GRADUATION SECTION 2026

G R A D U AT I O N S P E C I A L S E C T I O N

W E D N E S D AY, J U N E 3 , 2 0 2 6

STEPHEN TEMPLETON/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2026!

The class of 2026 is racing to the finish.

This spring, 7,797 students from 69 schools in the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene area will receive their diplomas after years of dedicated work.

These students have found joy in their friendships and suffered grief over the loss of loved ones. Some have overcome illnesses or learning disabilities. They have made life better for their

fellow students and community members.

And these teenagers have plans. Some will go to college, some to the military or trade schools.

Others have business plans or job skills they’ve earned while attending high school that they’re ready to put to the test.

They’re excited about the future – and after reading their stories, you will be, too.

Cheers to the class of 2026!

T2 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

NORTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

BUILDING COMMUNITY Lucy Woods gets involved through clubs, volunteer work

By Azaria Podplesky

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REIVEW

Growing up, North Central High School senior Lucy Woods experienced social anxiety. She attended the Enrichment Cooperative at Bryant two days a week in middle school, which helped her become close to a small community.

When it came time for high school, Woods felt like she needed a bigger community and to have “the typical high school experience.” At North Central, she dove right into a variety of clubs and volunteer opportunities.

She participated in speech and debate to build her confidence and help her express herself. She was especially proud of her contributions in regard to water usage and rights for LGBTQ youth.

As Associated Student Body secretary, she organized the elections for next year’s student government. She is in the National Honor Society and was the president of Shades, the school’s multicultural club, a place for students to have conversations about culture and the world at large.

“I really wanted to find a like-minded community that was really focused on building an inclusive school and lifting others up,” she said.

One piece of that inclusivity work came after Woods and her girlfriend won the titles of homecoming “king” and “queen.” She spoke with administrators who have agreed to make the titles gender neutral in the future.

In partnership with Shades, Woods and the civic engagement club she was a founding member of organized voter registration drives and brought speakers to the school for debates, including the City Council debate she moderated

in the fall.

“Students really deserve to have their voice heard, because they play a very valuable role in our society and are the next generation that will lead the world,” she said. “It’s very important to make sure that they feel understood and seen.”

Camellia Munoz worked with Woods her junior and senior years in leadership class, which works to build community inside the school while also completing community service projects.

“Having her in class, Lucy is so great about doing the work that needs to be done and never complaining, never saying, ‘Oh gosh, why are we doing this?’ ” Munoz said, adding that Woods understands the work is critical to building community and culture.

Through leadership, Woods helped organize various events and celebrations, like Counselor Appreciation Week and Painting With a Purpose, an event that welcomes all for an evening of creativity and mindfulness.

Outside of school, Woods volunteers at Spark Central and at Holmes Elementary School in their Level Up program, working with students to write and edit articles for a newspaper they produce.

“It really helps them to look at some different career paths that they’re really interested in,” she said. “Especially at an elementary school level, it’s amazing to see the light behind their eyes when they are really in something they truly enjoy.”

A past participant of Girls Rock Lab, she now helps the young girls in the program learn to play instruments.

She is also one of a handful of students from across the state who is on the Washington Youth Arts Leadership Commission, advocating for the arts and art education in

NORTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Sharifu Abdul Taylor Adeniran Emma Aguiar Tracy Akem Genta Akiyama Christian Alba Wemman Alee-Zedkeia Kaylee Allum Mersaydie Alvarez Musa Alzoubi Aida Amaral Ava Anderson Grey Anderson Justin Anderson Lesley Andrew Jr Arianna Anest Jeri Ankien Trace Ayers Mason Banuelos Sarah Banuelos Abigail Barker Jose Barragan Palacios Tyler Barrett Audrey Bartlett Paul Bauer Winner Bejang Jr McKenna Bennett RaeLyn Berry Sarah Besmel Brooke-Lynn Billigmeier Zane Bischoff Tracie Bock Everett Bodnar Guillermo Bomberger Brooklynn Boulet-Neiffer Dot Brewer Camden Bridegroom Teigen Brill Eli Brown Elsina Brown Kaden Brown

Annie Bruyer Hayden Burrola Andrei Cachero Adrian Calderon Jr Bailey Campbell Rori Campbell Emelia Canfield Kimberley Carlson Rafe Carlson Chase Carter Liam Carter Elias Cary Jacob Caulkins Tate Cederblom Penelope Chappell Holden Chaput Katrina Chau Emily Chen Khenzi Chess Eve Christophersen Tebora Claney Kaytlynn Clark Grey Collins Devin Combs Quinlan Corbin Mariana Correa Aslyn Cotter Kenny Cousins Cordell Cranford Thomas Crespo Jaden Culnane Anna Cumberland Maria Currey Izeck Currie Killian Davis Phoenix Davis Jaline Dawson Edgar De Asis Baldovinos Anneke DeHaan Catcher DeHaan Gabriel DelaCruz Uriah De La O Natalie Deleon

INDEX Central Valley..................................................39 Central Valley Virtual Learning..................39 Cheney............................................................. 19 Chesterton...................................................... 31 Coeur d’Alene ............................................... 22 Coeur d’Alene Charter ............................... 30 Coeur d’Alene Classical Christian ........... 33 The Community School ............................... 7 Deer Park ....................................................... 32 Deer Park Achievement ............................. 32 Deer Park Home Link.................................. 32 Dishman Hills ............................................... 29 East Valley .................................................... 25 East Valley Online ....................................... 25 East Valley Parent Partnership ............... 24

Jade Denlinger Levi Dilg Aislynn Dixon Tayria Dodson Adin Dorscher Dakota Doubek Nevaiah Draper Gabriel Driftwood Alexander Duggan Antoinette Dunn Luke Eagle Delayne Edsall Isaiah Ellery-Thomason Nicholas Elliott Aalyiah England Sydney Englert Jazmin Escalante Mary Esteria Liam Everman-Jones Archer Faulks Aislyn Fleming Avah Fletcher Vincente Florez Nicholas Floyd Michael Fortner Addison Fritz Jahkeem Fuentes Daniel Furkalo Wyatte Gaines Rozlyn Galbavy Desiree Garza Emily Garza Emmanuel Gasabato Kenau George Shayden George Garcia Dakotah Gillette Aidan Golden Clay Gray Jason Green Cory Greiner Jaqueim Griffieth LaNessa Grigsby Rosamond Grim Safa Haidari

COURTESY

Lucy Woods has focused on making North Central High School more inclusive. schools.

“The main focus is that when there are financial struggles, especially at the government level, arts programs are typically the first thing to be cut,” she said. “We really highlight the importance of those programs and why they matter to K-12

students.”

After graduation, Woods plans to attend Eastern Washington University where she’ll major in secondary education with a focus on English and a minor in Spanish, a career Munoz said Woods is perfect for.

“Lucy’s really good at build-

Graduation

The North Central High School commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 13 at The Podium, 511 W. Joe Albi Way. Principal: Tami McCracken Summa cum laude: Everett Bodnar, Guillermo Bomberger, Kimberley Carlson, Anna Cumberland, Josephine Harwood, Elizabeth Hollingsworth, Andrew Ives, Alexis Johnson, Micaela Mendez, Eli Pettis, Gabriella Phillipe, Marley Spencer, Kate Turnbull, Lucy Woods

Johnathan Hamel Hannah Hanshaw Jena Happin Cloe Hardwick Hudson Harrington Josephine Harwood Isaiah Hastings Devlyn Hawkins Kastile Hawks Leanna Haynie Alexander Hendrix Ashlee Henry Lia Hernandez Nickolas Hernandez Soren Hertel Lillian Hoffschneider Silas Holes Elizabeth Hollingsworth Emma Hurley Andrew Ives Erika Jack Rosalee Jack Caden Jacob Devon Jaeb Frankie Jardine III Kylie Jenkins Aidan Jensen Jude Jester

Enlightium .................................................... 24 Ferris ................................................................. 5 Freeman ........................................................ 34 Genesis Prep ................................................. 16 Gonzaga Prep ............................................... 12 Grace Alliance ............................................... 33 Innovation....................................................... 35 Kootenai......................................................... 34 Lake City ........................................................ 21 Lakeland ........................................................ 26 Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) ........................ 34 Lakeside (Plummer-Worley) ................... 24 Lewis and Clark .............................................. 6 Liberty ............................................................... 9 Liberty Launch ............................................. 18 Lumen ............................................................ 28 Map .................................................................... 8 Mead ................................................................ 13

Regan Joash Alexis Johnson Chantal Kaluba Nettie Kaniaupio Samuil Karazhov Adija Kaweme Zachariah Kenagy Thienny Keopha Tobias King Jasmine Knights Redstar Knows-His-Gun– Holmes Maya Knudsen Allena Kuck Sofiia Kulabukhova Jacob Kyle Moja Lainej Giancarlo Lentes Emily Lentz Dakota Lewis Joshua Lewis Joseph Lindsey Kaitlyn Loke Chloe Lopez James Lopez Prinskowski Katya Maile Narjis Mamoori Victoria Manes

Ruby Matelich Lilly Matthews Armonee Mayes Eva McKernan Aden McMichael Micaela Mendez Jaiden Michener Leyby Miguel Gavin Miller Tristan Millman Lyric Monroe Madelynn Montagne Nickolas Mora Lautiej Moreang Eyote Morgan Rosemi Motodrik Houda Mukanya Khloe Muller Javier Munoz Casau Sana Mushwani Miriam Mutono Christelle Mwange Rowan Myers Leia Nathaniel Chloe Nelson Carly Nicholson Zoe Nowaski Yvanny Nyiramahirwe Mahson Ogo Hudson Omine Eden O’Neill Victoria Ontivero Ravel Thein Oo Brianna Osborne Amelia Parker Maurice Parnell Damien Pashenee Fox Patterson Ayden Paul Brittlyn Peck Mireya Pena Leah Pence Rylie Perkins Zoey Perry Eli Pettis Nick Phillip Gabriella Phillipe Carter Phillips

Mead Learning Options ............................. 15 Medical Lake ................................................. 31 Mica Peak ...................................................... 38 Mountain View ............................................. 26 Mt. Spokane .................................................. 14 New Vision ..................................................... 17 North Central .................................................. 2 North Idaho Christian................................. 28 North Idaho STEM Charter Academy .... 18 Northwest Christian ................................... 36 Northwest Christian Homeschool .......... 36 The Oaks ........................................................ 31 On Track ........................................................... 8 Open Doors Youth Reengagement .........39 Post Falls ........................................................ 17 Ridgeline ....................................................... 40 Riverside ........................................................ 30 Riverside Achievement ............................. 30

ing community as well, she is so good at making sure that everybody feels safe and everyone feels important and feels loved,” Munoz said. “From a teacher’s perspective, that is the foundational level. If you can do that, you can teach anything. She’s magical.”

Allie Pichette Oleksandr Piliptsov Cailyn Poitras Alyssa Pote Justice Priest Jackson Prim Evan Quarles Savannah Ramsden Coen Redding Richton Renju Kobe Reuben Quinton Richards Ne’Hovia Ridley Racheal Riketa Raven Rinde Areya Rogers Maya Roncevic Chauncey Rondeau Evelyn Rosselet Mercedes Rothrock Braxton Ruiz-Zubaugh Chazly Saleh Mohammad Salehy Jacob Sanchez Nicolas Sanchez Allison Schacht Simon Schaffel Garrett Schibel Grace Schultz Margaret Schwartzmann Jonathan Schwencke Evelina-Elena Seremet Edson Sewell Mia Shaw Austin Smith Haylie-Kay Smith Jozlynn Smith Max Smith Gavin Smitherman Adelaide Snodgrass Skyler Sorimpt June Spencer Marley Spencer Michael Spencer IV Jasper Stapleton Daytona Stark McKenzie Stephen Laeona Stephens

Brayden Stewart Elijah Stowe-Dahm Winter Summers Ethan Swanson Arlene Takwinja Luigi Taran Zaidyn Thomas-Reck Edvard Tirzili SaReya Trapp Solomon Tshibanda Kate Turnbull Mikey Turner Daisy Tuter Kamari Vaile Danielle Valley Adiel Vargas Dominic Vaughn Joseph Vaughn Rylie Veit Madysen Vowels Becca Wade Alexander Wagner Jakeob Walker Logan Walling Ivan Wallingford Iain Walter Bevvon WankerChomthong Nathan Wanless Brianna Ward Kennedy Wasekwa Midrine Wasekwa Akiylon Washington Maddox Watson Abbigail Webb Libbey White Jaylynn Whiting Pearl Wicks Tahlia Willette Dakota Williams Ezra Wilson Sophia Windham Damyen Woods Lucy Woods Bug Worley Sydel Worley Adie Wright Aniya Youngblood

Riverside Independent Scholar .............. 30 Rogers ............................................................... 9 Shadle Park ..................................................... 3 Spokane International Academy ............ 33 Spokane Valley ............................................ 28 Spokane Valley Tech ................................... 37 Spokane Virtual Learning ........................... 5 St. George’s ................................................... 23 St. Michael’s ................................................... 16 TEC at Bryant ................................................. 8 Three Springs ................................................ 18 Timberlake ..................................................... 27 University ...................................................... 38 Upper Columbia .......................................... 36 Valley Christian ............................................. 16 Venture ........................................................... 22 West Valley ................................................... 29 WIN Academy .............................................. 19

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T3

SHADLE PARK HIGH SCHOOL

Orchestrating his future

Music has been a big part of Corey Hodges’ life, both in school and in the community

By Charlie Oltman

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Shadle Park High School senior Corey Hodges has found solace in music while experiencing sometimes agonizing soreness from involuntary muscle contractions that were only recently diagnosed.

“My pediatrician always knew I had something going on, but it really became something that started to inhibit my daily life,” Hodges said. “It was extremely painful.”

Hodges was diagnosed with dystonia, a neurological disorder causing involuntary muscle contractions that create significant tension and soreness. That made playing his upright bass difficult.

“Most days I’d pick up my instrument, there’d be this sensation that ran through my arm,” Hodges said. “It’s very pesky. As someone who plays an instrument, you don’t really like that.”

Since his introduction to the instrument in fifth grade, Hodges has played the bass in many ensembles. At Shadle Park, he has been involved in the orchestra program all four years, joining the Chamber Ensemble during his sophomore year. Hodges was involved in the jazz program from freshman year to junior year, but had to leave the program because of the disorder.

Outside of high school, Hodges joined the Spokane Youth Symphony and has done contract work with the Whitworth Orchestra. These outside programs have allowed him to perform at the Fox Theater. He looked forward to the spring concert as a full circle moment.

“One of my youngest memories at the Fox, (was) the Spokane Symphony played some ‘Star Wars’ themed pieces,” Hodges said. “Funny enough, now with Whitworth this spring, we’re also playing a ‘Star Wars’ themed chart.”

Matthew Wenman, Hodges’ music teacher throughout high school,

said because performances take place outside of normal school hours, he is able to get to know his students more than other teachers might be able to.

“I’m always trying to push kids out of the nest,” Wenman said. “The more experiences that they can have outside of the classroom, the better for them.”

Wenman said it is important to have a variety of musical experiences that expand one’s skills, so he was excited when Hodges pursued ensembles in the larger Spokane community. Through this, Wenman said he has seen Hodges’ work ethic and dedication.

“It’s somewhat unique to have a student who’s really dedicated to becoming as good as they can be,” Wenman said.

Hodges will attend Oregon State University in the fall, planning to major in finance and minor in music. Hodges said he wants to enter the field to increase his financial literacy and aims to help others become more financially literate as well.

Lesa Renner, Hodges’ high school counselor, said Hodges leads by example for the other students with his time management skills. Hodges juggles a variety of classes at the high school and through the Running Start program at Spokane Falls Community College.

“He’s just incredibly talented in multiple areas and he thinks learning should be fun,” Renner said. “The eclectic interests come from this amazing attitude towards education. It’s not a grind.

It’s a privilege and something that should be fun and exploratory. He’s done a really good job of taking that variety of classes to expand his horizons.”

One of these eclectic interests was Hodges’ interest in studying Japanese, something he took through SFCC and said he hopes to continue studying at OSU. Hodges said he is looking forward to the future and is thankful for his time in high school, especially in the music program.

SHADLE PARK HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Jaxon Ableman Seth Absalonson Thalia Adams Mason Affre Holly Alexander Zariya Alexander Kingston Al-hajri Hailey Allen Mason Allison Lance Amonson Levi Anderson Wyatt Antcliff Henry Arias Gonzalez Vance Arkle Kallen Arndt Charles Arthur Cydney Au Spencer Au Alejandro Avelar Belal Ayash Michael Bacon Landon Baker Carsyn Baldwin Mckenna Barnes Rainey Barry Chloe Barton Kyle Bass Mitchell Bassuer Seedrat Al-Muntaha Bdr Kathryne Beutel Jamie Blankenagel DominicJude Blas Morgan Blessen Corbin Blomgren Ava Bocook Victoria Borello Bryan Bors Jaden Boschee Taya Botts Colton Bowman Cedriana Bradley Mylee Brayman Bryce Brown Emma Brown Jaden Brown Tyson Buckna Scarllette Burke Austin Burnett

Hayden Bush Ethan Cabrera Elias Domenico Caldier Alexander Cardenas Logan Carlson Caleb Carrillo Kahlan Cartmell Porter Case Adria Cash Samuel Casper Ron Gabriel Castillo Madison Claar Aidan Clark Cash Clark Jayce Clark Kingston Clark Christian Colon David Colvin Aubree Cook Isabella Copley Cameron Cowan Tyler Cramer Zachary Crone Johnson Dani Darling Crystal Davis Adrianna DeMello Athena DeSantos Katie DeWitt Austin Dial Victor Dias Denia Diaz Samuel Dickinson Harrison Dietz Braylen Dilling Abby Doolittle Hayley Dotson Sophia Dugdale McKenzie Duncan Haley Dunlap Addison Dutton Brooklyn Eagon Zentavian Ebel Alexis Ellsworth Madalynn Emmershy Karyn Engelson Tiegan Ensminger Joseph Erlandsen Amadeus Escobar Makenzie Fager Keren Fataki Kiana Fawcett

COURTESY

Corey Hodges plans to study finance at Oregon State University.

