Fernando Lamere Megan Lange Kennedy Larson Calen Lautenbach Shaizee Lor Devon Low Makenah Luebke AudreyAnn MacDonald Gabriella Magana Bridgette Malakowsky Landson Malkai Andrew Mann Alex Marko Alexander Marley Jenna Marshall Kolby Martin Madison Martin

Tyler Masterjohn Hailey McCarthy Rodney McGee II John Michael Hannah Michelbook Ashley Miles Gaia Miles Courtney Mitchell Nathan Mitchell Journi Mizner Gracie Montoya Tabitha Moody Tanner Moon Ezra Morris Quintan Moultrie Andre Mounadir Terra Munns Logan Myers William Nelson Gage Nielsen Hanna Nilson Bethany Nolan Alexa Oliver Adrian Orozco Christian Orozco Conner Osborne Hannah Page Lance Parker Adam Payne Hailey Perala Kaylee Pilgrim Luke Pinyerd Sydney Pinyerd Alyssa Pitcher Elizabeth Plant Danyelle Plunkett Leah Poler Brianna Pollock Victoria Pottorff Jackson Pratt Brendon Price Gabriel Priest Matthew Provencio Julian Prusch Blaiden Purser Aleashea Rasmussen Reece Rasmussen Grace Ribbeck Gabriel Richardson Jasmine Richardson Cheyanne Robbins Arthur Roberson James Roberts Jaylena Robinson Nydia Rodgers Gracey Rohrenbach Nicole Rolls Isaac Royal Jaden Rumsey Jayben Scalph Michaela Scarano Brooklyn Schoenwald Cole Seaman Nate Seaman

the things we need to do to be good, to pay our bills on time, to make good and smart choices.” And so he knew that an education would be an important part of that, an education that would give him the credentials he needs for the life he wants to lead. “I like school,” Acosta said, “but I see it more as a need, not as a want. So I’m sure not to be lazy. I do the work, all of it, even the work I don’t so much want to do, to get where I need to go. “I want to work. I like work. I want to do good. And I want to get paid for doing good work.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

upwindsailor@comcast.net

Sabina Sevciuc Zackary Severin Trevor Shaw Natalie Siers Miranda Smiley Brenden Smith Ethan Smith Grace Smith David Spaulding Noah Steele Isaiah Stevens Angelina Sullivan Abigail Sund Avery Sundheim Dimitry Svirgun Naikita Swank Kayla Swanson Anna Syverson Aliyah Tackett Kylie-Alexa Talamante Krista Terry Maxine Thomas Skyler Thomas Kyerra Thompson Ellee Toles Paige Tomcho Sawyer Tracht Jordan Travis Zachary Treiber Mark Tsuber Emily Turk Derek Valencia Ethan Van Cleave Everardo Vargas Devon Veach Terrance Vickery Riley Wallwork Van Waters Tory Watkins Charlien Weaver Gwendolyn Webb Trevor Weberg Jack Weidman Mckenzie Whallon Desiree Whipple Sophia Wilson Benjamin Wimer Albert Winder Jackson Witt Corbin Wolf Thomas Yerxa Devon Yost Brooke Young Michael Zacher Anthony Zastoupil Marissa Zigmund Austin Zinn Natasha Zubritskaya Collin Zurfluh

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 21

EAST VALLEY PARENT PARTNERSHIP / LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL

Diesel saves EVPP grad Brown contends with her trauma by spending time with her trained therapy dog By Joe Everson FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COURTESY PHOTO

Savannah Brown is a 2020 graduate from East Valley Parent Partnership.

EAST VALLEY PARENT PARTNERSHIP

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are:

Graduation

Trinity Anderson Jaelyn Brown Savannah Brown Charles Brumfield Destiny Croskrey Willard Davidson Nathan Drysdale Aaron Graybill Alexandria Hill Joseph Koontz Nellie Kozhevnikova Sarah Pedersen Victoriya Sushchik

The East Valley Parent Partnership will join other East Valley School District high schools for a graduation event on June 8. Principal: Frank Brou Valedictorian: Jaelyn Brown

Brown

In order to understand the path that East Valley Parent Partnership senior Savannah Brown has traveled to graduation, it’s probably best to begin near the end. Brown has been enrolled in the East Valley School District programs for the past three years, but it wasn’t until her abbreviated senior year, in Parent Partnership, that she really flourished, making up a huge credit deficit to graduate on time. She credits that to hard work, and to her service dog, Diesel. The EVPP works directly with parents and guardians to provide an alternative educational setting. Families are responsible for teaching their children in coordination with EVPP staff. Brown’s grandmother, Sharon Coleman, described it as sort of a combination of distance learning and homeschooling. Brown’s life until recently had been a history of trauma, loss and anxiety.She was treated in a local behavioral health center, and later diagnosed with PTSD. Brown grew up in Alabama, and as she puts it, “Most people may think that my life got messy starting in 2016, but the truth is, it was messy way before that. For as long as I can remember I was always so angry and sad, and the only one who ever knew was my grandma, and she was 3,000 miles away in Washington. I cried because I

was scared my mom was going to die, and because I hated myself and I didn’t understand why I was always so angry.” “I used to call my grandma every night to pray, but also to cry,” she said. She lost two friends who were killed in a head-on collision in January 2016, and her worst fears were realized only a few months later when her mother died. “I lost the rest of my heart,” Brown said. “I lost the home that I grew up in, the home she put so much work into from the ground up.” She moved to Washington to live with her grandparents shortly after that, angrier than ever, selfharming and suicidal. “To say I was angry is an understatement,” she said. “All I ever did was scream at everyone. It didn’t matter what anyone did, it wasn’t good enough. I just wanted to stop hurting.” Even after inpatient and outpatient therapy, Brown’s anxiety was often crippling. She increasingly isolated herself and had frequent blowups at school, with even the smallest things setting her off. “I would get so anxious that my legs would just shake and shake,” she said. “I was having the same nightmares night after night, and I pushed away every friend I had left. The only reason my family stuck around was because, well, they were family. My grandma was at a loss. She wasn’t sure what to do anymore.”

LIBERTY GRAD SEEKS FREEDOM OF SIMPLE LIFE Duncan-Day lends helping hand to teacher, classmates By Joe Everson FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

If one is looking for a great example of a hands-on learner, they need look no further than Liberty High School senior Sean Duncan-Day. Whether it’s setting up computer networks or working on cars, he’s an expert. Parrish Reedy, Duncan-Day’s math teacher and school district technology director, described a few of his many skills: “There are so many ways in which Sean is my go-to guy. Network security, assembling computers, repairing Chromebooks. Outside of school, he has a parttime job as a machinist doing metal work. More than that, he does it all with a great attitude. He helps out everywhere in school and goes above and beyond, even coming in on Saturdays.” And for all his skills, DuncanDay’s best quality is probably his humility. Presented with Reedy’s glowing report, he said, “I don’t deserve to be on any kind of pedestal. I try to be responsible and kind, because I believe that being kind to others will eventually come back to me.” He’s had a desire to know how things work for as long as he can remember. When he was 7 years old, he says, his stepfather was building a computer and showed Duncan-Day what he was doing.

*BUILD YOUR OWN LEARNING CAMP*

COURTESY

Sean Duncan-Day graduated with the Liberty High School class of 2020. “I try to be responsible and kind,” he said. That kick-started his interest. “It was cool to see,” he said. “I started out by taking apart remotes, but I couldn’t put them back together. When I was 10 or 11, I got my own computer and tore it apart, but stopped when I got to the point where I was stuck. “I got serious about messing

READING & WRITING

Academic Reading (Grades 1-12) Strengthen your child’s reading skills, by building confidence and curiosity along the way. Writing (Grades 3-12) From writing movie reviews to crafting web copy, kids learn key techniques through creative writing projects.

with computers around eighth grade. I fell in love with seeing how they worked and how they were built. When I came to Mr. Reedy, I didn’t know too much and it was a huge learning curve for me. He helped me to build a computer, and the process intrigued me. “I became his assistant during

MATH

Math Essentials (Grades 1-12) Strengthen your child’s building blocks of math facts and fluency.

ADVANCEMENT & TEST PREP

Personalized instruction with written material for SAT/ACT tests and College Prep Writing.

CALL TODAY TO DESIGN YOUR SUMMER LEARNING FUN!!! NORTH SPOKANE SYLVAN 509-467-8715

VALLEY SPOKANE SYLVAN 509-924-7656

sophomore year, and as we went through things, he explained how hardware and software fit together and I knew that I could learn a ton more from him. It’s been an amazing experience for me.” Duncan-Day’s desire to know how things work eventually translated to working on cars as he figured out that his knowledge of computers and technology could be transferred to mechanical tasks. He began his automotive work by replacing small parts and doing oil changes, but when he bought a 1987 truck, an overhaul was the logical next step. Next fall, he plans to be enrolled in the two-year diesel/ heavy duty equipment program at Spokane Community College, and he has a diesel-mechanic internship this summer with a company in Fairfield. His long-term dream, though, is to have his own farm. He’s worked for the past two years collecting grain during harvest season, and is hoping to drive a combine this year. It’s not surprising that this young man with a practical side looks at life in a similar way. “I’ve had a roller coaster life growing up,” he said, “and I don’t want it to be like that when I’m older and have a family. I would want to show my son how things in life should be, and to learn with me all the things that I had to learn by myself.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

joseph.everson@yahoo.com

ations! Dear Joel,Congratul u and are excited We are so proud of yo s you! to see where life take Love, Mom rty too hard You made it! Don’t pa ol shark or do or be too rough of a po ! anything I would do d Love, Da into the man Watching you grow a gift to us! you are now has been d Grandpa Love, Grandma an xt adventure! Good luck on your ne pressive brother! You are truly an im ristopher Love, Melissa and Ch

Woof Woof!! and Brian Love, Scruffy, Buster, Maddie, Button (The Mutts)

It was after a short-lived vacation to Alabama that Brown and her grandparents, searching for answers, had a conversation about the possibility of getting a service animal. Purchasing a fully trained dog costs as much as $25,000, so self-training was the only option. Her heart was set on a German shepherd, but the highly regarded trainer they found discouraged that choice and helped her to find Diesel, a 4 1⁄2-year-old black Labrador who was being rehomed. After some initial reluctance, Brown fell in love with him and – with some support – has trained him to meet legal service animal requirements. “On March 2, 2019, the day I got him, my life gained a purpose,” she said. “He puts a smile on my face even on my dark days. He’s learned so much in the past year, and he keeps learning. He has passed the Canine Good Citizen test. Since I got him, I haven’t had issues to the extent I used to, and when I do, he is on it. He not only changed my life, he saved it. He is a prayer God answered for me.” She may eventually become a dog handler, but before that Brown will attend Spokane Community College in the fall in the culinary arts program, having realized that even the worst times have been just one chapter in her life, and that she is coming out the other end. CONTACT THE WRITER:

joseph.everson@yahoo.com

LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Mitchell Auriana Grant Beam Dylan Belles Jared Brunette Maisie Burnham Stephen Carr Aleena Cook Josiah Cwik Makenzie Deshazer Sean Duncan-Day Thomas Edwards Korbin Finch Austin Flaig Kendyl Fletcher Joshua Haas Charles Harrington Peter Haxton Jacob Holling Charlie Johnson Samuel Nelson Marissa Powers Caleb Sievers Ariel Skutley Sara Tarbert Mason Trotter Kellan Watson

Fletcher

Graduation The Liberty High School commencement was planned for 1 p.m. June 6 at Liberty High School, 6404 E. Spangle Waverly Road, Spangle. Principal: Aaron Fletcher Valedictorian: Kendyl Fletcher

- T

Main

SPECIAL 22

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

l e

s s a

t h e t h T r o w . s e l a s w s a h e h t

Graduation is a special accomplishment ... and so are You.

CongratS to our graduating class of 2020 and to all graduating high school students joining us in the fall.

Community Colleges of Spokane does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation or age in its programs, activities or employment. Marketing and Public Relations.

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 23

CLASS OF 2020: EASTERN WASHINGTON / NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE / GONZAGA

Calvillo draws inspiration from brother’s success as EWU graduate Duo overcomes family struggles to plan their bright futures By Maggie Quinlan THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Miguel Calvillo, 23, spent his childhood in the orchard town of Sunnyside, Washington, where driveby shootings were a monthly occurrence. In middle school, Calvillo’s neighborhood friend heard shots and came home to bullet holes in his bed. Miguel is the first in his family of Mexican immigrants to attend college, and June 13 he will be the first to graduate, earning his B.S. in electrical engineering from Eastern Washington University. Soon his brother Alex Calvillo will follow in his footsteps. Alex graduates from Sunnyside High School this spring and is weighing his options for college now. “He’s taught me to use that as motivation, all the stuff you’ve been through, to give back to your family,” Alex said. “Everybody will look at you and think ‘Wow, nobody expected you to do this.’ I didn’t expect Miguel to do this, but he did.” Now Miguel works in software engineering through an internship at F5 Networks, a company that focuses on the performance of web applications. But in high school he planned to train as an electrician. Alex remembers him worrying about how hard that profession would be. It took inspiration from peers in college to shoot for something Miguel wouldn’t have considered in high school, he said. As a teenager so many people were involved in gangs that it didn’t stand out to Miguel. “It is what it is,” Miguel said. “You hear about it, you talk about it, and all of a sudden it becomes your reality. You meet other people and they’re like, yo, that’s not normal. That’s not what normal people do.” He counts himself lucky. He was never hungry and his mom did everything she could to keep him and his brothers happy and safe, even when his father was

forced to leave the country. When Miguel was 12, his father walked him to the M. Calvillo park to tell him his visa would expire. A lawyer told him staying in the country would violate the law and prevent him from gaining citizenship later. He had to leave immediately. So with only a day’s notice, he told Miguel he’d be flying back to his hometown of Morelia in Michoacán, Mexico. “I’ve never been there,” Miguel said. “The first thing that pops up on Google is ‘Is Morelia, Mexico safe?’ ” As soon as Miguel turned 21 he could file for his father’s citizenship, so he did. After three years waiting, his father would’ve returned this month if not for the coronavirus pandemic. Miguel thinks his father will be back in the U.S. sometime this year, and he looks forward to showing him who he’s become. College gave him exposure to a new reality, where everyone around him seemed to have big, exciting plans, he said. Even if those plans would not materialize, his peers’ hope for the future alone motivated him. “You surround yourself with people who have dreams, and if they’re shooting big, why can’t I?” Miguel said. “If they’re not settling for less, why should I settle for less?” Getting here meant playing it safe for years. Miguel said he and his brothers rarely went outside. He spent most of his free time gaming to keep himself off the streets and out of any entanglements with gangs. He doesn’t believe higher education is right for everyone. But to any teen in a small town, he’d recommend trying something new. “You’re 100% in control of your life,” Miguel said. “If you don’t want to be there, you won’t be there.”

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

North Idaho College’s Nicolas Espinosa in front of the engineering building on campus on May 27. Espinosa, 33, is a nontraditional student who is a former petty officer in the U.S. Navy, and attended NIC at the same time as his wife and daughter. Espinosa will attend the University of Idaho to study electrical engineering.

NIC graduate traded isolation for community Espinoza family fell in love with Coeur d’Alene By Ellen Dennis FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

With help from friends and mentors at North Idaho College, Nicolas Espinoza went from feeling like an outcast to a student leader and graduate. “I’ve been to multiple different community colleges. I’m ex-military, so I’ve been around – and the colleges I’d been to before were just ‘go to class, get a grade and move on with life,’” he said. “I never really had that warm and fuzzy feeling like I do at NIC.” Espinoza celebrated his graduation last month through NIC’s virtual commencement ceremony after earning his associate’s degree in engineering with an electrical engineering emphasis. The 33-year-old father of two said despite the challenges that come with being a nontraditional student, he’s happy he waited until he was ready and motivated to go back to school. “During and after high school, I was not focused. I didn’t care,” Espinoza said.

Gonzaga University Fulbright scholar headed to Taiwan Collins studied the environment and teaching By Riley Utley FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Kaiya Collins’ degrees in elementary education and environmental studies were a perfect match. Her passion for these two topics has not only led to success at Gonzaga University, but also will help her continue to find success as she travels to Taiwan to teach English on a Fulbright Scholarship. “I always try to combine my two fields together. In environmental studies I talked about teaching a lot,” Collins said. “In teaching I talk about the environment a lot.” To graduate on time, she had to take 18 credits a semester, and a good portion of those were night classes. “It’s totally worth it to have a teaching credential. Whether I choose to become a teacher or not, I’m really happy for the experience, and to know that I have that skill set,” Collins said. Collins has done work throughout her four years at GU to make it a better, more sustainable place. “Kaiya, like many in her generation, is not content

to just critique the radical inequities in the world,” said Andrea Brower, one of Collins’ environmental studies professors at GU. “She wants to think through the challenging and complex questions of what we must do to bring a better world into being.” In the past year Collins and a few other students created “Mend it Monday,” a program where they would set up sewing machines on campus and fix students’ clothes for no charge, reducing clothing waste. They also used this service to help children and families in need by going to the Logan Family Dinner, a weekly free meal provided to families at Logan Elementary by Campus Kitchen, an organization working to cut food waste. Collins was also a part of the Gonzaga Environmental Organization, partook in a few theater productions and participated in numerous community service activities that revolved around education and outreach in the Logan community. Due to her commitment to her education and community, Collins received a

Fulbright scholarship – a highly competitive national award to teach English or do research in a foreign country. She decided to apply to go to Taiwan, partially because her grandmother is from Taiwan and she wanted to return to the country of her ancestors. She also picked the Fulbright to keep teaching under a co-teaching model, which she had become familiar with during her student teaching at GU. “I also realized it was a great way for me to get more teaching experience and be a better teacher for English language learners,” Collins said. “I would also get more cultural perspectives about teaching philosophy but also get to know my own culture and spend some time living in the country my grandmother grew up in.” Collins’ adviser for the Fulbright, James Hunter, said her passion and experience in the educational field, as well as her appreciation for all people and cultures, was what made her application so strong. “She looks at things

“During and after high school, I was not focused. I didn’t care. Having a family and some actual work experience made me more mature. Because of that, I was able to focus.” Nicolas Espinoza North Idaho College graduate

“Having a family and some actual work experience made me more mature. Because of that, I was able to focus.” Espinoza grew up in Southern California and worked four years in the Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. After that, he moved on to work in the automotive industry and fell in love with the ever-changing electrical engineering components therein. “I’ve always wanted to learn what was coming up over the next two or three years on the electronics side of things,” he said. “I’ve been disassembling computers since I was 8 years old.” He plans to attend the University of Idaho in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, then move on to a master’s program in computer engineering to do programming work

on planes, cars and public transportation. Work brought Espinoza and his family to the Spokane region originally, but after visiting Coeur d’Alene, he said his family fell in love with the city’s atmosphere and decided to move there after a heartwarming experience which happened during a park visit. “When we got there, my son went out to go play on the playground. The rest of us were all on our phones, because that’s what everyone did in California,” Espinoza said. “Then we looked around and saw that parents were actually playing with their kids. Nobody had their phone out except to take a picture, and everyone was laughing. Ever since then, we didn’t look back.” He said his wife, Tracy, and two children plan to stay in Coeur d’Alene when he moves to Moscow to attend classes during the

week. He will travel to visit them on the weekends. Espinoza said his proudest accomplishment from his two years at NIC is the work he did as a senator in the Associated Students of NIC his second year. He worked with the Alumni Association to help create and distribute a student newsletter, streamlining communication between faculty, staff and students. Along with his student government work, Espinoza became involved with newstudent orientation and helped lead campus tours for prospective students over the summer. He said he’s always felt like an outcast, but this feeling shifted to a sense of belonging after he stepped into leadership roles at NIC. Fellow students began to recognize and converse with him whenever they saw him, and he took every chance he could to be there for his other students. “Everyone is there for each other, and the students feel like it is a college for them – they’re not just a number,” Espinoza said. “People are here to help, and if you don’t know where to start, just ask one person. “It will be a domino effect until you get to where you need to go.”

Gonzaga University May 2020 degrees Juris Doctor Doctoral

Graduate

School of Law

104 Juris Doctor degree total

104

School of Education 11 School of Leadership Studies 11 School of Nursing and 50 Human Physiology Doctoral degree total

College of Arts and Sciences 19 School of Business 120 Administration School of Education 155 School of Engineering and 17 Applied Science School of Leadership Studies 300 School of Nursing and 143 Human Physiology Graduate degree total

754

Post-baccalaureate

College of Arts and Sciences 2 Post-baccalaureate degree total

Undergraduate

College of Arts and Sciences 665 School of Business 386 Administration School of Education 60 School of Engineering and 200 Applied Science School of Nursing and 113 Human Physiology Undergraduate total All degrees total

through multiple lenses,” Hunter said. “She’s got a lot of confidence, but she’s also able to temper it by looking at other perspectives.” These perspectives Collins will be taking to Taiwan also helped Collins find her voice at GU. “I think I discovered that it’s important to share your ideals with others even if it makes them uncomfortable,” Collins said. “As a queer woman and

someone who’s mixed race but very white-passing and straight-passing, I’ve always found it important that when I’m in class I should be an advocate for marginalized voices.” Collins created change at GU through her environmental initiatives and commitment to social justice, service and education. She plans to continue this wherever her future may take her. “Kaiya cares deeply

1,424 2,356

about people and the planet, and applies her intelligence to thinking critically about complex world problems,” Brower said. “She is always asking questions, peeling back the layers of assumptions we inherit from society in order to think anew about a more just, equitable and sustainable future. Kaiya left an impression on me from the very first day I met her, and continues to do so.”

- T

Main

SPECIAL 24

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO / SPOKANE FALLS CC / WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY “With graduation being canceled and everything changing, I was definitely upset and a little crushed. But your priorities kind of realign when something like this happens. I just knew I had to get through this, because there was still work to be done.” Holly Terrill University of Idaho graduate

Idaho grad witnesses life change in an instant Pandemic, mom’s aneurysm spur Terrill to shift priorities

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Kevin Robinson, student body president at Spokane Falls Community College, sits at his desk in the student government office. He was a leader on campus, spearheading the effort to establish the Environmental Club.

