Coeur d’Alene

Senior Carson Magee graduates June 11 with the Coeur d’Alene High School senior class. Magee edits the school yearbook, The Viking, and plans to pursue a career in computer science or human-computer interaction.

Coeur d’Alene High’s Magee an activist, inventor, scholar, started photo studio and in his spare time performs as professional clown

Senior advocates for Type I diabetes cure

PHOTOS BY LIBBY KAMROWSKI/ THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Coeur d’Alene High School senior Carson Magee, who has Type 1 diabetes, began training Capo, a goldendoodle-Lab mix, eight weeks after Capo was born. Capo is 14 months old now and outfitted with his own custom-made gown from Jostens for graduation alongside Magee. Capo alerts Magee when his blood sugar is low.

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

At first glance, Coeur d’Alene High School senior Carson Magee’s résumé is similar to that of many other outstanding young scholars: honor student, college-bound, National Honor Society, Yearbook editor, Boys State, church worship team.

It gets a lot more interesting.

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 7, he was in the hospital for a week, and when he was released, as he puts it, “he took the hospital home with him,” with boxes of medicine, syringes, pumps and test strips.

“I was only 7,” he said, “so I didn’t understand the scope of it, only that I probably wasn’t going to be able to do most of the things I wanted to do. I think I felt sorry for myself for a couple years before I decided that I wasn’t going to let it control me. I eventually thought, if I’ve got it, I’m going to make the most of it.

“I think I was 9 or 10 when I heard about a program called Invent Idaho, which is a forum for young inventors in the Northwest. I was starting to become passionate about finding a cure, and my swipe-and-wipe testing kit won the contest.”

So here is where things start getting even more interesting. After winning that competition, Carson appeared on the Nickelodeon Network’s Figure It Out, a game show for children with special skills or unique achievements. And he won the grand prize there.

“I thought way back when I was diagnosed that diabetes was going to stop me, but it turned out the opposite. Diabetes has accelerated my progress in life, given me more opportunities and made me more confident. It put me on a journey I hadn’t expected, but without it I wouldn’t be the same person I am today.

“Some days, it’s hard to keep up with all my responsibilities, and the only thing getting me through a bad day is my faith. That gives me something I can always rely on and helps me get back on track. If I wasn’t passionate about this, I would be letting someone else do the work, but it’s necessary and I’m grateful because of the people I’ve met and have been able to impact.”

His counselor at Coeur d’Alene High School, Kelly Reynolds, is astounded at everything that Carson has accomplished.

She wrote: “To say Carson is a leader would be an understatement. He has been an amazing advocate for Type 1 diabetes. He has worked tirelessly with Idaho U.S. senators and representatives from an early age, and continues to advocate for legislative bills to benefit the Type 1 diabetic community.

“He has created numerous fundraising events in this process to increase awareness. He is a spokesman for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has testified on Capitol Hill, helping persuade Idaho’s senators and representatives to give $150 million to Type 1 diabetes research.”

Carson is still undecided on his college future, but he knows wherever he goes, he will major in computer science and eventually create applications and software “that help kids like me,” as he put it.

“I want to make software more efficient and easier to use. I know how frustrating it is when technology fails.

“This isn’t all about me – my problems are important, but what’s important is what I can do for others.”

But to conclude, let’s return to that résumé, which also includes three items you may not find elsewhere in these pages: He is a professional clown, he is currently training a service dog, Capo, and he started his own photography studio.

“I’ve been clowning with my family since I was 2. I learned to unicycle, and we have performed at grand openings and even with (country band) Rascal Flatts. It’s unique and fun and always refreshes my mind. Capo is a goldendoodle-Lab mix who is the best diabetes alert tool in the shed for me. He alerts me if my blood sugar is low and can even catch it 30 minutes before it happens.”

Joe Everson can be reached at joseph.everson@yahoo.com

Class of 2021

Expected to graduate are:

Natasha Adams Brynn Adamson Jaden Ahern Fionn Aidukas Aiden Allen Kelley Allen Lara Kyle Allen Lara Nickolas Allen Lara Audrey Anderson Rylan Ascher Andrew Averett Lauren Baldeck Victoria Barnes Brayden Barrett Owen Bartosh Tyler Belden Ty Betts Harry Blackstone Maggie Bloom Christopher Boifeuillet Brayden Booth Rome Borley Benjamin Boston Grant Boyer Jaelyn Brainard-adams Caelan Brewer Kaytlynn Bristow Kellan Brock Jarrin Brown Adam Bruns Alaura Camp Isabella Canifax-broesch Dalton Cardinel Clara Carpenter Eden Carpenter Rylan Carter Myles Casper Aaron Caudle Dillon Cayko Logan Cessna Jaden Chavez Claire Christ Kyle Conrad Hana Cook Shaylee Corbey Norah Coulson Michael Cummings Adalyn Curtis Braden Dance Malan Davis Annabelle Decuire Kobie Deleonard Maysen Deming Jordyn Dennis Nicholas Deruyter John Dileva Garrett Dingman Jack Dohm Paige Drechsel Eli Dribben Nathan Durocher Chukwuma Duru Seth Dyson Jaiden Eberly Phoebe Ellsworth Trent Elstad Sophia Escala Braden Ethington Karsten Fagan Emma Fahy Piper Fine Kameron Fisbeck Lauren Forster Byron Fox Anthony Francis Gabriel Frederick Haiden Froehlich Matthew Fuchs Jack Fulks Lauryn Fuller Jonah Funderburg Laila Galaz Ethan Garitone Courtney Garwood Cailyn Garza Jackson Gatten Otto Geilenfeldt Vada Gilbert Angela Goggin Megan Graham Kyler Greenhalgh Kendall Gregory Christine Gutierrez John Gwaltney Seth Hagel Jaedyn Haggerty Winter Haler Darin Hanson Nicole Hare Paityn Harris Carson Hart Kyler Haynes Emma Hazel Serina Henderson Zachary Henderson Alexis Hildreth Tate Hochberger Brady Hostetter Clay Howard Olivia Howell Lauren Howley Madison Hubble Holly Hudson Alex Hunt Gavin Izzard Logan James Otis Jeffords Robert Jensen Evan Johansen Dalton Johnson Jayda Johnson Zachary Johnson Hunter Johnston Eli Jolly Alex Karns Jace Kelly Bailey Kennedy Zander Kerns Macy Kliewer Madison Klundt Torrin Knowles Jackson Kohal Kaiah Konen Ava Konrath Gavin Koski Kestrelle Kozak Emily Krick Caitlin Kuhns Michael Lamanna Autumn Lambert Tierra Lambert Kaitlyn Lametterey Taylor Larsen Aidan Lawrence Jaclynne Lehosit Hayden Levy Cody Lippy Nicholas Litterell Alayna Louden Connor Lowder Alizabeth Lowry Nathan Luckett Kristin Luna Sophie Lybarger Leo Lyden Abigail Lyman Carson Magee Elenoa Maile Wade Mallory Nakisha Matheson Josephine Matous Mckenzie Mattis Luke McClintick Samuel McEnany Gavin McFeely Skyelar McKenna Cade McKinney Luke McLaughlin Erin McPhee Jackson Meade Kylie Melsha Spencer Memmott Adrian Mendoza Guzman Mazzie Merzanis Kyren Mesenbrink Jackson Meyer Jazmine Miller Kalynn Miller Bailey Mongan Gabrielle Morris Noah Morton Amber Nelson Weston Nguy Lillian Nickel Katharine Nicklay Grant O’Brien Patrick O’Dell Nez Ogle Kayla Ohse Hayden Orchard Sydney Osso Max Owens Samuel Owens Isaiah Pack Liam Paddack Ryker Patterson Sydney Peebles Makayla Pellens Neve Peterson Zoe Peterson Kate Phillips Lauren Phillips John Pinto Tyson Pottenger Adrianna Preciado Dawson Price James Price Jason Price Mark Priebe Jack Prka Cooper Proctor Kayla Purvis Nolan Randles Wesley Rebeck Wilmer Richardson Ethan Ricks Carter Ringger Adrienne Roads Drew Roberts Isabelle Rooney Jayden Rowley Violet Russo Abbie Ryser Quinton Sampsel Cynthia Sampson Jazmine San Juan-rivas Kalis Sandlin Ryan Schlatter Michael Schlothauer Dyllon Schofield Elizabeth Sciascia Aedan Seman Tanner Shelley Katie Shepard Troy Shepard Gavin Simpson Alyssia Siroshton Mckaylee Sloane Dillon Smith Jocelyn Smith Lilian Smith Owen Smith Jonathan Smithson Hunter Snyder Shelbie Soito Devin Sonntag Lilia Spranget Julianna Sprouse Cody Stepro Olivia Stevens Ian Stewart Chance Stores Timothy Stubbs Christopher Swider Amber Taylor Hailey Tenney Amanda Thompson Makenzie Thompson Callia Thornton William Threadgill Isaac Tomblin Jade Torbeck Riley Torgerson Calvin Troutman Hannah Trull Cadence Tuck Wyatt Vandever Justin Verthein Marissa Villelli Shayna Wabs Connor Waddell Bella Weiss Rebekah West Paul White Skyler White Emma Whiteman Abbey Whiting Carter Wiebusch Sarah Wilkey Victoria Willey Esperanza Williams Alexi Wilson Ella Wilson Ryan Wilson Riley Wollaston Alyssa Wood Brooke Worley Jaelyn Young Katrina Young Aleah Younger Victoria Younker Augustine Zepeda Alexandra Ziegler

COEUR DALENE HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation

The Coeur d’Alene High School commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 11 at Coeur d’Alene High School Viking Field, 5530 N. Fourth St., Coeur D Alene.

Principal: Libbi Barrett

Valedictorian: Lilian Smith

Smith