“I probably would never know about the dystonia if I didn’t play a stringed

instrument, so in a way, playing bass has helped me learn a lot about

Graduation

The Shadle Park High School commencement will be at 11 a.m. June 13 at the Podium, 511 W. Joe Albi Way. Principal: Chris Dunn Summa cum laude: Jamie Blankenagel, Bryan Bors, Kahlan Cartmell, Lauren McKean, Paige Perkins Alec Ferguson Ivy FitzGerald Calvin Fox Marissa Franco Clayton Fries Bianca Fross Kash Fuller Jason Gallegos Rosalind Ganger Abigail Garber Emilio Garcia Adamaris Garcia-Montufar Emma Garofalo Aaron Garrod Rachel Gibbs Drake Gibson Myles Gibson Roxanne Gimeno Savanna Girard Florence Gitau Madeleine Gorka David Greer Braden Grigsby Ziomara Guidi Triza Gurung Nikita Habimana Lucas Haeberle Madisyn Hall Carter Halonen Angele Hansen Jaxon Hansen Kaidon Hardt Jersey Harmer Dayana Harris Ali Hashimi Carson Haws Jack Heath Olivia Heller Antonio Hernandez Olivia Hernandez Jonathan Hernandez-Perez

Lucy Hicks Ashlyn Hidy Kye Hill-Roy Corey Hodges Owen Holland Brynn Hooper Kale Hooper Wyatt Horn Alayna Houtchens Gabriel Howard Emma Howells Ambrielle Huartson Sereniti Iseminger Dylan Jackson Isaiah Jackson Daisy Jerilong Alfred Johnson Kane Johnson Tanner Johnson ShaMiya Johnson-Edwards Brayden Johnston Abbigayl Jones Natalia Jones Solomon Jones Aiden Jonquet Cyres Joran Andy Juda Rylee Jun Vivian Kagereki Rebecca Kammerer Landon Kern Eric Kerr Tess Kerwin Keegan King Evan Kleinert Zachery Knutson Kaitlyn Kohler Oliver Koril Julia Koshar Tanner Krebs Tifaimoana La’apui

myself and make me take initiative into managing the dystonia,” Hodges

Norah Lapham Marcus Lauth Abigail Lavway Emily Law Gerald Lawless Shaylee LeMay Freya Loundagin Xander Luft Seth Lunnen Gavin MacLeod Madison Mann Gwendolyn Marriott Baylee Martin Jace Martin Laniya Mawdsley-Cabrera Wyatt Maynard Jenna McCain Charles McCullough Adam McGuire Lauren McKean Illusion McSwain Peyton McWilliams Janiemarie Mellon-Garry Ariana Mendez Mckenzie Messer Jennifer Meyer Camren Mickelsen Kylan Miller-Frazier Chioma Millersmith Aidan Mincher Laila Moe Makayla Montelongo Mattison Montgomery Sophia Mora Annabelle Moreno Hannah Morlin Cesar Mota Michael Murinko-Costigan Sky Murphy Jayden Nadreau Dylan Nelson Isabella Nelson Sadi Northrop Daylynn O’Harran Titus Olesen Irelyn Osborn Kate Owen Christopher Paget Bryson Palmer Hayden Palmer Brooke Park Charissa Parratt Cody Patik Gavynn Paul

David Perez Tatiana Perez Paige Perkins Addalieah Pierce Ausden Piper Shawn Preston Sophia Preu Caleb Price Matthew Pugh Azrael Pyeatt Serafina Quinata Arbin Rai Hailey Ramsey Alexus Randall Ethan Raya Shah Razvi Boston Reed Treven Reinholt Jason Reiter Jackson Richter Dallas Riddle Jerry Riley Bethany Rinas Beatrice Roascio Charles Robideaux Trinity Rogers Audrey Roller Sharon Rosales Munoz Alivia Ross Rowan Rouse Said Sadat Alexandra Saman Andrew Sanchez Kyra-Lei Saniatan Jaslyn Saunders Gavin Sauskojus Chloe Schaller Keira Schmidt Sarah Schneider Teagan Schroeder Scarlett Schubert Zaria Scotto Owen Sebright Sophia Sherman Keiara Shields Emberly Shiley-Smith Shylah Singleton-Chaney Sierra Sisemore Alexis Smelcer Eli Smith Emalie Smythe Benjamin Snell Selah Snyder Treyton Snyder

said. “Today, I feel a lot better than I did a few years ago.”

Blake Sorensen Hannah Spellman-Bijeau Jade Speth Sean Stallcop Nicholas Stewart Taylor Stoddard Emma Stone Benjamin Straub Rachel Sudlow Ethan Susens Maron Sybouts Tatiana Syth-Perryman Brayden Tallam Stefanie Tappe LaDamien Tauala Audrey Teague Gunner Tesch Levi Thiry Dexter Thompson Tameira Thompson Wyatt Tingle-Key Oleksandr Tolkun Sarah Tolley-Mills Hunter Tomlin Connor Traxler Jyllian Trowbridge-Wachholz Tuesday Trullinger-Middlemas Mark Tsema Annabella Turner Colin Utter Carlos Valencia Zach Vasconcelos Jamie Veigel Diego Vila Sophea Villalpando Henry Vincent Leonardo Volpe Romal Wafa Abigail Wagner Elli Wahlstrom Logan Walden Amirah Waldo Jim Walling Aveya Walls Ryder Webster Ethan Weller Braiden Wesolowski Lacy Wester Anesu Whacha Jaden White Ashlynn Wilbur Elijah Williams Riley Williams Nora Wilson

T4 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T5

FERRIS HIGH SCHOOL / SPOKANE VIRTUAL LEARNING

‘A hardworking individual with a big heart’ At SVL, Keigan Clavel became confident, self-directed learner

By Cindy Hval

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COURTESY

Laila Vaden started at Ferris High School her sophomore year. She became a leader at the school, and as part of her role on ASB, she helped raise awareness of the school’s cultural clubs.

READY TO JUMP IN Laila Vaden made herself a part of the Ferris community

By Jim Allen

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Laila Vaden faced a tough choice in the fall of 2023, when she and her Air Force family were reassigned to Spokane from Northern California.

As a sophomore walking the unfamiliar halls of Ferris High School, she could have withdrawn emotionally and longed for her old friends. Instead, she reached out for new ones and made a difference at her new school.

“My first year was definitely difficult,” said Vaden, whose father serves at Fairchild Air Force Base. This isn’t her first stop in Spokane; Vaden spent kindergarten here before moving to other bases.

It happens hundreds of times every year in Spokane. With little notice, military families are uprooted and redeployed to new locales.

“She jumped in feet first into getting into leadership class her junior year,” said Ferris teacher Megan Harrison . “So many times, new students don’t want to be involved, or they struggle to find their community.”

Vaden said her life experience shaped her transition to Ferris.

“I think it’s hard, because not everyone moves around a lot,” Vaden said. “So you have to put yourself out there. I like being involved, I try to make that a big goal, but my first year was difficult.”

The staff at Ferris eased the path. In particular, English teacher Neil Strawn “was very encouraging and put effort in appreciating the stuff I wrote,” Vaden said.

“For me, coming into a new school, having a teacher who cared like that and went out of his way to talk to me was very important,” Vaden said.

Later, she got a big boost from assistant principal Andrew Lewis. Vaden had applied to join the Associated Student Body organization for her junior year.

“But I missed the deadline for the interview,” Vaden said.

“But Mr. Lewis reached out, and without that, I wouldn’t have made it into ASB,” Vaden said.

Vaden’s vehicle for change was student government, which offered her a chance to make a difference at her new school.

“I like ASB because you are the people who try to make Ferris a better place for everyone,” said Vaden, who along with

her colleagues tried to build a sense of belonging for students.

Ferris has many clubs and organizations, but some “were getting brushed under the rug a little bit,” said Vaden, the student information officer for ASB. Working through ASB, she tried to spread awareness and foster participation.

That was especially true of cultural clubs such as the Black Student Union and the Native American group, but also lesser-known clubs like the Dungeons and Dragons club.

“She is a quiet, solid leader,” said Harrison, a language arts teacher. “She’s also a talented writer and is so willing to share her heart.”

Vaden excelled in all her classes and will graduate magna cum laude.

Three years after the transition to Ferris, she faces perhaps a bigger one.

Originally from Southern California, she plans to major in journalism with a specialty in public relations and marketing at San Diego State University – enrollment 41,000.

“That could be intimidating,” Vaden said. “But I don’t think I’m too intimidated by being in a new environment.”

Graduation

Maggie Singleton Aleksandr Sirontinskii Matthew Skojec Aramey Smith Bryant Smith Hunter Smith Kyrael Smith Valentina Smith Flores Nevaeh Snellman Jameson Snook Soe Soe Ainsley Solscheid Christopher Solscheid Leilani Solscheid Sadie Speltz Rio Staeheli Kaylee St Amand Success Tamba Trinity Taylor Jaelyah Tensley Jaicie Tensley Dylan Theobald Anders Thogerson Emma Thomas Charlotte Thomsen Warren Timm-Bibbee Kseniia Tkachenko Artem Torba Adalyn Torres Easton Toshack Tawni Trowbridge Charne Tuombe Alyssa Uplinger Laila Vaden Trevor Valadez Kouki VanHoose Yuuki VanHoose Adilene Vazquez Nevaeh Vela Carson Ventress Shawn Verduzco Yana Volkova Lilly Wagenblast Bennan Walker McKenzie Walker Grace Walsh Aaron Warren Yakama Watlamett Caleb Waweru Sienna Weaver-Burdett Ava Weidauer Brochlien Weissig Emma Wells Kadence Wenzl Rachel White Andrew Whitman Madelyn Whitmore Kari Willey Karmen Williams Tristyn Williams Landon Wills Grayson Wilson Alexander Wirth Rowen Wittwer Noelle Wright Adonay Yemane Eva Yormia Artsiom Yuzepchuk Samantha Zugish Matthew Zuppe

FERRIS HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Caleb Aaron Fatimah Abdulrada Jayden Adams Miles Adams Joshua Addams Grant Ader Madison Allen Morgan Allendorf Kasey Allison Ali Al-Shabbani Viktoriia Altukhova Huda Al Zouabi Ethan Amestoy Anna Apatow Luca Bagwell Jasdeep Bains Deacon Ball Landon Banks Mariia Bannikova James Barranger Tyler Barron Nixon Barth Anel Becirovic Keegan Beck Nika Bedenko James Belch Lauren Berkompas Benjamin Black Dontaleeha Bland Paw Tha Blay Kae Blu Makenzie Boren Sofiya Bouslovski London Bowater Allyson Burkhead Emily Burns Paige Bursch Wren Burton Madelyn Cabrera Leo Carden Douglas Carney Joshua Casey Paul Cassel Makayla Cassell Alexis Castro-Leon Melanie Chamberlin Brooke Chisholm Judith Clark Kaylee Clark Peyton Clark Nevaeh Cole Michael Condon Eamon Conlin Josephine Coyne Maggie Crane Haven Cregan Shalyse Cronquist Allana Cruz Finnegan Cunningham Noelle Curry Anita Dao Joseph Davis

Madalyn Davis Paul Davis Thomas Deesten Ethan DeLeeuw Ava DeLeon Lillian DeLeon Liam Denny Eleanora DeWees Quinn d’Hulst Taisiia Didenko Cate Digiorgio Hailey Ditto Daniel Dotson Connor Doyle David Dumbrava Jack Eden Mia Eisenbeis Benjamin Elrod Mateia Eschenbacher Cami Estes Liam Faler Mckenzie Fallon Cole Fehler Alexander Flanigan Anya Florianovich Timothy Flynn Keivonnie Foree Aria Fortner Damien Fosdick Quinn Fredeen Kaiden Freeland Cordelia Frost Connor Gailey Kaia Gardner John Garten Alianna Gay Maria German Daphne Gilstrap Andy Gollnick Jameson Grant Korben Gray Ruby Greiner Sophia Grimm Kaliyah Hallman Finn Hansen Brice Hanson Daniel Harberts Jadyn Hatchitt Thomas Hawley Claire Heppler William Hicks Brinna Higgins Theodor Hillstrom Jack Hinson Jaylee Hoffman Isaiah Horn Maliky Horn Benjamin Horrocks Alesana Houston Daulton Hovanec Isaiah Howard Sarah Howard Yuliia Hrabik Blu Gay Htoo Kaeden Hubbard Evan Huett

The Ferris High School commencement will be at 2:30 p.m.

June 14 at The Podium, 511 W. Joe Albi Way Principal: John O’Dell Summa cum laude: Joshua Addams, Anna Apatow, James Belch, Emily Burns, Madelyn Cabrera, Michael Condon, Eamon Conlin, Noelle Curry, Mckenzie Fallon, Anya Florianovich, Kjersti Jacobson, Cali Jones, Ariana Kasimov, Emmaline Kuney, Toby Lee, Ava Lewis, Zoey Lewis, Ella Menard, Teddy Osborne, Sally Peterson, Anders Thogerson, Lilly Wagenblast, Grayson Wilson Bryson Hughes Callie Hutchison Daisuke Ike Jasper Innes Gavin Jacobson Katie Jacobson Kjersti Jacobson Lexie Jacobson Jones Adin Johnson Gavin Johnson Hailey Johnson Andre’ Jones Cali Jones Jayden Jones Furaha Kaliba Josephine Kaliba Ariana Kasimov Eamonn Keaton Darla Kelly Jack Kelnhofer Porter Kent Isla Keymer Atheris Kincaid Jada Kirima Sophia Knutson Marcus Koczarski Dahlia Kothare Samantha Kotsala Obediah Krahner Cooper Krestian Emmaline Kuney Samuel Lanwe Elias Lara Meraz Larencia LaSarte Madelyn Lee Toby Lee Rielly Lenihan Ava Lewis Zoey Lewis Joseph Little Eh Mu Tha Loe John Lott Cody Lynd Morgan MacDonald Liam MacMullan Abby Maki Sanullah Malang Izzy Maloco Michaela Markwell Kolten Marsh Brayden Martin Connor Martin

Jacob Martin Sumaya Mashwani Adis Matinjanin Hunter McCarrell Benjamin McClenny Tate McCulloch Kayden McDaniel Trevor McElliott Erin McGuire Jaclyn McIntyre Sawyer McManus Alyssa McSpadden Nevaeh Medrano Hailey Mejia Ella Menard Emma Metcalf Ivy Mewhinney Wyatt Miller Peyton Montgomery Cicily Montoya Say Moo Kierra Moore Dayson Moorhead Jessie Morozov Penelope Morris Raheem Morris Rosie Mortensen Carter Munck Mohammad Mushwani Garyn Myers Morgan Myers Hannah Nafzgar Oscar Navarro James Nead Eric Nguyen Liam Nguyen Maria Nguyen Trenton Nilson Mack Nogaki Martin Ntitenguha Grace Oakley Brandon Obregon Elijah Olney Josephine Osborn Anna Osborne Teddy Osborne Olivia Pacheco Miley Pease Gordon Peery Lawson Pennington Baylee Perry Sally Peterson

Nikita Petrov Marissa Pigram Aaron Pollock Josh Ponti Ayshaye Prather John Proctor Jr. Samantha Puckett Ireland Rahder Zainab Rahmani Maximus Raugust Casper Re Samuel Redding Aubrey Reeder McCarthy Reese Jadith Reeves Devin Regal Emma Regelin Tanis Renn Karley Reser Gabriel Reynolds Victor Richardson Darius Rickman J.J. Riordan Balien Robinson Melania Rodriquez Obando Sara Rogers Lili Rosenquist Nixon Round Katiana Rufes Payton Russell Marcus Saba Amel Sabanovic Finnegan Sabestinas Said Helaluddin Sadat Elian Sanchez Vadim Sapozhnikov Gunnar Sartain Faria Sarwary Hayden Sassone Simon Scruggs Isaac Seaman Abdel Kader Senouci Levi Shaffer Salman Shahid Sheida Shahrabadi Has Shee Lay Kpaw Shee Fahad Shkhair Megan Siemers Liaundro Silva Marcus Simmons

When attending school in person wasn’t the best fit for his needs, Keigan Clavel transitioned to Spokane Virtual Learning, where he pushed forward with focus and resilience.

“Throughout high school, Keigan has consistently demonstrated a strong determination to complete his education while navigating the challenges associated with autism and cerebral palsy,” Clavel said Adam Karlsgodt, SVL’s special education facilitator. “As his skills developed, he mastered a variety of accessibility tools and strategies that allowed him to engage more effectively, build independence, and take ownership of his learning.”

Because Clavel adapted well to online learning during the pandemic, his mother, Heather Clavel, felt SVL would be a good option for him.

She was right.

“Keigan has grown into a confident and self-directed learner, taking pride in his progress and the effort he puts into his work,” Karlsgodt said. “He never complains, no matter what the challenge. He’s great at attacking his goals – he finds ways to get things done.”

