Templeton High School: Resilience Shines Through the Class of 2022

BY CAMILLE DEVAUL PHOTOS BY MATT MCFARLANE

TEMPLETON EAGLES

Members of the Class of 2022 from Templeton High School officially graduated and closed their high school chapter on Thursday, June 9.

Elise Black opened the ceremony singing the national anthem and was followed by a flyover from the Estrella Warbirds. THS Principal Josh Aston then took over the ceremony to start with a few dad jokes.

Senior Class President and Female Athlete of the Year Maddie Bobbit was the first student to give her speech. Maddie remembered the late Coach Dave Harper, who passed in 2021. She, along with other students, worked to name the school’s new weight room after their late and beloved coach.

Graduating senior Remi Campbell gave an official dedication and tribute to Coach Harper later in the ceremony.

Co-Salutatorians Owen Daulton and Zach Gonzales shared the stage to address the graduating class. Owen walked the class through Aristotle’s appeals: pathos, ethos, and logos and how they related back to their class. And Zach provided the crowd from some of his favorite quotes from Einstein — and Kanye West. 34 | pasoroblesmagazine.com

It was then Valedictorian John Nicholson’s time to shine in front of his class one last time. He reminisced with his class on their time with Zoom and hybrid schedules. John walked the crowd through the triangle of life, a concept he learned from Teacher of the Year Jason Diodati.

Diodati explained to his students that each point on the triangle has an influence on their lives: time, money, and happiness.

“The triangles we form will change throughout our lifetime,” said John. “but the key is finding the proper balance of the points.”

How each point is used will depend on what the person puts into priority.

“I have enjoyed the past four years with each and every one of you, and I hope that we all find balance in our own triangle of life.”

Inspirational Teacher of the Year Erik Lewis commended the senior class on how they handled their unexpectedly challenging high school career.

“It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago we were still wearing masks,” said Lewis, “I think that it hit these seniors the hardest. They had to deal with COVID for more than half of their high school careers.”

The laid-back, surfing, and always supportive teacher gave the students some advice to use throughout their lives moving forward: 1. When you do something wrong, admit it. Swallow your pride and say you are sorry. 2. You can’t fix other people, but you can fix yourself. 3. Happiness is a choice and attitude is everything. 4. Try to put yourself in other people’s shoes. Perspective in life is everything.

“The senior class has been an absolute pleasure,” Lewis added, “Your strength and resilience in this weird time are going to help you get through life through all of its challenges.”

Principal Aston then exchanged flags with the class’s foreign exchange students. Traditionally at Templeton, the class will exchange an American flag for the flag of the student’s home country. Aston proceeded to exchange two American flags, one from Japan and one from Spain.

To end the night, the Templeton Unified School District Board of Trustees, Nelson Yamagata, Matt Vierra, and Jan Nimick, proceeded to hand the students their diplomas.

These Eagles are undoubtedly leaving THS stronger and wiser than when they entered. They stood together through unexpected challenges.

Congratulations to the Templeton High School Eagles Class of 2022! Paso Robles Magazine | July 2022

2022 Templeton High School Honorees

Eagle of the Year: Shane Brennan Principal’s Award: Austin Marquart Valedictorian: John Nicholson Co-Salutatorians: Zach Gonzales, Owen Daulton Top Scholars: Helia Bushong, Owen Daulton, Claire Oppedahl Male Athlete of the Year: Kadin Javadi Female Athlete of the Year: Maddie Bobbitt Male Scholar Athlete of the Year: John Nicholson Female Scholar Athlete of the Year: Ashlyn Janzen Jim Fotinakes Award: Jason Diodati Inspirational Teacher Award: Erik Lewis Lebens Award: Girls Cross Country — Marianna Perez, Maddie Bobbitt, Ava Lawrence, Ashlyn Estes

Department Awards

English Department: Molly Floberg Fine Arts Student of the Year: Ella Kahan Life Science: Katelyn Rosilez Ag Leadership: Shane Brennan Ag Mechanics: Kyle Simonin Physical Science: Owen Daulton Theatre Arts Student of the Year: Katelann Harms Mathematics: Justin Grapentine Meritorious Award: Hunter Phillips Social Science: Mariana Perez Musician of the Year: Darin Gong Computer Science: Zachary Gonzales AP Capstone: Owen Daulton

Scholarship Winners

A-Z Foundation — Ashlyn Janzen, Austin Marquart, Helia Bushong, Makena Martin, Matthew Bobbitt Atascadero Elks Club — Alexandria Dahlen, Jack Wood, Makena Martin Booker Brothers — Ashlyn Estes, Ashlyn Janzen, Ashlyn Miller, Ava Lawrence, Claire Oppedahl, Ella Kahan, Emma Kahan, John Nicholson, Makena Martin California Association of Winegrape Growers — Makena Martin California Retired Teachers Association — Matthew Bobbitt Cancer Support Community — Ella Kahan Friday Night Live — Ashlyn Estes, Audrey Bauske, Claire Oppedahl Mothers for Peace — Helia Bushong, Maddie Bobbitt Multiflora Garden Club — Maddie Bobbitt Nightmare on Main Street — Alyssia Corella Paso Robles Optimist Club — Molly Floberg Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance — Justin Grapentine, Makena Martin Santa Barbara Scottish Rite — Ashlyn Estes, Ashlyn Janzen, John Nicholson Shelby Sudbrink Memorial Scholarship — Ashlyn Janzen SLO Farm Bureau Women — Mackay Langley SLO Quarter Horse Association — Ashlyn Janzen, Dakota Torgerson, Harrison Orradre, Jack Wood, Kadin Javadi, Mackay Langley St. William’s Catholic Church — Michael Nowinski Success Charities — Kilian Pankowski, Mariel Najera, Taylor Schoenthal, Zachary Gonzales Tanya C. Hendry Fine Arts Scholarship — Emma Kahan Templeton Athletic Boosters — John Nicholson, Maddie Bobbitt, Templeton Drama Boosters — Katelann Harms, Katherine Carter Templeton Lions Club — Dakota Torgerson, Emma Kahan, Justin Grapentine Templeton Lunch Bunch — Ashlyn Estes, John Nicholson, Molly Floberg, Owen Daulton Templeton Presbyterian Church — Ashlyn Estes, Ashlyn Janzen, Ava Lawrence, Claire Oppedahl Templeton Rotary — Ashlyn Estes, Ashlyn Janzen, Mackay Langley, Maddie Bobbitt, Molly Floberg Templeton Teachers Association — Alyssia Corella The Community Foundation — Ashlyn Estes, Helia Bushong, Marianna Perez, Shane Brennan Thelma Jo Sorrow Memorial Scholarship — Dakota Torgerson TIMBA — Josh Baum, Owen Daulton, Darin Gong TWCC — John Nicholson pasoroblesmagazine.com | 35