The 2015 Orcas High School Class is officially done with the first chapter of their young lives.
School Board Chair Janet Brownell described the graduation ceremony as the community gathering for a “collective pushing of the chicks out of the nest.”
The following students participated in the ceremony on June 13: Mason Brown, Hannah Brunner-Gaydos (salutatorian and National Honor Society member), Cassidy Buehler, William Coe, Hailey Crowe, Arianna Dean, Lauren Ferrell, Lesley Ferrell, Melanie Flint (National Honor Society member), Emily Foster, Felicia Gossett, Mikaela Hansen (National Honor Society member), Taj Howe (valedictorian and National Honor Society member), Celestine Jensen, Keenan O’Brien, Demitri Pence, Lee Pollard, Kilee Rogers, Julianna Rose, Braeden Smith, Daria Stankevich, Dylan Thompson, Madeline White, Kyle Zbornik and Jay Zier.
Superintendent Eric Webb, who just finished his first year on Orcas, said “we have the most dedicated and supportive families I have experienced.”
Brunner-Gaydos, Howe and class president Zier all gave speeches. The students chose former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper to give the graduation address.
He told the class, “As much as you have thought about your future, dig deeper and deeper and deeper.”
The students received a total of $95,000 in scholarships from the community.
Scholarships
American Legion Citizenship Award Melanie Flint $250
American Legion Inspirational Award William Coe $250
Voyle B. Martin Academic Scholarship Taj Howe $1500
Claude A. Rebuling Memorial Academic Scholarship Mikaela Hansen $1500
Claude A. Rebuling Memorial Academic Scholarship Celestine Jensen $1500
Carol Clark Memorial Academic Scholarship Melanie Flint $1500
Islanders Bank Scholarship Daria Stankevich $1000, William Coe $1000
Orcas Family Health Scholarship Hannah Brunner-Gaydos $500, Daria Stankevich $500
Madrona Club Scholarship Hailey Crowe $1000, Julianna Rose $500
Orcas Center Margaret Exton Award Celestine Jensen $250
Orcas Island Education Foundation, Dare to Dream Scholarships Celestine Jensen $500, Hailey Crowe $500
OIEF Scholarships Hannah Brunner-Gaydos $1000, Taj Howe $1000, Melanie Flint $1000, Mikaela Hansen $500, Keenan O’Brien $500, Daria Stankevich $500
OIEF/Key Bank Academic Scholarship Mikaela Hansen $1000
OIEF/Key Bank Vocational Scholarship Celestine Jensen $1000
OIEF/Realtors of Orcas Island Scholarship William Coe $2000
Orcas Education Associations Mikaela Hansen $500
American Legion Auxiliary Scholarships
Sally Hart Memorial Scholarship Celestine Jensen $1000
Lar Vern Key Memorial Scholarship William Coe $1000
Mid Flaherty Memorial Scholarship Melanie Flint $1000
American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship Keenan O’Brien $1000
American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship Honoring Taj Howe $1000
Orcas Island Booster Club Scholarships Keenan O’Brien $500, Arianna Dean $500, Hannah Brunner-Gaydos $500
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival (supported by the Thyra and Bud Anderson Advised Fund)
Marilynn Anderson Young Musician’s Awards Mikaela Hansen $500, Celestine Jensen $500
San Juan County Sheriff’s Guild Scholarship Melanie Flint $500
Kiwanis Club of Orcas Island Scholarships
Lee Roach/Bill Marx Memorial Scholarship Hannah Brunner-Gaydos $1200
Kiwanis Community Service Scholarship Melanie Flint $1200
Kiwanis Leadership Scholarship William Coe $1200
Jack Conant Memorial Youth Scholarship Hailey Crowe $1200
Kiwanis Club Hat Draw Award Taj Howe $400
Masonic Lodge
Vocational Scholarship Lauren Ferrell $1000
Vocational Scholarship Lesley Ferrell $1000
Academic Scholarship Julianna Rose $1500
Academic Scholarship Mikaela Hansen $1500
Lions Club
Jim Golithon Memorial Scholarship Julianna Rose $2500
Vic Hughes Scholarship Mikaela Hansen $2500
Joseph Bond Scholarship Melanie Flint $2500
Abrahamsen Family Scholarship Celestine Jensen $2500
Lions Club Foundation Scholarship Lauren Ferrell $2500
William D. Yarlott Memorial Scholarship Hailey Crowe $1250
Orcas Road Classics Car Association Kilee Rogers $500
Orcas Radio Controlled Aircraft Society Scholarship Keenan O’Brien $500
Odd Fellows Scholarships Mikaela Hansen $1500, Cassidy Buehler $1500
Eagle Forum Scholarship Melanie Flint $1000
Kaleidescope Scholarship Celestine Jensen $500
What I Didn’t Say Scholarship Melanie Flint $700
Island Artisans’ Scholarship Melanie Flint $2000, Lauren Ferrell $1000, Celestine Jensen $500
Orcas Island Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Association, Jeff Patty Scholarship ($500 for 4 years) Hailey Crowe $2000
Henigson Public School Student College Scholarship Mikaela Hansen $8000 (This scholarship is renewed every year for 4 years.)