Indeed, when asked his favorite thing about school, his answer was quick and succinct.

“I like getting the work all done!”

He met weekly with his Spokane Virtual paraeducator, Carrie Stauffer, to preview, organize and plan for the week’s work.

History and reading are his strong suits.

“He’s a great reader – he’s going to be a lifelong learner,” Karlsgodt said.

Currently, he’s engrossed in “The Wild Robot” series.

“I’m in Book 3,” he said.

The technology learning curve proved challenging at times.

“I would send an assignment in, and it would disappear,” Clavel said. “Sometimes, I’d have to retype it in the text box.”

But perseverance was the name of his game, and Karlsgodt admired that.

“He’s a hardworking individual with a big heart.”

That diligence was rewarded in October with a long-awaited trip to Disneyland for his 18th birthday.

Clavel is a fan of Disney villains, so the timing was perfect.

“It was Halloween time, so all the villains were out,” he said. “I got to meet the evil queen from Snow White!”

The flexible schedule offered by SVL made it possible for Clavel to keep up with his studies, even while addressing health issues.

“If you had a hard day and felt like you needed some time, you could reschedule a meeting,” he said.

Outside of school, Clavel enjoys hanging out at the Isaac Foundation, a program for people on the autism spectrum.

“I’m there Monday through Thursday,” he said. “It’s for kids on the spectrum, and I made lots of friends. I can just be myself.”

This summer, he will be a peer mentor at the Isaac Foundation. It’s a leadership role he’s looking forward to and may help pave the way for the work he’d like to do in the future.

“I want to be a child life specialist in a hospital,” Clavel said. “Through my own experiences, I can help kids with hard moments.”

Karlsgodt thinks that position would be a perfect fit.

“Keigan’s persistence and ability to adapt will continue to support his capacity to push through any obstacle that arises,” he said. “His journey will continue to inspire those who have had the privilege of working with him, and we look forward to the meaningful impact he will continue to make in the lives of others.”

SPOKANE VIRTUAL LEARNING

Graduation

The Spokane Virtual Learning commencement will be at 5 p.m. June 11 at The Hive, 2904 E. Sprague Ave. Principal: Mark Lund Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Gage Adams Bode Adkison McKenzie Aman Allen Barnes Chloe Beck Makayla Brown Wyatt Chamberlin Keigan Clavel Powell Confer Evan Costin Kyson Cramer Matthew Cuilty Isabella DeMoss Damien Elizondo Noah Estrada Mathew Gamez

Colin Hall Violet Hutchinson Naomi Kaneshige Zainab Khalefa Mason Kildal Zhane LaPrath Ali Lorentz Narjis Mamoori Sumea Memisevic Sara Ohmann Emma Oletzke Hailie Ramirez Kai Schutz Nathan Selby Mickey Shapoval Keevan Thompson Armela Vejzovic Olivia Wolf Sophia Wolf

T6 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

LEWIS AND CLARK HIGH SCHOOL

Looking out for his new neighbors JP Red channels his drive for good into helping refugees

By Jim Allen

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

JP Red is proud of his Greek heritage It stretches half a world away to Cyprus, a Mediterranean island cleaved by a border that symbolizes centuries of animosity between Greeks and Turks.

Most of his maternal relatives live in the capital city of Nicosia, itself divided by a hard border. Red has visited many times.

But there’s no bitterness; Red is too young for that, or perhaps too mature.

A standout senior at Lewis and Clark High School, Red found inspiration at home, in the plight of refugees in America.

He founded the Refugees in Schools club at Lewis and Clark and has worked with the Refugee and Immigrant Connection of Spokane serving incoming refugee students and their families.

In turn, he and other LC students have coordinated efforts with Feast World Kitchen and Global Thrift.

According to Red, the inspiration came from the Refugee Integration, Stability and Education program, which supports those communities nationwide. A leadership course “informed me and others about the various issues that refugees deal with, such as food insecurity and language issues,” Red said.

Inspiration also comes from his family.

Red’s mother, Constantia Red, was 3 years old and living with her family in Nicosia when she woke to the sound of gunfire as Turkish soldiers invaded the northern part of Cyprus in 1974.

“You could hear the bombs,” she said. “And then the bathroom window shattered.”

Constantia Red grew up in Nicosia, then emigrated to New York in 1992 to continue her education. There she met her future husband, Jon. Nine years later, on 9/11, she was visited again by destruction, this time on the streets of lower Manhattan. It was time to leave; the Reds found a better life in Spokane and raised JP. “I’m very proud of JP because he is a hard worker and very compassionate and loyal to his friends,” Constantia Red said. “He’s also very open-minded.”

JP Red acknowledges that being an advocate for refugees “has been (a) little more challenging given the climate (in) this country,” and he responded by taking part in student protests against the presence of agents from federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The student solidarity displayed during the protests meant a lot.

“I would say it’s a cliché answer,

COURTESY

JP Red plans to study business at Penn State. but with all the support I get from my friends and teachers, I don’t think I would have chosen any other school, and with half the school participating, that’s a great example.”

Red also credits his teachers, especially Megan McLean in AP Calculus.

Graduation

LEWIS AND CLARK HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Sarah Adewale Aya Ahmad Hunter Albaugh William Aldred Nicholas Allen Koda Allison Jude Alsulimaneen Nathan Amsbury Colt Anderson Kate Anderson Everardo AndradeRodriguez Elijah Andresen Anna Andriushchenko Piper Antoniuk Paisley Archer Emily Arcuri Daniel Arkell II Grace Armstrong Sophia Arneson Elliot Asbjornsen Anna Ashenbrener Adeline Bail Harper Baird Olivia Baird Owen Baker Austin Ballard Renee Baraconi Melody Rai Barker Lilianah Barneson Beckham Barron Ethan Bascetta Brooklyn Beach Brandon Bestrom Hailee Biegler Viviani Birrueta Dion Black Brian Blackorby Anne Bodinger Jayden Boehrig Artem Boichev Kahree Bowens Evan Bowman Millie Branham Jet Bresgal Jack Brigham Lukas Broadbent Sommer Brosvik Leilani Brown Brody Bugbee Angus Burge Zenobia Burgess Juan Caicedo Mina Alyssa Campbell Collin Carlisle Amelia Carlson

Myles Carpenter Townsyn Chanse Emma Chow Abigail Chuang Carina Coca Carter Cochran Grace Cockley Aiden Coleman Emerson Coleman Ben Conklin Hannah Connell Gavin Coomes Elizabeth Copenhaver Josephine Corbin Braeden Cottier Samantha Crawford Malachi Crotty Mayclyn Cruz Fuentes Sherlyn Cruz Miguel Oona Cunningham Alexandra Dalich Sofia Dampf Julia Daniel Maricella Darling Austin Davey Carsyn Davis Clay Davis Haden Davis Neil Davis Gabriel Dawley George Deri Armann Dhillon Avi Dhillon Zoe Dingfield Beau Dix William Donally Ayden Dordal Pantera Dorsey Matthew Douglas Ava Downs Vin Dragseth Kotta DuBoyce Shubhanshi Dwivedi Josh Dwonch Mackenzie Earling Lovie Eastep-Harris Luci Edmonds Corbin Eiseman Mojo Elewodalu Michael Ellis James Evans Samuel Evans Ave Evans-Garcia Avery Faggioli Chloé Fitterer Ella Fouladi Zoe Frazier Rafael Fuenmayor Hernandez

Wesley Furr Both Gach Douth Gach Temarious Garcia Chloe Garvin Magnus Gauss Finn Gerhardt Ashley Gering Aaron Getz Ethayn Geurin Solomon Giangreco Kinzie Gibson Deven Gillespie DeLanee Givas Theodore Goodwin Theo Graham Zeni Graham Denis Gribov Grant Gustafson Rio Guthmueller Joshua Hacker Ryan Hacker Kollette Hall Tatum Hammer Isaac Haney Bryce Hanses Melody Hansmeier Scarlett Hargreaves Luis Haro Sophia Harris Molly Heinen Izzy Heister Addison Henson Morianalynn Henson Brodie Hester Maya Hibbeln Amelie Hilton Annabel Hilton Lily Hogan Cameron Holloway Gunner Holloway Casey Houchin Moo Hsee Aaron Htoo Wyatt Huizenga Annalisa Hull Tessa Humphreys Tylan Humphreys Milo Imamura Ella Ingwaldson Dominik Janout Isabella Jimenez Aiden Johnson Bryce Johnson Benny Johnson IV Isabelle Jones William Jordan Amelie Joseph Simone Kaczmark

“She told me and others that she cared less about grades and how well you’re doing in class,” Red said. “She was always focused on whether we learn something every day. And she was always there for me.”

Red has also played tennis and soc-

The Lewis and Clark High School commencement will be at 11 a.m. June 14 at The Podium, 511 W. Joe Albi Way. Principal: Ivan Corley Summa cum laude: Kate Anderson, Paisley Archer, Adeline Bail, Jack Brigham, Alyssa Campbell, Amelia Carlson, Emma Chow, Abigail Chuang, Grace Cockley, Neil Davis, Gabriel Dawley, Corbin Eiseman, Ella Fouladi, Tatum Hammer, Molly Heinen, Izzy Heister, Lily Hogan, Tessa Humphreys, Dominik Janout, Simone Kaczmark, Laila Kaiel, Madeline Kalisvaart, Alexander King, Vienna Klein, Henry Klesch, John Ko, Saanvi Krishnareddygari, Henry Kujawski, Ariel Little, Claire McConnell, Erin McElgunn, Lylah Morse, Dyllan Muller, Maylin Nicholson, Geneveve Parker, Anjali Richards, Audrey Sanborn, Joshua Sauders, Robin Schneider, Wesley Schneider, Elizabeth Sharman, Laura Sheikh, Rachel Sigg, Reagan Smith, Nicholas South, Ava Swigart, Melody Thompson, Natalie Tompkins, Benjamin Trombold, Lola Walker, Uma Waran, Julia Yahne, Chloe Yoon, Tianchun Zhao Laila Kaiel Madeline Kalisvaart Ben Kaneshige Naomi Kaneshige Chabelita Karen Eva Keesecker Gabrielle Keller Addison Kelly Avery Kelly Millie Kettrick Valeriia Khramenkova Lucas Kinder Alexander King Kendall Kinkade Ash Kirkpatrick Ty Kishiyama Christopher Klaue Vienna Klein Henry Klesch Patrick Knott John Ko Loreine Koslowsky Nathan Kostecka Saanvi Krishnareddygari Hayden Kuehl Henry Kujawski Raylan LaBonte-Lovato Caleb Ladyman Jacob Lamarche Nathan Lambiotte Jackson Largent Jack Larsen Dianne Leake Michael Lebedinski Jack Legg Gabriella Leland

Michael Lester Jayli Lewis Pierce Lewis Maren Lisonbee Ariel Little Bishop Lomas Dillon Lopez Patrik Louvar Cinder Louwien Sonja Lund Elijah-Blue Lyons Harper Macdonald Jamison Machtmes Lorelai Martens Zosia Maselko Dylan Masterson Hamid Mattin Ella Mayer Abigail McClure Claire McConnell Taylor McEachran Erin McElgunn Aiden McGuinness Isaiah McGuire Kellen McKee Ella McKinstry Mae McLachlan Finley Mclaughlin Andrew McLaughlin Landon Medcalf Isabella Mejia Caroline Messinger Madelyn Metcalf Elizabeth Meza Chloe Miciak Jasmine Milam

Asa Miles Ashlyn Miller Tatym Morash Barrett Morin Electra Morse Lylah Morse Keziah Moua Zachary Mueller Ezra Mujica Dyllan Muller Peyton Munson Cohen Murphy Dax Murrell Charlie Nackos Sonny Naipo Trey Nair Axel Nellenbach Elijah Nelson Ava Newell Kalissa Newkirk Madilyn Newkirk Alyssa Nichols Maylin Nicholson Megan Nickle Otis Nix Everett Noble Elliot Nolan Avan Noland Griffin Oliver Emily Olson Wesley Oranen Angela O’Sullivan Sadie Overstreet Simeon Paradiso Geneveve Parker Jolie Patterson

cer for the Tigers while maintaining top academic marks.

But there will be little time after graduation to reminisce. On June 30, Red will fly to Penn State to take summer courses as a prerequisite for a planned major in business.

Amelie Paul Porter Pearson Savanna Pedersen William Pentz Owen Peterson Quincy Petty Amela Peunemany Levi Pickering Lauren Pilcher Michael Pirrie Kendall Poffenroth Charlee Pollock Madison Poon Kalynn Porter Claire Poulsen Breanne Prizeman Wilson Purtell Max Putney Elaina Queral Leah Quirarte Daphne Rabinovitch Liam Racht Sophia Rashidi Luke Reber JP Red Tyler Reed Diego Rehlaender Averi Reineman Mia Ressa Aleah Rice Anjali Richards Henry Richardson Gabriel Robbinson Addison Roberg Evie Roberts Clodagh RobinsonProffitt Erik Roggenbauer Rowan Rossiter Isabella Sabeh Bennett Sackmann Raghad Saede Nahita Safi Jarin Saggau Eisenhower Sahagian Ayden Salmon Audrey Sanborn Joshua Sauders Angus Schaub Lily Schelin Noah Schlosser Kathleen Schmidt Robin Schneider Wesley Schneider Ryan Schwartz Kalli Scrudder Abel Senchenko Alina Shapovalova Rachel Sharapata Elizabeth Sharman Ruby Shaw Laura Sheikh Gavin Shroyer

Gedura Sidiq Rachel Sigg Kayden Slayton Styx Marley Slizza Carter Smith Reagan Smith Ryker Sorenson Nicholas South Serenity Spanton Chloe Spray Audrey Stanton Colin Stark Michael Stone Haylee Struble Duke Swanson Chloe Swecker Ava Swigart Madilyn Taber Keegan Tee Adam Tenold Ivan Teteria Olivia Thomas Melody Thompson Silas Todhunter Natalie Tompkins Benjamin Trombold Demetrios Tsakarestos May Ugaldea Raman Uladymtsau Matthew Vanleuven Anna Vasiuk Liliana Villa Avi Villella Makayla Vue Asa Wadden Lola Walker Riley Walker Stephenie Walker Jessica Walter Isabella Walters Uma Waran Elizabeth Watts Dean Webber Rauri Weber Julian Wieber Jack Wilhelm Isaiah Williams Jaydom Williams Samuel Williams Grace Williamson James Wilson Satori Wilson Miria Withey Alariana Witt Olivia Wolf Sophia Wolf Jacob Worthy Julia Yahne Chloe Yoon Maddy Zemke Tianchun Zhao Celia Ziehe

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T7

THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Leaping out of her comfort zone From theater to activism, Aya O’Reilly found ways to challenge herself

By Clarinne Kirk

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Coming into Community School, senior Aya O’Reilly had one main goal: start doing things that scare her.

“I was a really anxious person. I was very solitary, and interacting socially with other people was really scary,” O’Reilly said. “I just set this goal for myself going into high school: I’m gonna just start doing things, because the things that I’m scared of aren’t gonna get less scary if I just sit there and stare at them.”

For a person intimidated by social interactions, theater seemed like the scariest place, so O’Reilly signed up.

During her first class, she talked with her teacher about her strength of organization, and her teacher offered her the job of stage manager. O’Reilly said finding her voice through this leadership role and using it to help develop the theater program was her biggest achievement during high school.

“Over the past three years, I’ve been able to help create something that’s able to stand on its own,” O’Reilly said. “Freshman year, a lot of the seniors that were involved, I heard them talk about how they were worried (about) when they leave, what’s going to happen to this beautiful thing that they’ve created, because there’s no support systems in place.

The organization was lacking. Over the past three years, I’ve been able to create that organization that was missing.”

Matthew Inman, O’Reilly’s adviser, said when she first came to Community School, she was going through a period of immense personal struggles but has since grown into a confident, assertive, capable and curious student who also is kind and empathetic.

“Aya had people around her who cared a lot, but more importantly, had a resolve and a strength to grow and get through these challenges,” Inman said.

Inman said Community School uses an approach centered on integrated, collaborative, project-based learning, while emphasizing community engagement. O’Reilly said this approach inspired her desire for community service and connection. During her time in high school, she interned with River City Youth, working in a community garden, and became heavily involved in local activism.

“I think it’s important that everybody knows that they’re a part of something bigger, and that they do have impact, and they have the ability to create change,” O’Reilly said.

O’Reilly said she plans to attend Eastern Washington University and hopes to transfer to Washington State University’s undergraduate dietetics program. Her long-term goal is to work at a residential eating disorder facility for adolescents, where she can continue to have a direct impact on others despite the career being challenging and often underpaid .

“She says to me, ‘If I save 200 people’s lives, it’s worth all the debt in the world.’ That’s the kind of kid she is,” said Jill O’Reilly, Aya O’Reilly’s mom.

Inman said Community School has full confidence that no matter where O’Reilly goes, she will continue to bring a desire to better herself and the world around her.

“Every indication is she’s going to take this next step, and I don’t know exactly what it’ll be, but I know that it’ll involve working with others, caring about how that work affects the people in the community around her and doing so in this joyful way,” Inman said.

O’Reilly said she is excited for the opportunity to continue to grow in her independence and gain more knowledge.

“I love learning,” O’Reilly said. “(I’m) a firm believer in the idea that you learn something new every day, and I want to keep being able to believe in that for as long as I can.”

COURTESY

Aya O’Reilly, a student at the Community School, has grown more confident and assertive.

THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Korinne Anselmo Marnach Bodhi Asien Rowen Batke Abigail Cano Gabriella Carlsen Lemar Chapman Timothy Davis Eden Day Tennyson DeMoville Chapin Dyck Lowell Goettert

Kerrianna Hays-Carpenter Natalie Hernandez Perez Chase Hill Emmeline Hirt Jordan Huckabay Jeram Hunter Aliyah Johnson Kaidyn Jones Kellen Jones Ross Mairead Kahler LienaMae Kazeitzen Brenden Kelly Julianna Lecou Priscilla Littleton

Graduation

The Community School commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 11 at Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. Principal: Cindy McMahon Henry Lockwood Emma Lundy Caleb Lytle Mason Margraf Jodie Mason Ezeequal Michel Riley Milsom Evan Omlin

Aya O’Reilly Makayla Palmar Izabella Price Haiden Ramirez Ian Schuk Tahlia Stevens Eleanor Webb Avery Weed

U L T A A T R I G O N N O C Spokane Public Schools S class of

2026 YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS More than 65% of SPS students put away their screens and participated in a real-life club, art, sport, or other activities this school year.

• Elementary reading proficiency rose by more than 14 points • Secondary students saw a +.53 GPA lift • Chronic absences dropped by more than 18% Engage IRL is making a measurable difference, which is being noticed across the nation. Scan to see our Engage IRL campaign feature on the cover of Education Week.

spokaneschools.org/graduation

T8 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

TEC AT BRYANT / ON TRACK ACADEMY / MAP HIGH SCHOOL

Katherine Halpin refuses to let her struggles define her

By Cindy Hval

TEC AT BRYANT

A host of medical issues made Katherine Halpin’s scholastic journey challenging.

Her diagnosis of Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder characterized by joint hypermobility, instability, and chronic pain, and the related Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome meant keeping on track with coursework required flexibility.

Thankfully, The Enrichment Cooperative at Bryant (Spokane Public Schools’ parent partnership program) provided the structure and support she needed.

She came to the school in fifth grade.

“I love the personal relationships you have with the teachers here,” she said. “They care about you as a person – not just your grades and academics. The teachers were so supportive, I was able to be a part of school without being left behind.”

TEC teacher Sara Duval admired Halpin’s persistence.

“Katherine has worked tirelessly to manage her health, seeking support through physical therapy, medication and mental health counseling,” she said. “Along the

Class of 2026

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Expected to graduate are: Greyson Archer Emmalynn Ayers Emma Danaraj Josslyn Farley Virginia Finnoe Katherine Halpin Skyla Houser Sarah Howes Iri Isensee Ecko Jackson Gunner Lee

Graduation

The TEC at Bryant commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 5 at Shadle Park High School, 4327 N. Ash St. Principal: Suzanne Smith Summa cum laude: Emmalynn Ayers, Emma Danaraj, Virginia Finnoe, Katherine Halpin, Sarah Howes, Emily Sanchez, Theo Thoet, Alainna Thrasher Ashley Sanchez Emily Sanchez Theo Thoet

way, she also faced significant challenges with anxiety and depression, which became major barriers to overcome. Through determination, resilience and grit, she has developed the strength to navigate these obstacles and continue moving forward.”

While plugging away at academic requirements, Halpin found refuge in artistic endeavors.

Duval enjoyed seeing her student’s talent flourish.

“She’s a talented artist, humble and shy about her gifts,” Duval said. “Art has become a meaningful outlet as she copes with her daily health challenges.”

Halpin has explored everything from wood carving to painting to

Alainna Thrasher Lillian Turk Xavier Weaver

embroidery.

“I love trying new things,” she said. “I’ve done art my entire life.

I love it – it’s become my safe space.”

Despite ongoing health struggles, Halpin excelled academically, maintaining a 3.9 GPA. Beyond that, she found ways to participate fully in student body life. She performed with the Musha Marimba group for four years and served in the YMCA youth government program for three years.

“It was fun! We went to Olympia twice when we held the youth legislative session.”

And she found another way to give back through Catholic

Family Charities.

“I volunteered to teach a man in his 30s to read and write English,” she said.

She admitted it was intimidating.

“I’d helped classmates over the years, but never done anything as structured.”

Duval admires her tenacity.

“Katherine has been open and honest about her struggles, yet she refuses to let them define her. Instead, she continues to persevere, finding ways to grow and stay focused on her long-term goals,” she said.

Halpin’s tendency toward perfectionism proved just one more hurdle to overcome.

“I’ve become more comfortable with just doing my best,” she said.

“My best is pretty good, and it will be good enough.”

Watching her student blossom proved rewarding for her teacher.

“Katherine is kind, caring, and brings positive energy to those around her, always striving to support and uplift others,” Duval said. “She embodies resilience, academic excellence, and compassion.”

During her junior and senior years of high school, Halpin attended Spokane Falls Community College through the Running

DISCOVERING A COMMUNITY AND A PASSION After years of changing schools, Gabe Stauffer found stability at On Track Academy

By Jase Picanso

FOR THE SPOKESMANREVIEW

When Gabe Stauffer first arrived at On Track Academy, he mostly kept to himself.

After attending several schools and moving between Deer Park and Spokane, he was used to starting over. On Track and its smaller alternative learning environment gave him something different: stability, familiar faces and a place where he could finally settle in.

“When I first came to school, I wasn’t really talking to many people,” Stauffer said. “Now I talk to all the people all the time.”

Stauffer transferred to the school at 16. Unlike a traditional high school schedule, On Track students stay with the same cohort year-round and attend two longer class sessions instead of moving through multiple periods.

“It’s an alternative learning environment school, so they don’t go from class to class necessarily like the comprehensive high schools,” said Kelly Onyambu, Stauffer’s advisory COURTESY teacher.

Gabe Stauffer found a place at the media center at On Track Academy.

“He went to a lot of different schools before fun stuff.” newer students learn he came here,” Onyamothers naturally graviThe media centhe same skills he spent tate toward. bu said. “When he came ter quickly became years building. here, he kind of came “Gabe is very kind Stauffer’s favorite place “He’s flourished, real- and gentle and makes out of his shell.” on campus. ly,” Onyambu said. “He’s friends with just about That change became “I’m thankful for taken advantage of the clear as Stauffer got everybody,” she said.

Danny’s class, it’s pretty different opportunities more involved around “He’s always willing to great,” Stauffer said. that are offered.” campus. He joined the step up and join in on “It’s like the nerd hangOutside the meMagic: The Gathering things.” dia lab, Stauffer also Club and found a second out spot.”

After graduation, He especially enjoys pushed himself acahome in the school’s Stauffer plans to study working with the demically, completing media center, led by electrical work at one of school’s 3D printer, cre- his math requirements teacher Danny Parker, Spokane’s community ating everything from early so he could focus where students can colleges. shields to small action on the classes and explore photography, For Onyambu, that figures. projects he enjoyed recording, laser cutnext step feels like a “All the 3D printmost. When asked what natural one. ting, and other creative ing and sanding and accomplishment he is pursuits.

“I know he’ll be smoothing has been most proud of, his an“I moved to the big successful because he really fun for me,” he swer came quickly: not building after the porhas the personal drive said. having to take any more and work ethic,” she tables, and that’s when His consistency and math. everything started said. “I’m proud of curiosity in the media But Onyambu said getting more fun behim for sticking it out, what stands out most is even when times have cause I entered Danny’s center eventually led to an internship there not just his work ethic, room,” Stauffer said. been hard for him, and during his senior year, it is the way he has “It’s got cosplay class, finding his community grown into someone 3D printing class, all the where he now helps here.”

ON TRACK ACADEMY Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Sophie Aarnes Ezekiel Aasen Jose Abrego Grace Adams Reggie Alba Kingston Al-hajri Ashton Allen Hailey Allen Mbarek Almenaye Theo Anastasi Wyatt Apodaca Eisley Avila Landon Baker Kaden Barrett Haylee Bastasin Jay Bavuso Angel Beach Olyvia Beck Nylah Bell Peter Bennett Rylee Bennett Mazie Bennion Teagan Bettman Geneiveve Bias Brayden Biggerstaff Morgan Blessen Melody Boyd Honesty Brian Kyler Brooks Blaine Bryant Scarllette Burke Hayden Bush Keyontrae Cage Cameron Callihan Aiden Camacho Mikah Campbell Nickolas Carlile Erick Cartagena Rivera Olivia Carter Tristan Cartwright Arlo Cavegn Gavin Champagne Sage Chandler-Smith Patience Childress Brookelynn Christian Sulianna Clement Delaney Clement Elvin Nora Coan Jaycie Coleman Soren Coleman Carys Colley Amber Collins Brayden Conko Rune Cooke Emmanuel Costilla Lilly-Anne Cowart Cyrus Crider Alora Curtis Chukgo Daniel R’Lannyia Deal Deshawn Dean Nolan Dedrick Kaileb DeMoss Kamea Denny Victoria Dias Denia Diaz Madison Diemert Ethan Dodd Dex Dominguez Danni Doyle Ivy Draper Christopher Ducker Kuwebo Eukenio Adison Everett Elijah Fackler Kennyn Finch Joshua Fletcher Andre Fletcher-Cody Marissa Franco Bec Frantz Luka Fry David Gallaway Kaleigha Gallup Alyssa Gano Travis Garabedian Tyler Garcia Shaune Gardner Nicholas Gavras Nevaeh Godsey Corben Goettel D’Rae Gooden Madox Green Hannah Gregerson Madison Groh

COURTESY

Katherine Halpin hopes to become a high school English teacher.

Start program and will graduate with an associate degree.

She plans to continue her education at Eastern Washington University.

Her goal is to become a high school English teacher and inspire students to develop a love for writing and literature.

“I’m looking forward to getting my own classroom and meeting students right where they’re at,” Halpin said.

Duval has no doubt Halpin will thrive as a teacher, and so will her students.

“She’s going to light a fire in her students to become stronger readers and better writers,” Duval said. “She’s going to be the English teacher everyone wants.”

Graduation

The On Track Academy commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 14 at the Podium, 511 W. Joe Albi Way. Principal: Chris Burke

Amber Guerena Lucius Hafer Daniel Hall Jeshiah Handsaker Angele Hansen Dylan Hansen Corbin Harader Dayana Harris Myles Hawkins Kaigh Hegel James Hickenbotham Haylie HopkinsHubbard Ker Kler Htoo Isaiah Hubbard Sammie Huscusson Dylan Husk Elisha Igiraneza George Ivy Ezra Jack Alaina Jackson Cody Jackson Syesha James Isabella Jennen Shila Johnson Tavion Johnson Caleb Johnston Brayden Jones Faith Jones Nathanyal Joseph Angel Juarez Jayda Kelleher Maya Kelly Aidan Kierans Oliver Kilgore Emma Kindle Elijah Knox-Parker Kylie Koss Gabe Kruse Kaitlyn Kultgen-Deleon Bell Kurtzhall Tayaundra Larson Eden Laughlin Connor Leonard Mason Leonard Meysonn Lewis Kaden Leyva Neko Loeak Avey Lopez Milo Lopez Braylen Low Bianca Lozano Kenzie Madden Bonnie Maden Fayth Major Kendall Martinet Cayden Martinez Chyanne Martinez Nevaeh Matlock Avonna Jade Matthews Lydea Maynard Kaleb McCallum Kaleb McCoy Christopher McKeon Izabella McLauchlin Ryan Jr. MeltonKinghorn Gavin Meston Damauria Miller Madison Miller Keitrick Miranda Mikelle Mobley David Moore Jaxon Moreno Peyton Munson Aiden Napier Katherine Nazarchuk Avalayne Nelson Graham Nesbitt Kalissa Newkirk Malakai Niemi JuJu Nimley Addison Pachorek Hayden Palmer Cliera Patnode Baron Patterson Kainalu Person Thomas Petty Kendall Phelps Alex Pico Aiden Posey Kaitlyn Powell

MAP HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Artemis Cisneros Michael Johnston III Sam Munther Megan Smith Skyler Tidwell

Mariah Powell Kimber Prado Malachi Price Ajahd Prickett Caiden Pritchett Rowan Queen Hunter Raamot Mia Radtke Diana Ramirez Mandi Ramirez Nikolas Ramirez Ethan Raya Kolton Reed Aylah Rice Pennee Rice Marcus Richardson Lucas Richart Violet Ries River Rissmann Elijah Robinson Alexa Romero Dalyce Roose Leighanna Rosdahl Ethan Ross Logan Ruby Jaylee Ruffin Jordynn Rush Kenety Sadao Rielly Schaefer Jasper Schafer Bee Schimmels Morgan Schisler Lincoln Schmidt Mylz Scollard Sophia Sedita Pennee Sells Jordan Shanks Hayleigh Shrauger Penny Silva Niemah Sims Alex Sleep Jasmine Sletager Lilia Smith Xavier Smith Treyton Snyder Khloe Solan Quincy Sparrow Jacqueline Staben Cheyenne Stangel Gabriel Stauffer Matthew Stecher Destiny Stewart Karlos Stewart Jaeda Stokley Aubrey Stone Ty Stone-Lopez Tatiana Struthers Izaiah Sutton Ryan Tagariello Ryan Taylor Savana Tefft Sylviana Tessitore Max Thibeault Dailen Thomas Thunder Thomas Cohen Thompson Marissa Thurman Travis Toombs James Torngren Arianna Toulou Karter Tulee Avrum Turner Trinity Tyacke Corvin Vann Zach Vasconcelos Adolfo Vazquez Sabastian Vickers Isabella Wahl Madison Walker Taylee Webster Ryder Wells Liam Wendt Daenerys Wenig Traevin Wickline Truvell Wilford Jeremiah Williams Makyla Wilson Tayla Woolard Nevaeh-lee Yoeun Taylor York Noah Zayko Sophia Zayko

Graduation

The Map High School commencement will be at 10:30 a.m. June 5 at Map High School, 2118 W. Garland Ave. Principal: David Crump

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T9

ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL / LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL

‘The picture of what it is to be relentless’ Michaela Daou turns challenges into determination on field, in classroom

By Cindy Hval

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Stacie Collier noticed Michaela Daou immediately.

“She really stood out from Day 1,” said Collier, a counselor at Rogers High School. “A lot of students are scared of jumping in freshman year, but Michaela got involved really quickly.”

Daou has cerebral palsy and dealt with fatigue in one of her legs.

She didn’t let it slow her down.

Instead, she joined the softball team as a freshman and played through her junior year.

“It was mentally taxing because I felt like I couldn’t do as much as the other players,” Daou said. “But I got stronger and felt more confident about my performance.”

She’d began playing softball in eighth grade at Sacajawea and wanted to continue.

“I enjoy the community of it – being with the girls,” she said.

“The coaches were amazing. They made sure I had modifications and enough playing time.”

In fact, Collier said she often had to remind Daou to slow down.

“Michaela is the picture of what it is to be relentless,” Collier said.

“She faces challenges head-on with a quiet resolve and determination.”

That determination is clearly demonstrated through her academic achievements and involvement in extracurricular activities.

She’s a member of the National Honor Society and served as vice president her junior year. She’s connected with the school’s Black

COURTESY

Michaela Daou learned to advocate for herself while a student at Rogers High School. She plans to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., next.

Student Union and joined the Strong Women Achieving Greatness club.

“It’s a great club for girls like Michaela who want to be leaders,” Collier said.

However, Daou didn’t see her-

ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Brandon Acob Aidan Adsit Riham Ahmed Achier Ajak Kester Albert Hayden Alderson Austin T. Allen Jerry Allen Johnny Allen Markus Alsup Nuha Alzoubi Chase Anderson Zoey Anderson Fumiko Andrike Sicily Arkell Lily Armstrong Taeshaun Asterino Michael Aubuchon Misha Avdeyev Geena Azure Evan T. Baker Kane Ballman William Bannister Aron Beach Anna Beck Autum Bender Marie-Therese Bengehya Brandon Bigelow Paityn Bothwell Lily Bown Allexandra Boyd Theo Brendmoen Jordyn Bridges Taylor Bridges Dane Britton

Aubrey Brown Rosalee Brown Elley Burlachenko Thomas Burleson Amanda Burnham Dakota Burnham Eden Burnham Sienna Caberto Serenity Campbell Joshua Carlile Lily Carpenter Skylar Carrancho Johana Carranza Bazan Yareli Castaneda Diaz Arianna Cathey Edelin Chirinos Torrealba Alexander Christensen Camron Christensen Javan Christensen Casey Clark Aurora Cleary Emsita Clement Jaynell Collins Neko Colon Logan Cook Jasmine Coons Carl Coulter Erik Covarrubias II Jasmin Covarrubias Serrano Billee Cox Wyatt Crouse Creedence Danielson Michaela Daou Dennis Daranutsa Kayliani Davis Becca Dawson Jessica Dedkov Jack Dines

self as a leader.

“I like to work behind the scenes,” she said.

Her candor drew others to her.

“She’s open with other students about her struggles, so they don’t feel so alone,” Collier said.

