7 minute read
On Track
On Track suits student’s hands-on learning style
Nathan Flinn finds opportunity to work with goldsmith
By Cindy Hval
FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
Nathan Flinn has a natural, inquisitive disposition, but traditional classroom settings didn’t work for him.
“When he came to us at On Track, he was very quiet and reserved,” said On Track Academy teacher Matt Moureaux. “But he started hanging out with my co-teacher and me during my lunch hour, before he headed next door to NEWTech.”
Swinging a hammer and working with wood proved to be a great experience for the hands-on learner.
“The afternoon construction class at NEWTech Skill Center was a good fit,” Flinn said. “And to be honest On Track is the best high school I’ve ever been to.”
While he’d attended other project-based high schools, he felt the projects at On Track made more sense and accomplished more than those at other schools.
“We planted trees in the neighborhood around our school,” he said. “We worked with a Spokane forester. It was more of an outreach into the community.”
He expressed appreciation for finally finding teachers who understood both his learning style and his long-term goals.
“The teachers at On Track pushed me, but in the right direction,” he explained. “Not necessarily college, but in what I’m interested in.”
And what he’s interested in is work – specifically working with his hands.
While on a carpentry job, Flinn met a goldsmith who was launching an artisan jewelry business. Flinn was captivated by the old-world artistry, and the goldsmith took him on as an apprentice.
“This year has been pretty great,” Flinn great. “I’m having a jolly good time.”
He’s long been drawn to work that best suits his meticulous attention to detail, and learning the craft of hand-soldering, and the delicate tasks of jewelry repair and design, suits him well.
“These are things I care about a lot,” he said. “It’s soothing, methodical and meditative and time just passes.”
He hopes to be brought on board the company after completing his apprenticeship.
Having his classroom time interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t faze this independent learner.
“During COVID he was one of the few students to really flourish online,” Moureaux said. “He became more vocal –the ice-breaker – one of the first students to respond.”
In fact, when On Track resumed in-person learning, Flinn decided to continue schooling remotely.
“It allowed him to focus on his hobbies a bit more,” Moureaux said.
One of those hobbies is guitar, which he taught himself using online tutorials.
“Once he develops a curiosity about something, he pursues it wholeheartedly.” Moureaux said.
Flinn downplayed his natural talent.
“I’ve learned some flashy guitar tricks,” he said. “You might say I have two addictions; guitar and goldsmithing.”
He’s thankful On Track has allowed him to interact with teachers who’ve been able to bring out his natural learning style and untapped skills.
“These are the best teachers I’ve worked with because they truly care about students as individuals,” Flinn said. “They didn’t just talk at me. They talked to me and really listened to what I had to say.”
His teachers in turn have delighted at seeing this quiet student come into his own.
“He’s made great strides in confidence. We’ve seen tremendous growth over the time he’s been with us,” Moureaux said. “I’m proud of him. He’s done a remarkable job. I think he’ll always be a lifelong learner.”
LIBBY KAMROWSKI/ THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
On Track Academy senior Nathan Flinn pauses work on a silver chain to be in a photo on May 13 at Honeybee Goldsmiths in Spokane. Flinn is passionate about the work of a goldsmith and plans to make a career out of it.
As an apprentice, Flinn works for Nathan Fromviller, a thirdgeneration goldsmith and owner of Honeybee Goldsmiths.