Travel changes SFCC grad

By Riley Haun

By Megan Rowe

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

To Holly Terrill, it’s kind of funny to think that three months ago, she was spending nights out with friends at Buffalo Wild Wings. As she entered her senior year at the University of Idaho, Terrill was making the most of her last months in Moscow. Four years of work for a degree in civil engineering, plus on- and off-campus jobs, all led up to one last semester with a light course load. “If my friends wanted to do anything at all, I was totally down,” Terrill, 22, said. “Then all of a sudden, my life just completely changed. Looking back, I’m so glad I did it then while I could.” Early on a February morning that last semester, Terrill’s younger sister Grace called from the family home in Cle Elum. Something was wrong with their mom, Monica. Monica rushed to the bathroom around 5 a.m., feeling a little sick. She lost consciousness, hitting her head as she fell, and Terrill’s family initially thought she had a concussion. Grace called an ambulance to take her to the nearest hospital in Ellensburg, 30 minutes away. “When I got the call, Terrill Mom was still doing OK, she was talking and she seemed fine,” Terrill said. “My first priority that morning was making sure the kid I nannied for had someone to pick him up from school. I packed just an overnight bag to head home, thinking I would only be there for literally one night.” Terrill began the three-hour drive to Ellensburg. She didn’t even get out of Moscow before receiving more panicked calls from Grace. Their mom had several seizures in the ambulance, prompting paramedics to take her to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle instead. There, doctors determined Monica had suffered from a brain aneurysm, causing a brain bleed and two strokes. Terrill and her sister stayed in a Seattle apartment for three weeks, while their father spent nights by Monica’s bedside in the intensive care unit. Monica was in a coma, and the family had no way of knowing how much damage had been done until she woke up. Terrill kept busy by staying on top of her schoolwork. She would sit in the hospital cafeteria with friends and family who came to visit, logging into lectures remotely and emailing professors. “Every day felt so long, but really we weren’t doing much,” Terrill said. “We spent entire days figuring out our next steps, talking to insurance. But school stayed important to me.” After two weeks, Monica was awake and improving, but largely unresponsive. Terrill returned to Moscow for a night right before spring break in mid-March. During the break, the university announced classes would move online for the remainder of the semester. By then, Terrill had already transitioned online. But knowing her final semester — and chance of seeing friends again — was cut short still weighed on her. “It was no different to me not going back,” Terrill said. “But what really sucked was not being able to see my friends, to have my support system. The one time you need people, and not being able to tap into that was not very easy.” When she returned to Seattle, worries about the growing coronavirus outbreak were heightening. Soon, the family was barred from entering the hospital. Terrill didn’t see her mom in person again for weeks. When Monica was later transferred to a rehab facility, the family gathered outside the entrance, craning their necks for a glimpse of her before she went through the door. Terrill and her family returned home to prepare for Monica joining them. They kept in touch via video chat, but Monica didn’t usually respond when Terrill or her sister would speak. Terrill said not knowing if her mom understood why they weren’t with her was the hardest part of this time. “The trick was, she loved music,” Terrill said. “If you played one of her favorite songs, she would lip-sync and dance along. So that became one of our main forms of communication.” A few weeks later, Monica was released and returned home. Since then, Terrill said she’s improved greatly, taking walks in the forest surrounding their home and holding simple conversations. She still requires roundthe-clock care, but Terrill said the family expects her to make a near-full recovery. Terrill will start a new job at an engineering design firm in Bellevue, near Seattle, in July. She and her fiancé, Eli, will soon move in together after years of a long-distance relationship, and are planning to be married in fall 2021. Despite her plans for her last semester being wrecked, Terrill said she simply moved through obstacles as they came. “With graduation being canceled and everything changing, I was definitely upset and a little crushed,” Terrill said. “But your priorities kind of realign when something like this happens. I just knew I had to get through this, because there was still work to be done.”

Following his 2012 Cheney High School graduation, Kevin Robinson spent the majority of his time traversing the country and world. Though Robinson was an average student in high school, pursuing a college education didn’t hold appeal, since school was always about going through the motions. “I was to that point with it,” Robinson said. “High school, the process, was not enjoyable to me. Not difficult, no social problems or anything. I just didn't care for it, to be honest.” Robinson was exploring the Balkans five years ago, and what he saw in Železnicka, in North Macedonia, caused a paradigm shift: a man leaning against a door on the corner of Bojovica Boulevard, coughing and choking while passersby went about business as usual. Robinson froze, unsure what to do, and witnessed the man die. “Their cavalier attitudes were so repulsive to me because I couldn’t understand how they could just walk by,” Robinson said. “I realized it’s because it’s nothing new, they've seen it before, and I didn’t like that. I figured this

is probably not unique. I’m probably unique because this doesn’t happen in my life. But for so many, this probably is just the way you live, and then you die.” Robinson realized he could no longer be complacent, bouncing from one place to the next. He wanted to build a better world, but from what vantage, he was unsure. He considered social work, but concluded he didn’t have the patience. Most at home outdoors, Robinson primarily funded his way from one place to another working recreation like ski resorts or construction gigs, though he doesn’t want to give the impression that he was a Jack Kerouac type. “It's not like I was every week somewhere new,” Robinson said. “There were times where it was like that, but I don't want to kind of give this illusion that I was always tramping around.” He decided tackling global climate change was his best route. The man dying wasn’t solely what disturbed him, but also the scene the man died in: dreary, dirty, gray. People deserve better, he said. “I love animals, I love the natural world,” said Robinson, who volunteers as a trail

cam lead for the Canadian Lynx with Conservation Northwest. “So I thought if this planet were healthy, well then, those things, us, everything that inhabits it, will be healthier.” With those goals in mind, Robinson returned to Spokane with renewed focus to pursue higher education so he could better position himself to be part of the fight. He decided to enroll at Spokane Falls Community College so he could boost his gradepoint average while knocking out general education classes for a four-year program. Robinson is graduating with a direct transfer of science biology degree, and is currently deciding between acceptances from Gonzaga University and University of Washington, in pursuit of his undergraduate degree in biology. Though he’s the first to admit he doesn’t have the science background to pin down his research topic quite yet, he’s been brainstorming possibilities. “What I really want to know is how photosynthesis has been stymied by efficiency,” Robinson said. “So my question is, how could we potentially work with existing photosynthetic mechanisms in nature to increase

carbon input acquisition from the environment, while still having healthy plants and a happy world?” Robinson has been a leader on campus, first working as Associated Student Body outdoor programmer, and eventually taking the position of ASB president when the student who previously held the position, Sarah Torres, graduated early. “Kevin was the perfect candidate for that,” Torres said. “After just observing throughout the year what a great worker he was, and what an awesome heart he has, and he also just stepped up to the plate and filled in the spot.” He wanted to light a spark at Spokane Falls Community College, so more people would become invested in saving the planet. Though his position in student government prevented him from leading the Environmental Club outright, he drew interest on the campus, and provided fellow students the tools they needed to see the club become a reality. Even though school became virtual and meetings on campus became impossible, Robinson saw it through, while still tackling his rigorous academic regimen with flying colors.

WSU grad dedicated to boosting diversity By Daisy Zavala THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Ever since she was 8 years old, Mariela Frias dreamed of walking across the graduation stage to receive her diploma as her grandmother sat in the audience. Frias is the first in her family to earn a college degree. “Everything I do is for my grandma, she inspires me every day,” Frias said. “She has given so much for me and my brothers, so we can have opportunities.” Although it’s still unclear whether graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020 will happen in the fall, Frias said she’s grateful to have found inspiration through her community involvement. Frias grew up in Puerto Rico and moved to Alaska when she was 6 years old to live with her Dominican grandmother after her parents were unable to take care of her and her siblings. It’s her charisma and good-natured personality that makes her shine, said Juana Garcia about Frias, her granddaughter. She worries about everyone else’s well-being, whether they’re family or strangers, she added. “I always wanted the kids to be independent and strong and have a career so that nobody would ever humiliate them,” Garcia said. “Graduating was her biggest wish and mine too, and she did it. She practically did it all on her own.” Graduating college is a significant milestone, especially for a first-generation student. It was the community-driven atmosphere at Washington State University that pulled Frias from Alaska to Pullman. Even through the excite-

ment, it wasn’t easy at first to wade through the financial, emotional and mental hardships that come with the college experience, she said. “Freshman year was rough,” she said. “It was really hard for me to not see people like me who come from my culture, and at first I didn’t know how to put myself out there, so I had a really hard time fitting in.” But Frias said that’s when she decided to overcome any worries holding her back, so she could make room to grow and learn. She took on leadership positions in hall government and other student leadership opportunities. Later on, she became more involved with the multicultural student community, which became her biggest support system while in school, she said. “Having a multicultural student center helped me a lot, because not a lot of universities have the opportunity for students to not feel so excluded in a predominantly white institution,” she said. Frias became heavily involved with the Black Student Union and became a co-chair this year for the VIBES conference, which stands for Visionaries Inspiring Black Empowered Students. The student-led and -funded conference is meant to help first-generation high school students see themselves in a college setting. “To see a room full of first-generation students wanting to seek higher education was a beautiful thing,” she said. “Black and brown children want to pursue higher education, and our society needs to do more to open those opportunities up and give them the confidence they need to do it.”

Frias spent more than 300 hours in the months leading up to the conference so that everything could run smoothly. She said helping lead the conference was an experience she’ll cherish forever, because of how the students were visibly inspired and confident in their dreams by the end of it. As a student, Frias sat in many committees that were not representative of a diverse student body. She said she wouldn’t feel comfortable speaking in general at first, and much less about her ethnicity or sexuality. But as her self-confidence grew, so did her advocacy. “If we don’t speak about what we want to see, we’re not going to get it,” she said. Frias said she will remember some moments of hardship with fondness, because they helped her grow. Last year, Frias ran a campaign alongside a fellow student with hopes to improve diversity and inclusion efforts across the university, as president and vice president of the Associated Students of Washington State University. “Being Afro-Latina, being an LGBT woman, I wanted to help people feel more comfortable, and I wanted to help the university work stronger and better to make this university as inclusive as it could be,” she said. It was difficult to go through every emotion and not see the outcome they expected, but Frias said she remained inspired to keep working for positive change. “We need to push ourselves enough to shoot our shot, but also realize that if we don’t get that opportunity, it’s not gonna break us,” she said. “Maybe we’re going to feel broken, but we’re going to continue to

grow.” Working as an orientation counselor allowed her to see the importance of investing in the youth, Frias said, because they’re the ones who will continue to make improvements after others graduate. Frias has grown tremendously and has come to acknowledge that not everything will come out perfectly, said Kaylah Blas, a close friend of Frias. Her drive for greatness in herself and others continues to be inspiring, she added. “Through her involvement and reputation on campus, I could tell that she was a very determined and empowered woman,” she said. “Her happiness and smile are contagious, and she can brighten the mood in any room she walks into with her positive and charismatic energy.” Frias recently accepted a social studies teaching post at a school in California and said she’s excited for the opportunity to teach, because it’s a way to foster inspiration in the future generation of students. Frias majored in comparative ethnic studies and minored in women’s studies. She also received training in diversity in the workplace. She said she hopes to someday work for a nonprofit that focuses on supporting women of color and LGBTQ women in the workplace to improve their representation in administrative positions. “Our ancestors fought for where we are currently, and we’re going to have to continue to fight and continue to work hard,” she said. “I feel like I have a fire in me, and it’s a fire that never goes out.”

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 25

WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY

COURTESY OF WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY

Nadia Sarfraz has graduated from Whitworth University and plans to pursue degrees in law and biochemistry at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Whitworth grad takes passion for community service from Zimbabwe to Washington, D.C. Biochemistry major found time to work with university’s outreach By Chad Sokol THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Growing up in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, Nadia Sarfraz spent much of her time volunteering at schools, orphanages and retirement homes. In particular, she remembers leading a group of students who collected donations and wrapped Christmas gifts for children who had little to look forward to on the holiday. “I come from a very collectivist culture where we all get through things together, we work together, I serve my community,” Sarfraz said. “My entire life, I was raised around the idea of service.” Sarfraz took that passion for community service to Spokane four

years ago when she started her undergraduate career at Whitworth University. The 22-year-old recently graduated from Whitworth after a semester disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Her accomplishments are many and varied. Sarfraz majored in biochemistry, and yet she found time to work extensively at Whitworth’s Dornsife Center for Community Engagement. She managed a mentorship program called RISE that connects Whitworth students with kids at local K-12 schools. Working with local nonprofits and attending city council meetings, Sarfraz has advocated for a wide range of causes, including mental health outreach, affordable housing, food security, cultural

heritage preservation and animal rescue. Sarfraz enjoys getting others involved, too. In the United States, she said she’s noticed many people “being really compassionate, but then not knowing how to funnel their compassion into service.” Last year, through Whitworth’s honors program, Sarfraz spent the fall semester in Washington, D.C., as an intern at two Smithsonian Institution museums. At the National Museum of American History, she helped create teaching tools for people with vision and hearing disabilities – objects they could touch and hold to get a tactile experience as they toured exhibits. Those included objects made with a 3D printer and strips of fabric that mimicked the feel of dresses worn by the nation’s first ladies. At the National Museum of Air and Space, Sarfraz researched the ethics of spaceflight and, in particu-

lar, a condition known as spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome. Basically, she explained, astronauts lose eyesight as they travel farther into space – a problem with great implications for any future attempt at a Mars landing. Among many other awards, Sarfraz recently won a Governor’s Student Civic Leader Award from Washington Campus Compact, a coalition of colleges and universities in the state. She was one of three students in Washington to win the award, which comes with a $1,000 stipend. Sarfraz already has moved back to D.C., where she plans to pursue a doctorate in biochemistry followed by a law degree at Georgetown University, starting this fall. In her spare time, she hopes to get involved in yet another area of volunteer work: advocating for prisoners on death row. A lot has changed in Zimbabwe since Sarfraz moved away, includ-

ing a military coup that ousted strongman president Robert Mugabe, who had led the country for nearly four decades. Sarfraz has visited home a few times and considered moving back to Harare, where her parents are doctors, but now says she will let her career and passion lead her to her next destination. “For the longest time, I thought I wanted to be a doctor like my parents, and go back and work with the nonprofit clinics that we have there,” Sarfraz said. But then, she said, she began noticing laws and policies that have “inhibited a lot of the people that I care about – doctors and patients – from actually accessing the help that they need in so many different ways.” She looks forward to knocking down some of those barriers.

To our 2,198 members turning 18 this year, your graduating class can make it through anything. No pomp. No prom. No playoﬀs. You didn’t choose to graduate during this unprecedented time. But your resilience will be helpful in coming years. Congrats grads. You did it.

Here for good.™ Insured by NCUA.

(509) 326.1954 | stcu.org/dearmember

CONTACT THE WRITER:

(509) 459-5047 chadso@spokesman.com

- T

Main

SPECIAL 26

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SPOKANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE / CHENEY HIGH / VENTURE HIGH

From gang life to budding businessman At 45, Carney finds the right path By Arcelia Martin FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Douglas Carney says he’s lived three lives. His first life was marked by his time spent in a juvenile detention center ; his second, by two terms spent in a prison facility. And his third life – the one he’s in right now – is marked by hope. This spring Carney graduated with an associate degree in business from Spokane Community College and is set to continue his studies in business at Eastern Washington University. It’s been a long and dark path for the Spokane native. Carney grew up in a motorcycle gang, where violence, drugs and criminality surrounded him. “Each time I got in trouble and got out, I changed my life in some form,” Carney said. “Of either being a better criminal at first, to now, where I want to be able to be a provider for my family and just be a better member of society.” The hardest part was leaving the gang.

“Trying to escape people that you were calling family for so long and always had their back,” he said. “(Then) going from turning your back on them, to them attacking you and your family, to actually being free of them.” For five years, Carney and his wife operated a medical marijuana dispensary. But when the laws changed allowing dispensaries to be recreational rather than solely medical, the couple was unprepared. They weren’t sure how to fill out the paperwork or how to make the transition. As a result, the couple spent a lot of money trying to file the correct paperwork, but were still unsuccessful. Eventually Carney decided to invest – in himself. To stay involved in business, he knew he’d have to go back to school. Sixth grade was the highest level of schooling he had completed traditionally. The last time he went back to school, his plans were interrupted. He was in jail after being arrested for first-degree burglary and domestic violence.

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Douglas Carney is seen on the nearly empty Spokane Community College campus. The 45-year-old, a lifelong Spokane resident, will attend EWU in the fall. In trying to be a better father to his seven children – four biological children and three stepchildren –he’s implemented new habits. Carney starts his day at 4:30 a.m. It’s a time where the house is quiet, everyone is asleep. He can get himself together, get his mind active and do homework. It’s also the time that he can read for fun and pay bills. Then around 7, the kids are

up and they all get ready to go to school. Carney’s on the SCC campus by 8 and stays until 2 p.m. “I would go to my classes and then work in the study labs on my homework, just because I wanted to have high grades,” Carney said. Even for a man who had seen some of the darker corners of Spokane, the classroom was still an intimidating environment.

“When I got to SCC, I didn’t believe that I was smart,” Carney said. “I figured that I would really be struggling, and not be able to even make it as far as I have in school.” But with the help of faculty, Carney was able to maintain a high B grade average. “I didn’t have any confidence in being able to write a paper, or even to know that I was spelling words

Cheney High grad embraces leadership role Potter ‘just a warm personality’ By Dan Thompson FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The voice of senior Riley Potter is one with which Cheney High School students are quite familiar. As a freshman, Potter stood in front of the whole student body and gave a speech that detailed why she should be the sophomore representative on the Associated Student Body. As a sophomore, she was reelected to be the ASB junior representative. And as a junior, she was picked to be the vice president, meaning she would read the announcements every day and lead the student body in the pledge. “She’s just a warm personality,” said Jeff Roberts, assistant principal and ASB adviser at Cheney High School. “She totally represents the kind of student we want Cheney producing here.” Three years on ASB is a rarity, Roberts said, as the path Potter took is really the only way to do it. But

the experience she gained every year gave her insights into how administrators, teachers and students can work well together, and how to be a strong leader. “I feel like I’ve been able to get an inside scoop of how high school is run and how things really work,” Potter said. “It’s been a really cool opportunity to be out in front of the school and get to have some of my ideas implemented in some places, and to see what other students care about.” Potter has remained engaged with classes through online learning – though she doesn’t get to read announcements every day since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. And her leadership role has continued. “She’s very intelligent. We were on a Zoom meeting (recently), and just the insight she has, for being so young,” Roberts said. “She’s beyond her years a little bit with the maturity she has.” Born in Thailand to American parents who taught there at an inter-

COURTESY

2020 Cheney High School graduate Riley Potter: “I am excited to be moving on to something new.” national school, Potter said she was “the only blonde-haired, greeneyed kid” at her elementary school. Though her family moved when she was 6, Potter still has friends who live across the world. When her family traveled to Europe two summers ago, for example, they stayed with old friends in nearly every city they visited. “We lived as a Scottish person would live for five days,” she said. “It’s helped us all be more appreciative for diversity

and travel and people’s different experiences.” Those international trips have continued to develop her love of travel and a comfort with being in new places, as well as a desire to see the United States from an outsider’s perspective, she said. That has her leaning toward a major related to international studies at Westmont College in California, which she plans to attend this fall. It also happens to be where her older sister Elizabeth – Riley is the second of four daughters in the family –

goes to college. Her other choice was Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., but she said she just couldn’t commit to a school that she hadn’t visited, and she canceled that visit in March. “That was hard for me to turn down, but I feel like Westmont will be a better fit for me,” she said. “It is in Santa Barbara. That was a total win. I love being outside, getting my feet dirty in the sand.” Potter missed out on her senior track season, and she was looking forward to all those senior traditions her class won’t get to experience. However, she said she has also accepted that hers will be “a very special class” to end their high school career during a pandemic, and that this is only the end to one chapter of her life. “Cheney just has such amazing teachers who invested in me so much and cared about me so much more than a student,” Potter said. “The underclassmen I didn’t get to say goodbye to, but I am excited to be moving on to something new.”

right, and after (English instructor Sharon Miller’s) class, I had so much confidence and so much ability to write papers,” Carney said. “It was so awesome. I didn’t even know I had it in me.” Miller noticed Carney’s budding academic confidence throughout the courses he studied. “As Doug became comfortable in the classroom, he responded very well to group work, particularly peer editing situations where students had opportunity to pool their knowledge and assist one another,” Miller said. “ Doug became so good at this that students often asked him after class to help them with their essays.” Carney became the go-to guy in Miller’s classroom. Not only for academic help, but for mentorship as well. “He is patient and listens well,” Miller said. The new community college graduate hopes that people can use his life story as a testament to new beginnings. Carney said he wants people who have destroyed their lives to know “that you can still make it.”

Graduation The Venture High School commencement was planned for 6 p.m. June 4 at the school, 1619 N. Ninth St., Coeur d’Alene. Principal: Teresa Kaiser

VENTURE HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Kyle Anson Jasmine Arveson Kyia Baldwin Dakota Bordman Kayla Brown Ashley Capello-Green Craig Caruso Taiha Colston Malachai Crowe Trevor Elmore Sierra Frison Gabriel Garcia Jordan Gerdes Reece Gerome Samuel Granger Tristan Hone Brianna Houchen Trinity Houk Allee Huff Sebastian Kirby Brayden Lee Brayden Lloyd Joseph McDonald Ryan Morford Christopher Morrison Gianna Mumford Michelle Myers Noah Nordgaarden Alerik Ove Isabella Robinson Seth Schmidt Kylie Tetzner Tabitha Twitchell Jaden Youmans

CHENEY HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Michael Adams Sierra Adams Moses Adedeji Mason Allen Shaun Allen Martha Alvarez Prim Amornsupapol Genesis Anderson Ole Angenstein Christina Arger Sarah Arger Kathryn Armijo Dezmon Atkins Trae Babcock Gabriel Bahme Lukas Bailey-Kostelec Christopher Baker Hunter Barber Miranda Barber Alexia Batchelor Audrey Bellmer Isaac Beltran Yasmin Bermudez-Colley Courtney Betts Charlotte Bigelow Sabrina Boling Steven Bouck Ryleigh Bowes Aaron Brammer Kassie Brennan Colby Brock Christopher Brooks Joshua Burgess Nicole Burnett Sierra Burton Madison Butler Riley Carr Jonathan Carroll Dylan Carruth Malachi Case Rhosewen Caskey Aashna Chambers Bing Chavez Charles Cindric Tautiana Clopton Cayden Cole Jocelyn Cone Madison Conley Thomas Cook Ethan Coombes Brenda Copto Logan Cosens Elizabeth Counts Arianna Craig Samuel Crosby Kaiden Custer Melissa Daniels

Graduation The Cheney High School commencement created a graduation video June 1-4 and will make it available to the graduates and their families. The school is at 460 N. Sixth St. Principal: Troy Heuett Valedictorians: Abby Fillmore, John “JT” Gasper, Kyle Peabody, Riley Potter, Nicolas Preisig and Seth Wilcox.

