by Jefferson Freeman

Orcas Island High School

The class of 2022 had only 19 students, which even for Orcas is a small number, but as many students and faculty members recognized, they are truly one of the most diverse groups of people you will ever meet.

The Orcas Island High School graduation on June 12 ushered athletes and artists and leaders and learners through their last public school chapter. The graduates were Lokahi Anuenue, Jaya Greismer, William Ibara Garcia, Tayla Malo, Uma McMurray, Christopher Meadows, Fletcher Ness, Raul Orantes, Rainey Rierden, Juan Pablo Rodriguez, Odilon Salinas-Cruz, Augustus Smith, Tobias Smith, Alecia Talbot, Cailin Tucker, Jai Wachtel, Willow White and Corrah Wood.

Ayn Carrillo-Gailey, chair of the school board, gave the welcome address. Salutatorian Tobias Smith was the next speaker.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity” — these words by Charles Dickens were how Tobias chose to summarize his time in high school.

This was followed by class president Uma McMurray, who honored all of her classmates in her speech and reminded us how tight this group truly is. The next part of the proceedings was the award given to a staff member at the school based on letters written by the senior class. The selected letter was written by Malo and recognized Rachel Wilson’s work with her and many more kids in the volleyball program.

Class valedictorian Willow White was the next speaker. Her speech was both lighthearted and sweet and filled with laughs and lessons. Megan Gable was chosen to give the commencement address. She said she was honored to be chosen for such a prestigious role in the day and truly cared about every one of the kids. Finally, there was the island classic of the senior slide show. After that, each student was given a diploma and a handshake that they had worked incredibly hard for. Then the grads headed to their floats for the graduation parade.

Local organizations and businesses awarded the students $226,650 in scholarships during a ceremony on June 11. The full list is below.

American Legion Voyle B. Martin Post #93

Academic Scholarship in Honor of Mel Winsor: Tayla Malo, $1,500

Claude A. Rubeling Academic Scholarship: Tobias Smith, $1,500

Claude A. Rubeling Academic Scholarship: Willow White, $1,500

Vocational Scholarship in Honor of Robert (Bob) Folk: Odilon Salinas Cruz, $1,500

Bud Russell Vocational Scholarship: Alecia Talbot, $1,500

American Legion Leadership Award & Medallion: Alecia Talbot, $250

American Legion Leadership Award & Medallion: Jai Wachtel, $250

Sons of the American Legion

Sons of the American Legion Scholarship: Willow White, $1,500

Allen Minnis Memorial Vo-Tech Scholarship: Alecia Talbot, $1,500

American Legion Auxiliary Unit #93

Sally Hart Memorial Scholarship: Alecia Talbot, $1,500

Mid Flaherty Memorial Scholarship: Raul Orantes, $1,500

Lar Vern Keys Memorial Scholarship: Jai Wachtel, $1,500

Veterans Legacy Scholarship: Uma McMurray, $1,500

Banner Bank

Banner Bank Scholarship: Jai Wachtel, $1,000

Curtis Family

Glen W. Monson Memorial Scholarship: Alecia Talbot, $1,500

Robert V. Curtis Memorial Scholarship: Raul Orantes, $1,500

Fidelis Circle

Fidelis Circle Award: Jaya Griesemer, $200

Fidelis Circle Award: Lorraine Rierden, $200

Fidelis Circle Award: Alecia Talbot, $200

Fidelis Circle Award: Jai Wachtel, $200

Fidelis Circle Award: Willow White, $200

Funhouse Commons

Funhouse Commons College Scholarship (Scholarship is renewed every year for up to four years):

Tobias Smith, Full-ride

Henigson Public School Student Fund (Scholarship is renewed every year for up to four years):