Cindy Hval can be reached at dchval@ juno.com
ON TRACK ACADEMY
Class of 2021
Expected to graduate are:
Samantha Abramoski Jamilah Al-Baloushi Hayden Anderson Elijah Anderson-Walters Truman Andrews Skylar Antolin Annaliese Archibald Aden Armstrong Seth Arndt Jason Baker Ezias Baker-Beeman Jerra Barber Hannah BartholomausArredondo Austin Bascetta Tyler Bascetta Jordyn Bauerle Benjamin Bautista Eugene Baxter Haley Bear Ewan Becherini Elijah Behrens Izabella Bender Bri Bettenhausen Liv Beyrouti Joseph Boniecki Hunter Bonse Jacob Booth Keyaundre Bracey Riley Bracey Elizabeth Bratchikova Angelina Britton Mercedes Brown Paige Bunch Malakahi Burton Naomi Butler Gabriel Byrnes Brooklyn Camarda Tammya Campbell Ellie Carroll Andrea Chason Joseph Chasse Cecilia Chavis Irina Chernova Taylor Childers Daniel Childress Annabelle Church Maeve Churchill Emma Clary Israel Claybrooks Tottianna Clough Nicholas Comello Saxon Comer Jimmy Condon Christian Cory Chloe Cosgrove Bailey Costich Kasia Coston Trevor Coulter Jillian Courneya Alexis Coyle Kyle Cranford Ethan Dahlem Jack Dale Serenity Dalziel Anna Davis Annah Davis Aunna Dayley Kierra De Lay Elijah DeAngelo Javen Delafield Kaela Depner Ethan Derrick Gabriel Dewey Jason Dias Jr. Mickey Dolan Emma Dravland Joshua Dubois Zoe Duncan Cleo Duty Audrey Ebey Damion Eller-Loss Tabitha Elliott Jameson Elton Alyssa Engen Briona Epefanio Juan Escobar Niam Fabbe West Taylor Feldman Christopher Fields Gabi Fievez Willow Fitzsimmons Xander Flick Nathan Flinn Adam Flores Elizabeth Fogle Adran Francis Scarlett Gamez Eden Garcia Mackenzie Garner Tykeese Garrett Isabel Garrod Morgan Gaskin Nigus Gebremariam Meike Genthe Nathan Gest Kalkidan Getahun Andrew Glass Caleb Gonzales Seanelle Gossett Shayla Gray Owen Gregerson Essence Griffey William Griffith Julieana Gutierrez Manuela Gutierrez-Ortiz Aniece Hammons Kirstin Hansen Carolean Harmon Anna Harper Abbey Hastings Palacios Layth Hayif Emilia Hebert Alesia Helmen Gabryelle Hensley Hayden Herring David Hester Marissa Hixson Christine Ho Macy Hofer Jonathan Hollenbeck Simon Horkey Everett Hosking Rozlyn Houser Dee Howard Baily Hoy Kaiden Humbird Caleb Hummel Gabriel Hurst Elizabeth Ingram Gaige Jackson Griffin Jacobs Julien Jacobson Alexander Jefford Tayana Jenkins Elena Jensen Albious Jeson Caitlynn Johnson Cooper Johnson Kyler Johnson Taylor Johnson Grace Johnson-Hughes Saben Johnston Tristan Katruska Grant Keener Liam Kelly Aelwyn Kennedy Mariah Kennedy Konnor Kindsvogel Owen Kintner Shyla Klein Joshua Kleman Nathan Knowlton Jeryk Knutsen Michelle Koston Levi Kveton Jayden LaRoque Gamal Lamarr William Laohasondhichai Bonnie Larsen Noah Lee Emerey Leifer Malakye Leines Mac Leonard Cody Letts Conner Lintner Caliah Lockard Julia Lovell Alekzander Lucero Xavier Lucero Landson Malkai Lynden Malone Ashley Martello Jaque Mason Morgan McAllister Connor McCormack Lars McDermott Izak McGoldrick Serenity McIver Kieran McKee Joshua McKibben Calah McMillan Dante Mckizzie Kylah Miller Tristen Mokry James Montano Rapier Carmella Moore Karter Morgan Maegan Morrow Kye’Anne Moses Kamron Murphy Brogan Murray Elizabeth Myers Dewey Mylan Aliah Naone-Perry Keonna Neal Annarae Nelson Ethan Nelson Riley Nyberg Zayne O’Connor Isabella Ochoa Josh Olp Dominic Overman Devyn Palmer Uriah Patterson Edvin Pavlenco Carter Pehl Casaundra Pelley Denae Pennington Gracie Perry Kaden Pettit Kenney Phelps Margaret Pickering Alexis Porath Will Puckett Adrienne Pullman Tyrece Rainwater Bella Ramirez Liyah Ray Analea Redfox Hayden Reed Joseph Reineman John Rhoades Bradyn Rice Chester Rich Belle Richards Fatima Richardson Katie Robideaux Lakaiya Robinson Maliah Rogers Ray Roiger Hailey Rolen Ryan Rose Lilian Rosengren Michael Rubertt Andres Ruedas Jr. Isaac Sanchez Karma Sanchez Emma Sanders Isabella Sankari Caceci Joyce Sardina Abagail Saunders Cody Schrader Ariah Schroeder Kaje Schultz Teanna Scofield Marion Sconawah Cheyenne Scott Riley Scott Twyla Senger Kylee Shaver Tre Shore Tristin Silvers Gavin Smith Jamai Smith Jenna Smith Jennifer Smith Ryan Smith Taveion Smith Jesse Smith Connor Snell Sol Solis Isabelle Sommerville Eleora Spade Darryl Spain Hannah Staebell Jamar Stager-Guice Ellie Stone Olivia Strandquist Kaydan Tally Maddalynn Taylor Kierra Thomley Dominick Tibbets Braiden Tilton T’nae Timoyakin Kayla Torosian Andrew Trail RaMaya Tucker Delaina Turnipseed Maya Vandament Daniel Van Ormer Bridjette Vaughn Joshua Vaughn Natalia Wade Alia Wagner Austin Wagner Ethan Waid Corbin Walker Sareanna Warner Cheyenne Watts Alexia Wayne Camille Weber-Walsh Jayden Weekly Rheyse Weeks Kayden Wheeler Felix Whipple Levi Whitehead Jasmine Whiting Tyler Wieneke Anthony Williams Andrew Williams Kaprice Williamson Daniel Wilson Ty Winter Ryan Woods Connor Wozny Kaylee Wyer Blake Wynecoop Xavier Yanez Rylee Zavala Ryan Zeiler