Selena Davis Juliane De Los Santos Kinsey Dewan Alexander Dobson Dylan Doney Shelby Draper Nolan Dudik Maura Duffy Madisyn Duilio Matthew Dumler Trenaty Dunlap Isabel Duong Damian Echevarria James Ehrgott Alicia Eller Micah Elliott-Smith Shaemis Ellwood Bryant Escobar Kailey Estrellado Michael Eubank Shaylee Ewen Tayvin Ewen Dylan Feldheger Katie Fernandez Annika Fiala Abby Fillmore Bethany Fisher Evan Fleskes Devon Fortune Caelyn Foster Colton Foster ReiAnna Fox Connor Fraser Alexandro Fuentes Blake Fulkerson Amador Garcia-Ramos John “JT” Gasper Ashton Geiger Tanner Gerdes Jared Geschke Kyleigh Giddens Chloe Gilbert Mariah Gilbert Abbey Girouard Autumn Glover Hannah Goforth

Kelly Goforth Joselin Gonzalez-Cabrales Quinsie Goodloe Skyler Graver Alyssa Gregg April Gregory Atrena Gregory Tayten Grider Megan Habegger Zachary Hall Luke Hamburg Jacqueline Hanes Mackenzie Hart Isabella Hemming Ayden Henderson Victor Hernandez Brandon Hill Keisha Hill Lance Hill Ryan Hill Devin Hille Bridget Hills Jonathan Hoffman Bastiaan Holland Devin Holmquist Hunter Holsten Koby Holt Olena Hoppe Dylan Hudlemeyer Paige Hughes Amber Humphrey Mackenzie Huotari Sydney Huotari Elizabeth Ingham Karlee Jackson Darwynn Jagim-Kern Shaylah Jensen Ainsley Johnson Calissa Kaley Jordyn Kallsen Christina Kamstra Jaegar Kane Abigail Kasparek Kaleb Kasper Gabrielle Kearns Nathan Koohns

Fillmore

Gasper

Logan Krantz David Kulinich Abbygail Kulp John Lango Alyssa Larson Wesley Leafty Paige Lee Brandon Lindberg Megan Little Kaden Lizama Selchyne Lokot Alex Long Tene Lovelace Andres Margraf Jeanne Marshall Elise Martin Michael Martinez Gabriel Marvin Treasure Maxwell Angelina Mayerchuk Tristen Mayfield Kyli Mayhew Rylee McAllister Jillian McCawley Tyler McCormack Holden McNaul Peyton McPherson Zachary McRitchie Echo Mecklenburg Kelby Medeiros Marisa Mendoza Julianne Mewhinney Alexander Miller Michalei Mines Sarah Mitton Danielle Monzingo Amelia Moore Shane Moore Eden Mora Amanda Moreno Nickolas Morgan Anna Moser Carol Murphy Joseph Nazar Paynter Nicks Brianna Nielson Matthew Norman Keril Obyedkov Jared Oliver Kiearra O’Neal Madison O’Riley Matthew Osborne Sidnie Pacheco

Peabody

Potter

Kerttu Partanen Austin Passey Kyle Peabody Jaheem Peele Cynthia Pelayo Joel Perez Julian Perez Ashley Petersen Alex Petropoulos Michelle Pitcher Mia Ponte Perry Poppert Timothy Posthuma Riley Potter William Prater Nicolas Preisig Kearstin Pudwill Trevor Rains Thomas Ralpho Obel Rangel Joseph Reichow Tegan Ribble Marcus Riddick James Riddle Cassiopeia-Chri Rigsby Tiberius Rigsby Carlos Rivera Kaiden Robbins Parker Rogers Harrison Roney Daniel Ross Walker Ross Jackson Rowley Shelby Rowley Leah Russell Suede Ryan Evette Salazar Joseph Sarsozo Lucas Schuler Emma Scott William Seeberger Braxton Seitzinger Reeshika Sharma Korinna Shaw Faith Shinner Maisie Short Joshua Simmons Teagan Simon Jacob Simonsen Katana Sink-Simmons Brett Skipworth Aiden Smith Hunter Smith

Preisig

Wilcox

Jacob Smith Katarina Smith Margaret Smith Noah Smith Logan Smizaski Sienna Spencer Zeriah Staley Caleb Stehr Nichole Stewart Travis Stewart Connor Stoddard Joseph Stuart Johnnie Summit Jessica Swain Tiana Taylor Kaitlin Teeters Zhane Teichroeb Vincent Terrile Michael Testa Christofer Tinsley Adelina Totmin Shalla Treffry Zachary Utz Isabella Valentine Alexis VanHorne Sophia VanWormer Belen Vargas Alonso Nathan Voss Daniel Waggener Madison Wallace Madison Warren Elijah Weber Evan Wenning Keely Westerlund Gavin Westphall Skylor Whitcomb Heavynne White Seth Wilcox Cassandra Williams Isabell Williams Destiny Wilson Abby Witt Anthony Wynecoop Levi Yates Nadezhda Yevdash Dante Young Isaiah Young Esperanza Zaragoza Zander Ziolkowski Stephen Zusman

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 27

THREE SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL Graduation The Three Springs High School commencement will be at 2 p.m. June 13 at the school, 12414 S. Andrus Road, Cheney. Principal: Catheleen Scott Valedictorians: Kylie Delaney and Olivia Page

THREE SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Riley Anderson Hailee Baker Paul Cable Kalista DeHority Kylie Delaney Autumn Haughenbury Penelope Hebert-Tobler Rebecca Lindell Kayleb Lynch Jesse McGinnis Fionn O’Reilly Olivia Page Leah Russell Elleigh Ryan Hunter Smith Mackenzie Smith Joshua VanHersett COURTESY PHOTO

Kylie Delaney is the 2020 notable graduate from Three Springs High School.

Trading shooting for animal science

Delaney is one of the West’s top shooters By Ryan Collingwood THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Toting a pink .22-caliber rifle, a 10-year-old Kylie Delaney proceeded to fire a series of rounds during a visit to a Vancouver, Washington, shooting range. When her father, Jay, went to retrieve the bullet-riddled target, an elderly onlooker was impressed. “That’s some good shooting, sir,” the man said to Jay. “Oh, that wasn’t me,” the father said. “Kylie did that.” She’s still piercing bull’s-eyes.

Delaney, who will soon graduate from Three Springs High School in Cheney, is now one of the top young shooters in the western United States. The two-time Washington state champion and Junior Olympics medalist earned a scholarship to Murray State University in Kentucky, an NCAA Division I school with a rifle team annually ranked in the Top 10. Nebraska was also interested in Delaney, who chose the much smaller Murray State because of its “down-home feel” and tutelage of decorated and longtime coach Alan Lollar. “I’m excited to get there and see how much I can improve under a coach like that,” said Delaney, who will major in animal science. Delaney’s custom, flower-de-

signed rifle takes up much of her time, but far from her only extracurricular pursuit. The straight-A student – she admits to B freshman year – worked at a day care before the coronavirus pandemic, is active in her church’s youth group and involved with Three Springs’ student council. Social distancing mandates have made the past couple of months especially hard for the extroverted and active teen, who can also play guitar. The prom she tried to help start at Three Rivers was canceled, as was the Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs. Her gun range at Spokane Rifle Club recently opened, but she was “dry-firing” in her garage to stay sharp. With a mother with several

preexisting health conditions including Lyme disease, Delaney said she understood the importance of quarantine. “Being stuck at home wasn’t fun, but I needed to be wary of the virus,” she said. The virus ultimately robbed her graduating class of a normal graduation ceremony, but she said Three Rivers hopes to have a drive-thru commencement, during which each graduate will drive up and receive their diploma. “I’m very ready for high school to be over. I’m ready for college,” she said. “But I’ve had some very good teachers, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

(509) 459-5473 ryanc@spokesman.com

CONGRATS, CLASS OF 2020! Welcome to our #FuturePirates!

Page

- T

Main

SPECIAL 28

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

LAKE CITY HIGH SCHOOL

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Mary Morse is a 2020 graduate of Lake City High School. She plans to attend Washington State University in the fall to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine.

Lake City grad always finishes what she starts

Morse is bound for WSU this fall By Dan Thompson FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

When Mary Morse first showed up at the Iron Wood Throwers Center in Rathdrum, Bart Templeman didn’t quite know what to make of her. At 5-foot-2, Morse was many inches shorter than the typical thrower of shots, javelins or hammers, and she appeared to lack the strength to be successful at throwing heavy objects great distances. “I thought, ‘What are we gonna do with her? ’” said Templeman, who founded Iron Wood in 1989. “She’s so tiny.” But Morse was undeterred. Three and a half years later, as a Lake City High School senior, she had not become the best thrower, but she surely was the most dedicated, Templeman said, continuing on when so many others would have quit. “She is really hard working and really dynamic personality-wise, and she hasn’t got a drop of athletic ability,” Templeman said. “She’s just the best. … She comes to practice every day. She does everything you ask her to do. She’s just an exceptional young lady.”

LAKE CITY HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Nathan Albritton Marissa Alexander Ashlynn Allen Brooke Allen Grant Allen Shilo Amick Echo Anderson Samuel Anderson Matthew Angelo Breaydyn Anglin Fiona Antonucci Zander Ascher Aubrey Avery Madilynn Bailey Jacob Baker Shane Bardsley Kobe Barnes Josiah Barnett Brianna Baron Alex Barrett Emily Baughman Taylor Beaty Casidee Belnap Salem Bender Alexis Bennett Chance Bershaw Mason Besser Nakita Bishop Rosanna Blackston Brittany Boller Kyle Booth Sadie Bouwens Thomas Bradley Trysten Bradley Alexandra Brand Shanay Branscome Michael Brasil Britta Bronsell Chelsea Brown Cooper Brown Dylan Brum Hope Buckallew Chloe Butler Ethan Butler Eliana Cahill Michael Caldwell Caleb Carter

Morse, who plans to attend Washington State University in the fall to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine, has bounced around the idea of walking on with the Cougars’ track and field team, but admitted her first foray into throwing wasn’t particularly calculated. “It was more of a whim,” Morse said of throwing. “I wanted to start doing something outside of everything school-related.” It seems, though, that whatever Morse starts, she tends to see through to the finish as well. She is a Girl Scout – Templeman said he recently bought “a whole lot of Girl Scout cookies” from her – and a regular farm hand with her dad, as well as a volunteer in various organizations. Morse is also a member of the LCHS Concert Choir, the culmination of a love that blossomed during her time at Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities in her elementary years. “I’ve always had a musical family,” Morse said. “It brings joy.” Morse’s music teacher at Sorensen, Charlene Babb, said Morse brought that joy to others, too, even as a third grader. “When she was in choir, she would just do exactly what I asked her to do,” Babb said. “You could tell it was something she enjoyed so much.”

“It’s been kind of nice to sit down and talk with my family, talk with my teachers, and just have a moment of rest, because I know that the next upcoming years are gonna get crazy.” Mary Morse Lake City senior

Babb said she attended one of Lake City’s choir concerts earlier this year, saw Morse singing and “bawled like a baby” to see her. “You never know when they leave elementary school what happens,” Babb said, “and to be able to see her singing in that choir was like ‘yes, right on.’ ” As the end of her senior year neared, Morse reached out to as many of her previous teachers as she could contact – including Babb – in order to thank them and give them a graduation announcement. Some teachers, like those who no longer taught in the same school, were trickier to find, she said, but in those cases she asked other teachers to forward along the announcement and her thanks. Morse has managed to stay busy during distance learning, doing plenty of hands-on work at her father’s family farm in Malden, just west of Rosalia.

Graduation The Lake City High School commencement was planned for 11 a.m. June 6 at Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way, Coeur d'Alene. Principal: Deanne Clifford Valedictorians: Catherine James Samuel Catanzaro Cody Cate Kendall Cates Brendan Caudle Madison Chan Madison Chase Logan Cheang Tarryn Cherry Payton Childers Caitlyn Childs Jason Churchill Nicole Cicero Mahlon Clark Travis Clark Ethan Clem Karley Clinedinst Isabel Cochran Avery Colligan Jacob Cook Benjamin Cowin Hailey Crawford Mya Crisanto Hailey Crist Kyla Currie Amanda Curry Kendall Curry Courtney Cydell Emily Damschen Andrew Dana Noah Dannenberg Nathan Dawson Allison Dean Aryn Debski Joshua Demata Logan Diaz Gabriel Dorr Connor Dremann Tamera Duce Kate DuCoeur Jacquelyne Duncan Sayla Dupin

David Durrant Gracie Dusbabek Hailee Duvall Jeffery Ebberts Tate Erwin Claire Evans Elijah Everhart Thane Ferguson Riley Foster Nuanna Frahm Guy Frantz Chase Fredrickson Kayla Freed Brennen Froehlich Camacho Garcia Alexander Garey Nathaniel Garner Ashley Garza Avery Gephart Abbey Ghan Elizabeth Gilbert Jessica Gilmore Leonard Ginepra Erin Golden Keith Goodsell Hannah Goodwin Carter Gordon Zoe Grimmett Joshua Hall Seth Hanson Megan Hardy Sarah Hartley Nathaniel Hayes Ethan Heberer Zachary Henderson Jackson Henkle Emily Henson Sonya Hernandez Adel Herrera Paxton Herther Caden Hess

James Thaden Heuer Ethan Hildebrand Elias Hill Olivia Hill Jakob Hines Shayne Hirschi Grace Hite Marie Hodan Jared Hoffman Lauren Hoffman Kayli Hogan Colin Hollis Patrick Howard Rhett Howell Jacob Hubbard Jared Hubbard Owen Hughes Amber Jablonski Alex Jakubek Catherine James Hannah James Jacob Janzen Aaron Jarnes Logan Jeanselme Ashley Jennings Austin Johnson Collin Johnson Jameson Joiner Mikayla Juarez Sara Kaitz Seerit Kaur Jayce Keene Michaela Keister Lilian Keller Kaden Kelly Max Kennedy Mya Ketron Alexis Keylon Mazie Kinyon Alex Kirkpatrick Nakia Koester Sarah Koziol Kya Kruger Benjamin Kubetz Mackenna Lang

Liam LaPonsey David Larson Patrick Lasarte Madalynn Lasher Cody Lavigueure Reef Lee Makenna Leffler Lacey Lemburg Andy Li Tyson Libby Melissa Little Victoria Lupold Karina Magnus Veronica Magnus Cody Martel Guadalupe Martinez Cameron Mason Allison Mata Jacob Maurer Kyla McCall Ian McClure Dillon McCold Siena McConnell Cade McKenzie Taylor McKenzie Emma McLaughlin-Orton Cosette McNabb Sophia Miki Evan Miller Kaeden Miller Tyler Moody Mary Morse Hannah Mott Matthew Moulton Isabella Mussatto Kayla Myers Alexandra Namson Zuri Navarro-Carmelotes Brenden Neuman Haley Newcombe Charlie Nguy Keenan Novak Seth Nutting Zoe O'Brien Zoe Ohmes Jaylyn Oka Daniel Olvera Jacob Overoye Zachary Page Elise Palus Ramirez Parra Kevin Pascua Arron Patrick Emma Paul John Paul Emily Peterson

“I’ve been a farm kid all my life,” Morse said, running tractors, combines and repairing all sorts of machinery. Being a farm kid also led her to keep horses, cows and pigs, which led Morse to pursue veterinary medicine. “I’ve always been good with animals. It’s more of a calling,” Morse said. “As my dad says, I can talk to any animal and calm it down.” Morse said she has used the extra time during the COVID-19 stay-home orders to finish projects she’s been wanting to do for years. She and her dad rebuilt an International Harvester Scout, and she completed a T-shirt quilt. “It’s been kind of nice to sit down and talk with my family, talk with my teachers, and just have a moment of rest,” Morse said, “because I know that the next upcoming years are gonna get crazy.”

Hailey Pierce Priya Piller Jonathan Pintor-Alvarado Jaiden Pope Caden Powell Sean Prince Lorelai Provolt Ryan Pruitt Samuel Putren Abigail Quigley Ethan Ramos Dylan Ray Janae Rayborn Westly Reason Spencer Reed Alexandria Reichert Mercedes Reynolds Nicholas Rickel Andrew Rings Ryan Rios Savannah Riviere Yulian Robu Madison Rock Abigail Rode Amy Rogers Aspen Rogers Anna Rohlf Nicole Rose James Rowland Thomas Rowland Christian Ruehl David Santiago Samantha Savage Jackson Scherr Jaide Scheuer Jacob Schnatter Alexander Sego Samuel Selby Kade Serumgard Tyler Shaw Zannah Sheldon Dylan Shepler Caleigh Sherman Cooper Skites Hailey Smith Madyson Smith Riley Smith Tyler Sorensen Kayley Sosa Aiden Sparling Harry Stafford Michael Staver Katie Stearns Ryan Stenersen Arraya Stephens Ryan Stephenson

Ahkailia Stoicheff Zion Stout Caleb Strohman Sadie Sundahl Brayden Sundstrom Conner Sundstrom Ashton Sutton Alexis Taylor Kole Teague Colby Thomen Cole Thompson Aliyah Thorp Samson Tidwell Mikayla Tihonovich Tayson Toler Cameron Tony Alex Torok Charlotte Turner Anthony Tuttle Aislin Tweedy Katelyn Valentine Harpen Van Tacy Vedder Sophia Ventresco Landon Vergeer Jack Verharen Alec Vineyard Schaaf Von Blake Vucinich Emma Wagner Trista Walker Nicole Wallace Jaden Wallette Jonathan Walters Ariel Ward Nicole Webb Lindsay Weber Izzaha Werner Kathleen White Katlyn White Kristyn White Sydney White Elizabeth Whitmore Timothy Wigen Jackson Willhite Brylin Wilson Emma Wilson Michael Wilson Salista Wilson Paul Wineinger Morgan Wingham Willow Witkowski

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 29

POST FALLS / NEW VISION HIGH SCHOOLS

ATHLETE PURSUES SPORTS MEDICINE

“I wanted to be a missionary when I was a kid, and I knew I would have to learn different languages. I’ve always wanted to go abroad.” Aliyah Crabb

Working with trainer launches career plans

New Vision graduate

By Cindy Hval FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

On the basketball court, in the classroom and in the student section at Post Falls High School sporting events, Kennedy LaFountaine leads the way. “She strives to make her high school a better place for her fellow classmates as well as members of our staff,” said Denise Edmonds, ASB advisor. This year LaFountaine served as ASB president. “Kennedy led school assemblies and led our weekly student council meetings,” Edmonds said. Keeping a council of 38 students on-task can be daunting, but LaFountaine relished the challenge. “It was a whole new experience for me,” she said. “I really enjoyed the connections I’ve made with teachers and students as ASB president.” She quickly learned that listening is the key to leadership. “The best part was getting direct feedback from students, hearing what they wanted, and being able to make that happen,” LaFountaine said. One example was hanging inspirational posters around the school when student morale dipped. LaFountaine and the council printed messages like “Be Kind” and “You’ve Got This” and placed them throughout the school. Her encouraging notes came in small sizes, too. “Kennedy also has been known to leave inspirational Post-it notes around the school to brighten the days of others,” said Edmonds. “There’s one in my drawer right now.” Even more than positive notes, LaFountaine was always willing to pitch in and get the job done. “Anything I asked of her, she willingly took on and jumped in,” Edmonds said. A standout academic and threesport athlete, LaFountaine felt most at home on the basketball court. “Basketball is my favorite sport by far,” she said. “I love the team effort involved. One person can make a difference, but we always worked together as a team.” That teamwork paid off. The Trojans went to state during LaFountaine’s sophomore year and again her senior year. “It was a wonderful experience,” she said. She also loved being a vocal part of the student cheering section at the boys’ basketball games and wrestling tournaments. Being comfortable around sports and athletes led to her interest in

COURTESY OF ALIYAH CRABB

New Vision’s Aliyah Crabb graduated a year early due to her dual enrollment at North Idaho College.

Ready for Whitworth and the world COURTESY PHOTO

Kennedy LaFountaine is the 2020 notable graduate from Post Falls High School. sports medicine. “I took a sports medicine course as an elective and had to perform service hours with the physical trainer,” said LaFountaine She followed up with the second level of the course, and when her senior year rolled around, though it was no longer required, she continued to volunteer countless hours working with the school’s athletic trainer. “I really got to learn the ropes,” she said. “I liked working with the athletes. As I progressed I was allowed to tape up certain injuries. I helped out every day after school.” That experience solidified her desire to pursue a medical career. La-

Fountaine plans to attend Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, and hopes to become either a physician assistant or physical therapist. “I’ve already been invited to join the basketball team,” she said. While she’s looking forward to dorm life and college studies, she’s also planning to frequently return to Post Falls High School to visit her former teachers. That’s good news for Edmonds. “I’ll miss her,” she said. “Kennedy’s a special individual who will go on to great things. She’s a shining star.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

dchval@juno.com

POST FALLS HIGH SHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Kaitlyn Alderman Ethan Aldrich Avery Anderson Sabri Anderson Trinity Anderson Ethan Andrich Luke Apple Brady Ashby William Auten Andrew Avery Matthew Bartholomew Charlotte Bastedo Chase Batie Nicole Bayardo Tyler Becker Emilee Bennett Ian Bergreen William Blankenbaker Daniel Bonner Deklin Boseth Lily Bower Ammon Bracken Christopher Brinkmeier Jebadiah Brown Devon Brundige Halle Buchanan Blaine Buckingham Abigail Burquist Jacob Burton Vanessa Butcher Austin Butler Mikayla Butler Molly Butler Alivia Byers Sean Calabretto Solei Calavan Jarrett Calkins Brenten Campbell Kyli Cantrell Ali Carpenter Mukiya Carr Mackenzie Chapple Nathaniel Cheevers Liberty Chenevert Ashten Clapper Brycen Clark Corbin Cockerill Tarell Coleman Mason Collins Sadie Collins Cooper Conley Logan Copper Courtney Covarrubias Cypris Crane Watson Crenshaw Jayson Cropp Emily Curry Genevieve Curry John Danielson Seth Davenport Andrew Davidson Evann Davis Orion Day Onalee Deever Kaily Degraw Abel De La Rosa

Graduation The Post Falls High School planned a drive-in commencement June 4 at Kootenai County Fair Grounds, 4056 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene. Principal: Chris Sensel Valedictorian: Cameron Sessions Kaden Delgado Comstock Chloe Depalma Ben Dewitt Jalani Dollente Isaac Doran Dominik Dotts Dillon Doucet Isabelle Doyle Alannah Drake Dalton Durrant Kyle Dustin Luke Edwards Mason Edwards Tayler Ehrmantraut Jaidin Eppers Jarod Evans Alyssa Everard Brenna Failor Caitlin Fakrieh Jacob Ferguson Kylee Ficken Tobiasen Fisher Katie Fleming Hannah Flock Ramon Flores Ruben Flores Kristina Ford Katelynn Fornof-Lange Kendall Foster Mikayla Freeman Rachel Froese Kynzie Gagner Rylee Garrett Kaleb Gearhart Colby Gennett Ian Gifford Cody Gipson Bailey Givens Moriah Godwin Edouard Gondo Samantha Goodman Gabriel Gordon Linzee Gower Mckie Gregory Caleb Gunderson Kiersten Gusdal-Hopkins Austin Haeckel Makalah Haines Brian Hansen Alexia Harken Kaleb Harless Athena Hart Jackson Headley Nathan Hernandez Sydney Herrmann Jordan Hill

Travis Hoard Christian Horton Brooklyn Hough Jacob Howlett Brelane Huber Megan Hudlet Jordan Hughes Cameryn Hunt Shane Hurlbert Ash’lynn Jackson Carson Jacobsen Madison Jaeger Jordan Jenkins Kristina Jensen Katelyn Jesienouski Madison John Koby Johnson Zacheary Johnston Grant Jones Talia Jones Tatum Jones Austin Jost-Schmidt Victor Kasner Paul Keating Brandon Kelley Meghan Kelly Xana Kernodle Mason Kidd Tyler Kirk Dylan Klimp Samuel Kovacs Kennedy Lafountaine Madigan Landrum Ethan Lawson Isabella Lawson Kevin Lebsock Samantha Lee Clayton Leyde Christopher LingrenProsser Amanda Livingston Anna Longpre Tenlee Lopes Dylan Luby Ashley Marmon Austyn Marreel Braxton Mason Jonah Matteo Tereasa Matthews Carson Mattson Cory Maurer Quincy Maurer Alexander McCabe Jewlia McCafferty Felix McGowan Arielle McMullen