Graduation

The Rogers High School commencement will be at 2:30 p.m. June 13 at the Podium, 511 W. Joe Albi Way. Principal: John Hammil Summa cum laude: Azzaraya Erickson, Korabelle Harkema, Ivanka Kolesnykova, Kaylee Lemas Santos, Elizabeth Morgan, Saige Stuart, Aareel Washington

Marcus Dionne Ryzon Dorning Bella Doucette Tomas Duval Liliia Dzhulai Viktoriia Dzhulai Cadance Eichholz Jadyn Elder Dontae Elge Owen Emory Azzaraya Erickson Reuben Erlinso Nevaeh Figueroa Zane Flanagan Alexander Francis Malachi Frantz Gabriella Friedley Brian Galan Penaloza Andrew Garcia Elena Garcia Caden Garvin Jeremyah Garza Marc George Nathan Glatzmaier Gabriel Goettsche Gabrial Goetz Wesley Gosser

Sierra Graf Kamren Grider-Johnson Roman Gumm Kawsar Hakimi Sarah Haney Hunter Hansen Colton Hanson Ryan Harding Korabelle Harkema Peyton Harper Piper Hays Emma Healy Rayne Hendershott Salome Hensene Edmund Herbst IV Alicia Hernandez Yaritxa Hernandez Jaelyn Hill Morjali Hiram Elizabeth Hoffman Samara Hoisington Ideal Holland Elli Holm Abigail Howard Elly Hultquist Jiva Irankunda Esta Jeanette

“Leadership can show up in a lot of different ways. We need more voices like hers.”

Last year, Daou joined the percussion class.

“I did percussion in seventh grade, and I was so bad at it,” she

Jovana Jelic Jakobie Jenkins Presley Jeppesen Maston John Emma Johnson Jakota Johnson Hemry Jorju Yaretzy JuarezRodriguez Preston Kaesemeyer Sallynda Kamram Christiana Katejukjuk Ruson Keja Ellah Kern Faith Kifer Teata Kilei Zavier Killough Matthew King Zayn Kitchen Ella Kitchens Silus Kitt Adelina Knop Roberto Knott Ni’sah Knowles Sophia Koch Ivanka Kolesnykova Vladyslav Kondramashyn Katrine Koval Grace Kubas Isabella Lane Lyle Langford Hemlyann Langidrik Cade Lawlor Hannah Lawson Maurice Lee Kaylee Lemas Santos Jayden Lindquist Shaelin Locker Everett Long Ryan Long Yasmin Lopez Jaelynn Luna Kaylynn Lynch

Ella Makarova Michael McAfee Mckenna McCray Nathanial McDermott Savannah Mckee Darius McKinley Montay McQueen Lourdess McReynolds Franklin Mcwain Tyler Meckel George Mendoza-Ramos Kaylynn Meyer Tristan Miles Jordan Miller Paige Miller Logan Mixey Osvaldo Mojica Genesis Morales Cosianah Morgan Elizabeth Morgan Kinton Moses Septino Motellang Sir-Christus MuasauTua’au Davontae Muhammad Jr Nicole Mwendia Felix Ndayizeye Zahid Nezamuddin Brenden Noonan Brooklyn Oakley Micah Obie Khalida Omari Roshna Omari Jonathan Orozco Samuel Otten Roberto Pacheco-Torres Shaream Page Ronnie Payne III Alex Peabody Daniela Perez Mila Perisic JRose Phillip Albert Pimentel

Melissa Pirie Alivia Powell Jacob Proctor Jr Asher Putman Arpan Rai Isaac Ramos Peyton Rangel Amyahlynn Revais Alijah Rhoades Ashley Richards Savannah Richards Brionna Riehl Alayna Rikerd Ashlyn Rinde Sophie Roberson Jayden Roberts Kaylee Romero Zaryan Rose Jesus Ruis Jr Jennifer Ruma Brandon Sacha Maleki Saint-Louis Sarina Salazar Krrish Sami Brandon Sanchez Michael Sanders Madison Santiago Nevaeh Sartin Karim Scott II Caylix Seubert Spancer Silk Samuel Simmons Mathius Skellenger Keili Smith Le’Bron Smith Madyson Smith Jasmine Speer Dakota Spencer Mica Spencer Noelle Strong Saige Stuart Hope Sutch Ethan Sweeney

For Daniel Nollmeyer, music and education are entwined

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

It’s in just about every script for a career counselor, the advice to “find your passion.” For Liberty High School senior Daniel Nollmeyer, that’s something he doesn’t have to wait for.

Nollmeyer already has a stunning instrumental music résumé: Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble at Liberty, Wind Ensemble and Repertory Jazz Ensemble at Eastern Washington University, Spokane Youth Symphony, state-level honors band, Western International Band Clinic.

Nollmeyer’s music experience started in third grade with the recorder, but began to take more serious shape when he chose to play clarinet in fifth grade and added saxophone in eighth

grade. By then he was also the only clarinetist in the high school band.

His band instructor since fifth grade, Morgan Pendon, is almost in awe of Nollmeyer’s talent.

“Daniel has become a truly artful musician with a wide depth of musical expression.

He truly is a student that I felt learned everything he could from me and will achieve more than I could ever dream up.”

Pendon has had a profound influence on Nollmeyer, who says that he hopes to become a band director himself after he graduates from college.

“I’ve wanted to be an elementary teacher since third or fourth grade,” he said, “but in middle school I realized that I want to teach music and to fulfill my desire to have an impact on kids’ lives in a school setting. A

band or choir director has an impact in a way just as big as an academic teacher. They’re more of a coach with the opportunity for interactions that mentor students on a personal level.”

“Mr. Pendon started the music program from scratch at Liberty, and he has been a super-fun teacher. I think that I would have left music in junior high if not for his passion for music. He has been an inspiration to me.”

Nollmeyer has been a fulltime Running Start student at EWU for the past two years, and already declared as a Music Education major, although he doesn’t plan to continue his undergraduate work there. He will most likely enroll at Whitworth University this fall.

Nollmeyer also will graduate from Liberty as class valedictorian, and Pendon has observed

said. “But I wanted to try a music class junior year. It was really fun!

My disability didn’t affect me as much, and I was more motivated.

Mr. (Taylor) Belote made some modifications, and I got way better.”

Collier was impressed by the way Daou advocated for herself.

“Michaela thought creatively about the ways she could engage in the class.”

Speaking up for herself hasn’t always been easy, but it’s a skill she’s developed over time.

“I’m still shy, but I realized problems aren’t going to fix themselves unless I advocate,” she said.

“The staff really listened to my suggestions.”

Language is her forte. She’s studied Chinese, French and Japanese.

“I love learning languages,” Daou said.

Collier appreciated her excitement for learning.

“She’s wonderfully refreshing – unapologetically herself and enthusiastic about the things she’s interested in.”

Daou particularly enjoyed her African American literature class; in fact, it provided a path forward.

“I’m interested in learning about the Black diaspora,” she said. “We learned about resistance and resilience, and I want to continue that path.”

Attending a historically Black university is her goal, so she was delighted to learn she’s been accepted to Howard University in Washington, D.C. She feels her school has equipped her with all she needs to enter the next phase of life.

“Rogers has prepared me academically for rigorous classes, for learning about new perspectives, for talking to different people,” Daou said. “They welcomed me with open arms. I got such a diverse education. If I had to pick a high school, I’d pick Rogers every time.”

Serenity Swenhaugen Zahara Tadesse Zewdae Tadesse Ilyosbek Tajibaev Riziki Tambwe Savannah Taylor Chloe Thompson Mitch Tilley Meaquiyah Tomeo Julie Tran Anjali Turner Obed Tuyishime Mathan Typhoon Alisia Umana Ariel Untalan Benjamin Urquiza Cameron VanSlyke Tyler Veitz Riley Verhaeghe Hailey Vice Riley Vickaryous Zachary Vinzant Kristian Vrincean Cameron Wallette Justus Ware Aareel Washington Amari Wells Dakota Welsford Daniel Whitacre Annabell Whitesell Riley Wilson Adin Wimmer Pitiphong Peter Worakitphanit Lilly Worline Aaron Wright Ethan Wynne Yasmina Yadin Peyton Yamaura Stephanie Yaresyo Alona Yemelianova Kayoni Yoeun Fatima Yousufi

LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation

The Liberty High School commencement will be at 1 p.m.

June 6 at the school, 6404 E. Spangle Waverly Road in Spangle.

Principal: Aaron Fletcher Valedictorians: Addilee Buys, Colin Degenhart, Kinley Fish, Jordyn Jeske, Daniel Nollmeyer, Lucy Smith Class of 2026

COURTESY

Daniel Nollmeyer has sights set on leading band or choir. the quality of his relationships beyond the band room.

“Daniel’s peers look up to and respect him not just for his musical ability, but also for his maturity and integrity as a student leader. He shows his teachers and peers respect and compassion in a way few high school students are able to.”

Expected to graduate are: Jaden Allison Skyla Barringer Brevin Boleck Dean Bothman Addilee Buys Katrina Connors Aubri Davis Colin Degenhart Chuy Dyer Kinley Fish Cole Frost Marley George Coleman Green Montgomery Harward Jared Hodl Jr. Donald Holwegner Jordyn Jeske Jack Johnson Owen Johnson

Nevaeh Jones Leah Kelley Alicia Kimball Amberlyn Lawson Jewel Malmoe Joseph Matherly Ian Morris Austyn Myers Georg Neilsen Daniel Nollmeyer Gwendolyn Olson Micah Peterson Ayden Ross Myles Sinclair Zoey Smit Lucille Smith Sadie Stout Thorne Tissue Damon Turner Kaleb Vanwert Cody Vinson Noah Ward Reed Widman

T10 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

THIS CLASS HAS BROUGHT JOY, HOPE, AND HONOR TO THE GONZAGA PREP COMMUNITY. They embody the characteristics of the Profile of the Graduate: open to growth, intellectually engaged, religiously alive, committed to doing justice, and loving.

They have generously given countless hours of service. Their successes reach beyond academics to fine arts, athletics, and service to each other. THE CLASS OF 2026 WILL GO FORTH AND SET THE WORLD ON FIRE. ****4.0 Students ***Summa cum laude 3.9 - 4.0 **Magna cum laude 3.6 - 3.89 *Cum laude 3.3 - 3.59

Simon Abeid*

Israel Acosta**

Andrewgreat Agada Nenah Ainsworth**

Nikko Alexander*

Emma Allbery****

Emma Allen**

Audrey Allore**

Garrett Anderson*

Leo Anderson**

Riley Anderson**

Caleb Archibek*

Nehemiah Areta***

Jared Arias**

Ian Baker

Taryn Barbieri**

Braeden Battaglia

Ian Bears**

Aiden Beck**

Tanner Bergstedt*

Nathan Blevins

Abigail Book

Megan Bowdish

Chloe Boyd*

Maria Anne Bradley***

Jack Bragg**

Maximus Brodigan* Aurora Buckmann***

94%

OF OUR GRADUATES GO TO COLLEGE

Jaxon Buckner

Haydin Bunn*

Henry Burgis**

88%

Racquel Bush**

OF OUR GRADUATES ATTEND FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES & MILITARY ACADEMIES.

Zackery Canter***

Ryan Carney****

Nathaniel Carter***

Ella Centenari*

Lucas Charbonneau**

Carrson Cook

Makenna Cook

Madalyn Corns*

Mary Cornwell****

Dylan Croall**

Harrison Crooks

Cole D’Agostino

Mason Dahl

Vicente Daulton**

Abigail DeDonato**

Jack DeGon

Isaiah Docken*

Declan Donahue***

Kelton Doolittle***

John Doree***

Alivia Dotson***

Peter Drake*

Parker Ebel*

Kolby Epler**

Arianna Everitt****

Adrian Fernandes**

Nala Fernandes**

Kathryn Finch*

Reece Fix**

Karolina Flanagan**

John Paul Fray**

Zachary Frazier***

Joshua Fridenmaker

Bryson Fruci**

Gabriella Gamon***

Victor Garcia

Emma Gee***

Ailey George

Matthew Getahun*

Nahom Getahun

Catherine Gibbs*

Alyssa Glastre**

James Grainger**

Colton Green

Catherine Emanuels** Olivia Emery-Murphy**

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T11

Ezekial Green

Dylynn Groves***

Alexandra Guinn**

Jack Hamsher**

Cole Harvey

Isaiah Hascall**

Braidan Haskell

Mason Hatzke***

Ava Hedlund

Isabelle Hernandez**

Luke Hills*

Jenna Hoff**

Cody Hough*

Jennifer Husband***

Isabel Hydzik**

Lawrence Jackson****

William Jackson**

Aiden James****

Murphy Jones***

Sean Jordan

Miller Kahn***

Nathaniel Kanyer*

Benjamin Kapaun****

Anthony Karis

Jonah Keller

Eva Kelly***

Konner Keyes

Jenna Kraut**

1,104 COLLEGE CREDIT CLASSES were taken by 2026 seniors AN AVERAGE PER STUDENT OF

5.6 COLLEGE OR AP CLASSES (1.5 semesters of college credit)

GONZAGA PREP STUDENTS

ANNUALLY COMPLETE OVER

40,000

SERVICE HOURS

Brendon Kim**

Samuel Kincaid**

John Kittilstved*

Madelyn Kittilstved**

Julia Kosinski**

Makena Krauss****

Isabella Langford***

Preston Le****

Nolan Lemberg**

McKenna Litscher**

Gavin Lortie**

Isabella McCabe*** Jacobe McClelland**

Ian McComas

Brian McGann***

Abigail McGinn**

Grayson Mcklendin** Abyssinia Menelik*

Noella Migliuri***

Michael Monek*

Vincent Moore**

Gavin Morgan-Mask

Cecelia Morris**

Maverick Murphy

Victoria Nairimo

Oleksandra Natalushko***

Jackson Mott*

CLASS OF 2026

Demi Nguyen***

Carter Nilson***

Nathan Nollette*

will be attending 65 DIFFERENT colleges & universities TO SEE WHERE OUR GRADUATES ARE HEADED NEXT AND FOR AN ONLINE VERSION OF THIS YEARS GRADUATION PROGRAM, USE THE QR OR VISIT: gprep.com/GraduationProgram

Lukas Nordhagen**

Feesochi Ogbozor*

Lily Olson**

Sofia Orellana*

J.R. Palmerton*

Lila Parr***

Nolan Passanise

Spencer Paulson*

Martin Pham**

Jackson Pierce**

Kameron Pitts***

Rachel Price**

Aiden Rainville

Naliesha Richardson***

Kennedy Ritter

Isabella Rivas**

Abel Rivera

T12 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

GONZAGA PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Kameron Pitts’ dedication to education started early

By Azaria Podplesky

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

In fourth grade, Gonzaga Prep senior Kameron Pitts got a “less than desirable” grade on an assignment.

Years later, he still remembers thinking “never again.”

That hard work and dedication to his education paid off in eighth grade when Pitts received the Mike Shanks Scholarship, granting him a nearly full ride to Gonzaga Prep. A majority of his siblings had attended Prep, so he felt like he practically grew up going to the school he would eventually attend.

“Frankly, I knew that it would offer me the education that I needed to excel,” he said. “Personally, I felt that the other high schools in the area would not have given me the opportunities that Gonzaga Prep has.”

At Gonzaga Prep, Pitts didn’t just skate through high school on that scholarship. Instead, he took advantage of everything the school had to offer.

He filled his schedule with honors and AP classes, especially after discovering in his freshman year that he loved biology and wanted to become a doctor, following in the footsteps of his mother and grandmother, who were both nurses.

Outside of the classroom, Pitts has done a lot of volunteer work. He participated in the school’s annual food drive and was chosen to be in the school’s Margins program, which takes 20 to 30 students to New Orleans, San Francisco or Los Angeles for volunteer work.

For his junior and senior years, he’s been part of Agape Service Group; in his senior year, he is one of the leaders. The group volunteers with organizations such as Second Harvest and their Bite2Go program, which helps fight food insecurity. Pitts benefited from the Bite2Go program in elementary school and enjoys seeing parallels in helping pack food bags that his younger self enjoyed.

He has been involved in student government all four years of high school and was named salutatorian his senior year. He also played soccer

COURTESY

Kameron Pitts’ scholarship is taking him to college in St. Louis. three of his four years at Gonzaga Prep and wrestled as a freshman. Pitts has also spent time on the school’s Knowledge Bowl team, particularly liking the questions that require quick math.

“It taught me to be humble, in a way, because it has shown me that while I am touted as smart and I do all these classes, I definitely don’t know everything,” he said. “It’s a great way to learn humility and be able to work in a team with people that are smarter or just as smart as you.”

All that hard work and dedication again paid off with Pitts receiving the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship, granting him a free ride to Washington University in St. Louis, where he plans to study to become a musculoskeletal interventional radiologist.

“I feel that it entwines what I love about the human body, and I’m able to use my knowledge of that and directly help someone hand to hand,” he said.

Gonzaga Prep counselor Sarah Long has known Pitts since he was a baby, as she is married to Pitts’ cousin.

Because of their different last names, many on the faculty didn’t know they are family; Long has enjoyed hearing other faculty members speak highly of Pitts in her presence.

“We were saying with this Shank scholarship he received here, it’s the best ‘rinse and repeat’ thing you could have ever done,” she said. “He saw something he wanted, and he put himself out there, and he achieved it.

That’s what I see of Kameron is his belief in education and his value of education.”

