DAMIAN MULINIX/For the Observer

Graduate Mariah Steenerson received congratulations from the crowd following the Naselle High School graduation on Saturday.

DAMIAN MULINIX/For the Observer

Class speaker Cameron Burch delivered his address at Saturdays Naselle High School graduation.

DAMIAN MULINIX/For the Observer

Raja Estes awaited her turn to enter the Lyle Patterson Gymnasium prior to the start of the Naselle High School graduation Saturday.

DAMIAN MULINIX/For the Observer

An excited Morgan Ridgeway waited to enter the Lyle Patterson Gymnasium prior to the start of the 2017 Naselle High School graduation Saturday.

DAMIAN MULINIX/For the Observer

Tye Johnson and other NHS seniors milled about before the start of the 2017 Naselle High School graduation Saturday.

NASELLE Stepping up to the microphone in the Lyle Patterson Gymnasium on June 3, Superintendent Lisa Nelson recognized retiring longtime teachers Bruce Wise and Scott Smith. Combined, the two have 68 years of teaching in the Naselle-Grays River Valley School District (NGRVSD).

Smith started teaching at the school at the beginning of Nelsons junior year and, according to Nelson, somehow managed to survive teaching her class. She drew a laugh by apologizing to Smith for TPing his house. It seemed like a good idea at the time to her and Susan (Swanson) Burkhalter, she said.

Following an appreciative round of applause for the two retirees, Nelson certified that the students seated behind her had met graduation requirements laid out by the state and the districts board of directors.

Therefore, said Nelson, with great pleasure, I present to you the graduating class of 2017.

With a joyful cheer, caps were thrown high into the air, as the 24 seniors closed one chapter in their lives and stepped into the next.

The ceremony

Once administrators, faculty and students entered to the bands playing of Pomp and Circumstance on Saturday afternoon. Valedictorian Raja Estes welcomed the audience. Then, using snake eggs as a metaphor, Faculty Speaker Scott Smith provided a wide-ranging and well-received message of guidance and hope for the graduating students.

Following Smith to the microphone, Class Speaker Cameron Burch provided an uplifting message about the opportunities awaiting the members of the graduating class.

The school band, under the direction of David King, performed 25 or 6 to 4.

Awards

School Counselor Justin Laine recognized Raja Estes and Kyryn Jacot as class valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.

These honors are reserved for the students who have earned the highest two cumulative grade point averages during high school, Laine said.

Estes and Jacot, along with Ellie Chapman and Tayler Ford, achieved high honors status with cumulative grade point averages above 3.75. They wore gold cords signifying that achievement.

Laine recognized nine other students who achieved honors status with cumulative GPAs between 3.2 and 3.74: Andrew Todd, Selah Wulf, Morgan Ridgeway, Rachel Disch, Amelia Tutuu, Selena Martinez, Elyssa Hale, Karinda Cooper and Tye Johnson. In recognition of their accomplishments, these students wore silver cords.

Noting that They are part of an elite group of students statewide who are selected on the basis of their lofty cumulative grade point averages and strong SAT scores, Laine announced Estes, Jacot, Todd and Wulf have been selected by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as Washington Honors Award Recipients. Todd was further recognized for achieving the honor of National Merit Commended Scholar based on scoring in the top 3 percent of college-bound juniors nationwide on the PSAT last year.

Announcing scholarship awards, Laine reported, Many of these scholarships are presented through the Naselle Education Foundation on behalf of various community members and organizations. Local community members and organizations have awarded approximately $35,000 in scholarships to this years graduating class. Over the next four years, the members of this graduating class are eligible to receive over $400,000 in scholarships and the Montgomery GI Bill.

The honorees received their scholarships from Principal Quinn Donlon.

Nelson and District Board of Directors member Amy Hunt presented diplomas and congratulated each of the students.

Salutatorian and Class President Jacot asked the students to stand. He presented them to Superintendent Nelson for certification.

With members of the 2017 class soon to head off to pursue educational and work opportunities, its worth noting that two of the young men, Brian Smith and Steven Wirkkala, are headed to the U.S. Marine Corps.

The Observer congratulates these young men and women on their accomplishments and wishes them safe journeys and the very best in their future endeavors.

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