Talea McNinch Danielle Meeks Dominic Meier Megan Melton Shane Menzies Conner Milbrath Darcy Miller Julliet Miller Amaya Mohne-Silva David Monti Patrick Moore Kailey Moors Jessica Mullaley John Munoz Mya Nagrone Brittany Nigh Kaden Noesen Nathan Olsen Racquel O’Meara Cami Ost Jadynn Overman Julie Oxford Ellianna Palmer Lana Partyka David Patterson Derek Pearse Brianna Peavey Tierra Peters Ethan Peterson Vannessa Pinkerton Alyssa Pogue Trent Porter Zane Porter Arianna Portner Colton Pritchett Skyla Pritchett Zachary Ramey Baylee Ramsey Kiley Ramsey Justin Rasco Rachel Ratautas Kylie Ratzesberger Vivian Redding Devin Renfroe Jack Reynolds Peter Rice Hunter Richens Ethan Robertson Jennifer Rodriguez Caleb Rogne Dillon Rondo Nikki Root Jack Rousar Maya Rowland Caden Rubio Luis Saavedra

Sessions Shane Sampson Jeffrey Sawick Carson Schertz Hannah Schiell Janessa Schilling Ethan Seda Cameron Sessions Matthew Seymour Bailey Shanahan Sydney Shanahan Cody Shankle Micah Sharples Jacqueline Skarisky Mark Slisenko Emma Smart Bryce Smith Laney Smith Lucas Smith Devin Smithson Brenden Sorensen Larry Southerland Hailey Spooner James Star-Golz Amber Steenburgh Christopher Stewart Kaisa Stowers Devin Sumner Ryan Surguine Rachel Taggart Sienna Tedone Alexis Thomason Victoria Thompson Austin Tipton Emily Tran Ashley Tremblay Kylee Vancleave Katherine Vandergriff Garin Vannoy Jacob Vasquez Gabriella Vela Malakai Verduzco Anika Viernes Alyssa Walters Kayla Walters Shane Webster Madeline Wenzell Mary Wiecks Justin Wiggers Rikenna Williams Hunter Winter Claire Wood Amanda Wooldridge Dade Wubbolding Braxton Zirker

New Vision graduate has her future mapped out By Ryan Collingwood THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Thoughtful and creative are among Aliyah Crabb’s primary descriptors. New Vision High School advisory teacher Ann Rosenbaum has been the beneficiary of both. Crabb, a senior at the Post Falls alternative school, painted a distant mountain scene, including a goat near a meadow. She gave the piece to Rosenbaum, who will soon she New Visions’ top student receiver her diploma in drive-thru commencement at Q’emlin Park. “She’s very artistic, loves art and does well in her writing and discussions,” Rosenbaum said. “She’s focused.” Focused enough to graduate a year early due to her dual enrollment at North Idaho College. She will attend Whitworth in the fall. Crabb, who has a 3.2 cumulative GPA, was homeschooled until her junior year, but made a seamless transition academically to public school. Introverted but active, Crabb plays guitar, sings in her church’s worship group and is a member of

NEW VISION HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Brian Allen Jack Auten Hailey Bartholomew Lane Beard Jonathan Bechard Alexis Black Joshua Brisendine Arayah Brown Brandon Burkhardt Cathline Campbell Tyler (Tess) Castaneda Aiden Chaney Griffen Cooper Aliyah Crabb Makenna Cresci Joshua Croft William Eaton Hayley Epley Jacob Foti Jadyn Freeman Vanessa Gewecke Aaliyah Gordon Tre Groene Shania Guy-Carro Dylan Hogan Noah Holguin II Kaydan Hoover Kaden Hunsaker Carter Jackson Jonathan Johnston Zared Kay Charles Keillor Katelynn Kokkinen Jessica Leonard Linsey Mackin Isabella McRory-Johnson Hunter Mills

an outdoor club. She’s also learning multiple languages: Korean, Japanese and Spanish. Crabb wants to see the world. “I wanted to be a missionary when I was a kid, and I knew I would have to learn different languages,” Crabb said, “I’ve always wanted to go abroad.” That’s her plan after college. Crabb will major in English and international studies at Whitworth, and hopes to teach English in Korea. “I love learning language and teaching language,” she said. “I like to read, but I don’t think I’m a great writer. My older sister is the writer of the family.” “No, she’s a wonderful writer,” Rosenbaum said. “She’s just humble. Her writing is well beyond her years.” Crabb will join her sister at Whitworth, where they will be roommates on campus. She’s excited for the next chapter of her life, especially with the way high school ended. Due to coronavirus pandemic, the final two months of Crabb’s high school career have been solely online. “It’s been interesting. I’ve had to get back into the swing of things, since I was I used to being in classes,” Crabb said.

Graduation The New Vision High School commencement was tentatively scheduled for June 7 in a drive-thru style ceremony at Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way, in Coeur d’Alene.

Vincente Miranda Griffen Missamore Darrell Moore Sophia Morlan Mariah Nickerson Devine Nowak Tyler Ogden Jeston Perez Ann Marie Petty Gabriel Platt Jacob Ratzlaff Troy Riska Austin Rockcole Thomas Simpson Hailey Sterling Isabella Stewart Samantha Tanner Talia Walsmith Lily Waters Madison Whitford Jaelin Williamson Abigale Yakovich

- T

Main

SPECIAL 30

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

COEUR D’ALENE HIGH SCHOOL

‘‘

I love being busy and doing things. I don’t say this much, but I wish I was at school. I get to see friends and my teachers.” Parker Drechsel Coeur d’Alene graduate

THE VOICE OF A SCHOOL CdA’s Drechsel eyes a future in teaching By Ryan Collingwood THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Parker Drechsel’s resonant voice carried through every classroom at Coeur d’Alene High, booming through speakers each morning with announcements in tow. It was often the first voice many of the school’s roughly 1,400 students heard. Drechsel, who also announced CHS volleyball games, took pride in that. He grew up analyzing the best voices in sports broadcasting, found his niche as a junior, and was slated to also call Vikings baseball games this spring. As the school’s Associated Student Body vice president, his voice put plans into motion. The coronavirus pandemic prematurely ended his time in front of Coeur d’Alene High microphones. “It’s been really weird,” Drechsel said. “I love being busy and doing things. I don’t say this much, but I wish I was at school. I get to see friends and my teachers.” When he sees most of his Class of 2020 peers again, it will be in his car. He will receive his diploma in drive-thru fashion at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. “It’s definitely better than nothing,” he said. His days of calling events will also continue. Drechsel, who earned the Boy Scouts of America’s coveted Eagle Scout badge, will continue to announce his troop’s big events, and hopes to call volleyball at North Idaho College this fall. He’s headed to NIC, where he’ll begin

COEUR D’ALENE HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Olivia Adams Grace Anderson-Mosher Logan Babbitt Bode Bailey Jadie Baker Margaret Baldeck Elisabeth Baldwin Kacey Beach Berkley Belmont Geneva Bengtson Alex Bennett Zachary Bentz Camden Best Jacob Beyersdorf Chloe Bissell Mayson Blakeley-Whittaker Benton Blakely Robert Boscan Spencer Bowlin Isabelle Bradley Lilliann Brennan Hunter Brett Emily Bronson Jack Brown Jake Brown Megan Brown Jaya Bryntesen Eryn Buchanan Alivia Buchen Savannah Butler Zachary Butler Brady Bybee Jackson Call Daniel Callahan Madeline Caro Megan Cassano Jaizee Cessna Christopher Clark Kellan Clark Noah Cobb Marilyn Comack Nyah Conant Dalton Cone Kathryn Cook Megan Corette Jerome Counts Jack Courtney Zoe Cox Brennen Crawford Erinn Crawford Justin Crowe

his pursuit of an education degree and be a manager of the Cardinals men’s basketball team, which will pay a good chunk of his tuition. He plans to transfer to Boise State, his final stop before becoming a math teacher. “He’s just one of those responsible guys, you don’t have to give him a lot direction,” Coeur d’Alene High counselor Rick Jones said “He just takes it on and makes it happen.” Drechsel will graduate from CHS with a 3.8 grade-point average, an impressive feat considering his busy schedule. He was active in student council, played basketball until his junior year, and also became the school’s announcer, a team manager for football and basketball, and a member of Coeur d’Alene Park and Recreation commission – all while pursuing Eagle Scout status. “He also worked the book drive and food drive before Christmas,” Jones said. “Was very involved. He will be missed here.” The longtime Coeur d’Alene resident, who earned an Eagle Scouts Scholarship and an Idaho Opportunity Scholarship, also helped prevent bullying. Drechsel was an integral part of his school’s anti-bullying approach, Green Dot, and helped spearhead the school’s National Unity Day. The pandemic derailed several of his pursuits, including a prom he was looking forward to attending. He already had a date lined up. Now he’s looking all the way forward, with a hint of nostalgia for opportunities lost during the quarantine. “It was a really good four years at CHS, for sure,” he said. “I loved my senior class, teachers, everyone was kind to me, and I made sure to pay it forward. “It’s a great school.”

Graduation The Coeur d’Alene High School planned a commencement at 6 p.m. June 5 at Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way. Principal: Libbi Barrett Valedictorian: Nicholas David Probst

Probst Kayla Cunningham Cameron Dance Emily Davis Jessie Davis Abigail Day Hailo Deitz Tristan Delbridge Thomas Dittman Conner Dixon Morgan Dixon Tyler Dodd Valkyrie Domres-Rendon Kayla Dorame Parker Drechsel Skye Driggs Trevor Drummond Trenton Dryden Kirra Dyson Josiah Eberly Alyssa Ellis Genesis Elmore Patrick Elmore Caleb English Caliane English Marina Erickson Noah Fadness Madison Fain Cody Felts Madison Fernimen Isabella Ferreyra Ryder Fine Jordan Flaherty Aliyah Fleshman Lily Foster

Dylan Frades Dylan Franks Oliver Fraser Isaiah Gallegos Kate Gatten Wyatt Gibbar Andrea Golden Charles Golden Elizabeth Gourley Emma Griffitts Bethany Hagar Peja Hall Grace Hamilton Hyrum Hansen Liliana Hare Julianne Harris Elizabeth Hatfield Gavin Hawkins Jason Hayes Cooper Hazel Dominique Hein-Jessos Joshua Helwich Joshua Hern Martina Hicks Kennedy Hill Jesse Holecek Brady Holgate Lily Hollibaugh Darian Hook Joanna Hover Joshua Hudlet Jasmine Hughes Lacey Hunt Roger Huntman Caleb Hvizdos Maxwell Isaacson Thomas Isaksen Braden Jackson Logan Jaggi Emma James Justin Jaworski Anastasia Johnson Devon Johnson Jayden Johnson Kaylee Johnson

10208 N Division Suite

509-368-9045 Open Daily 11am to 10pm

2020 Seniors Congratulations We’re All Doing Our Part www.mcclainspizzeriaspokane.com

Spokane’s Best Pizza

COURTESY OF PARKER DRECHSEL

Parker Dreschel, the voice of Vikings volleyball games while at Coeur d’Alene High, is headed to North Idaho College this fall, and eventually to Boise State University.

Kendal Johnson Marissa Johnston Micah Kender Kassie Kielblock Madeleine Kile Cameron Killen Gracie Kingsley Thomas Kladar Hanna Koetsier Roxanne Koler Madison Korthals John Kraak Sophia Kruse Michael Kucharczyk Jacob Lallatin Katherine Lallatin Zackary Lara Sydney Larsen Isaac Lawrence Blake Lillis Jordan Linville Brooke Little Alyssa Livingston Emily Long Kiannah Louie Matthew Lucas Wiley Luckett II Annabelle Lynn Hailey Lyons Catherine Mack Anamalia Maile Autumn Maitland Alexander Mallet John Marfice Caleb Markowski Eric Martinez Angel Maxwell Giavanna Mazzarella Morgan McBride Cade McConnachie Brayden McFarland Daelynn McInelly Carson McKenzie Gavin McLuskie Hope McWilliams Alexander Melendez Holland Memmer Justin Meshishnek Graciana Messier Cecelia Mick Seth Morris Kayla Mueller Ashley Murphy Anto Musa Isabella Myhre Kayden Nelmar Kristen Nethercott Kendra Newman Branden Newton

Adriana Nichols Colbey Nosworthy Zachary Nunemacher Cadin O’Brien Tory Ohse Hope Orozco Conor O’Shea Caroline Oswald Matthew Overby Parker Overby Landyn Owens Gino Pallotta Ryleigh Palmer Emma Park Hayley Patin Lauren Patterson Lucille Pavey Rowan Phillips Marriah Piazza Nathan Porter Ethan Potter Zoe Potter Jacob Pratt Parker Price Adam Priest Nicholas Probst Drake Prohaska Karter Proszek Spencer Provence Nathan Ragsdale Emma Ramage Christian Realing Dillon Reeves Jamie Regnere David Repsch Dominico Rey Lance Riley Henry Robinson Parker Robison Emily Romanowski Jordan Roth Taylin Rowley Ethan Runge Katherine Ryssel Melina Salazar Kallin Sanders Logan Sanders Wesley Sando Elizabeth Scarlett Thomas Schmidt Jessica Schoen Janna Schofield Elizabeth Schraeder Hunter Schueller Heaven Schumacher Hayden Scoffield Ikeka Sebastian Alek Sharp Shelby Sharp

“Be provocative Be organized” We are so proud of our baby sass!

Love, Mom, Dad and Cash

Adalynn Shaw Gavin Sherar Ashlyn Sheridan Elijah Shoup Zachary Sieben Andrew Sims Ethan Skelton Cody Smith Madison Sorsabal Matthew Spears Megan Sprinkel Hailey Stepro Julieanna Stith Richard Sullivan Max Sundberg Mickiah Swarner Nathan Taylor Connor Tenney Bryannah Thomas Hailey Thomas Nicholas Thomas Chandler Thompson Landen Thompson Alexis Tolley Alexus Treece Kailee Turner Micah Turner Braedan Turpin Sophia Vietri Tyler Walker Evan Walters Kaitlyn Ward Wyatt Weddle Taylor Wenglikowski Emma Wery Brandon West Jordan White Megan White Jace Whitson Makenna Wiedmaier Makaylin Wild Miner Wilde Grayson Willingham Courtney Wilson Jax Wilson Malachi Witherwax Jacey Womack Megan Wood Lucy Wright Alexia Young Ethan Young Taylen Zahnow Karlina Zanetti Derek Zaugg

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 31

- T

Main

SPECIAL 32

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

TIMBERLAKE HIGH / MOUNTAINVIEW ALTERNATIVE / LAKELAND HIGH

Timberlake senior Gustin always quick to lend a helping hand By Azaria Podplesky THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Caring for others comes naturally for Emma Gustin, a senior at Timberlake High School in Spirit Lake. Gustin, 18, grew up with three brothers and, though she is the second-youngest, often finds herself taking on the role of the mother figure. And as a student, Gustin is always quick to lend a helping hand. “I care for everyone,” she said. “I find the light in everyone, no matter what they’ve been through. I personally have been through a lot, so I want everyone to feel like someone’s there for them, have that caring person, and be there for someone because everyone needs it. I always want to help people. I couldn’t even know you, and I’d see you struggling and be like, ‘Hey, do you need help with something?’ I just like to be outgoing and caring for other people.” Gustin remembers being really excited to start high school. For one, she was once again in the same school as her best friend Taylor, who is a year older. And she was looking forward to eventually being

in the same school as her brother, who is two years younger. “To me, it felt like the next four years were going by really fast, and I always thought there should be a grade between junior and senior year as a freshman, because I thought ‘This is so fast.’ ” Gustin certainly made the most of her four years at Timberlake. As a freshman, Gustin, a lifelong athlete, participated in basketball, volleyball and track. During sophomore year, she whittled the list down to basketball and volleyball. As a junior and senior, Gustin focused on basketball. This year, Gustin and the rest of the girls’ basketball team won the Class 3A state tournament, a moment she recalls proudly. She also found time to participate in Future Farmers of America, the school’s coffee stand and Business Professionals of America. Gustin qualified for the state level of BPA and competed in the prepared public speaking category, another highlight of her high school experience. As a senior, Gustin also took part in a new program at Timberlake called Sources of Strength, a suicide prevention program.

“It’s trying to encourage kids that are feeling suicidal, or feeling lonely, that there are things out there to help them,” she said. “That’s one of the things teachers chose kids to be part of, so I felt really proud to be chosen to be a part of it. It got cut short this year because of the virus. We didn’t get to do as much as we wanted to, but being able to talk about it, and get your feet a little wet to learn about it, was really awesome.” Gustin was sad to hear the coronavirus meant her final weeks of senior year would take place online, but was grateful the school came up with ways to celebrate the students, like arranging to have the graduation ceremony at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds while adhering to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. “If I knew this was going to happen, I would have had so much more fun last year, making the most of it,” she said. “But it’s a good lesson to make the most out of it while you have it.” Online class hasn’t always been easy for Gustin, who jokingly said she is a good procrastinator, but she’s slowly but surely working through math, English and govern-

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Timberlake High School’s Emma Gustin stands outside the school in Spirit Lake, Idaho. She plans to attend Blue Mountain CC in Oregon. ment, all while working two jobs. She works as a caregiver through A Compassionate In-Home Care and trains new Silverwood employees for the theme park’s food and beverage department. Like many students, Gustin isn’t going to let social distancing stop her from celebrating when she’s completed her courses. She plans to have a graduation party with friends and family stopping by and, when it’s safer to travel, will have a second party in Boston to celebrate with more family. After working all summer, Gustin will attend Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Oregon, where she hopes to pursue special education like her mother, who

TIMBERLAKE HIGH SCHOOL

Expected to graduate are: Alex Bailey Addison Balavage David Barr Brandon Barrett Matthew Baures Sage Beal Patrick Beasley Gage Benefield Lilith Berg Ashton Berscheid Jazlynn Billingsley Brennan Blankenship Tyson Boesl Benjamin Brock Kayne Brooks Caitlin Broxson Dustin Carlson Savannah Carr Leiguya Considine Emmerie Coop Maximillian Cornell Travis Cunningham Austin Daniels Rachel Davis Cory Dawson Elyss Dawson Krischan DeLong Julia Denison Alexia Desens Wyatt Dickinson Kaylee Dockter Gracie Duncan Joseph Emert Isiah Evans Logan Farley Jackalyn Ferguson Katelynn Ferree Joseph Follini Samantha Fox

Timberlake High School planned a commencement at 3 p.m. June 6 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene. Principal: Ryne Eberlin Valedictorian: Kameron Vordahl

Gavin Fullmer Christopher Gee Patrick Gertsch Faith Gervais Scott Gibson Mariana Gusmao Tokuda Emma Gustin Samantha Hallgren Savannah Hatrock Madison Hendren Bailey Hessing Laura Hester Kaylie Higbee Persephone Higgins Melissa Holbrook Chloe Houston Carrson Hughes Riley Hughes Logan Hunt Sawitta Imyuang Kristin Isbell Jacob James Cody Jameson Starkenberg Ethan Jerome Jaycee Jerome Alec Johnson Joshua Johnson Jeffrey Jones Logan Jones Abbie Joyce Alicia Kacso Allison Kelley Cheyenne Kiecker Matthew Knapp Raymond Knerr Annastacia Kofoet-Austin Joseph Laird Hanne Larsen Zachary Larsen Summer Larson Tanner Larson Ryan Lowry Kylie Marneris

Vordahl Jena Miller Trysta Mitchell Dylan Mock Caid Moore Kyle Morse Dirk Nelson Alice’n Newby Makia Newman Thomas Norton Jakob O’Hanlon Donovan Pacheco Amy Palmer Marcus Pappas Kathryn Phillips Louis Powell Ethan Privitt Gabrielle Ranney Ehlida Robnett Isis Rodriguez Ronald Rojas Wyatt Rollins Rebecca Roush

Hunter McCarty Trey McCorkle Jack McDonald Connor McDougall Destiny McKenzie Courteney McLaughlin Jeremy McLemore Brooklynn Menti Blake Miller Caleb Miller

CONTACT THE WRITER:

(509) 459-5024 azariap@spokesman.com

MOUNTAIN VIEW ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation Class of 2020

passed away in 2013 when Gustin was in fifth grade. “She’s really inspired me to follow in her footsteps, so I really want to go into that,” Gustin said. Though it didn’t end exactly as she’d hoped, Gustin is satisfied with her high school experience. When asked for advice for current and incoming high school students, she repeats an earlier lesson. “You never know when it’s going to be the last day that you’ll see someone, or the last time you’ll step foot in your school, so make the most out of it,” she said.