GONZAGA PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Graduation

Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Simon Abeid Israel Acosta Andrewgreat Agada Nenah Ainsworth Nikko Alexander Emma Allbery Emma Allen Audrey Allore Garrett Anderson Leo Anderson Riley Anderson Caleb Archibek Nehemiah Areta Jared Arias Ian Baker Taryn Barbieri Braeden Battaglia Ian Bears Aiden Beck Tanner Bergstedt Nathan Blevins Abigail Book Megan Bowdish Chloe Boyd Maria Anne Bradley Jack Bragg Maximus Brodigan Aurora Buckmann Jaxon Buckner Haydin Bunn Henry Burgis Racquel Bush Zackery Canter Ryan Carney Nathaniel Carter Ella Centenari Lucas Charbonneau Carrson Cook Makenna Cook Madalyn Corns Mary Cornwell Dylan Croall Harrison Crooks Cole D’Agostino Mason Dahl Vicente Daulton Abigail DeDonato Jack DeGon Isaiah Docken Declan Donahue Kelton Doolittle John Doree Alivia Dotson Peter Drake Parker Ebel Catherine Emanuels Olivia EmeryMurphy Kolby Epler Arianna Everitt Adrian Fernandes Nala Fernandes Kathryn Finch Reece Fix Karolina Flanagan John Paul Fray Zachary Frazier Joshua Fridenmaker Bryson Fruci Gabriella Gamon Victor Garcia Emma Gee Ailey George Matthew Getahun

The Gonzaga Preparatory School commencement was May 31 at Gonzaga University’s McCarthey Athletic Center, 801 N. Cincinnati St. Principal: Derek Duchesne Valedictorian: Luigi Turner

Nahom Getahun Catherine Gibbs Alyssa Glastre James Grainger Colton Green Ezekial Green Dylynn Groves Alexandra Guinn Jack Hamsher Cole Harvey Isaiah Hascall Braidan Haskell Mason Hatzke Ava Hedlund Isabelle Hernandez Luke Hills Jenna Hoff Cody Hough Jennifer Husband Isabel Hydzik Lawrence Jackson William Jackson Aiden James Murphy Jones Sean Jordan Miller Kahn Nathaniel Kanyer Benjamin Kapaun Anthony Karis Jonah Keller Eva Kelly Konner Keyes Brendon Kim Samuel Kincaid John Kittilstved Madelyn Kittilstved Julia Kosinski Makena Krauss Jenna Kraut Isabella Langford Preston Le Nolan Lemberg McKenna Litscher Gavin Lortie Isabella McCabe Jacobe McClelland Ian McComas Brian McGann Abigail McGinn Grayson Mcklendin Abyssinia Menelik Noella Migliuri Michael Monek Vincent Moore Gavin MorganMask Cecelia Morris Jackson Mott Maverick Murphy Victoria Nairimo Oleksandra Natalushko Demi Nguyen Carter Nilson Nathan Nollette Lukas Nordhagen Feesochi Ogbozor

Lily Olson Sofia Orellana J.R. Palmerton Lila Parr Nolan Passanise Spencer Paulson Martin Pham Jackson Pierce Kameron Pitts Rachel Price Aiden Rainville Naliesha Richardson Kennedy Ritter Isabella Rivas Abel Rivera Payton Robison Eyonna Roloff Logsdon Ella Romano Delia Ross Teagan Rucker Luca Santangelo Syriana Santillanes Jane Schlegel Stefen Schlegel Luke Schmidt Sophia Schwab Selay Shahpur Sophia Shirzad Samuel Skoog Molly Smith Reise Smith Zane Solberg Alese Spakousky Kellen StewartMarino Christopher Strozier Nathan Strzelecki William Styren Aylea SwensonPoosri Jaxen Taylor Laura Thompson Savannah Thoorsell Mia Tombari Carlyn Troy Luigi Turner Arline Uniysonco Alvarez Brendan Vaillancourt Katherine van Loben Sels Grant Von Buchwaldt David Wagner Jack Ward Isabel Webb Michael Wende Braxton Wesolowski Johannah Wetzler Micah Willer Richard Williams Jacob Wilson

Payton Robison

Eyonna Roloff Logsdon**

Ella Romano***

Delia Ross

Teagan Rucker****

Luca Santangelo

Syriana Santillanes**

Jane Schlegel****

Stefen Schlegel***

Luke Schmidt****

Sophia Schwab****

Selay Shahpur*

Sophia Shirzad***

Samuel Skoog

Molly Smith**

Reise Smith

Zane Solberg**

Alese Spakousky*** Kellen Stewart-Marino* Christopher Strozier*** Nathan Strzelecki*

William Styren**

Aylea Swenson-Poosri**

Jaxen Taylor

Laura Thompson*** Savannah Thoorsell

Mia Tombari**

Carlyn Troy**

Luigi Turner****

Arline Uniysonco Alvarez** Brendan Vaillancourt** Katherine van Loben Sels** Grant Von Buchwaldt*

David Wagner

Jack Ward

Richard Williams***

Jacob Wilson**

Isabel Webb

Michael Wende

Braxton Wesolowski**

Johannah Wetzler

Micah Willer***

GONZAGA PREP CLASS OF 2026, we send you off and

pray with you, as we have every day for the last 4 years: May the Lord

bless you and keep you, may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you; May the Lord look upon you with favor and grant you peace. Amen.

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T13

MEAD HIGH SCHOOL

‘She can find the positive in any situation’ Brooklyn Page has learned to advocate for herself

By Cindy Hval FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Usually, high school counselors don’t meet their students until they show up for freshman year, but Jody Harkness has known Brooklyn Page for most of her life.

“I worked with Brooklyn’s mom at Northwood, and she’d bring her to school,” Harkness said. “I got to watch her grow and mature into a beautiful young lady.”

Page has a visual impairment and uses a cane to navigate the busy halls at Mead High School.

“She’s overcome a lot of adversity with class and dignity,” Harkness said.

“She works really hard and always has a positive attitude – I’ve never seen her in a bad mood. She’s maintained a high GPA, and her loving, kind and happy personality hasn’t faltered.”

Indeed, unlike many teens, Page enjoys school and is delighted to arrive each day.

“Her mom drops her off, and she’s my morning ray of sunshine,” Harkness said.

The friendships Page has developed during her time at Mead play an important role in her sunny disposition.

“I’ve made so many good friends I can’t count them all,” she said.

Family support and friendships have empowered her to advocate for herself when needed.

Page uses Braille and large print texts for schoolwork and admitted that math was a struggle for her.

“The teacher went too fast, and I had to ask them to slow down and use Braille,” she said.

She’s also spoken up in situations where she felt unsafe.

Page loves yoga, and the students usually warm up by walking around the gym before class. One day, the gym bustled with weight lifters.

“I told my teacher I needed someone to walk with me, so I don’t get knocked down by guys lifting weights.”

English is her favorite subject, and she especially enjoys choir.

“I love learning new music and performing,” she said.

Outside of school, her favorite activities are camping, rock climbing and swimming.

Her future is looking as bright as her smile. In the fall, Page will attend Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver, Washington.

“I’m very excited about learning new life skills like cooking,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to getting a job and starting a family.”

MEAD HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Namarik Abdulmula Andrew Agidius Adrian Aguilar McKennah Ainley Malikai Albert Camryn Alcock Brandon Allen Carmelo Allen Menna Al Mafrachi Karli Almeida Thomas Ames Paul Anej Melissa Arana Lindsey Arellano Owen Arlt Isaac Armstrong Cormic Arriens Garrett Atha Karlee Attaway Callum Atworth Jeremiah Ayers Jory Ayers Caleigh Baertlein Ian Baker Sofiia Balandin Joseph Barclay Benjamin Barrett Keagan Barton Mayar Battouq Gregory Bauerle II Oden Beason Emmy Bedu Macy Belzer Isabella Benavidez Stanley Benna Cole Bernier Carter Black Claire Blackwell Ashlyn Blankinship Sara Bonner Hannah Borders Mason Bos Hunter Boswell Carter Bowerman Lillie Bowerman Rowan Bowers Hannah Boyd William Bright Ayden Britz Rae Brown Ariel Bunch Lilian Burrell Owen Cahill Amber Carey Jacob Carl Kate Carroll Chloe Cassidy Jaden Castillo

Addison Chaffins Ava Cheney Delaney Christoff Hailee Clark Henry Clark Aislin Clelland Jaycee Coffield Joseph Collings Ashley Conner Jacob Cook Kyle Cook Rachel Coons Grady Copley Leala Cornwell Patrick Costa Everette Crandall Nora Cullen Jaden Culver Myles Curtis Cooper Daines Patrick Dale Donovan Damiano Ashton Daniel Jeffrey Daniels Blake Davenport Charrity Davis Kiley Davis Braxton Deakins Weston Deibel Lucas del Cerro Janae Demant Owen Denison Trey Denny Owen Dentler Paige Dewar Abigail DeWinter Spencer Dillon Terach Dobbs Sariah Dodd Elliot Doggett Carter Dudley Aidyn Duerr Ryder Dye Jacob Edwards Kathlena Eilmes Nina Elliott Elijah Ellis Kenshin Ellis Ava Engeland Elsa Erdman Naselle Eschliman Ian Espiritu Jacob Evans WD Evans Peter Farley Megan Farnsworth Lauren Fay Kade Ferguson Oliver Flake Addison Forness Madelynn Foss

COURTESY

Brooklyn Page will attend the Washington State School for the Blind in the fall.

After her first year, she’ll attend Clark College, while continuing her education at the School for the Blind.

She hopes to attend Whitworth University in the future.

The staff at Mead sees Page’s poten-

Graduation

The Mead High School commencement will be at 8 p.m. June 12 at Gonzaga University’s McCarthey Athletic Center, 801 N. Cincinnati St. Principal: Troy Hughes Valedictorians: McKennah Ainley, Cormic Arriens, Caleigh Baertlein, Carson Bandiero, Oden Beason, Carter Black, Ayden Britz, Addison Chaffins, Ava Cheney, Ashley Conner, David Cook, Nora Cullen, Kiley Davis, Owen Dentler, Paige Dewar, Abigail DeWinter, Jason Dutton, Ava Engeland, Elsa Erdman, Steele Frandsen, Reese Frederick, Eliza Furqueron, Leyenda Gago, Jonathan Germanovich, Nadia Grieves, Christopher Hendricks, Nicholas Hibbard, Gabriel Hill, Lucas Holman, Devyn Hoppe, Harley IbarraRivera, April Jones, Sean Jones, Dominic Kar, Avery Kautzman, Ravi Ke, Noah Kennedy-Gibbens, Grace Labrie, Naomi Lee, Nolan Lofstedt, Jackson Maxey, Kaiden Maxey, Addison McAllister, James Meldrum, James Millen, Moira Miller, Ella Mitchell, Luke Morasch, Kale Mullins, Adan Naeem, Makenna Neace, Jaden Neal, Lindy Nelson, Breydon Nguyen, Julia Pegram, Kate Phillips, Braxdan Proszek, Noah Reischman, Jaron Riggs, Samantha Rodriguez, Macey Seidel, Nathaniel Shannon, Corbin Shiras, Aiko Songhurst, Malia Spotts, Tyler Steel, Keely Steiner, Makenzey Stewart, Alexander Strate, Brady Thornton, Zane Twiggs, Gavan Vandenkooy, Graden Vandenkooy, Emily Vinnikova, Gracie Wenkheimer, Rosemarie Whitmer, Gage Wilson, Ava Yirak, Margo Zvonar

Steele Frandsen Reese Frederick Shon Freeland Harrison Fritts Eliza Furqueron Valin Gabriel Antia Gago Leyenda Jacob Gallinger Eamon Gamon Adrian Garcia-Isabelli Alyson Gazaway Jonathan Germanovich Arav Ghotra Ian Gitonga Skyler Grant

Averie Green William Green Nadia Grieves Sydney Guerin Anika Gupta Caitlyn Ha Adrianne Hakala Christian Hall Rhyley Hart Elizabeth Hartvigsen Kelan Harty Ethan Harvey Ahmed Hashim Auron Hatcher Kiera Hayes

tial as limitless.

“Brooklyn has such a contagious personality – her teachers and peers adore her,” Harkness said. “She’s an exemplary student. I can see her doing motivational speaking or advocating

Benjamin Heidergott Ryan Helton Christopher Hendricks Madeline Hennessy David Hernandez Benjamin Herzog Nicholas Hibbard Gabriel Hill Madison Hoff Layla Hogan Lucas Holman Emily Holmes-McCall Devyn Hoppe Audrey Horner Trezdon Howell Abby Hughes Carter Hughes Carson Hultberg Ahren Hurley Harley Ibarra-Rivera Emilee Ives Matthew Jaime II Oban Jensen Luca Jenson Alysha Johnson April Jones Sage Jones Sean Jones Trevelle Jones Leah Juarez Kadence JurgensPrickett Isaac Kannberg Dominic Kar Avery Kautzman Ravi Ke James Kelly Michael Kelly Asher Kendoll Noah Kennedy-Gibbens Ashley Kerber Hannah Kirby Joshua Knaggs Avery Kropf Grace Labrie Aisling Lamanna Jadyn Lamb Alina LeBlanc Luci LeBon Naomi Lee Josh Leon Wyatt Lewis Jovanny Lieb Nevaeh Little Grace Lockhart Ava Loeun Nolan Lofstedt Liam Lollis Morgan Lollis Olivia Lollis Peyton Lorig Kaia Loshbaugh Mark Lubasuk Ella Lundin Kaysic Lundquist

Aidyn Lynch Samantha Mabe Ponton Evan Maglio Emeree Major Viktor Malko Nathan Malmsten Luke Marchesseault Damuari Marquez Ryley Marquez Mia Martin Samuel Masinter Alexis Mattox Oliver Maurer Kaiden Maxey Addison McAllister Malakai McCaughey Ava McConnell Hallee McDaniel Harper McDonald TommiJo McKeen Miles McLane Alezah McLemore Ava McQuillin James Meldrum Austin Mickey Peter Mikkelsen James Millen Moira Miller Ella Mitchell Ibrahim Mohamed Aaliyah Moore Luke Morasch Johnathan Morgan Tristian Morgan Emma Morris Samantha Morse Vaughn Moulton Emily Mullins Olivia Muma Hope Murdock Bijou Murphey Ashlyn Murray Adan Naeem Makenna Neace Lindy Nelson Natalie Nelson Rachel Nelson Xzavier Newman Breydon Nguyen Timothy Nguyen Alexander Nichols Ramon Noriega Landon Noyes Cadence O’Bryan Benjamin Offutt Niko Olguin Joshua Oliphant Liam Ordaz Faith Oster Aeraci Owens Brooklyn Page Tristan Palmer Pierce Paramore Neptale Pasaporte III Carson Patton

for people with disabilities.”

The counselor admires Page’s unflagging optimism.

“She can find the positive in any situation,” Harkness said. “I wish I could be more like her!”

Hannah Patton Cutter Pauls Brayden Payette Julia Pegram Margaret Penders Landon Persinger Kate Phillips Lily Pilik Cali Pilkington Preston Pitts Conner Powell Calvin Pratt Caston Presho Braxdan Proszek Lincoln Pule-Chapman Lily Purviance Benjamin Race Ezekiel Ramirez Hayley Rask Skyler Raynor Susan Recupero Amelia Reeves Landon Rehmke Noah Reischman Deborah Reit David Renner Adorissa Repulski Jase Rinck Annie Ring Noah Robertson Torre Robinson Samantha Rodriguez Olivia Rogers Simon Rosselli Hannah Roulston Manya Rugi McKenzie Russell Sahil Sahebzada Hadley Saladin Jace Samaha Emilia Sampson Tyler Sandow Amaya Scheurer Hayden Schmitt Lilli Schott Halle Schuetzle Ryder Secrest Macey Seidel Madeline Semb Lizbeth Serrano Kaylyne Seward Violet Seymour Nathaniel Shannon Corbin Shiras Joy Shook Jossalyn Shover Cole Sicilia Samuel Simmons Gavin Singleton Aiko Songhurst Kaitlyn Sowards Caroline Spink Malia Spotts Miles Standish Dustin Stansberry

Destinie Startin Emma Startin Morgan Steadman Keely Steiner Jasmine Stevens Katelynn Stevens Merrick Stevens Makenzey Stewart Alexander Strate Jaden Sullivan Isabella Sun Amanda Ta Taylor Tabino Sarah Talb Haley Tanner Tyler Tat Mason Taylor Tenry Tenry Addison Thams Landon Thomas Naya Thomas Brady Thornton Hyatt Torres Michael Town Benjamin Trotz Joshua Tucker Annika Twiggs Zane Twiggs Xino Typhoon Lucille Ugaldea Logan Ullah Lillian Vallieres Julie Van Der Sanden Rylee Vanos James Vaughn Alisa Verd Emily Vinnikova McKenna Wallace Abe Wallis Laila Ward Lucia Ward Katie Weber Lily Webster William Weisgerber Rocky Wells Addison Wells Morrison Gracie Wenkheimer Tyler West Alexander Wetmore Colton Whapeles Brady White Ethan White Rosemarie Whitmer Dorothy Whittaker Jacqueline Wilkins-Walk Riley Willis Jonah Wiser Kolbe Wiser Asher Wynne Ava Yirak Bailey Young Riley Zambryski Milo Zollinger Margo Zvonar Isaac Zwiesler

T14 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

MT. SPOKANE HIGH SCHOOL

Ready for her curtain call

Eleanor Weitz is pursuing her dreams of acting on Broadway

By Clarinne Kirk

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

From before she can even remember, Eleanor Weitz has wanted to be an actor.

When she was 5 years old, she went to the Spokane Civic Theatre with her mom and twin brother for a production of “Annie,” and was instantly in awe.

“When it was over, she came to me, and she said, ‘I want to do that,’ ” her mother, Cynda Weitz said.

Since that moment, Mt. Spokane’s Eleanor Weitz has pursued her dream by becoming involved in local productions and joining her school’s choirs and debate team. She also spent a few weeks in the summer of her sophomore year in a workshop program on Broadway. She’s even co-written her own musical and landed her first role in a feature film this year.

