Friends, family, parents and community members cheered on a new batch of Orcas Island High School graduates during the ceremony on June 16.
This was the 90th graduation celebration for the school district. Orcas Fire Chief Kevin O’Brien, who graduated from the school in 1984, gave the commencement speech.
“I can tell you, as graduates of Orcas Island High School, you feel special – and that’s because you are,” he said.
The seniors were: Macklin Samuel R. Blackburn, Randall J. Boetger, Christopher Owen Ghazel (co-salutatorian), Jacob A. Griffith, Robin Patrick Gropp (class speaker), Tyler Kekoaokekai Jensen, Elijah A. Jones, Ashley Lyn Klein, Katrina Joy Lindgren, Abigail Lynne Lucas, Mikail Alexi Van Maren, Susanne Elizabeth Mietzner, Claire Liane O’Neill, Robert Emanuel Padbury, Keenan James Phalan, Aubrey Rose Freida Piaget, Aubrey Cosmos Schermerhorn, Huxley Ann Smart (co-salutatorian), Sofie Clure Thixton (valedictorian), Kathryn L. Tidwell, and Kelsey McLucas Whitaker.
The students received $50,000 in scholarships during a Celebration of Success the previous day. The recipients are as follows:
Madrona Club Scholarship: Ashley Klein, $1000
American Legion Kyle Folk Memorial Scholarship: Kathryn Tidwell, $1500
American Legion Citizenship Award: Katrina Lindgren, $250
American Legion Inspirational Award: Robin Gropp, $250
American Legion Voyle B. Martin Scholarship: Kelsey Whitaker, 1500
American Legion Claude A. Rebuling Memorial Academic Scholarship: Huxley Smart, $1500
American Legion Claude A. Rebuling Memorial Vocational Scholarship: Abigail Lucas, $1500
Key Bank Scholarships: Kathryn Tidwell and Keenan Phalan, $1000 each
Kiwanis Club Lee Roach/Bill Marks Memorial Scholarship: Sofie Thixton, $1200
Kiwanis Community Service Scholarship: Kathryn Tidwell, $1200
Orcas Kiwanis Scholarship: Elijah Jones, $1200
Kiwanis Youth Scholarship: Robin Gropp, $1200
Kiwanis Voc-Tech Scholarship: Kelsey Whitaker, $500
Kiwanis Club Hat Draw Award: Elijah Jones, $400
Orcas Island Education Foundation, Dare to Dream: Ashley Klein and Katrina Lindgren, $500 each
OIEF Scholarships: Robin Gropp, $1000; Claire O’Neill, $1000; Huxley Smart, $500; Sofie Thixton, $500
Islanders Bank Scholarships:Huxley Smart, Claire O’Neill, Kathryn Tidwell, $1000 each
American Legion Auxiliary Sally Hart Memorial Scholarship: Sofie Thixton, $1000
American Legion Auxiliary Mid Flaherty Memorial Scholarship: Katrina Lindgren, $1000
American Legion Auxiliary LarVerne Key Memorial Scholarship: Keenan Phalan, $1000
American Legion Auxiliary Mary Boberg Scholarship: Kelsey Whitaker, $1000
Auxiliary Scholarship: Huxley Smart, $500
Masonic Lodge Scholarship: Huxley Smart and Kelsey Whitaker, $1500 each
Lions Club Leonard Wellman Memorial Scholarship: Sofie Thixton, $2000
Lions Club Jim Golithon Memorial Scholarship: Claire O’Neill, $2000
Lions Club Vic Hughes Scholarship: Macklin Blackburn, $2000
Lions Club Joseph Bond Scholarship: Robin Gropp , $2000
Abrahamsen Family Scholarship: Elijah Jones, $2500
Jeff Patty Scholarship (Orcas Firefighters Assoc.): Katrina Lindgren, $500 (This scholarship is renewed every year for four years.)
San Juan County Sheriff’s Guild Scholarship: Christopher Ghazel and Katrina Lindgren, $500 each
OHS Vocational Award: Jake Griffith
Public School Employees Union Scholarships: Suzanne Mietzner and Robin Gropp, $250 each
Orcas Island Family Health Center Scholarship: Huxley Smart, $1000
Odd Fellows Scholarships: Sheriah Swartout (OASIS graduate), Macklin Blackburn and Robin Gropp, $1500 each
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival Young Musician’s Award, supported by the Thyra and Bud Anderson Advised Fund: Robin Gropp, Macklin Blackburn and Susanne Mietzner, $500 each
OHS Runners Award: Jake Griffith
To see the graduates in action visit http://youtu.be/klZHqgAwOes.