Kevin Sams Joao Schiavo dos Santos Jacob Schultz Wade Scott Christine Shepard Caleb Sorensen Cory Stacy Taylor Suko Hunter Szydlowski Isabella Szydlowski Jordyn Teal Oceanna Tharp Jase Thompson Michael Thompson Kade VanBuskirk Freya Von Till Kameron Vordahl Nathan Watson Kayla Watte Ragan West Branden Westphal Ariel Wilkins Tucker Wilson Joshua Wiscavage Vanessa Wright Joshua Yanez Julian Zucker

Class of 2020 Expected to graduate are: Tytus Aske Trace Bell Alexander Brown Dakota Carlisle Brandon Dalton Cody Dalton Austin Dow Bailey Fagerland Riley Fagerland Samantha Howell Olivia Johnson Chandler Knight Dylan Koester Damon MaxwellLindsey Faith May Austin McPike Alexia Neidhart Hunter Newell Nathan Parsons Bronson Pollack

Atheana Ramsdell Joshua Robb Jackson Rose Logan Studstill Travis Taylor Kandi Wagenius Carter Williams Zay Zielinski

Graduation The Mountain View Alternative High School commencement ceremony, in memory of Andrew Lucas and Keegan Woods, was held May 30 on the Mountain View High School lawn. Principal: Paul Uzzi

Lakeland’s Derrick impresses all with his positive attitude By Joe Everson FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Lakeland High School senior Travis Derrick has been a multisport athlete and an outstanding student, but what stands out to those who know him is his positive attitude and humility. Basketball coach Dave Stockwell puts it this way: “Travis’ tremendous work ethic and positive, team-first attitude make him a perfect teammate.” A brief conversation with Travis reveals quickly why Stockwell feels that way. “I’ve never tried to be the big man on campus,” he said. “I watched my brother Tyrel (a former North Idaho Male Athlete of the Year) always shape his team-

COURTESY OF JOEY JAMES

2020 Lakeland High School graduate Travis Derrick is headed for Lewis-Clark State. mates’ attitudes in a way that would help the team. He was very humble, and his attitude helped me to never think that I was bigger than who I was. “In the grand scheme of things, what matters most is the

type of person you are and how you treat people. Everything is bigger than one person,” he said. Travis’ father Trent Derrick is the long-time principal at Lakeland (and recused himself from his son’s selection), and Travis has been around the school and many faculty members since long before his high school career began. “It’s been neat to have him there,” Travis said. “My family is very close; they’re my best friends. My mom was my thirdand fourth-grade teacher, so I’ve grown up with a parent in the building. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m lucky to be where my dad is. I’m going to miss that next year.” Derrick will attend Lewis-

Clark State College in the fall, like four previous generations of Derricks. He plans to major in accounting, with hopes of becoming a forensic accountant. As for athletics, he said that he has concluded that chapter in his life. It wasn’t just sports, though, that made high school meaningful for Travis. “I’ve really enjoyed my teachers, and I love being in an environment of learning. I like to find my own way. It’s not always the customary way, but I like to think through problems. I took physics this year, and it wasn’t easy, but I enjoyed the process. “More than anything, sports gave me a sense of community,” he said. “I’m kind of an introvert,

LAKELAND HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Brenna Alexander Shay Alley Colton Aragon Max Arno Jesus Ayala Madison Badgett Athena Baldwin Nathan Barnes Ashleigh Barton Collin Bell Sebastian Bergeron Dylan Bishop Tyler Bodah Colton Boettcher Shelby Bohall Alice Borg Angelique Box Sarah Boyer Hallie Bradbury Bailey Brodwater Kiel Brooks Kelsey Brumbles Christian Brunko Tyler Carlock McKayla Carter Kacee Castles Jaucelyn Chaney Alyson Chatterton Nycole Cheney Nicholas Clark Hanna Clemens Violet Clemens Taylor Clements Tristan Clift Abigail Conner

The Lakeland High School commencement will be 6 p.m. June 6 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene. Principal: Trent Derrick Valedictorians: Sarah Boyer, Luke Ryan and Ayiana Sapp Shane Contreras Aubreyana Cook Hannah Cope Austin Cordle Chloe Cox Lily Cox Justin Crooks Jessica Daniels Hannah Dansereau David DeJong Angelina Delcomte Matthew Delcomte Justin Dennison Travis Derrick Keely DeVore Alexander Edelblute Rhonin Edwards Nathan Eliason

Boyer

Ryan

Tyler Elizondo Alexa Ells Diego Escobar Matthew Foley Charles Freitas Cheyenne Friddle Brandon Furey Erika Gallus Elizabeth Garrett Carson Gifford Collin Glass Ezra Grigg Mikayla Hageman Seneca Haidari Darkhaneh Alexis Hamburger Alyssa Hamburger Emily Harwood Baylee Hatcher Kansas Haugen Tiera Hays Vanner Hegbloom Carson Arthur Heim Nichole Hendricks Jasmine Henry Brianna Hoekstra Shastine Huddleston Evan Hunt Haley Huntsman Colton Isbell Ryan Jaimes Taya Johns

Sapp Andrew Johnson Katherine Johnson Mikayla Jones Abigail Kaplan Casawndra Keefe Simpson Harrison Kiefer Jarrod Killian Wyatt Kimball Nicholas Knowles Christopher Koho Stanley Koho Tanner Korst Elena Kovacevic Makenzie Kuykendall Ashley LaFleur Melia LaFleur Laurel Langenderfer Laura Larson Parker Lee Holly Lehnert Olivia Lenon Melody Loutzenhiser Jinger Lowe Alexander Lycan Raiden Lyons Grace Marcella Patricia Marshall Savannah Martin Gage Mattern Tyler McCandless Darby McDevitt

Shelby McIntosh Abigail McKibben Shayla Merrifield Kendall Miller Taylan Miller Savannah Moffett Agata Mongelova Chloe Morlan Sarah Myers Edward Naumann Abbigail Nerdrum Caleb Nicholson Douglas Nosworthy Mykayla Nutterville Greysen Nygard Genna Oliver Mikayla Olson Kolbee O’Neal Chase Ostrander Jacob Paddock Bentley Caden Palaniuk Emma Parker Tyler Parks Tyler Pemberton Samantha Penick Elena Peratoner Bridger Peterson MaKenzi Pickles Kaiden Pollard Riley Pope Sarah Pope Ryan Quimby Gabriel Rasmus Jackson Roach Montana Robbins Rylan Robinson Adria Rogers Phelan Rogers Halle Rubio-Aiken Riley Rushing Austin Russell Luke Ryan

and I really needed camaraderie and connection. I’m not a great people person, so the relationships with my teammates were important. I really appreciate what my coaches gave me, and it was great after school to go out to practice every day and let loose.” Derrick played football and basketball for all four years at Lakeland, and also participated in golf for his freshman and sophomore years, track and field as a junior, and was planning to play tennis as a senior before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the spring season. He says that he has tried to be a role model for younger students, stay close to his faith, “do the right thing in the right way.”

Erick Saasen Carson Sande Ayiana Sapp Kaylee Sawyer Hunter Schoepp Joshua Scrabeck Kailyn Sexton Joesey Sherman Elijah Shipman Isaac Silva Sydney Singer Bryce Smithson Luke Snyders Cole Stephens Sidnaey Stimson Hunter Stocking-Barkley Travis Strobel Madison Strope XiaoWen Suko Johnny Sullivan Devan Tancre MaKayla Tanner Brooke Taylor Abigail Thomasson Hailey Tingey Devon Toussaint Trevor Vandever Madison Vangelder David Walter Acacia Werner Tayson White Ashley Whitehead Jared Williams Jennifer Wirtz Elijah Woodward Kyle Woodward Joel Zaken Desiree Zito Theresa Zomer Benjamin Zubaly

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 33

KOOTENAI HIGH SCHOOL

Renner builds positive culture at Kootenai Top athlete latest in family history to graduate from Harrison school By Ryan Collingwood THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

His father graduated from Kootenai Junior-Senior High School. So did his grandfather and great grandfather. The small, shrinking Harrison school has been a constant in Garrett Renner’s bloodline, pumping out graduates for decades. Renner, one of 10 students in his senior class, will be the latest when he receives his diploma this month. “I remember when I was a young kid when the class sizes at Kootenai were at least double what they are now,” said Renner, whose high school has roughly 40 students. “Our freshman class has six kids, so things have definitely changed.” This allowed Renner, who will attend Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston this fall, to wear a variety of hats. He was a solid athlete, medaling at the 1A State track and field meet in the long, triple and high jumps as a junior, and would likely have done the same this spring if sports weren’t canceled on account of the coronavirus pandemic. “It threw us for a loop when it started,” Renner said of the state’s social distancing mandates that shut down on-campus school in Idaho. “Once school was actu-

ally out, we realized we weren’t going to have things, like track.” Renner also represented Kootenai at the North Idaho All-Star basketball game and ran cross country. He was a mathlete, too, finishing third at NIC’s 38th annual math contest last fall. His 3.9 GPA helped him earn valedictorian honors, and he was also the school’s ASB president. Renner helped implement a positive culture, according to social studies teacher Michael Stroh, and is a role model for his special-needs older brother, a recent Kootenai graduate. “He always had a smile on his face and was a charmer here,” Stroh said. “He was setting up new traditions and was a rock star in class, asking questions about the important issues. “And always being there for his brother is, I think, very inspiring.” Renner would have preferred a normal commencement ceremony at Kootenai like several of his relatives enjoyed, but after two months of riding his bike in rural Idaho to stay active amid the quarantine, he’s ready for the next chapter of his life. “I loved my time at Kootenai,” Renner said. “I wouldn’t have wanted to go to any other school.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

ryanc@spokesman.com

KOOTENAI HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation

Class of 2020

The Kootenai High School commencement was planned for 1 p.m. June 6 at the high school gymnasium, 13030 E. O’Gara Road, Harrison. Principal: Wade Pilloud Valedictorian: Garrett Renner

Expected to graduate are: Hannah Andersen Jacob Brewster Samantha George Jacey Grange Abraham Ice Garrett Renner Trenton Smith Mackenzie Stryker Mitchell Vawter Amanda Wine

COURTESY

Garrett Renner graduates as the valedictorian at Kootenai High School with a 3.9 grade-point average.

CONGRATS f

rom THE SPOKANE LILAC FESTIVAL

2020 DESTINATION SPOKANE

2020 ROYALTY COURT

Hannah Jeremiah

Morgan Armstrong

Kinsey Dewan

Klaire Perry

Kylie Nelson

Madeline McKinney Katelyn Bahr

Ferris Will attend Grand Canyon University to study Healthcare Administration.

Lewis & Clark

Cheney

Mt. Spokane

Freeman

Northwest Christian

Gonzaga Preparatory

Will attend Boise State University to study Health Sciences on the Pre-Physicians Assistant pathway.

Will attend EWU and then WSU to pursue a career as a Registered Nurse, specializing in Neonatal ICU.

Will attend Gonzaga University to major in Human Physiology to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy or as a PA.

Will attend Montana State University to major in Business Marketing & Entrepreneurship and minor in Health Sciences.

Will attend EWU to study Communication Sciences and Disorders to become a Speech Language Pathologist.

Will attend Grand Canyon University to major in Special Education and Elementary Education.

• • • •

3.92 Average Cumulative GPA Over $20,000 in Lilac Festival College Scholarships Over $118,000 in other College Scholarships Over 2,800 hours of Community Service in the Spokane Region

www.spokanelilacfestival.org

Sponsored in part by Photos Courtesy of Hawkinson Photography

- T

Main

SPECIAL 34

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

LAKESIDE (PLUMMER-WORLEY) / NORTH IDAHO CHRISTIAN

Daniels overcame obstacles

‘‘

You can pursue something even if you don’t have confidence, and in doing that, you will gain confidence in yourself.” Eliza Britt North Idaho Christian graduate

Lakeside senior cared about school from the beginning By Justin Reed FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Lakeside senior Emma Daniels stands out among her peers as someone who has overcome hardship, and thrived academically while distinguishing herself as a leader. Located on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation, Lakeside High School in Plummer, Idaho, has an enrollment of approximately 100 students with a graduation rate around 50%. The Knights struggle to retain students. But Daniels, who is half Native American and half Caucasian, Daniels has found purpose in academics. “I think it was me just trying to prove myself because I come from a very poor background,” Daniels said. “We haven’t always had much, and I figured if our social standing wasn’t going to be good, then my academic standing is going to be the best.” She has never had the same home longer than three years and has had to navigate a turbulent family life. Despite or because, she’s a straight-A student, often tackling coursework above her grade level. Daniels grew up in Plummer and has been in the Lakeside School District since seventh grade, after attending Coeur d’Alene Tribal School. She is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, based in Oregon and comprised of the Warm Springs, Wasco and Paiute tribes. Her father is half Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and half Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Her family belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where Daniels has been involved with the youth group since age 12. As one of two valedictorians from Lakeside, Daniels will be attending Portland State University under the direction of Upward Bound Coordinator Cheryl Copeland, who has worked with Daniels for a year and a half. ”She’s a fabulous student,” Copeland said. “She works super hard. She has really impressed me. You don’t always run across someone who’s that dedicated to doing well in school.” Copeland was the guiding force behind Daniels’ push toward college. Daniels’ goal is to become the first person in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree. “She’s the whole reason I’m going to college,” Daniels said. “She attacks me about my deadlines, and about scholarships that I need to turn in. And just even when I’m completely ignoring her, she still harasses me, and it’s great.” Upward Bound is a federal program aimed at providing free college preparatory services to students and families. “The school districts that we work with allow us to go in, meet with students in a safe environment and help them to accomplish their goals of going to college, and hopefully changing their lives,” Copeland said. Daniels was a ideal fit for the program, because for years she pursued activities that would make her an competitive applicant. She served on Lakeside’s student council all four years and is currently the president. For three years, she has been a National Honor Society member. She volunteers for Sources of Strength, a national organization aimed at preventing suicide, violence, bullying and substance abuse. If PSU’s campus is open in the fall, Daniels will move to Portland. But the move from Plummer – with a population of around 1,000 – to a city of more than 650,000 – will be a culture shock. She feels prepared, but her parents worry. “They’ve cried a lot,” she said. “I’m fine with it. I’m eager to get out of Plummer. I’ve lived here my whole life, and that’s been boring. My dad’s pretty scared. He’s always talking to me about how I’m going to get from building to building at night. And then my mom’s just scared about how the household is going to be without me there, because I have been kind of a mediator between everybody.”

LAKESIDE (PLUMMER-WORLEY)

Class ` of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Tara Allen Tamara Anderson Mariah Aripa Emma Daniels Sakima Davison Jasmine Flower Dawson Fude Vincent Gitto Jalen Holt Lazarus Iron Cloud Me’a Johnson Angelina Johnson-Cruz-Barrios Tenley Lambert Devon Martinez Valdena Matt Nicole Middleton Alicia O’Dell Glory Olson Gavin Rhea Destiny Seago Talon Twoteeth Devin Whaley-Arroyo Emmitt White

Graduation The Lakeside High School (Plummer-Worley) commencement will be at 1 p.m. June 20 at a drive-thru parade ceremony on the football field, 1150 E St., Plummer. Principal: Jennifer Hall

COURTESY OF ELIZA BRITT

North Idaho Christian graduate and powerlifter Eliza Britt received a music scholarship to Whitworth University.

POWERLIFTING AND OPERA North Idaho Christian’s Britt thrives with eclectic interests By Stefanie Pettit FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

When Eliza Britt auditioned for a music scholarship at Whitworth College, she performed Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro.” When not singing operatic works, she can likely be found participating in extreme weightlifting competitions. “Yes, I know, opera and powerlifting are a pretty unique combination,” said the 17-year-old, who is graduating from North Idaho Christian School in Coeur d’Alene this spring. As for the scholarship to Whitworth, she got it. As for the regional powerlifting competitions, her automobile dead-lifts earned her two second-place finishes in the women’s division and one first-place team win. These varied activities, as are true for others in her life, stem from family involvement. Her older brother and father, both of whom she describes as “big guys with big shoulders,” began entering strongman competitions, so the 5-foot-2-inch Britt decided that was for her, too. “I’m pretty unassuming looking as far as weight-lifting goes,” she commented. She plays musical instruments and has taken vocal lessons for years, including classical training, and so, when her brother began singing opera, she took notice and took a shine to it as well. Britt largely grew up in her

native California, but at age 14, moved to Coeur d’Alene, where the family had vacationed and fallen in love with the area. Her father David Britt retired as deputy police chief in Chico, California, and is now a regional sales manager for an alcohol monitor company. Mother Anna is a stay-at-home mom; brother Hunter, 19, is a student at Whitworth; and sister Emma Lin, 15, attends North Idaho Christian. They live on 17 acres and have two horses, a different life than they had in California. There were things to overcome when the family moved. Britt had to adjust to the location change, make new friends, switch schools even after she got to Idaho and was then hospitalized, not for the first time, with internal bleeding issues halfway through her sophomore year. In addition, she was born with Meckel’s diverticulum, an intestinal issue, and also has dyslexia and dysphagia, which make spelling and reading hard for her. Even so, she’s learned to work through the learning issues, memorizing words by picturing how they are shaped. “Needless to say, spelling bees are out of the question,” she said, noting the irony that English is her favorite subject. “I’ve been pretty lucky that this has not hindered learning all that

Graduation The North Idaho Christian School commencement was planned for 1 p.m. June 6 at the school, 251 W. Miles Ave., Hayden. Principal: Cal Booth. Valedictorian: Sejung Ko

NORTH IDAHO CHRISTIAN

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Jennika Bettis Eliza Britt Hyuna Cho

James Kelly Sejung Ko Trace Larkin Jakob Peterson Grace Remmick Tatiana Schwintek Trinity Smith

much.” When still in California, she fell off a horse and sustained a concussion and was nervous about riding again. But she did, with trepidation. Her riding instructor told her to “fake it until you make it,” a philosophy about confidence she has embraced ever since. “You can pursue something even if you don’t have confidence, and in doing that, you will gain confidence in yourself,” Britt said, confessing that she is quite allergic to horses and has to “take tons of medicines in order to ride.” She writes for her school’s blog and also participates in worship team at North Idaho Christian. She is involved in the child care program at her church and spends time painting, playing musical instruments and studying languages. She learned German from her German-born mother and also made herself

familiar with Mandarin Chinese, Korean and Russian. “I’m not really fluent in many of them, and am mostly interested in the history and grammar of the languages – the reading and writing, rather than the speaking,” she said. She also took a college course last summer in England and had an eyeopening realization about how much history is imbued in the architecture of old buildings. Her family remains hugely important to her. “We’re all incredibly close and all get along. Movie nights, card games and evening bonfires are a big thing for us.” This fall she’ll join her brother at Whitworth, where she hopes to major in psychology and linguistics, with a minor in music. She’s going in with confidence. CONTACT THE WRITER:

upwindsailor@comcast.net

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 35

DEER PARK HIGH SCHOOL / CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

‘Perfect role model’ Two-sport athlete ‘as good as it gets’ By Joe Everson

Graduation On June 13 at around 12:30 p.m., Deer Park High School plans to livestream, on the Deer Park Stag TV YouTube channel, these commencement activities: a slide show, ceremony and drive-through event. Principal: Joe Feist Valedictorians: Matthew Bilbruck, Shayla Donaldson, Hunter Dryden, Nathanael Gilstrap, Erin Johnson and Anna Patterson.

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Everyone has been hit hard this spring by worldwide health concerns, in all different sorts of ways. For high school seniors, it has been an emotional roller coaster, filled with questions about spring activities, including prom, sports, even graduation ceremonies. For Deer Park High School’s Hunter Dryden, current senior class president and two-sport athlete, it’s been, as he put it, “crazy and heartbreaking.” “I guess some kids are happy that school is closed for the year,” he said, “but I enjoy school, and it makes me sad that I don’t have the rest of my senior year, even though I know that it’s for the best. When I’m older, I know that I’ll look back and think about what I missed.” Dryden has grown up in Deer Park and loves the small-town feel of the community and the school. He has friends that he’s known since kindergarten. His academic, athletic and leadership résumé at DPHS is impeccable. He has a 4.0 GPA and is a co-valedictorian in the senior class, having completed every honors and Advanced Placement course available, along with six concurrent university classes from Central Washington and Eastern Washington universities. He’s been a varsity athlete in basketball and baseball since his freshman year and will attend Whitworth next year, major in pre-dentistry, and play baseball there. He was selected to the Northeast A League All-League baseball team the past two seasons and last spring was a WIAA Athlete of the Week. In addition to his student government involvement, Dryden has done extensive volunteer work with the Little League program in Deer Park and is part of the high school Renaissance program, which provides mentoring for younger students during their freshman year. Deer Park baseball coach Dar-

DEER PARK HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate:

COURTESY

Hunter Dryden is a co-valedictorian of the Deer Park High School Class of 2020. ren Snyder is Dryden’s biggest cheerleader. “Hunter is as good as it gets,” Snyder said. “He is a perfect role model in the school and in the community. He is a quiet leader who leads by doing what you’re supposed to do. He is 100% committed all the time, and he works as hard as any kid I’ve ever seen. “He’s been a big part of making our baseball program competitive again. It’s difficult to be as advertised when everyone’s telling you how great you are, but Hunter has never acted like he thought he was a big deal.” “I push myself and I push others,” Dryden said, “but it’s easier for me to lead by example and show what needs to happen. I’m

just not as comfortable being real vocal. “It’s important for me to be a good teammate and to not only improve myself, but to help others to grow as well. That’s the way my parents raised me. You can’t win by yourself, so if you want to be successful you need to try to help everybody else to be better, too.” His favorite high school memories include some special sports moments, including making it to the Washington Class A Basketball Tournament his junior year, qualifying for baseball playoffs as a freshman, and hitting his first home run. Now, during a difficult spring, he’s looking forward to making new memories.

Palmer finds purpose, God in her studies By Arcelia Martin FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

From early on, Maria Palmer, a recent graduate of the Classical Christian Academy in Rathdrum knew that she wanted to do something that could impact people’s lives. She just wasn’t sure what form that something would take. After attending public school and being homeschooled by her grandparents, she was enrolled at Classical Christian. Then, that path she was looking for was made evident. “I wasn’t sure whether that was going to be doing something overseas or doing a missionary thing or what, but in 10th grade I think it was, I just really realized how much I love classical education,” Palmer said. “I saw how much of an impact the teachers at my school had on me. And I just wanted to emulate those people, and I figured the best way to emulate them was to do what they do.” Palmer was born in Anchorage, Alaska, but moved to Newman Lake with her grandparents at

the age of 4, what she says was the best birthday present possible. “They’re amazing pePalmer ople and I love them,” Palmer said. “So they’ve been the main players in getting me where I am.” In the future, she hopes to become a high school literature teacher due to her love of literature and learning. For her senior thesis project, Palmer wrote about the dialectical unity of God’s transcendence and imminence, which she then had to present and defend in front of a board of judges. She chose this topic because she wanted to better understand God. “I understand things through an academic light, a lot of the time, and a poetic one, but I just get lit up by academic stuff,” she said. “And so, when I was looking at a topic to pick I wanted it to be one that I would get really invested in and would learn a lot [for] myself.” Last year, Palmer com-

peted at nationals in Washington, D.C., for the Poetry Out Loud competition, an arts education program. Students are selected from each school to attend their state competition and then compete in recitation. She recited “Adam’s Curse” by William Butler Yeats and “Oranges,” by Roisin Kelly. Although she fell short at nationals, Faulkner was just proud to have been there. “I love poetry, I love memorizing it, I love writing it,” Palmer said. “… It was incredible to come from such a small school and then just be able to represent it at nationals.” “Every accomplishment I owe to God,” Palmer said. “So everything that I’ve done is credited to him.” The 18-year old has plans to study at New Saint Andrews, a private classical Christian college established by Christ Church, in Moscow, Idaho. The small school with fewer than 150 undergraduates, all study to receive either an associate of arts or bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts and culture. A small school will be no shock for Palmer, as her

graduating high school class is a total of seven people. But this small learning environment allowed for Palmer to build close relationships with her teachers, like Phil Thompson. Thompson has taught Maria over the last six years at Classical Christian and applauds her great capability of understanding. “A lot of students will learn material, but she understands the material and can take the concepts, to a different level,” Thompson said. “And compare that concept with other concepts, you know, other literature and books and ideas. And that’s really made her exceptional in that area.” Outside of her studies, Thompson has continuously been struck by her character. “She’s had bumps in the road like everybody but, she has genuine empathy for others,” Thompson said. “And that really shows in her actions, caring for others and in service projects and helping around, I can always tell that her intentionality is authentic.”