Weitz said that while experiencing acting in New York and in a film helped prove that these dreams could become a reality, the moment Weitz truly knew she wanted to continue pursuing acting was her freshman year of high school, when she got her first fan.

After finishing a performance as Veruca Salt from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” at Spokane Civic Theatre, Weitz said a father and his young daughter, Evelyn, came up to her, asking for Weitz’s autograph and telling her how much they loved her work.

“I signed her program, and then I went to my car and cried because, if I could make people love theater and love the work we’re doing, then I can do this,” Weitz said. “And so, that day, I wrote a sticky note that said, ‘Do it for Evelyn.’ ” The sticky note still hangs in Weitz’s room.

Cynda Weitz said that while her daughter has been able to find success through hard work and drive, she has never let that competitive nature overshadow her desire to be kind.

“She’s competitive and, yes, she’s very driven, but I think more importantly, everyone who works with her wants to work with her again,” Cynda Weitz said.

Eleanor Weitz said that over time, she has realized that it is her compassionate and hard-working nature that makes her valuable as a performer.

“My greatest superpower as a performer is never going to be my performance; it’s going to be me,” Weitz said. “I think just realizing how much being fully developed as a person is important to also succeeding in acting or any artistic field … you can’t just be the best performer in the room, you also have to be the best person for the job.”

Weitz said that one of the biggest challenges of high school has been finding people who share her level of passion for the arts, especially in a small city like Spokane. But, when working with people exclusively from larger cities, Weitz said she realized her upbringing gave her a unique perspective and allowed her to fall in

MT. SPOKANE HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Gabriel Abrams Jonathan Absalonson Levi Aden Alex Agius Ana Luisa Aguiar Agostini Lillian Allenton Isidro Alvarez Edwin Apel IV Sydney Arman Emery Baker Kaira Baker Gracie Barber Jason Barnett Edward Beezley Andee Bell Zakery Bennett Gillian Blake Ella Bonnett Logan Boothe Gabriella Boucher William Bower Olivia Boyd Gavin Boydston Kaydin Bradeen Donivin Brady Eli Brewster Brooklyn Bridges Devin Brown Micah Brown Tadgh Burns Blake Bushnell Brooklyn Buth Caden Carbajal Aspen Cargile Avery Case Miguel Cassell Breanna Caul Mackenzie Chandler

Roman Chavez Edwin Chicoine Sydney Cohen Jasper Conner Jack Cook Landon Corning Carla Couto Vazquez Alexandria Coy Brayden Craft Teagan Crawford Seth Cummings Braydon Cummins Peyton Custer Leia Davidson Camryn Davis Delaney Davis Logan Dawe Addison Day Dayton Day Samantha Deakins Sophia DeMasi Gage Dennis-Miller Neveia DiNardi Marcus Divelbiss Edwin Donley Benjamin Dreewes Kayli Eastham Katelynn Eastwood Brooklynn Eirls Katelyn Ellis Gabryella Elmore Andru Evans Joseph Famolaro Travis Findley Hazel Finnegan Audrina Fisher Olivia Fletcher AvaJean Fowler Rashidi Franklin Rachel Freeman Isabel Gano Alexander Garcia

COURTESY

Eleanor Weitz will study theater at Marymount Manhattan University in New York. love with theater without pressure.

“Growing up in a city where there’s more opportunities, there may be more of that pressure as well, whereas here, if there’s any arts happening, it’s because we all love it so much,

Graduation

The Mt. Spokane High School commencement will be at 5 p.m. June 12 at Gonzaga University’s McCarthey Athletic Center, 801 N. Cincinnati St. Principal: Chelsea Gallagher Valedictorians: Donivin Brady, Micah Brown, Brooklyn Buth, Marcus Divelbiss, Kayli Eastham, Areum Guertin, Ellie Henshaw, Kebrina Le, David Lindstrom, Elijah Melin, Javin Michaelsen, Berkeley Neilson, Camille Osmun, Gillian Sherwood, Abigail Smith, Addison Vanwert, Eleanor Weitz, Lillian Williams Jaden Ghoreshi Gary Glaser Breanna Goblick Chloe Golding Taylor Good Mason Goss-Martin Jaidan Graham Thomas Greene Melanie Gregg LilyAnne Guerena Areum Guertin Anastasiia Haidenko Sophia Hansell Aedan Hardin Logan Hargrave Damien Harmon Christian Harris Mariah Hausman Abram Havis Samuel Hayes Ember Henderson Ava Henry Ellie Henshaw Evan Heuett Chloe Homfeldt

Milad Hossaini Lisa Hoyt Quincy Hudson Brendan Hughes Ethan Humphrey Lillyanna Hyde Sydney Jacinto Dalton Jackson Ace James Kayla James Connor Jansen Dylan Jarvis Addison Jay Chace Jensen Aiden Johnson Lily Junes Eva Kalabova Jolyn Keiser Vadania Keller Izabella Kemper Kendra Kendrick Dane Kerrigan Lydia Khala Justus Kiki Riley Kincaid

we’re gonna find a way to make it work,” Weitz said.

After graduation, Weitz will attend Marymount Manhattan University to study theater while pursuing her dream of performing on Broadway.

Aidia King Gavin Klar Cody Knopik Cheyanne Knowles Eric Knust Zohra Kohistani Kale Lamecker Kebrina Le Calum Lea Roan Lea Joel Leinweber Nathan Leinweber Aubrey Lessig Hayden Lickfold Caleb Linder Myranda Lindner David Lindstrom Kaylee Lipsky Joshua Lloyd Sheanna Lobju Grace Lochhead Preston Lunzer Thatcher Lybbert Jenna Mace Taylor Maddox Hailey Magee Abigail Magnuson Amanda Makortoff Alexander Mandere Luke Mann Race Matherly Layla Matthews Hunter Mayfield Jace Mazzella Tyler McCorkle Kaylynn McCullough Collin McIntire Alexis McIsaac Ava McIsaac Brianna McKell Olivia McNeilly Elijah Melin Elijah Melum Gabriel Meredith Chloe Merritt Anna Meyer

Hannah Meythaler Javin Michaelsen Benjamin Michelsen Veronicca Miethe Trenten Miller Zephaniah Miller Emma Miroshin Connor Moffitt Alexia May Mohn Emery Morgan Oliver Morgan Rylan Morgan Caleb Morris Makenzie Morris Hailee Jean Morrison Matthew Mundel Maisey Neale Berkeley Neilson Avery Nelson Charles Newton Chase Noll Alan Noriega Kaycie Noser Eleazahr Ocampo Ella Oien Angelo Olson Chase Olson Justin O’Neal Addison O’Rourke Arianna Osborne Ethan Oscarson Camille Osmun Evan Paasch Aiden Park Dylan Parra Jordyn Paulson Jon Pearson Lexi Pedersen Kierra Perdue Kylie Perdue Reese Peterson Sophia Peterson Greyson Petragallo Victor Phillips Cylee Pilgrim Brendan Pinote

But no matter where she ends up, Weitz said she is happy as long as she can continue to create.

“Anytime I can create or watch other people create, that’s where I’m gonna be,” Weitz said.

Aliyah Pitts Orion Plonske Tristan Pounder Ryan Price Ayden Pritchard Mila Prokopovich Elina Puri Reese Rainbow Kyle Rayment Connor Reed Jaceten Reijonen Breslin Reser Keanu Richardson Benjamin Rizk Josephine Rochelle Karlene Rodenburg Andrey Romanov Lily R. Romey Alex Rozvodovskiy Jaelyn Rubright Claire Rupert Caitlin Saindon Hunter Sanchez Madilynne Sandquist Laine Schloss Isabella Schneider Quincy Schuerman Wesley Sears Dillan Sessler Gillian Sherwood Anastasia Shevereva Shiloh Shields Oliver Shipton Noah Shoquist Emma Shryock Kenzie Shuler Jorge Sifuentes Jurado Addison Sigler Amber Silva Jackson Simmons Trent Sims Brayden Skeels Abigail Smith Nathan Smith Peyton Smith Steele Smith

Chase Soehner Brogan Solheim Wesley Spohnheimer Aubrey Starkey Zoe Steve-Damm Chase Strom Sierra Taber Donovyn Talbert Beau Tampien Molly Tanner Feliuaki He Lotu Tatofi Angelia Taylor Sophia Terry Grace Theal Andrew Thomas Madison Tillett Sofie Tresper Ethan Trusler Ziana Van Haaster Addison Vanwert Mylie Vaughn Eva Vlasenko Matthew Wagner Anna Walton Markus Watson Cairo Weitz Eleanor Weitz Madelyn Weltee Ivy Westermann Abbigail White London Whitney Ethan Williams Lillian Williams Sydney Williams Jayla Wilson Benjamin Wiser Zachary Wolverton Carson Wood Lillian Woodson Wyatt Working Kiya Wright Jane Wycoff Isabella York Nolan Zangara Andrea Zavala Cohen Zeller

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T15

MEAD LEARNING OPTIONS

‘The best thing you can do is advocate for yourself’ With a teacher’s help, Kenzy Beerbohm found ways to learn so she could excel

By Cindy Hval

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Kenzy Beerbohm went from being a disheartened, frustrated student to teaching art lessons to K-2 students and becoming certified as a nursing assistant.

Jill Wright, North Star School teacher/mentor, met Beerbohm when she came to the Mead Learning Options program in 10th grade.

“She was so discouraged,” Wright said. “She said she was starting to shut down.”

School had never been enjoyable for Beerbohm.

“In elementary school, I got tested for dyslexia,” she said. “I was always just a little behind. It made me feel so awkward. Everyone else was able to enjoy learning, but I couldn’t because I struggled so much.”

At North Star, a home-school partnership, she collaborated on a more personalized curriculum that included extracurricular enrichment and leadership opportunities.

This encompassed her role as a teacher’s assistant at Mead Outdoor School, where her sister attended.

“Kenzy gained a new appreciation for learning once she built strategies that supported her learning style and helped her advocate for herself,” Wright said. “She’s a really hard worker and really determined.”

Those strategies included using audiobooks and movies, using talkto-text, and having more time to complete her work.

“We combined history and literature, so she read about women in history who struggled and overcame things,” Wright said. “She works at JCPenney, so for math, we focused on societal skills like using money and budgeting.”

That creativity made all the

difference for the once-struggling teen.

“It was so warm and welcoming at North Star,” Beerbohm said. “Jill Wright switched it up and taught me in a way I understood, instead of the way society understands. It was more hands-on and one-on-one.”

She gained confidence engaging with staff and students at MOS and planning and teaching art lessons to K-2 students.

“I taught the kids watercolor,” she said. Wright said the younger students loved her.

All of these opportunities and growth led to her earning her Certified Nursing Assistant certification at NEWtech. The program provided her with practical experience, enabling her to identify and pursue her interests, which culminated in a senior research project focused on enhancing the understanding and prevention of addiction.

“I have family members in healthcare, and I look at it as an opportunity for growth,” Beerbohm said. “It opens your eyes to the importance of treating people with kindness.”

Wright is enthusiastic about the world of opportunities awaiting Beerbohm.

“She’s going to make a big difference,” Wright said. “She realized her work ethic is very good. Her efficiency will allow her to continue to pursue learning. She has confidence and excitement about what she can do in the world. She was able to ask for the help she needed.”

Beerbohm acknowledged that asking for assistance was initially difficult.

“At first I didn’t want to speak up,” she said. “But you don’t get better if you don’t use your voice. The best thing you can do is advocate for yourself.”

COURTESY

Kenzy Beerbohm found her confidence while attending Mead Learning Options.

Graduation

MEAD LEARNING OPTIONS Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Emily Aken Judah Allen Logan Allen Olga Altukhov Emil Anisimov Hayley Baker Dimitry Balakirev Dennis Barabash Sasha Barko Kenzy Beerbohm Kennedy Beeson Shelbylynn Bisbee Evelena Burlachenko Katee Bussard Tomas Claussen Caden Cook Braden Davis

Christian Diaz Valdovinos Lucas Fiedler Kaylee Finnigan Jacksyn Flanagan Cory Fogal Addison Franks Shayla Freeland Ayden Gaffney Noah Gainers Nola Gebhardt Ella Grishin Alyssa Hamilton Brendan Henning Amilio Hernandez Cameron Jones Chloe Jones Landon Kartz Zhavia Keyser-Kish Hayze Knapp

The Mead Learning Options commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 11 at Whitworth University’s Cowles Auditorium, 300 W. Hawthorne Road.

Principal: Nick Edwards Valedictorians: Melina Lopez, Aliyah Rudolph, Yana Voloshenyuk

Nellie Kozubenko Sergey Krivopustov Pollyanna Liambila Melina Lopez James Lundgren Mikayla Magin Bella Mantese Yeva Matsyplyuk Leonard Medvedev Timothy Medvedev

Andrew Mikhailenko Olivia Murrell Owen Murrell Ashlyn Mutloob Richard Nelson Emily Neue Andrew Oleynik Lorelai Pooler Cameron Price Abigail Prieto

Dylan Renz Sarah Robbins Cassidy Rogers Aliyah Rudolph Caleigha Salazar Timofey Shnaider Chayce Snow Kyle Spiese Erik Stafford Anna Swanson Benjamin Swanson William Thornton Elijah Tucker Maycie Tucker Yana Voloshenyuk Kyler Walters Alannah Woodworth Benjamin Yefremov Kennedy Young Sofia Yunikov Isabella Zelepukhin Daniel Zgherea Emily Zhelez

Your Journey Doesn’t End Here.

You’ve worked hard to get through high school.

Now it’s time to take your next step.

Whether you’re planning to transfer in two years or get the skills you need to dive straight into a career, Spokane Colleges is your next best step.

Enroll Now. Learn more at Spokane.edu.

Spokane Colleges does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, pregnancy and related conditions, or age in its programs, activities or employment.

T16 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

GENESIS PREP / VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL / ST. MICHAEL’S ACADEMY

Amari Ubert diligent in studies despite hearing challenges Graduation

GENESIS PREPARATORY ACADEMY

By Treva Lind

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Amari Ubert often sat in the front of classes at Genesis Preparatory Academy.

While teachers knew about her partial deafness, most classmates didn’t.

Starting in early childhood, Ubert had chronic ear infections and a development issue in both ear canals. She needed hearing aids by seventh grade.

At Genesis, when she couldn’t hear part of assignments or lessons, she would follow up with her teachers. She worked hard, landing at the top of her class and taking dual credit classes at North Idaho College.

Genesis teacher Brooke Hinkens finds her determination impressive.

“Something that really just amazes me about Amari is through any setbacks or challenges that she has, like her hearing, she doesn’t let that stop her at all,” Hinkens said.

“She just works extremely hard in general.”

Ubert and her family moved about five years ago from Minnesota to Post Falls.

She seldom talked about her hearing issues, especially at first.

“I was always very self-conscious about it,” she said. “I told my close friends after about a year of knowing them, and they immediately jumped to support me.”

Some counseling here helped.

Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Sarah Bess Benjamin Cosner Annalyse James

COURTESY

Amari Ubert plans to get her undergraduate degree in ocean futures before going to law school.

“The counseling really helped me to realize that I am perfect the way I am, and it is perfectly fine for me to have these issues,” Ubert said. “It shouldn’t be

Mabel Long Molly McCann Elliana Mechikoff Angela Mueller Lillian Nunes Allison Scott Brayden

The Genesis Preparatory Academy commencement was June 1 at Real Life Ministries, 1866 N. Cecil Road in Post Falls.

Principal: Melody Lund

Tanneberger Jaclyn Thomas Caleb Tritto Amari Ubert Ty Van Meeteren Trevor Walsh Mylah Wise

something negative in my life.

“I started being a little bit more open about it, but a lot of my classmates still don’t know.”

A Starbucks job also made her realize that many people are supportive. Supervisors and coworkers responded positively, helping her understand orders, if needed.

Since about age 4, Ubert had gone to doctors because of ear and hearing issues.

She’s had seven sets of ear tubes.

After noticing swelling in her neck, she was diagnosed with a toxic lymph node.

Before age 10, she had surgery to remove that noncancerous node.

But ear issues continued until recently.

In January 2025, a Spokane specialist used a bit of outside ear cartilage to reform her left eardrum. With that, she’s regained about 30% hearing on that side.

A late spring follow-up appointment will determine any needs for her other

ear, she said. She also had gone for a bit without hearing aids during the transition.

For the future, Ubert plans to stay at Starbucks and use its employee benefit to pay for two years of online school at Arizona State for a bachelor’s degree in ocean futures. The subject studies solutions, such as coral reef preservation.

After that, Ubert wants to go to law school at Liberty University to become a prosecutor.

While job shadowing a prosecutor in the Kootenai County Courthouse, she met attorneys who urged her to get an undergraduate degree unrelated to law.

They advised that when people get into law school, they either love it or hate it.

“If they hate it, they don’t have anything to fall back on,” Ubert said. “Previously, before wanting to be a lawyer, I wanted to be a marine biologist, so I thought, why not pursue both?”

Aubre Hopson thrives in a family environment

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COURTESY

Aubre Hopson has deep family roots at Valley Christian High School, but she carved her own path through cheerleading and track.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Harrison Arnold Zane Bergsma Charlee Bilbruck Lilyanna Boomer Ryleigh Brown-Sonder Abrielle Clark Tristan Combs-Craig

Kenleigh Drexler Jaeger Emtman Madeira Hansen Wesley Hendrickson Aubre Hopson Cora Hopson Cloie Isley Christopher Knobel Owen Langhans

Chauncey Mariner Abigail Martin Sebin Park Oksana Pivovarevich Jenna Raczek Peter-Michael Rehwaldt Caleb Reidt Harper Rounsley Amelia Shutts Daniel Stebbins Chase Sturgis Darian Weiss-Hill Raegan Weiss-Hill

Valley Christian School senior Aubre Hopson has thrown herself into school and community activities in the Spokane Valley area despite living just across the Idaho border in Benewah County.