Willow White, $10,000

Funhouse Commons/The Pichu Fund: Odilon Salinas Cruz, $1,000

Funhouse Commons/Realtors of Orcas Island: Alecia Talbot, $3,000

Island Artisans

Island Artisans Arts Scholarship: Lorraine Rierden, $500

Kiwanis Club of Orcas Island Scholarships

Scott Lancaster Citizen/Leadership Scholarship: Tobias Smith, $1,500

Harriet Miller Citizen/Leadership Scholarship: Tayla Malo, $1,500

Doug Pearson Citizen/Leadership Scholarship: Willow White, $1,500

Audrey Wells Citizen/Leadership Scholarship: Kai Ross, $1,500

Kiwanis VoTech Scholarship: William Ibarra Garcia, $700

Kiwanis VoTech Scholarship: Raul Orantes, $700

Kiwanis VoTech Scholarship: Odilon Salinas Cruz, $700

Kiwanis VoTech Scholarship: Alecia Talbot, $700

Bill Marx Hat Draw Award: Lorraine Rierden, $400

Madrona Club

Madrona Club Scholarship: Willow White, $1,000

Robin DiGeorgio Endowment Scholarship: Alecia Talbot, $2,000

Orcas Education Association

Orcas Education Association Scholarship: Tayla Malo, $1,000

Orcas Island Booster Club

Orcas Island Booster Club Scholarship: William Ibarra Garcia, $500

Orcas Island Booster Club Scholarship: Tayla Malo, $500

Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival

Marilyn Anderson Young Musician’s Award: Kai Ross, $1,000

Honorable Mention: Willow White

Orcas Island Education Foundation

OIEF Scholarship: Willow White, $5,000

OIEF Scholarship: Tayla Malo, $2,500

OIEF Scholarship: Uma McMurray, $2,500

OIEF Scholarship: Tobias Smith, $2,500

OIEF Scholarship: Alecia Talbot, $2,500

OIEF/Barker Family Vocational Education Scholarship: Raul Orantes, $5,000

OIEF/Barker Family Vocational Education Scholarship: Alecia Talbot, $5,000

OIEF/Hobie Alter Scholarship: Uma McMurray, $2,000

OIEF/Marian A. Berdan Scholarship: Tayla Malo, $2,000

OIEF/Marian A. Berdan Scholarship: Willow White, $1,000

OIEF/Thurman Bond Scholarship: Raul Orantes, $4,500

OIEF/Thurman Bond Scholarship: Jaya Griesemer, $1,000

Orcas Island Lions Club & Foundation

Abrahamsen Family Academic Scholarship: Tobias Smith, $3,600

Joseph Bond Vocational Scholarship: Alecia Talbot, $3,600

Jim Golithon Memorial Scholarship: Uma McMurray, $3,600

Leonard Wellman Academic Scholarship: Willow White, $3,600

Vic Hughes Memorial Scholarship: Tayla Malo, $3,600

Orcas Odd Fellows

Orcas Odd Fellows Award: Tayla Malo, $2,000

Orcas Odd Fellows Award: Alecia Talbot, $2,000

Orcas Online, Inc.

Terry Cairns Memorial Scholarship: Willow White, $1,000

Public School Employees of Orcas Island

Public School Employees of Orcas Island Scholarship: Fletcher Ness, $150

San Juan County Sheriff’s Guild

San Juan County Sheriff’s Guild Scholarship: Tayla Malo, $1,000

San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau

Hospitality/Business/Communications Scholarship: Uma McMurray, $500

Hospitality/Business/Communications Scholarship: Jai Wachtel, $500

San Juan Masonic Lodge #175

San Juan Masonic Lodge #175 Scholarship: Alecia Talbot, $1,000

Steve Resch Memorial

Steve Resch Memorial Scholarship: Alecia Talbot, $3,300

Taj Howe photo Alecia Talbot and Tayla Malo.

Taj Howe photo Toby Smith and Christopher Meadows.

Taj Howe photo Odi Salinas and William Ibarra.

Taj Howe photo Rainey Rierden, Cailin Tucker and Willow White.