Macy Allen Reilley Anderson Grant Avila Paige Bacani Violet Beaver Brooke Begani Mandy Bennett Matthew Bilbruck John Bizimana Jake Black Christopher Boulden Keaton Bradburn John Britton Ja’Naya Bromley Jay’Den-Alexis Bromley Finnbar Buscher Courtney Butler Taylla Calicoat Kyna Cartee Trevin Cassels Johnny Chamberlin Jonathan Champagne Dylan Chevalier Brigham Collins Kylie Cook Katelyn Coppock Elijah Corigliano Gunner Coy Chevy Cram Jordan Crownover Sarah Curtis Daniel Daher Kaitlyn Dally Daniel Davey Grace Dean Taylor Dearing Shayla Donaldson Hunter Dryden Samual Early Harrison Eastman Morgan Erickson Riley Erickson Prestin Ethridge Havelah Fairbanks Trey Feldner Molly Fenton Megan Ferrell Ellary Ferris Devon Flynn Regan Ganten Koby Garvin-Carrasco Jobi Gelder Kelsey Gillaspy Nathanael Gilstrap Jesse Gladwill Jessica Goforth Alea Goodart Calyssa Graves Andrea Hallauer Julisha Hampton Adam Harris Dalton Hartsell Shana Helm Virginia Hildebrand Brennen Hill Kiarah Hively Hannah Hodgson Isaac Hood Alexander Howell Kassadi Hutchinson Robert Inman Sean Jack Madilyn Jackson Soren Janson Cody Johnson Erin Johnson Colton Joralemon Matthew Jorgensen Travis Joyce Kaden Kanzler Molly Keller Diana Kharchenko Michael Killian Jordan King Kaitlin Klauder Mary Jane Koehler Audrey Kohlstedt Tannis Kosiorek Cody Krous Jaylee Lane Hunter Leibrant Max Leonard Garrett Liepelt Bennet Lim Brooke Lim

CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Grace Bailey Justin Hanson Isaiah Hill Levi Hossley Avery Hunt Chad Huscroft Maria Palmer

CONGRATULATIONS

to All the Graduating Class of 2020! Congratulations to Mia McGinnity, Mt. Spokane High School 2020 Valedictorian and all around lovely human. We are so proud of you and love having you in our lives. Congratulations on completing high school so successfully. Blessings on this transition into adulthood, that your heart may continue to grow in all your life’s adventures. - Much love from your family

Check Out Our Website for Future Tours! Next trip Wallace Overnighter July 2020 Alpha Omega Tours & Charters

2020 Tours at: AOCHARTERS.COM

509-299-5594 • Northwesttickets.com

Bilbruck

Donaldson

Johnson

Patterson

Victor Lucas Cameron Mann Ayana Marshall Leah Martin Tatiana Martin Abbigail Martinson Mackenzie Martzall Ireland Maxson Miranda McCollough Madison Mccoy Grace Mclean Emily McLeod Allie Michael Genesis Middlebos Brent Miller Matthew Miller Jayda Ming Nicole Moon Talon Munsen Aidan Murray Boden Newman Hailey Ohl Kamie Orlando Jesse Overton Anna Patterson Jarod Peach Jenna Petroske Jada Pilgrim Tristan Pond Orion Pound Wyatt Quinlivan Gavin Rasmussen Torianne Recchia Zachary Reeder Magen Reynolds Michael Reynolds Hunter Roche Cory Root Payge Rose Tyarra Rose Hailey Sanders Adele Schick Brittany Schuler Liahna Shahbazi Allysun Shalda Elizabeth Shaw Jacob Simpson Morgan Sissel Ian Snow Dylan Snyder Zachary Stevens Hunter Story Caden Stumph Leilani Sungalu Aron Swanson Gabriel Swett Cutter Taylor April Thompson Kaitlin Thorndike Kajin Tobeck Kierra Todd Samantha Travis Aliyah Tucker Micca Twinn Anela Valenzuela Caylie Vanderhoof William Vernon Sara Vincent Jayme Wallace Alaina Walsh Robert Watson Alexa Weinstock Izzabelle Weldon Haley Welsh Haley Wood Scott Ylitalo Caylee Zufall Reuter

Graduation The Classical Christian Academy commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 26 at Coeur d’Alene Bible Church, 5350 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. Head of School: M. Wade Ortego.

- T

Main

SPECIAL 36

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

LAKESIDE (NINE MILE) / NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL/ NWC HOMESCHOOL

Lakeside’s Slanga overcame tragedy Senior plans to study French and Spanish By Cindy Hval FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

From homelessness to the death of her mother, Emersen Slanga has endured insecurity and loss that would rock most adults. Yet instead of letting those obstacles crush her, she’s risen to the top, found her voice, and is ready to fly. “Any one of those things would be enough to derail a kid, but Emersen has flourished,” said teacher Caitlin Tumlinson. “When she came to us in her freshman year, she was so quiet, so shy, but she’s grown into an advocate for herself and for her friends, and I think that’s because of the challenges she’s faced.” Finding a safe place to live was the first hurdle she had to overcome. “My parents were evicted when the landlord sold the house with no warning,” Slanga said. “We lived in my dad’s boss’s shop for awhile.” Then came a string of hotels. “We had three cats and a dog and we had to sneak them in,” she recalled. “It’s funny now, but it wasn’t at the time.” Both parents battled alcohol addiction, so she stayed with friends for awhile. Eventually, she filed a Child in Need of Services petition with the state, and the court ruled that she could live with her grandfather.

LAKESIDE HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Grace Agnor Cameron Allen Ella Aschtgen Roman Ashdown Joshua Baerman Jakob Barr Alaric Beckman Morgan Boyd Julia Boykin Emma Brown Madelyn Buckley Austin Butkus April Card Emily Carden Ryan Carroll McKenna Carver Mary Chaffee Joseph Charbonneau Olivia Charbonneau Noah Cherrington Ellie Clark Maile Coleman Mykayla Cummings Abigail Dallabetta Lucien Dallabetta Anthony Davi Bailee Edwards-Kevin Jesse Erickson Joseph Estes Brandon Field Brie Frazier Taylor Garrels Alyssa Gasque Crosby Giesa Maegan Gigler Madison Hall Anthony Hammond Lauren Hartman Elizabeth Hatch Ian Hendershott Blake Higbee Tristen Hoff Abby Hudson

Her parents had moved to Arizona when she got word in 2018 that her mother had died. The sad news didn’t come as a complete surprise. “She was really sick with liver failure. She was given four months to live and lived six years,” Slanga said. “It was super heartbreaking. When she was sober she was the greatest mom.”

The Lakeside High School commencement is June 12 at the school, 5909 WA-291, Nine Mile Falls. Principal: Brent Osborn Valedictorians: Mary Chaffee, Brayden Merrill

Megan Isayev Makenah Jarrett Jamie Jelinek Brielle Johnson Wyatt Johnson Lewis Jones Johnathon Kurtz Micaelanne Lack Andee Lane Jordan Leu Courtney Lewis Dylan Lewis Hannah Liss Ryan Mace Daniel Mahowald Makaila Mailhot Mason Matera Kael Matteson Ashlyn McCarty Shayne McKee Nathan McLellan Hunter McNamara Brayden Merrill Corbin Meyring Matthew Morris Sabin Mulch Claire Murphy Ethan Noranbrock Mariah Nortz

The turmoil led to plunging grades during her sophomore year. “I failed geometry and almost failed two other classes,” she said. “I found out the stress triggered ADHD.” But with a stable home life with her grandfather, the investment of caring teachers, and a good group of friends, Slanga slowly

Chaffee

Merrill

Logan O’Dell Kael Ovens Payton Paladino Nicholes Pavlin Jr. Kelsei Peterson Cameron Purkhiser Devin Quesnell John Randazzo McKinley Reece Riley Reed Kristina Renner Cheyenne Richards Shane Ryan Saeed Sams Dilan Samson Jacob Saxton Alexa Schmautz Luke Schneider Alexandria Sheldon Colton Shilanski Emersen Slanga Nathanyal Smeltzer Abbie-lyn Smith Savanah Splichal Hannah Stires Brian Strong Gideon Swanson Mikenna Tonasket Alexis Torok Mitchell Underwood Kathrine Ustimenko Giulia Vianello Daniel Weed Dylan Wellhausen Madelyn Weyl Javon Williams Payton Williams Dmitriy Yarovoy

found her way back to solid ground. “I got all A’s and B’s this year and almost made the honor roll,” she said. “It felt really good.” With improving grades came bigger opportunities. She’s always had an affinity for languages – especially Spanish, and the summer before her junior year, Slanga studied abroad in Spain

Northwest Christian graduate is more comfortable on the other side of the lens Noller often helped school with videography By Stefanie Pettit FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Tanner Noller is a selfdescribed introvert, someone who enjoys doing things by himself and not one to seek the spotlight for himself. And yet, he is very happy to shine a spotlight on others, especially at Northwest Christian School, where he is worship team leader and a graduating senior. Through his primarily self-taught abilities in videography, he has produced all sorts of videos for the school – on subjects from sports to a father-daughter dance, the headmaster’s retirement to recruitment. “He does beautiful videography about so many events here,” said Laura West, ASB adviser and Spanish teacher at Northwest Christian. “Things that would cost us thousands, he produces for us, giving his heart completely to everything he does. He is a unique individual who tends to fly under the radar.” Noller’s early days capturing images began when he was 8 and an uncle, who lives back East and is a former filmmaker with National Geographic, showed him how to make simple stop-action pictures. When he was 9, he began making little action films using a tripod, in which he did all the acting. That morphed into videography, and it has only grown from there, using the equipment he’s assembled over the years for all of the production, editing, scoring and other work. He and younger sister Chloe live at home with their parents Kendal and Christy Noller near Mt. Spokane. Older siblings Alex and Katie were adopted into the family from Russia when he was an infant. The family camps and hikes, goes kayaking and enjoys all sorts of outdoors activities. “There’s a book about

COURTESY

Emersen Slanga is graduating with the Lakeside High School’s class of 2020 in the Nine Mile School District. for six weeks. “She studied college-level classes and lived with a host family that didn’t speak English,” Tumlinson said. “She did really well.” That’s not to say it was easy. “I got lost every day! I had to talk to strangers on the street to find directions,” Slanga said. “It was all out of my comfort zone.” To her amazement, she found herself thriving despite her apprehension. So much so that she plans to major in Spanish and French at WSU this fall. Slanga said she applied to several colleges and was accepted by all of them, but WSU was her top choice. “I’d like to pursue teach-

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are:

ing or something abroad. The traveling bug bit me,” she said. Tumlinson is confident that her student will continue to excel on whatever path she takes. After all, she’s watched Slanga grow from a painfully shy, grieving student, to a fiercely loyal advocate, articulate communicator and world traveler. “She’s going to be so successful because of her determination, her work ethic and all she’s managed to overcome,” said Tumlinson. “I truly believe that Emersen is an inspiration to all who know her.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

dchval@juno.com

Graduation Northwest Christian School planned a commencement at 1 p.m. June 6 at Northwest Christian School, 5104 E. Bernhill Road, Colbert. Officials: Ray Ricks, executive director of education; Chris Wells, dean of students. Valedictorians: Jacob Atkins, Allison Betts, Grant Branstetter, Darius Carrozzo, Sydney Frampton, Autumn Janke, Madeline McKinney, Natalie Smith, Dawon Yu and Zachary Zwanzig.

Jacob Atkins Allison Betts Adoniah Blair Brooks Bowen Grant Branstetter Kaelynn Burns Darius Carrozzo Nadia Clark Caiden Coombs Seth Davis Sydney Dobbs Abigail Drake Jackson Eide Colton Farr Sydney Frampton Morgen Greer William Grizzle Shailin Haffner Kekoa Hamasaki Eleanor Hilderbrand Faith Iverson Autumn Janke Jazlynn Johnson Dakota Jones Justin Jones Victoria Kuehl Hanbi Lee David Maynard Madeline McKinney Jenna Nelson Tanner Noller Shelby Overhoff Donald Padilla Katherine Pride Ethan Pyle Jackson Reilly Natalie Smith Madisyn Thomas Skyla Tunison Zecheng Xiao Guillen Young Dawon Yu Qiuwenjian Zhong

Atkins

Betts

McKinney

Smith

Branstetter

Carrozzo

Zwanzig

Frampton

Janke

Zachary Zwanzig Isabella Zwiesler

COURTESY

Tanner Noller graduated with the Northwest Christian class of 2020. the 50 highest peaks to hike in Eastern Washington,” Noller said. “Every year we try to knock off a few.” The family also did a church-sponsored mission to Guatemala a few years ago, where they built houses and helped at schools. And even though he’s participated in cross country and track at school, his interests have mostly centered on videography. He also does some freelance work in that field. “I like to tell stories that way,” he said, “going for cinematic values, being se-

rious, focusing on the beauty if I can.” He cites a recent video about colorful autumn leaves falling before the end of winter, with the final leaf hitting the ground and landing on snow. After graduation, Noller plans to move to Virginia and work in his uncle’s videography business while also taking online college classes in marketing and business. He has overcome some obstacles to get where he is today, including some health concerns when he was younger, and then learning four or five years

ago that he has retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary eye disease that, as he describes it, is slowly eating away his vision. There is no cure, but he has been traveling to New Jersey every six months for acupuncture treatments, which have been helping. Blindness is not certain, but it is possible. “This has made me quite aware that some things are temporary,” he said. “But I trust God has a plan for my life, so I am not worried.”

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOL

Graduation The Northwest Christian Homeschool Program plans a commencement ceremony. Information was not provided. The program is an extension of Northwest Christian Schools in Colbert. Valedictorian: Jenna Nelson

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Jenna Nelson Colin Pfening Emily Webb Daniel Swanson

CONTACT THE WRITER:

upwindsailor@comcast.net

Nelson

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 37

THE OAKS CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

‘THE ANCHOR FOR THE SENIOR CLASS’ The Oaks grad has a knack for storytelling By Pat Munts FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The Oaks Classical Christian Academy headmaster Charlie Dowers said senior Jonathan Ganji is “just a joy to have around the school.” Ganji is one of 25 seniors who will be graduating from The Oaks, in Spokane Valley, this spring. “He is the anchor for the senior class,” said Lynn Gibson, director of College and Career Counseling. “Jonathan is always so encouraging around the students.” Ganji has been a part of The Oaks community since his first day of school as a kindergartener. “Jonathan is a comedian, COURTESY actor and storyteller,” Gibson said. “He is com- Jonathan Ganji, a 2020 graduate of The Oaks Classical Christian Academy, has been part of the school community passionate and seeks out since he was in kindergarten. This fall, he’ll attend Biola University in Southern California. the edges of the community best-known catering comhim started. Last summer and new people.” “I appreciate how kind the panies. When he has time, As noted by Gibson, Ganji he attended the Film Prohe enjoys cooking trahas a gift for the art of story- duction Camp at Loyola staff and teachers are. They ditional Persian dishes that University, telling. He is interested in Marymount encourage you and have built incorporate walnuts, pomcinematography and sharpening his talent. egranates and Persian spicThroughout middle and screenwriting. a strong community for us.” es that are not always easy Accordingly, he plans to high school he was active in to find here. Food also lets attend Biola University’s school plays, providing the Jonathan Ganji him use another of his talSchool of Cinema and Me- spark for the cast that drew The Oaks Classical Christian Academy graduate ents in the visual arts; he dia Arts in Los Angeles this the best out of all their roles. serves as the still photografall, majoring in cinematic Jonathan enjoys bouncing noying. But he went on to pher for many of the photos arts and minoring in busi- plot ideas and scripts off his strong community for us.” He loves the small class say he does appreciate hav- you can find on the Fery’s ness and marketing. He is friend Isaac Brown, who is drawn to the visual arts be- also interested in writing sizes where the teachers ing more time to read and Catering website. Ganji was also introcause of the way they can and film. They would often not only teach a subject, but do oddball projects while duced to other cultures at communicate beyond the start with a nugget of a sto- also teach the students how he is at home. Outside of school, Ganji an early age. His late grandryline, then play it out over to be critical, independent spoken or written word. enjoys being around his father took Jonathan, his “I am drawn to it because time. His favorite films are thinkers. Like other schools across family of storytellers and sister and parents to France of how they can add mood the quirky ones from the the region, the closing of cooks. His family is orig- and Italy when he was to words and change the 1970s and ’80s. Ganji has loved his time school because of the CO- inally from the Persian part younger. He hopes to do meaning of a story,” said VID-19 pandemic has of the Middle East, a culture more traveling after he at The Oaks. Ganji. “I appreciate how kind turned the last part of Gan- that is famous for both its graduates from college. He started making threeminute videos with quirky the staff and teachers are,” ji’s senior year upside storytelling and food. The plots when he was in sixth Ganji said. “They encour- down. He finds the online family is part of Fery’s CONTACT THE WRITER: pat@inlandwgardening.com or seventh grade. But it got age you and have built a classes are all right, but an- Catering, one of Spokane’s

Graduation The Oaks Classical Christian Academy planned a virtual commencement ceremony for June 6 at the school website, oakscca.org. The school campus is at 2303 S. Bowdish Road in Spokane Valley. Principal: Charlie Dowers Valedictorian: Adam Lindauer

THE OAKS CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Isaac Brown Spencer Christensen Aidan Clark Katie Close Kaitlin Collins Ellie Cook Ariana Ferch Jonathan Ganji Grant Higdon Zina Hyun Anna Kolarsky Dana Komberec Grace Lewis Adam Lindauer Paul Lindauer Gabe Modderman Matthew Moore Jacob Sattler Ainsley Schnell Grace Shubin Brayden Tibbetts Owen Treffry Macie Ugrin-Smith

Lindauer

Congrats, Numerica family graduates! #ShineThrough

- T

Main

SPECIAL 38

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

FREEMAN HIGH SCHOOL / VALLEY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Phillip Croft plays a game of H-O-R-S-E against NBA veteran guard and Tacoma native Isaiah Thomas (not pictured) during Hoopfest in June 2019. Croft, a co-valedictorian of the Valley Christian School Class of 2020, is a United States Paralympic athlete. He has won multiple silver medals.

CROFT USED FAITH TO PERSEVERE

VC senior faced six surgeries By Justin Reed FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

After six major surgeries – including one that left him bed-ridden for a year – and an adoption that moved him from his native China to the United States at age 12, Phillip Croft, a senior at Valley Christian School, has been through multiple lifetimes of roadblocks. Croft was born with a teratoma in his spine, which is a germ cell tumor that may contain several types of body tissue, such as hair, muscle and bones. The formation of the benign tumor in his spine resulted in no feeling below his waist. It is rare and requires surgery. The doctors in China determined his surgery wasn’t critical, opting to work on ailments that would shorten the life of another child, such as heart abnormalities. It wasn’t until 2007, when Croft was 8, that 50% of the tumor was removed. The other 50% was removed a year later. But that does not define who

Croft is, nor does he allow the roadblocks, or just mental thoughts, as he calls them, to slow him down. Croft, unable to walk his entire life, has a laundry list of accolades and accomplishments. He is on the United States Paralympic team, where he has won multiple silver medals. He is a valedictorian, was voted ASB President and is a certified scuba diver. All of those, on top of his lively and positive attitude, earned him a full-ride scholarship to the University of Illinois “Just having God there with me to know that anything is possible,” Croft said. “And he has shown me that by giving me a family that I was asking for for 12 years, well, at least since) I was introduced to God in the orphanage.” He allows positive thoughts to overwhelm him, focusing on the things that give him happiness rather than feeling sorry for himself. “Your perspective is everything,” he said. “You can see the negative, but hopefully you could see the positive out of it.” He used a scenario to explain what he means, likening it to a minor crash in a brand-new car. “You still have a family, go to

talk to friends and go hang out with people,” he said. “It’s that perspective. You’re able to see the positive even though you’re in a negaCroft tive situation.” And Croft, who spent almost the first 12 years of his life in an orphanage, appreciates the opportunities he has been granted since he came to the U.S., one of which was discovering ParaSport Spokane and meeting Executive Director Teresa Skinner, who introduced him to basketball and track and field. Before ParaSport Spokane, Croft struggled with the image of being in a wheelchair and having the confidence to break free of those mental and physical constraints. “For me, being in an orphanage, being in a wheelchair and seeing kids walk around (was tough). And then I wanted to go to the United States to go to school, but I’m still in a wheelchair, still able to see kids run around. I was never confident in that. You know you’re different, and everybody looks at you differently because you stand out from the crowd. I think that is

something I was never able to accept.” But ParaSport Spokane helped sow a seed of confidence to lead a positive and independent lifestyle. “What ParaSport gave me was value, like I am valued and important in life, and they showed me things I could do independently,” he said. Croft doesn’t want the focus to be on him, but on the people who have been introduced to his life. “At the end of the day, your relationships with other people are more important,” Croft said. “I think that’s one of those things that I really believe in, is people that God put in your life, they all have an impact, they are meant to help you, and grow you and help you to live your life to the fullest.” One of those people is his mom, Joni, who first met Philip with her son, Kyle, during a mission trip to China. “I think he is an amazing kid, and I think God saw him in an orphanage in China and had a plan for him,” she said. “I think he is going to do amazing things and he knows no strangers. “He loves people.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

justinre@spokesman.com

Graduation The Valley Christian commencement is yet to be determined. The school is at 10212 E. Ninth Ave., Spokane Valley. Principal: Derick Tabish Valedictorians: Phillip Croft, Samuel Reese.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Angelica Alexeyenko Lilly Anderson Alyssa Beemster Dawson Blew Adam Bruno Alex Chadduck Phillip Croft Owen Eggers Hunter Heselwood Layla Houston Michael Kravtsov Reese Ethan Meyer Joseph Potapenko Samuel Reese

New grad a ‘hands-on kind of guy’ Baumgartner had perfect attendance at Freeman High By Ryan Collingwood FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

By the time Jordan Baumgartner reached junior high, he already had the foresight to know which industries would remain strong by the time he was a working adult. Skilled labor wasn't going anywhere. His father, a plumber, was living proof. Baumgartner, a 2020 Freeman High School graduate, has since pursued tiling and roofing jobs and other means of income that let him get his hands dirty. Baumgartner may join the family business, as he plans to attend trade school in the fall and join the National Guard. College was never in his sights. ‘I was never really big on being stuck in a classroom,’ he said. “I've mostly been a hands-on kind of guy.”

But he hit the books as hard as a hammer. Baumgartner will graduate from Freeman with a 3.2 gradepoint average while completing a four-year run of perfect attendance. The coronavirus pandemic cut his attendance a couple of months short. “It's been strange (missing school),” he said. “In the past I never really got sick, and if I got a little sick, I would suck it up.” It was the afterschool pursuits that kept him most busy. Baumgartner was a member of the varsity football, wrestling and tennis teams, as well the school band, where he played the trumpet. “He was a huge part of the band and just an overall good, hard worker,” Freeman music teacher James Jydstrup said. “You even

FREEMAN HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020 Expected to graduate: Madeline Aldendorf Jacob Amend Brock Barratt Christopher Barron Kylee Barthuly Jordan Baumgartner Sara Berryman Kyle Boyd Maia Boyd Owen Bryant Thomas Burton Peyton Campbell Estelle Carlson

see it now, as he’s always working out and going to the gym.” The former offensive lineman is also a longtime member of Boy Scouts of America, earning the coveted Eagle Scout badge. To help pass the time during quarantine, he chose to work and was recently hired at FedEx. He maintained employment throughout high school. "I could sit around and play video games, or go out there and make money and try and pay off my car," he said. Now he's ready for the next chapter of his life. Baumgartner would have preferred to have a normal commencement ceremony, but is happy to have his diploma and continue to do the thing he loves – working with his hands. “He’ll do well in whatever he pursues,” Jydstrup said.

COURTESY PHOTO

Jordan Baumgartner is a 2020 Freeman High School graduate.

Graduation The Freeman High School commencement was planned for 1 p.m. June 6 at 14626 S. Jackson Rd, Rockford. Principal: Renee Bailey Valedictorians: Christopher Barron, Owen Bryant, Madison Duarte, Bradee Parisotto and Megan Rubright.