Graduation
The On Track Academy commencement will be at 7:30 p.m. June 12 at Riverfront Park U.S. Pavilion in downtown Spokane.
Principal: Lisa Mattson Coleman.
Index
SCHOOL............................................PAGE
Central Valley...................................14 Cheney ...............................................22 Classical Christian...........................39 Coeur d’Alene ...................................43 Coeur d’Alene Charter....................38 The Community School.................8 Deer Park...........................................35 Deer Park Home Link.....................35 Dishman Hills...................................27 East Valley.........................................17 East Valley Online ...........................16 EV Parent Partnership....................16 Ferris...................................................9 Five Mile Prairie..............................21 Freeman.............................................13 Genesis Prep.....................................41 Gonzaga Prep ...................................32 Innovation.........................................34 Kootenai.............................................38 Lake City............................................42 Lakeland............................................40 Lakeside (9 Mile).............................28 Lakeside (Plummer-Worley) ........25 Lewis and Clark...............................4 Liberty................................................33 Mead...................................................18 Medical Lake ....................................23 Medical Lake Endeavors................23 Mica Peak..........................................12 Mt. Spokane......................................20 New Vision........................................37 North Central ...................................10 North Idaho Christian....................39 North Star..........................................21 North Star GSL.................................19 Northwest Christian.......................30 NW Christian Home School.........30 The Oaks............................................32 On Track............................................2 Post Falls.............................................36 Pratt....................................................8 Riverside............................................28 Riverside Achievement..................28 Riverside Independent...................28 Rogers.................................................3 Shadle Park .......................................11 Spokane Valley .................................27 STEM at Spokane Valley Tech .....12 St. George’s........................................34 St. Michael’s......................................31 TEC at Bryant...................................13 Three Springs...................................22 Timberlake........................................41 University..........................................15 Upper Columbia ..............................31 Valley Christian................................31 Venture...............................................36 West Valley........................................26
About this section
Cover art: Molly Quinn
Page designers: Katharine Kumangai, Caitlin Miller, Lindsey Treffry
Section editor: Katharine Kumangai
Editing: Universal copy desk editors
Corrections: (509) 459-5389; voice@spokesman.com
On the web: All student profiles, commencement information, and lists of graduates and valedictorians from this special section are available at spokesman.com/sections/class-2021/.