Ada Cashmere Bailey Coumont Spencer Curnow Hailey Davis Jeremy Dervaes Madison Duarte Jordan Eskridge Caleb Forschler

Jeremiah Foss Kaitlyn Fricke Daniel Gady Benjamin Gallagher Rozlyn Garcia Trista Gilbert Dylan Goldsmith Olivia Guinn

Stephen Hansen Riley Hawley Ryan Hayek Ryan Hicks Grace Holt Jake Keebler Deakon Laib William Lashaw

Barron Macy Luhr Liam Marshall Iverson Miller Barratt Moland Janae Mueller Kylie Nelson Kaleb Ohler Cole Oyler Kendall Paine Bradee Parisotto Kassidy Paterno

Bryant

Duarte Melissa Payton Abigail Peters Jace Phelan Chance Pluff Halinah Putz Madeline Rae Kassidy Reilly Megan Rubright William Russell Hannah Sandborn Wyatt Sevigney

Parisotto

Rubright

Zane Sjoquist Hunter Smith Rowan Smith Tanner Smith Gabriel Tippett Ethan Trumble Deontaye Uhder Fabian Vargas Nathan Werner Thomas Willard

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 39

COEUR D’ALENE CHARTER ACADEMY

Faulkner goes the extra mile in athletics, life By Arcelia Martin FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Her gaze has always been set toward the stars. Sandy Faulkner, a 2020 graduate of the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy, is working toward her dreams of becoming an Air Force pilot. Ever since she can remember, she has always loved looking though her telescope. With one eye scrunched and the other looking through the glass, she’d dream about flying in space. If the opportunity ever came to be an astronaut, she’d take it, she said. Faulkner is set to study mechanical engineering this fall at the University of Idaho. To achieve her goals, Faulkner has always known that academics had to be her top priority, even over soccer, where she earned local celebrity as a top-tier athlete. Faulkner helped the girls soccer team win the state championship four years in a row, starting the past three years as a midfielder. “It’s been a really cool experience to be a part of, because the success the program has had has been, like, a really rare experience,” Faulkner said. Charter assistant soccer coach Trey Weatherly said while Faulkner’s athleticism and competitiveness are unquestioned, it is her grace that goes above and beyond. One day after lunch, he found Faulkner helping clean up the cafeteria, picking up garbage and rearranging chairs. When Weatherly asked if Faulkner had eaten lunch at the cafeteria that afternoon, because seniors often eat lunch off campus, she said no. “She was like, ‘No, you know, I just wanted to help,’ she’s so casual,” Weatherly said. “You can tell that she’ll do the right thing because

Graduation The Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy planned a commencement for 6 p.m. June 3 at Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene. Principal: Dan Nicklay Valedictorian: Owen Foster

COEUR D’ALENE CHARTER ACADEMY

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Romy Bekeris Carson Benzinger Jack Bird Imelda Bresee Olivia Chang Lucas Cheeley Thomas Cloney Aurora Cluff Stephen Crupper Clare Dolan Nathaniel Erckenbrack Sandy Faulkner Owen Foster Tyler George Julia Haag Delaney Jensen Gabriel Kamalani Chloe Kearns Hunter Kearns Lauryn Keith

COURTESY

Sandy Faulkner graduated with the Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy’s class of 2020. she knows it is the right thing to do, or she’ll help anyone if she sees that there’s help needed. So, I’ve always been impressed with her, and her willingness to go that extra mile.” When writing her a recommendation letter early this year, the first thing that came to mind for Weatherly was Faulkner’s servant leadership – a trait he saw in the cafeteria and on the field. As assistant coach, Weatherly often sets and

picks up equipment for drills. But often, he found himself working alongside a partner. “She will do the work that no one wants to do, and she’ll do it with a smile on her face,” Weatherly said. Faulkner and the other athletes on the girls soccer team have grown into their own little family. “Being able to be that close with people and have a grand time, it just makes it all so much better and ea-

sier,” Faulkner said. When they’re not on the field, the team likes to get out and enjoy each other’s company, whether it’s at the beach, watching movies or exchanging mugs. During high school, Faulkner had quite the list of athletic accolades. She went to state and medaled her freshman year in track, won state with the Post Falls varsity basketball team her sophomore year, and started competing in tennis her se-

Danielle Kern Brandon King Dennis Klein Katelyn Koch Grace Laumatia Justine Laumatia Shawn Lelewski Megan MacKinney Dylan McCaughan Sydney Merrifield Jade Mokry Rachel Moore Mariah Oliveira Tristin Ralston Justin Roberts Ridge Robinson Carson Rueber Marissa Samayoa Sydney Schillinger Sara Steinberg Ben Troyer Jacob Unruh Lawson Vest Elysia Whitman Jane Willoughby Josie Yovichin Mercedes Zepeda

nior year. Before the season ended early due to COVID-19, Faulkner and her sister had plans to play doubles together. “Obviously, we can’t do that now, but that would have been really cool,” Faulkner said. For her soccer coach, Stacy Smith, Faulkner’s dedication and commitment made her a standout student and athlete. “She’s a cheerleader for everyone, and yet a force to be reckoned with on the soccer field or the basketball court,” Smith said in an email. “She’s got that uncanny mix of determination and high expectation, yet compassion toward those around her. Her no-quit personality raises the bar for everyone around her and inspires their success as well.” Faulkner had never

Foster

played club sports before joining the soccer team and was surrounded by people with far more athletic experience. But according to Smith, that didn’t stop her from gaining the reputation of a player who other teams scout and focus on. “I’m dedicated and I work for what I want,” Faulkner said. “I think that shows in my athletic success, as well as my academic success.” All of her successes, however, wouldn’t have been possible without her family, she said, as they supported her on and off the field. “My family, in general, they are always so supportive of everything I do, whether it’s school-related or athletic-related, just anything. They’re always there and I know they’ll always have my back, so that’s nice having that support system.”

- T

Main

SPECIAL 40

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

GENESIS PREP ACADEMY / RIVERSIDE HIGH / RIVERSIDE ACHIEVEMENT

Lee discovered new home in Post Falls South Korean showed her affinity for math By Stefanie Pettit FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

When Yeongseo “Grace” Lee came from her native Seoul, South Korea, to go to high school in America, it was recommended by her exchange program that she attend Genesis Preparatory Academy, a small private Christian academy in Post Falls. “I did not know where Idaho was,” she said. “I had never been to a small private school. There are about 100 students at Genesis Prep; schools in Seoul have 1,500 students. It was a big transition.” But it was a transition easily accomplished, said Lee, who has spoken English since she was a small child, learning from her mother, an English teacher. Even so, there were things to get used to. “I had never lived outside a big city, where I walked everywhere,” she said. “Here it was necessary to drive to get to a grocery store.” But she took quickly to the opportunity to hike and hang out at the lake with friends, something she never did back home. “It is truly beautiful here,” she said. She wanted to come to America to improve her already excellent English skills and to experience life in another culture. She had seen lots of American films, which, she said, certainly made America “look pretty cool.” She realized right away that, while she found it wonderful in America, real life is not the movies. She found it easy to make new friends and partake in school activities while living with her host family. “She really does have an amazing spirit, is fun and dedicated to her studies, taking AP classes,” her teacher, Elizabeth White, said. A new experience was playing basketball on the school team. “I was not at all familiar with it, but it was

fun, though I was never very good at it,” she said. Vice president of the student council, she helped organize many activities at school, including creation of an ecology club. She found a big surprise in math competition. In her junior year, her high school science teacher said Genesis Prep had in the past been invited to a high school math competition at North Idaho College but never had a team. One week before the competition at NIC, Lee and three other students (the minimum number of students required for a team) entered. They won, and she came in second in the individual competition. This year, her senior year, there were 10 students motivated to compete. The school came in second, and Lee took first in individual competition. “Math is not my favorite subject at all,” she said. “I really like social studies, history and government classes.” She carries a 4.1 GPA. “Grace shoots for the stars and hits every time,” White said. Over spring breaks, Lee also participated in mission trips to Mexico to help build houses, traveling by car and seeing much of the country along the way. She said the experience of working with people with greater needs has helped open her eyes to realizing and appreciating all she has in her life. Every summer, she returns home for time with her family, which includes her mother, her father, a construction supervisor, and her older sister, a graduate student. She will return home soon to begin the admissions process for college in South Korea, where the academic year begins in March. She hopes to study law and is particularly interested in work to help people. “I am so thankful to have gotten this high school experience,” she said. “I think I am more open-minded and have a broader perspective in how I see the world. It has been a huge and wonderful lesson.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

upwindsailor@comcast.net

COURTESY PHOTO

Genesis Prep graduate Yeongseo Lee left South Korea to attend high school in the United States.

GENESIS PREPARATORY ACADEMY

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Cole Brosenne Simeon Elonen Drew Fryling Evan Glass Jalin Jacobs Yunji Kim Yeongseo Lee Scott Mwinuka Esther Nies Ty Parker

Kim

Graduation The Genesis Prep Academy commencement was held on June 1 during a drive-through event at Real Life campus, 1866 N. Cecil Road, Post Falls. Principal: Paul Schroeder. Valedictorians: Yunji Kim and Yeongseo Lee.

Jordan Roepke Lorence Shin Josie Speer Lincoln Swanson

Garret Weisenburger Brandie Zaring

RIVERSIDE’S MONTGOMERY SHOOTS FOR THE STARS Looking forward to academic challenge By Nina Culver FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COURTESY

Riverside 2020 graduate Tristan Montgomery was accepted to Johns Hopkins and Emory universities.

RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Joshuah Abens Azaria Adams Dylan Balauro Thomas Baldwin Willow Bischoff Lucas Burns Wm. Devin Chambers Aaron Covey Rodney Crawford Felisha Custer Colton Darcy Taylor Dickerson Marie Dodd Faith Downing Jack Ewart Tayalyn Frank Evelyn Friebus-Mischke Devin Frisk Payton Green Dominick Grizzle Colby Hagan Molly Hagan Matthew Hammond James Haraldson Jordan Haraldson

Graduation The Riverside High School and Riverside Achievement Center will have a combined commencement at 6 p.m. June 12 at the school’s south parking lot during a drive-thru in alphabetical order. The school is at 4120 E. Deer Park/Milan Road, Chattaroy. Principal: Clint Hull Valedictorian: Thomas Baldwin

David Hendrickson Zachary Hepting Caitlynn Hickam Hope Hill Jason Hinton Trafton Holston Tye Hooley Faith Jackson Ethan Jaeger Creighton Jarman Madelynn Jones Nicholas Kaley Madisyn Lamb Abigayle Lapano Summer Lawson

Victoria Lisovskiy Bethany Long Zytka Lukenbill Kyle Lundberg Makena Maioho Gilbert Mandarino Cole McDonald Maci Means Shadrac Moen Tristan Montgomery Rebecca Murphy Ryan Nelson Isabella Newton Brittney Nortz Caleb Olson

Prayse Olson Sharlene Olson Roman Osborn Mishayla Parker Zachary Parker Brandon Peterson Zachary Reilly Logan Rollman Ethan Roman Samantha Rood Liam Ross Hailey Roth Christian Salcedo Paige Santos Bailie Sedera Danner Shannon Elizabeth Shaw Tanaia Steenhard Silas Stevens Brooklyn Strasburg Joseph Taufen Madisynn Tofte Amanda Town Willow Vaughn Alyssa Ventura Maxine White Ashley Wisdom Dayton Womack Robert Yeend Roxey Zion Shajim Zornes Perez

Riverside High School senior Tristan Montgomery wanted to challenge himself, so when it came time to apply for college, he applied to Ivy League and other schools with traditionally low acceptance rates. The plan worked. He was accepted to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Emory University in Atlanta. “The biggest thing, at least for me, was not to be afraid to apply,” he said. “The worse thing that can happen in college admissions is that you don’t apply somewhere where you could have been accepted.” Riverside teacher Sheila Messick said Montgomery’s acceptance into the prestigious schools is a major accomplishment. She said he spent a significant amount of time applying for scholarships and writing the essays that went along with them. “He began as a ninth grader who barely squeaked by into honors English, was thrilled to be taking honors classes and was always grateful for the educators at RHS,” she said. “He is now more confident and beginning to believe in himself.” Montgomery was born and raised here. “I’ve lived at the same house in Chattaroy my whole life,” he said. He threw himself into his high school experience. As a freshman he signed up for basketball, football, cross country and track. “I’ve really done quite a lot in term of sports,” he said. “I like cross country the most. I like running.” But by his junior year he was hindered by injuries, including one to his Achilles tendon. He still signed up for sports, but found his ability to compete curtailed. “I couldn’t be as involved as I wanted to,” he said. He’s also been a part of his school’s Knowledge Bowl team all

RIVERSIDE ACHIEVEMENT CENTER

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Wayne Gingrich Derek Hall Katelynn Kemp Kyle Kitchen Hailey Lucas Haven Nickens Tony Periera Skyler Ragains Ryan Schaum-Olson

four years. He was president of the group this year, which was also the first year the team won the right to compete in the state competition. “COVID shut down the event, so we didn’t get to go,” he said. His focus has also been on college. He applied to 10 schools and was pleased to be accepted at Johns Hopkins and Emory. But then he had a choice to make. “It was a really difficult decision,” he said. “These two schools are so close in terms of the academics they offer.” He looked at the clubs each school had and the support systems they offered students. He chose Emory. “I thought it would be more fun,” he said. “Emory seemed like the right choice.” But Montgomery is still a little unsure about what he wants out of the experience. He considered studying engineering, but said he finds the design process confusing. He plans to get a degree in applied mathematics instead. “I’m not really sure what I’m going to do for a career,” he said. He’s just glad he took the chance on applying to schools that some people don’t apply to just because they assume they won’t be selected. But Montgomery said he believes it’s all about luck. “At the end of the day, it’s a bit of a dice roll,” he said. “Everyone who applies is qualified. It’s whether or not your essay appeals to someone.” Montgomery said he did it as a challenge to himself, though he did have a “loose backup plan” to attend Washington State University, where his older sister is currently a student. “I wanted to go somewhere where I was going to be challenged academically,” he said. Going to Atlanta for school may be hard for someone who has lived in the same home for his entire life, but Montgomery said he thinks he’ll be okay. And if he struggles, he’ll use some of those support resources he researched. “It’ll probably be harder than I imagine it will be,” he said. “I think I can handle it.”

Graduation Riverside Achievement Center and Riverside High School will hold a combined commencement 6 p.m. June 12 at the school’s south parking lot during a drive-thru in alphabetical order. The school is at 4120 E. Deer Park/Milan Road, Chattaroy. Principal: Clint Hull

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 41

MEDICAL LAKE HIGH SCHOOL / MEDICAL LAKE ENDEAVORS / ST. MICHAEL’S

First in family to graduate Grad moved to Washington for better life By Joe Everson FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Medical Lake Endeavors senior Shaianne McConnell realizes that success is achieved one step at a time. Two years ago, McConnell was homeless, and determined to change her life for the better. Now she will be the first person in her family to earn a high school diploma. After being evicted from their home in California after her parents’ separation,McConnell, her mother, and three siblings stayed either with friends and family or in their car, for several years. That changed after two adult cousins moved from Yuba City to Medical Lake, eventually inviting McConnell to follow them. “They asked us if we wanted to change our lives,” McConnell said. “My two oldest siblings came first, then my younger brother and I. My mom was hesitant at first about me moving because she knew she would miss me. All the others moved back, so I’m the only one still here with my cousins.” “I was stuck in California in a situation where I didn’t know what to feel,” McConnell said. “Whatever steps I took didn’t get me anywhere, and I would always try, but things didn’t change. Moving here was a big step, and for a while I would question it, because I missed my family and it was a completely different atmosphere here. It was

COURTESY

Shaianne McConnell is a the Medical Lake Endeavors 2020 grad. scary.” Where did school fit in McConnell’s picture? Not really anywhere, she said. In fact, she can’t even remember exactly how many high schools she attended during her first two years. “For a long time, I wasn’t really in school,” she said, “and I didn’t have much success. I think I missed something like 160 days my first two years of high school.” When she arrived in Medical Lake, Shaianne

said, her cousins made an appointment for her at Endeavors, an innovative alternative program which develops written Student Learning Plans for every student, focusing on the curriculum they need and delivering it either traditionally, by computer programs, or online. “I was nervous before I started at Endeavors,” she said. “I didn’t know what to expect, or how the kids and teachers would be. But it has turned out really well.

The students are more welcoming because many of them come from backgrounds similar to mine, so they are understanding of my situation. And the teachers all help you to believe in yourself.” One of those instructors, advisory teacher Keith Dunlop, said that McConnell didn’t care that it would be difficult for her to graduate. “She doubled up on classes to put herself in a position to graduate,” he said. “She has been an amazing addition to our school. Her resilience is what has impressed me the most about Shaianne. That and her work ethic.” “I’ve always been pretty responsible, but since I’ve been here I’m way more confident,” McConnell said. “I like school, I got a job, and I have a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had if I stayed in California. I wouldn’t be working, I wouldn’t have graduated, and I would probably still be bouncing from house to house. My siblings who returned there are still struggling. I’m worried about them, but I can’t get them to change their minds.” “I always knew that I wanted something better than I had. I was stressed out and depressed, and nothing ever changed. Now I’m planning on going to school in the fall, either online or at Spokane Falls Community College, and I’m saving money to get started on my own life. “What I would tell others who were in my situation is that change can be hard, like it was for me, but it’s not where you start, it’s where you end up.”

GRADUATE READY TO PURSUE ALL INTERESTS By Nina Culver FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Medical Lake High School senior Riley Olmstead has a wide range of interests and refuses to pick just one to focus on. She loves music, wants to be a firefighter and plans to join the Marines. She hopes accomplish two of those goals at once by winning a spot in the Marine Corps band, but she’s determined to do all three one way or another. “I was planning on joining the Marine Corps and doing my college online,” she said. “My dad and my uncle were in the Marine Corps. My uncle was actually in the Marine Corps band. I actually auditioned for it, but it was the first time I auditioned for anything. I didn’t get it.” She plays a variety of percussion instruments and the piano. She plays piano for her school’s jazz band and is a percussionist with the school’s concert band. “Those two are probably tied for my favorite,” she said. Olmstead was one of eight students selected to be in the All State Percussion Ensemble this year and the only student from Eastern Washington. The ensemble performed at the Washington Music Educators Association conference in February. “It was awesome,

MEDICAL LAKE HIGH SCHOOL

Class Of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Gavin Abshire Mollie Acord Toby Allpress Jonathan Anderson Nicholas Anderson Animaya Arkills Anthony Armstrong Craig Baldwin Monty Black Savannah Bliven Elijah Bozarth Nicholas Bridges Madalyn Brown Quentin Brown Andres Burdujan Allison Butterfield Trinity Caputo Amber Childers Alexander Clutter Thomas Collins Jocelyn Colvin Isaiah Covey Jazmyne Crotsley David Daigle Reilly Dieatrick Sophia Dienemann Allison Duncan Bayleigh Duranti Jacqueline Dwight Kelton Earl

Medical Lake High School senior Riley Olmstead is graduating with the Class of 2020.

COURTESY

really fun,” she said. Band teacher Craig Johnson said this was the first year an All State Percussion Ensemble was selected in addition to the usual choir and band ensembles. Students had to record themselves play six difficult exercises in order to audition for the ensemble. “When we got there we found out she was the only girl,” Johnson said. Olmstead is a person who other students like and respect, he said. “She’s a firecracker,” he said. “she just comes in and gets everyone excited about whatever they’re doing.” Olmstead’s family has lived in Medical Lake for three generations. She has an older brother who she gets along with well. “We

Nicole Ehr Serenity Ehresman Blake Evans James Fauteaux Jessica Foley Eduardo Garza Hunter Gates Brandon Giles Arianna Gralapp Joshua Greer Anthony Griffey Gary Halcomb Iii Alexandra Hamby Mason Hammond Brennan Hart Cora Hart Dejia Hatcher Travis Hodgen Jenna Hofer Annastasia Hurt-Moran Pedro Arthur Ito Sandre Nathan Jasmer Thomas Jenkins Tori John Tobias Jones Andrew Kysar Reo Layton Alexander Lee Ezekiel Lewis Kaelan Long Victor Long Madison Lundberg Logan Luszcz Calvin Lynds Karlee Marrero Christa Martin David Martinez Nicholas Mason

like a lot of the same things,” she said. During the school year she keeps busy with band, a variety of sports and Key Club. This year she’s also the senior class president. “It was pretty busy, but you only get four years to do all that stuff so I figured I’d better do it while I could,” she said. But her summers have also been busy as well. When she was 15 she worked on an Ecology Youth Corp litter crew, picking up trash along the freeway and state highways while wearing heavy boots, long pants, a hard hat and a safety vest. “It was my first job,” she said. “It was so hot. It was pretty gross, but it was a good experience.” She also spent a summer

in the Avista Junior Apprenticeship Program. It was mostly classroom work, but Olmstead said she got to do hands-on things as well. “We got to practice laying gas lines,” she said. “We climbed some poles to hang transformers.” The work interested her and she said she figures if her other plans fall through, utility work might be an option for her. “I just wanted to get my foot in the door in all sorts of places,” she said. This year she’s been enrolled in the Fire Science program at Spokane Valley Tech, which is supposed to be a two-year program. “I didn’t find out about it until the end of my junior year, so I was only able to fit one in,” she said. She’s interested in becoming a firefighter after she finishes serving in the Marine Corps. She said fulltime firefighter jobs can be hard to find and thinks her military service will give her a leg up because preference is given to veterans. Johnson said he has no doubt that Olmstead will be able to accomplish whatever goals she sets for herself. “She’s a phenomenal musician,” he said. “She’s an all-around gifted person. There’s nothing she can’t do.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

nculver47@gmail.com

Graduation

Ehr Paxton Mckee Christopher Milliken Lily Montney Abigail Moody Emily Munson Haley Musser Jaden Nelson Cameron Newsome Jaycee Oliver Riley Olmstead Zachary Olson Jicharri O'Neall Marissa Ornelas Raylin Pedersen Cheyne Pella Cody Pepperman Riley Petek Jordan Petersen Ethan Poole Keagan Potter Alexis Redell Katlin Reeves Charlotte Reiber Grace Remendowski Jessica Reynolds Emma Royse Ainslee Russell

The Medical Lake and Endeavors high schools will combine their commencement June 13, 8:45 p.m. at the Medical Lake High School Football Field. This ceremony is by invitation only. Principals: Chris Spring Valedictorian: Nicole Ehr

Enrique Silva Amanda Sims Julia Sims Rebekah Straka Isabella Sweeney Nathaniel Taylor Urijah Taylor Austin Testa Kaylee Thompson Haili Threadgill Isaac Turnbough Lorelei Villandre Kaleb Vinson Stephon Weldon Sheya Williams Taylor Williams Jeremiah Windle Kolby Wren Ethan Yarnell Trevor Zmarlak

MEDICAL LAKE ENDEAVORS

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Cody Bandy Daniel Bridges Zachary Dennis Jacob Fauteaux Meaghan Galey Jacob Humphries Katelyn Johnson Ryley Kasper Shaianne McConnell Isabella Neher Victoria Rhoads Hailie White

Graduation The Medical Lake Endeavors and Medical Lake high schools will combine their commencement June 13, 8:45 p.m. at the Medical Lake High School Football Field. This ceremony is by invitation only. Principal: Lyra McGirk

COURTESY

Thomas Netzel graduates with the St. Michael’s Academy’s Class of 2020.

Netzel is a budding Renaissance man with focus By Cindy Hval FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

everything,” he said. In fact, when the other 8th grade boys saw how much fun he was having in “Annie” they got involved, too. From playing Captain Hook in “Peter Pan,” to Bert in “Mary Poppins,” Netzel has enjoyed every minute of his time on stage at St. Michaels. “It’s so much fun,” he said. “It’s great to see the audience and other actors smiling and enjoying themselves.” While he’s comfortable with tools in his hands or dancing across a stage, Netzel said his happiest place is at the piano. “Music is where my passion lies,” he said. “I write a lot of my own music at the piano.” His individuality shines there, whether he’s playing an original composition, or lying on the piano bench playing “Heart and Soul” upside down. Netzel has played background music for small dinner parties and hopes to get more gigs this summer. And his musical theatre experience might come in handy for the job he’s already lined up. “I’m going to be working for a chimney sweep company which is really funny because I played Bert,” he said. Whatever his future holds, Sister Michael Marie knows Netzel will soar, but his graduation leaves a hole in the small close-knit school “He’s always been the type of person you can count on,” she said. “He will be sorely missed.”

There are 655 windows at Mount St. Michael, and Thomas Netzel is intimately familiar with many of them. The industrious St. Michael’s Academy student has spent countless hours restoring them. Well, perhaps not countless. Students at the school are required to complete 30 community service hours per year. Netzel has consistently far surpassed that goal. “Thomas has completed about 1,168 volunteer hours so far,” said teacher Sister Michael Marie. While they’ve only restored about 40% of the windows, she knows they wouldn’t have made that much progress without Netzel’s efforts. “His dedication in giving back to our school is so amazing,” Sister Michael Marie said. “Our building is very old (1915) and it takes lots of work to maintain.” Refinishing the large windows was painstaking work, but Netzel said it’s one of the “coolest things” he’s done at the school. He’s proud of their historic campus. “Our school looks like a castle,” he said, laughing. “With a school, a church and a convent, this place is run by volunteers. I learned my work ethic here.” It didn’t surprise Sister Michael Marie that Netzel’s senior project ended up spawning another labor of love. “He and another boy volunteered to help coach the younger boys’ CONTACT THE WRITER: dchval@juno.com basketball team,” she said. “That sparked his desire to refinish the gym floor. It hadn’t been done in a ST. MICHAEL’S ACADEMY long time, and he spearheaded the effort.” Though Netzel had never coached before, he Class of 2020 Expected to graduate are: said he enjoyed seeing how the boys grew and Isaiah Emmans progressed over the Kaila Heaton Lucy Isakson season. Unfortunately, Thomas Netzel COVID-19 halted the progression on the gym floor refinishing project. But Sister Michael Marie knows her student well. “I fully expect him to be back this summer to finish it,” she said. Heaton While Netzel has poured sweat equity into his school, he shines even brighter on the stage. Graduation “The highlight of this The St. Michael’s short senior year was Academy planned a playing Fagan in ‘Oliver,’” commencement at he said. Initially, he wasn’t even 12:30 p.m. June 6 at sure musical theatre was Mount Saint Michael, for him. But when the 8500 N. St. Michael’s male lead dropped out of Road, Spokane. “Annie” during his 8th Principal: Sister grade year, Netzel was Michael Marie, CMRI tapped to play Daddy Valedictorian: Kaila Warbucks, and he went all Heaton in. “I shaved my head and

- T

Main

SPECIAL 42

SUNDAY

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SPOKANE VALLEY / WEST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOLS

SVHS grad wants a career helping others Lucas Fyre will attend EWU By Nina Culver FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Lucas Fyre went to Spokane Valley High School looking for something a little different than the traditional high school experience. His older sister attended the school and Fyre shadowed her one day to see if he would like it. He did. “Teachers cared a lot about their students,” Fyre said. “Since it was a smaller school, kids were given opportunities to do what they wanted.” His family used to live in Millwood, but moved to the Mica area. But Fyre never left Spokane Valley High School. “I’ve been going to Spokane Valley schools my whole life,” he said. Like many high school students, Fyre was considering what career he wanted to pursue. “I thought about being a chef, and then I took a cooking class,” he said. “I’ve definitely tried to do art, but art has never been my passion.” He has played the alto and tenor sax for years, but exploring music wasn’t for him. “I enjoyed it, I was good at it but it was never anything I wanted to do,” he said. “My specialty is people.” Fyre found that he’s able to connect with people, and people often come to him for help when they’re dealing with something. He began doing research on how

By Dave Nichols THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Every student is faced with challenges on their journey from childhood through high school and into becoming a young adult. Those challenges can take many forms – some minor, some quite major. In some instances, those difficulties are not due to anything controllable by the student. Those may be the toughest of all. Samantha Schaffer’s journey hasn’t been easy, but her dedication and perseverance have carried her to a point where she can, maybe finally, be in charge of her own destiny. The senior is set to graduate from West Valley and plans to pursue a college education in the fall. But her path has been filled with obstacles from the very start of her journey. Schaffer – Samie, to her friends – was first placed into the care of the Hutton Settlement Children’s Home in 2010, when she was just 7. She and her older brother, JR, had lived with their mother in Florida, who had challenges of her own and ended up with custody issues. The children were removed from their mother and placed in the custody of their father in Spokane. Looking for support and further adult supervision and interaction for Samie, he placed her at Hutton – but retained custody of her brother. Since she was so young and it was a private placement, some of the details – as well as the original custody issues – are still fuzzy to Schaffer. But she has made the best of it. “From the time I moved in (to Hutton) I was able to connect with the adult figures here,” Schaffer said. “I was able to meet people who were just here to support me and make sure I was doing the right things and on the right

SPOKANE VALLEY TRANSITION

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Vanessa Andrade-Lenz Pavel Avdeev Yuriy Avdeev Emily Baker Riley Barajas Devin Dellinger Henry Eddy Dylan Highwood

The Spokane Valley High School commencement information was not provided. Principal: Larry Bush. Valedictorian: Bryson Kilmer.

Kilmer

SPOKANE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are:

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Lucas Fyre, 18, ASB president of Spokane Valley High School, will attend EWU in the fall. he should respond in certain situations. Fyre decided to study psychology at Eastern Washington University, with the goal of becoming a therapist. Fyre wants to be able to help make therapy more available, he said. “Mental health is a very big part of everyone’s life that is so often neglected,” he said. “Mental health is something that needs to be talked about more, especially with teens.” His family contributed to his people skills, particularly his ability to communi-

cate well. He’s the youngest of six children. “Living in a house with five other kids, you learn to use your words, especially when they are so much bigger,” he said. Fyre said his school encouraged him to explore what he wanted to do. “Things change throughout high school and Spokane Valley helps you change with it,” he said. “It’s definitely a place that encourages you to succeed.” School counselor Suzanne Ruth-Scott said Fyre has been a model for other students and is one of “Spo-

SUPPORT, PERSEVERANCE ALLOWS GRAD TO FLOURISH

Schaffer heads to Whitworth in fall

Graduation

track.” Schaffer found dance when she was 13, and it has helped her find her way in life. Schaffer In a personal statement she wrote for her college application, she said, “Amidst my challenges that I was facing and feeling, dance became my source of happiness. A healthy outlet, I was able to release my feelings, have a ‘second home’ and a place that I felt loved.” Once in high school, Schaffer started to flourish. She got involved with the dance team and joined the girls tennis team. “I was very involved on campus and within the school system, maintained a high grade-point average – just tried to be a good role model for the other kids,” she said. Schaffer remained in contact with her father throughout the years, though, and at the start of her sophomore year he took back custody. “They say, ‘Once a Hutton kid, always a Hutton kid.’ ” she said. “This is like a home for everyone that comes here. I knew that if I ever needed help or someone to talk to I could just reach out and they would be there to talk with me. “I feel like that knowledge, when I went to live with my dad, was kind of reassuring because I knew that the people out here were always there for me.” She opted to stay at West Valley, but since her father didn’t live in the school district she had to provide her own transportation, requiring a more than one-hour trip each way on public transportation. It didn’t deter her. “When I moved back to my dad’s house, it was a little bit difficult because I was going into my sophomore year of high school, so things were still kind of new there and I wasn’t sure of what I really wanted in school,” she said. “I

Jaidyn Huntsman Kayce Jonas Vitaliy Kozenya Scott Leeberg Devin McAhern Christian Miller Daniel Phipps-Crowe Tyler Reinert Sierra Ruff Jesiah Rybarczyk Ariana Stephens Noah Stephens Alexis Stojsic Janae Wade Aralyn Warren Esther Way Jack Wildon Jr.

kane finest.” “This young man has a talent for letting a smile be his umbrella,” she said. “Whether days are gray, situations are difficult, Lucas has the genuine ability to flash a supportive smile while actively listening to another.” She said Fyre has exceeded academic and leadership expectations and has a strong work ethic. He has made a positive impact on students and staff at Spokane Valley High School in his four years there, she said. Along the way Fyre has worked hard to be indepen-

still had a support system at Hutton though, so I was able to reach out and get help when I needed it.” But the effort took its toll. Between the time spent on the bus, her extra-curricular activities, trying to maintain friends and even a part-time job at Rosauers, Schaffer turned for help in a familiar place. “She found that she really needed the support system she relied upon so heavily,” said Jessica Laughery, the Director of Community Relations & Stewardship for the Hutton Settlement. After a year-and-a-half with her father and nearing graduation, she returned to Hutton’s care in January – just before the pandemic turned everyone’s world upside down. Back at Hutton, Schaffer was able to experience independent living in its senior dorms and regained the momentum she needed to push through to graduation. “I decided to move back for more of a support system for preparation for going into college and finishing off my senior year strong,” Shaffer said. Her story doesn’t end with high school graduation, though. Schaffer originally planned to attend Grand Canyon University in Arizona, but her return to Hutton made her eligible for additional financial support – and a last-minute change in plans for a terrific opportunity. Schaffer was accepted at Whitworth for the fall semester. She will live on campus and plans to study education and English. She plans to minor in dance and she’s already made the cheer team. “As long as I can remember, I’ve always loved reading and writing and indulging in books, and trying to find the meaning in what the author is trying to say,” she said. “It connects so many people.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

(509) 459-5441 daven@spokesman.com

Graduation Information for the Spokane Valley High School - Transition commencement ceremony was not provided. Principal: Larry Bush.

dent and to take leadership positions. “I’ve worked to be as independent as I can,” he said. “I applied for scholarships. I applied for college. I’ve worked hard to show kids that you can do everything you want.” He’s been involved in student government for several years and is student body president this year. Over the years Fyre said he learned a lot about leadership. “Failure isn’t the end,” he said. “It’s just another step.” CONTACT THE WRITER:

nculver47@gmail.com

WEST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Class of 2020

Expected to graduate are: Brian Abbott Braedon Afana Daniel Aguinaga Yvette Akimana Autumn Akins Noor Alfarraj Matthew Allen Alyssa Amann Joshua Anderson Lyle Anderson Colin Armstrong Andrew Arnold Robert Arver Charles Atkins Logan Atkins Cortnie Babinski Madison Baker Rian Bale JW Barker Brynne Barry Ryvers Beachy Iris Bealer Alley Behrens Giulia Belvedere Kaylynn Benner Elan Boxley Sara Brantingham Chelsea Bressler Jonathan Brinson Skyler Brown Reagan Brummett Alyson Burns Gracie Bush Jordan Caine Cora Campbell Gaje Caro Kobin Carver Tygeer Catchings Ryson Cebriak Alyssa Colby Sydney Collins Katie Colo Audrey Cook Aidan Crane Jaiden Davis Mikayla Davis Zachary Davis Gracie Day Bam Dennis Michael Diaz Chet Dobson Jasmine Dokken Casey Donaghy La Trouchka Duke David Dyfort Auti Dykes Olivia Ellingwood Rachel Ellingwood Victoria Ellis Jenna Engeland Annika Esvelt Arianna Faunce Seth Feist Sydney Finke Blake Fleming Gabriel Fredericksen Domek Frost Tirza Gaines Kiah Gary Emma Garza Ryan Genovesi Leylani Gonzalez Rodriguez Lane Goodwin David Gorbenko Kolby Green Nolan Griffin Christian Grigajtis Jolie Gustafson Brendan Haight Alice Hakizamungu Lucy Hakizamungu Autumn Hampton Conner Hansen Michael Hartis Echo Hartman Maya Hawson Brandon Hawvermale Trevor Hellmann Hunter Hendricks Paul Higginson Jr. Natalie Hogeweide Addisen Holdren Jobe Howard Donovan Howat Mikala Hudson Josiah Hughes Kilee Imada Lucas Issler Elijah Johnny Alexandra Johnson Natalie Johnson Hailey Johnston Zachary Jones

Michael Alkana Gauge Basford Trinity Byers Claira Carey Alec Collins Machaelin Cordero Logan Eddings Kayla Eddington Laraine Farnham Lucas Fyre Alaina Guevarra Chloe Healey Indiana Heyer Bryson Kilmer Grace Kirby Cody Kiss Christina Mahurin Aaron Matthews Miles McAdams Mia Monroe Micaela Murphy Angelina Ostapenko Bryan Powers Mackenzie Roestel Emily Sanders Ehrinn Sitton Ashleigh Swenson Cristal Szep Woods Zachariah Tuttle Dezevon Whitt-Waller

Graduation The West Valley High School commencement will be a drive-thru in alphabetical order, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 14 at the school’s south parking lot, 8301 E. Buckeye Ave. Families will drive up in their cars in groups of 10, park in the designated lot and then those 10 seniors will exit their car, walk across the stage, pick up their diploma and get their picture taken. All of this will be made into a video to share with the families. Principal: Ryan Mulvey Valedictorians: Logan Atkins, Ryson Cebriak, Rachel Ellingwood, Jenna Engeland, Annika Esvelt, Lane Goodwin, Addisen Holdren, Danielle Mann and Hailey Marlow.

Atkins

Cebriak

Esvelt

Goodwin

Marlow Iain Kelley Brenna Kiefer Daniel Kien Samuel Kiperash Shelby Knapp Luke Koedding Mercedes Kovach Mattingly Kreider Sadie Langford Joseph Leander Alyson Leonov Jonathan Liberg Ashton Logan Yaquelin Lopez Keaton Lusk Elijah Lyden-Nelson Danielle Mann Justin Maresh Hailey Marlow Louden Marsalis Hanna Jo Martin Tyler Martin Christian Mattfeld Connor McCabe Rainey McCollum Dalton McCormick Dylan McCoy Garrick McFarland Coleby McMichael Trystan Meharry Yesten Melendez Rhiannon Melvin Lilli Meyer Daniel Miller Rosemary Mitchell-Applonie Liberty Moeller Jagger Mohr Xochtli Monteon Elise Moore Isai Morales Nathan Morales Treveon Mortenson Marshall Mumford Joshua Murphy Alexander Nap Kathy Nguyen Kevin Nguyen Sarah Nowels Eric Oestreich Hailey O’Leary Victoria Olmstead Cadence Ostrander Dylan Page

Ellingwood Engeland

Holdren

Mann

Aubrey Parker Brooklyn Parkey Jace Peterson Damon Philips Victor Pikulik Jeremy Pilalas Katelyn Prien Alakai Primmer Ariana Radigan Jackson Rauer Greg Reglin Andrew Reynolds Damien Richter Kegan Richter Cody Rist Alyjouah Rollins Kaleb Rowatt Jacob Ryder Estefania Salcedo-Arenas Connor Samek David Sanborn Kalyn Sande Jose Sandoval Penaloza Samya Schafer Samantha Schaffer Skyler Scott Chad Scrimsher Amber Sety Thomas Sheppler Spencer Shipman Dominic Sicilia Malia Silver Rylan Simmons Isaac Smeltzer Hope Smith Victoria Smith Samuel Stachofsky Tiffany Steed Justin Stelzer Tori Sturm Mikhail Sweet Michaela Tarbert Gage Taylor Jillian Taylor John Taylor Lestat Thompson Baylee Trejo Reuben Vavilin Noah Vincent Jesse Wacenske Mu Wah Aralyn Warren Paige Weidner Alexis Williams Ezekiel Wohali Cameric Wood Jordan Wuerch Austin Yarnell Matthew Young Courtney Youseph Taylor Zehetmir Tianyi Zhang

- T

Main

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JUNE 7, 2020

SUNDAY

SPECIAL 43

DISHMAN HILLS / UPPER COLUMBIA ACADEMY

Upper Columbia’s Townsend likes to ‘live out loud’ By Arcelia Martin FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

She’s a villager. According to Joelle Townsend, there are two types of students at Upper Columbia Academy, the Seventh Day Adventist boarding school tucked away along the Palouse. There are dorm students who stay on campus, and villagers like Townsend, local students who commute to campus every day. Townsend grew up in Spokane, dreaming of attending UCA. She and her family would attend talent shows and other events at the boarding school, piquing her interest in the community of students. “I would see all of them and they honestly just were such people of God, and they had so much life, and they’re doing so many fun things together,” Townsend said. After a challenging eighthgrade year at Palisades Christian Academy, she was desperate to move somewhere new. But ninth and 10th grades offered her a new light.

Townsend chose to focus on the words of one of her freshman-year teachers, who told her to seize the opportunities in front of her. Teachers from both Palisades Christian Academy and UCA, where she studied for the past two years, encouraged her to become involved. And she found resilience. She was able to find a community that highlighted her abilities and helped her to put them to use. “They definitely taught me so much about how to be a leader and how to be responsible,” the 18year-old said. “So honestly, I look at my eighth-grade self and I’m like, ‘Shoot, who was she?’ But now here we are.” For Townsend’s longtime teacher, Judy Castrejón, her resilience came as no surprise. Castrejón was diagnosed with uterine cancer during Townsend’s fifth-grade year, a battle Townsend was familiar with, as her grandmother had died from cancer earlier that year. Castrejón took time away from school that winter to address her medical concerns, but was never

LIBBY KAMROWSKI/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Joelle Townsend, a member of the Class of 2020 from Upper Columbia Academy, is seen May 13 at the edge of the school campus in Spangle. Townsend will attend Walla Walla University in the fall. alone. “She just talked to me, and nurtured me, as a fifth-grader,” Castrejón said. Townsend not only called her teacher and wrote to her, but gathered letters from all the other students, so Castrejón could have two or three letters at a time as she was recuperating. “If you ask anybody, Joelle is one of those that you can run to at any time,” Castrejón said. “And she will drop everything that she’s doing. And you are her main focus. She’s just that type of a person. … People are very much her love lan-

guage.” Next year, Townsend plans to attend Walla Walla University, where she can continue her faith education. The university’s student-led masses were a huge draw for Townsend, as she could participate as a worship leader. “Getting down to good music and good fellowship together, and just the community that you can get from being with those people is so cool. I love it,” Townsend said. The UCA graduate led worship for the first time when she was a sixth-grader. A friend of her mother’s, who doubled as her piano in-

“It’s been important for me to be a leader, to show the other kids, including my brother and sister, that I could be successful and graduate.”

structor, gave her the opportunity to put the mass together and she loved it. Townsend is planning to study English and secondary education with a minor in psychology, with hopes of one day becoming a high school counselor. After spending a week with a counselor at Freeman High School, Townsend had found a job that she admired. “I hope that I give off a spirit of just being passionate about what I do, doing everything full-heartedly,” Townsend said. “Just kind of having a passion for people. ... I like to live out loud and live with joy.”

Graduation The Upper Columbia Academy commencement will be determined. The school is in Spangle. Principal: Eric Johnson

Trinity Montoya Dishman Hills graduate

UPPER COLUMBIA ACADEMY

After struggling, Montoya found a place to stand out Transfer turned her life around By Joe Everson FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Having an opportunity to change the path of your life is one thing. Taking advantage of that opportunity and following through is quite another. Midway through her sophomore year at Central Valley High School, Trinity Montoya found herself struggling academically and, already behind in credits, was forecasting that she would need at least one extra year to graduate as a “supersenior.” It was then, though, that a friend who was attending Dishman Hills High School suggested to Montoya that she look into that school. What she saw on the website intrigued her, and it wasn’t long before she transferred from CV. “There were lots of positives when I checked into it,” Montoya said. “The website said that classes had between eight and 12 students, and that students had lots of one-on-one time with teachers. And it all turned out to be true.” Montoya, the oldest of three children, said her mother gave her some help in the process, but that she did most of the work herself.

When she showed them her research on Dishman Hills, they were as convinced as she was that it was the right move: “I was nervous about going to a new school and leaving my friends, but I was more upset by the fact that most of my friends at CV were successful in school, and I wasn’t. I couldn’t keep up with the work, and my teachers had so many kids who needed help that I couldn’t get what I needed. I would come home crying about it all the time. “It wasn’t easy to make everything up, but I told myself that this is your last chance, so if you mess it up, you won’t get another one. It took me a little while to get used to it, but when I did, I put in a lot of work and asked my teachers for help. Even when I was having a hard time, they would work with me and tell me they’d get me through it.” Montoya’s advisory teacher since she enrolled at Dishman Hills has been Jake Fincher, and he may be her biggest fan. “Trinity is the embodiment of what a successful student acts like,” he said. “She is empathetic toward her peers and has great relationship skills. She has adopted a growth mindset both academically and personally, and it shows when she is able to overcome ad-

Class of 2020

COURTESY

Trinity Montoya is a member of Dishman Hills High School’s graduating Class of 2020. versity. She is the definition of resilience.” Montoya returns the compliments: “Mr. Fincher saw potential in me that I had never seen in myself. I had never had the amount of support from a teacher that I had from him. If I had issues, he would help me find solutions, and he would push me if that’s what I needed. It’s been important for me to be a leader, to show the other kids, including my brother and sister, that I could be successful and graduate.” Montoya plans to attend Community Colleges of Spokane in the fall, hoping to prepare for a career as a counselor. She will take as many psychology courses as she can, nurturing her interest in the science of the mind and how to apply that in a therapeutic setting. “My mom has said many times that Dishman Hills was like a miracle sent from God,” Montoya said, “and I agree with her. My attitude about myself changed there because I got the support I needed.”

Kathryn Gaines Jingyi Gao David Holloway-Cook Expected to graduate: Micah Honner Ethan Jiao Corban Acker Tawni Lloyd Gabriel Aguillen Emmalyn Logan Molly Ahola Julianna Luce-Alwes Isaac Baker Sydney Mathison Valentina Baker Abagail McAdams Vanessa Bambe Jared McCollum Peter Battaglia Elisabeth McLeod Sydney Beaubien Francisco Mendoza Asiah Brazil-Geyshick Owen Milledge Melvin Brazil-Geyshick Jr. Michael Mirasol Hannah Chilson Kailey Nash Joshua Cho Ellie Pagotelis Josie Clark Marccus Palsgrove Emily Cornelison Kamden Paul Taylor Duffield Raleigh Pettey Sophie Enjati Moises Ramirez Dane Featherston Braden Reitz

Caleb Roosenberg Ryan Smith Tegan Smith Gabriella Srikureja Allen Stafford Jonathan Stentzel Beverly Talakua Tristan Taylor Joelle Townsend Kaleb Tsegaye Madison Twigg Amy Van Arsdell Julie Van Arsdell Pedro Ventura Gomez Deanna Verkovod Dylin Walker Julia Welch Faith Workman

509-487-6093

1002 E. Wellesley, Spokane (Corner of Nevada & Wellesley)

CONGRATULATIONS

2020 SPOKANE GRADUATES!

CONTACT THE WRITER:

joseph.everson@yahoo.com

We are so very proud of you! Keep paving your own path and becoming a man of character. We love you and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish. The sky’s the limit.

1 FREE

CRISPY TACO WITH ANY PURCHASE (one per coupon) Expires September 15, 2020

Bring this ad and get a FREE Crispy Taco.

Must mention coupon at time of order. Not valid with other offers. Coupon required. Only at participating Taco John’s. 509 487-6093

- T

Main

SPECIAL 44

SUNDAY

JUNE 7, 2020

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Don’t put your dreams on hold. Get a world class education from the comfort and safety of your home.

Time at home doesn’t have to feel wasted. Explore our many online classes today! Our online classes at SCC and SFCC are taught by the same outstanding faculty who teach on campus. Earn one of our many online degrees, complete your transfer classes or take a single class‚ all in the same trusted online system. It is more important than ever to focus on your future. Register for summer and fall classes and stay on track with your education.

Enroll Now! Community Colleges of Spokane does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation or age in its programs, activities or employment. Marketing and Public Relations.