“It’s a good 45 minutes to school every day,” she said.

But her ties to the school are strong as both of her parents graduated from there. Her grandmother began teaching at the school when her son, Hopson’s father, was in first grade. She’s still teaching. Hopson’s mother teaches her yearbook class, her uncle is one of her track coaches and her aunt is the principal. Her older sister also graduated from Valley Christian and her two younger siblings attend there as well.

Hopson said she’s grateful she was able to attend Valley Christian; she likes the small class sizes and tight-knit feel. “Both my parents have sacrificed to send us to the same school” they went to, she said.

Hopson was homeschooled until she started eighth grade. She said she enjoyed doing hands-on learning with her mother but also likes Valley Christian. “I was very thankful for the childhood at home,” she said. “It’s been a real blessing to get to experience both.”

In 2024, she was selected as a

Graduation

The Valley Christian commencement will be at 1 p.m.

June 6 at Genesis Sanctuary at Valley Christian School, 10212 E. Ninth Ave. in Spokane Valley.

Principal: Joyanna Hill Valedictorians: Oksana Pivovarevich

Southeast Spokane County Fair princess, despite living in Idaho.

Hopson said organizers made an exception for her because she had been involved in the community and attended school in Spokane County. “My older sister actually did it a few years before I did,” she said.

When Hopson started attending Valley Christian, she wanted to be a cheerleader. However, the school didn’t have a cheer team at the time. “My mom got certified as a coach and I was able to recruit a couple people I knew,” she said. “It has blossomed.”

Cheering at Tuesday night basketball games sometimes conflicts with her volunteer work at New Hope Bible Church as a youth ministry leader. She enrolled in the program when she was 3 and has been volunteering with the program since the seventh grade.

She joined the cross country team in her sophomore year and went to the state meet with her team in her junior and senior

years. “The last time we went to state was when my mom was on the team,” she said.

Hopson said the team made her feel welcome and she enjoyed the experience. “It was so much fun,” she said. “It actually really helped me grow as a person and be braver and more outgoing.”

She also joined the track team, running the 400 meter, 800 meter, mile and 4x4 relay. She’s gone to state every year since her freshman year and was hoping to go again this year.

In what little spare time remained, she joined the Honor Society and has been the Associated Student Body secretary for the past two years.

Senior adviser Kelly Chadduck said Hopson has worked hard to maintain good grades while being involved in a lot of activities.

She “takes initiative to serve and represent outside of school in addition to the myriad of school activities,” Chadduck said.

Hopson said she’d like to take the year after high school to become a certified massage therapist and then “see where it takes me.” She can see it leading to a career as a physical therapist or she could join the family business and become a teacher at Valley Christian.

“I don’t really know,” she said.

“We’ll see. I did think for a really long time about becoming an elementary teacher. I’ll definitely still consider that.”

Family tragedy inspired career choice

By Cindy Hval

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Evangeline Morgan’s history at St. Michael’s Academy began before her birth.

“My parents went to the school and so did all my mom’s sisters,” she said.

“My grandpa was a real estate agent and actually helped them find the building.”

St. Michael’s Academy is a K-12 school staffed by members of the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen.

“I’ve known Evangeline since she was a baby,” said Sister Michael Marie, St. Michael’s high school principal. “She’s attended school here for 13 years.”

Organized, determined, and motivated best describe this student, who is a member of the National Honor Society.

“I learned to work hard to meet their high standards,” Morgan said.

Faculty members noticed her diligence.

ST. MICHAEL’S ACADEMY

Graduation

The St. Michael’s Academy commencement was May 30 at Mount St. Michael, 8500 N. St. Michael’s Road.

Principal: Sister Michael Marie

Valedictorian:

Nicholas Bollinger

Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Nicholas Bollinger Louis Gilchrist Fiana Heaton Olivia Lodgard Evangeline Morgan Guadalupe Russell Margaret Schlosser Theresa Sitzenstock Lucas Welp

“She doesn’t need a lot of direction,” Sister Michael Marie said. “She’s president of the school’s pro-life group, and her peers look up to her.”

Morgan relished her

time at the small school.

“I’ve enjoyed the community life,” she said. “Everyone knows each other, and you’re able to grow up with the same kids.”

She especially liked literature classes.

“Morgan enjoys literature and discussion,” said Sister Michael Marie. “She has a lot of opinions and isn’t afraid to speak up.”

Musical theater also caught her attention.

“I was in three musicals,” she said. “I liked being at the school at night and the free dinners!”

A family tragedy forged her desire to work with those struggling with addiction.

“My brother, Jaiden, died when I was in sixth grade,” Morgan said. “He was my half-brother, and we didn’t live in the same house, but I was always excited to see him.”

She said he had a history of addiction, and his death was attributed to an overdose.

“I was in shock – I didn’t

get to say goodbye.”

Morgan’s grief propelled her into learning about addiction and recovery.

Completing a senior thesis was optional, but she took individual responsibility for not only her own learning but also for sharing her discoveries and trying to raise awareness in the community.

“She spent a lot of time doing research,” said Sister Michael Marie. “I was very impressed with that. I felt like it was over and above.

She really wants to work with people who have addiction issues.”

Already enrolled at Spokane Falls Community College, Morgan plans to become an addiction counselor.

“My brother’s death motivated me to learn more,” she said. “I want to have my own practice, and I want to help the children of those who are addicted.”

Sister Michael Marie believes Morgan will make a positive impact wherever

COURTESY

Evangeline Morgan wants to become an addiction counselor. she serves.

“Evangeline has been a great joy,” she said. “She has a strong, grounded

spirituality and inner strength. She’ll be a force for good, and she’s going to affect many people’s lives.”

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T17

POST FALS HIGH SCHOOL / NEW VISION HIGH SCHOOL

A welcoming spot Adriiela Motresku found the right atmosphere for learning and discovered a gift for languages

By Treva Lind

FOR THE SPOKESMANREVIEW

Soon after war erupted in her native Ukraine, Adriiela Motresku fled with her family to America. Then 13, she spoke very little English.

An uncle who is a U.S. citizen offered to help, so they left Chernivtsi in March 2022 for temporary aid in Romania, then embarked on a lengthy journey to get to Boise.

Motresku, 17, doesn’t remember much about the war, other than sirens warning of possible Russia attacks.

“I was just excited that we were going to another country,” she said.

Language barriers proved difficult, though.

Motresku felt lost while finishing eighth grade in Boise, although two girls helped. Her freshman year in Boise was equally overwhelming.

Someone in the school office who spoke Russian helped her navigate a class schedule.

A turnaround came three years ago, with a move to Post Falls for her father’s work. She started at Post Falls High School, liked it, and began making big strides in speaking English. Her grades improved.

“I really like the atmosphere here at this school,” Motresku said.

“I really like the teachers who are so kind to me (and) make it easy to understand them. I really like the neighbors and people in the community; they’re kind.”

“I just felt really welcomed in this school.”

This year, she pushed herself by taking dual college credit courses.

She took honors Spanish and a math course through University of Idaho, and honors speech through North Idaho College.

Motresku continued English as Second Language studies to gain proficiency.

“I wanted to improve my GPA,” she said.

“Now, I’ve reached my goal to get all A’s in all of my classes.”

In Boise, Motresku befriended students from Mexico and Columbia.

COURTESY

Adriiela Motresku fled Ukraine at age 13 with her family, eventually moving to Post Falls. She plans to become a teacher and get her ESL endorsement.

“They couldn’t really speak a lot of English, but I got some of their Spanish, although I don’t know how,” she said.

Now, Motresku views languages as a strength.

She can speak five: Romanian through family, Ukrainian, Russian, and more in English and Spanish.

She originally came to Idaho with her parents, an older sister, younger sister, younger brother and a brother-in-law.

After she graduates, she and family are set to return to Boise to be near other relatives.

This fall, she plans to start at Boise State.

Motresku wants to be a teacher and major in elementary education with an ESL endorse-

Graduation

The Post Falls High School commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 9 at the school’s arena, 2832 E. Poleline Ave. in Post Falls.

Principal: Mark Mason Valedictorian: Lola Barron

ment. She also plans certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages to teach adults and online.

Brenda Valentine, her ESL teacher, said Motresku has a gift for languages.Motresku “has been pretty phenomenal in how quickly she has acquired English,” Valentine said.

“She has a natural talent for languages, but she is also extremely motivated and goal oriented.

“I had no qualms

about her learning Spanish on top of learning English and on top of all her classes. She’s just that talented and well-rounded. She’s always positive and cares about other people.”

Motresku isn’t looking back.

“There are a lot of opportunities for me here,” she said. “People are really kind. They’re not willing to let me give up on my goals. I’m really glad to be in this country.”

POST FALLS HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Lucy Grieser Jaden Guilmette Alayla Hager Gavin Haines Lillian Haller Damion Hamilton Skyler Hance Cooper Hardison Koda Hart Lillynn Hartley Taylor Hartley Joshua Hasty Evelyn Hazard Jonah Hegler Jude Hegler Conner Heidecker Joann Helsley Julianna Hernandez Hannah Hersom Paige Hibbs Peyton Hildesheim Anna Hines Aliza Hippach Ayda Hirsch Taylor Holding Olivia Hollenbeck Cole Holley Hailey Holt Ethanie Horne Noah Houser Jordyn Hughes Connor Huisman Sullivan Hull Azlynn Hutchings Chase Huynh-Dewitt Hayden JaimesMundel Garrett Jennen Aaron Jessop Isaiah Johnson Kylie Johnson Maylee Johnson Avelyn Johnston Micah Jones Regan Jones Isaiah Kearney Makenzy Kelly Tyler Kern Gabriel Kilgore Ryan King Siryssa King Hunter Kirk Sidney Knowles Charlie Koger Kayden Kramsky Benjamin Kurowski Kimberly Lackey Josiah Lange Jaelyn Laritchie Gracie Lau Madilynn Lau Kaden Leffler Noah Lien Parker Lindsay Ryan Lindsey Abby Lloyd Logan Loaiza Tanner Lockman Gage Loftin Oakley Lohman Payten Loudenback Braylon Louie Coleton Lundwall Haidyn Lyden Jaxon Lysne Jayden Madden Izzy Mann Emery Mannel Destiny Markwick Jake Martinson Lexie McCarroll Presley McDermott Nickolas McGruderNaron David McKinney Lexi McKinnon Asher McLean Logan McNabb Lauren Meidinger Kelsey Mergener Valynncia Mertins James Middlemore Ashton Miller Graham Miller Mckenna Miller Raven Miller Mercedes Minkler Demi Mocko Kloe Monette Jessica Montee Cameron Moore Landon Moore Thomas Moore Michael Morris Adriiela Motresku Katelyn Mucciaccio Sydney Muir Kasyn Muller Kathryn Murphy Marina Murphy Madilyn Mushaney Selah Myers Kayden Nahalea Brady Navarrete Athens Nay Isaiah Naylor Michael Nelson Kylee Newby

Expected to graduate are: Connor Abey Reese Alexander James Altizer Makayla Alverson Kole Amundson Jonathan Anderson Marlee Anderson Lucas Anello Kaden Anglin Davien Anthony Colton Austin Aiden Averette Darren Bajorek Aubrey Baker Mckenna Baker Faith Banks Averie Barnes Sydney Barney Lola Barron Airi Bazinet Aeva Beach Lilly Becker Kaleb Bell Keeli Bell Arianna BenzingerStephens Alexander BeresfordWood Bryce Berger Piper Besch Mistee Blackburn Chloe Blankenship Kayla BlaschkaPulsifer Kaiden Bohl Lily Bole Talia Bonville Tanner Boviall Rylan Brandt Brody Branson Geoffrey Brooks Ayda BrowandHuggins Jasmine Brown Jonas Brown Raymond Brown Thailin Brunko Zachary Burton Christopher Busch Seamus Byrne Emily Calvillo Noah Campbell Jonathan Caraballo Mia Carr Connor Carver Lauren Castaneda Jesse Castillo Jadyn Charley Addyson Chase Phoenix Ciais-Highfill Justice Clark Ethan Coash Max Coffman Zeke Colonval Deegan Compton Madelyn Cooke Michael Cooper Jordyn Cord Colton Cox Kallie Cozza Isaiah Cramer Breyonna Crawford Catelyn Culver Maya Currie Josiah Curry Viktoria Danch Sophia Davidson Kathryn Davis Alexander Dean Jackson Detemple Micah Dobesh Crissy Dolence Kamya Draper Addisyn Duce Destanie Dunbar Jaidyn Earle Kennady Edwards Evan Ehrmantraut Emma Ennis Sonja Erickson Brandon Felix Courtney Fiddes Ethan Fish Logan Fisher Camden Fitzpatrick Kodyn Foreman Damon Fortune Tiffany Foxx Tyce Frazier Whitney Frear Tavia Frisk Nadia Gackstetter Caaden Galligan Mackenzie GarvinWest Emma Geary Madelyn Geraghty Aidrian Gilliland Hunter Gilmore Daniel Gingrich Michael Glenn Aria Good Teagan Goodwin Jackson Gorski

Taelor McMillen found a school where he could rebuild himself

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Taelor McMillen’s hobby is building cars and then wrecking them. His biggest rebuilding project, though, was when he reinvented himself.

The New Vision High School graduate spent three years at Post Falls High School, arguing with his parents and siblings and picking up lots of bad habits, he said.

“I had a hard time with in-person school,” McMillen said. “I wasn’t really behind in credits, but I wasn’t hanging around with the best people, and I wasn’t the best person myself. I wasn’t giving myself a chance to become better, to be the person I wanted to be.

“My parents and friends told me that they were worried about me, but it took a long time for me to realize that they were right and that my life would be easier

Graduation

The New Vision High School commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 11 at Post Falls High School auditorium, 2832 E. Poleline Ave. in Post Falls.

Principal: Dawn Mackesy

if I let the people in who wanted to help me. The people who cared about me were trying, and I wasn’t.

“I’m not sure when the light went on,” he added.

“My grandpa died when I was young, and I wanted to make him proud, and not many people in my family have walked across a high school stage to graduate.

It would have been easier for people to give up on me, because they did not deserve the things I said or how I treated them much of the time.”

New Vision worked for McMillen because he was

able to integrate his program at Kootenai Technical Education Campus with his online classes. And he raved about the staff at New Vision.

“They’re amazing,” he said. “It’s the kindest group of people I’ve ever encountered. They don’t hesitate to help you, going above and beyond. I really don’t think that I would have graduated if I hadn’t gone there.”

McMillen earned Industrial Welding certifications upon completion of his KTEC program, and plans to go into pipeline welding, starting with an apprenticeship. His high school experience should provide him opportunities to move through the steps quickly, and he hopes eventually to have his own business with a mobile welding unit.

About that hobby? McMillen started by helping a friend build cars for Auto Roller Derby, more aptly described as a demolition

Layla Newman Caiden Nicassio Gabriel Niemi Elena Nilson Arielle Nystrom Michael O’Connor Avery O’Halloran Blaine Olson Nicholas Ortega Jace Ostlund Nichole Overacker Alexander Owens Alexis Owens Robert Palmer Cierra Parent Jenna Patterson Micah Pattison Brodie Paxton Elise Pearse Armanda-Hailey Perkins Mikah Peters Gavin Philp Lowla Plummer Colleen Press Eva Price Tyler Price Callan Pyle Alexa Raihl Bryce Rannalli Haylie Reeb Rachel Reece Landon Reed Caden Reese Noah Regan Ahrianna Reno Kyle Rice Taytum Rice Kristen Rider Elliot Ries Aviana Rivera Ella Rogers Michael Ross Savannah Ross Tarin Ruppel Kaiya Sakamoto Samuel Salcido Lucas Savoure Jonathan Schmidt Alexander Scholes Faith Schutte Sonya Scoles Jaxon Sheckler Alyssa Shepherd Matthew Sherman Samuel Shields Kaylee Simmons Katlyn Smay Brayden Smith Damon Smith Hannah Smith Zane Smith Rebecca Sofaly Madeline Spruill Londyn Steckman Alexis Steenburgh Sophia Stewart Jaelah Stowell Rose Strange Claire Stuck Sabin Sturtevant Emery Stutheit Hayden Switzer Logan Taylor Madeline Tebbe Naomi Thomas Zoe Thomas Urijah Thompson Jeri Thorneycroft Gavin Tibulski Joseph Tolliver John Toomey Payton Topie Pollyanna Trautvetter Riley Trueman Jesslyn Tucker Owen Tuntland Katrina Turner Hannah Vaca Eileen Valdespino Gemma Valentine Jena Vantwout Kailey Walton Corban Watkins Ashlyn Weaver Kenzie Wenner Jami-Linn Whipple Aubree Whitesitt Parker Wichman Nicholas Widmann Gavin Wienker Charles Williams Colton Williams Jocelyn Williams Tyler Williams Jaxsen Wilson Emma Wise Emalee Wood Reese Wood Sarah Woodford Noah Woods Cruze Woydziak Caise Wright Emma Wulff Carolina Zandhuisen Koralie Zaragoza Jayden Zimmerman Mckenna Zimmerman

NEW VISION HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

COURTESY

Taelor McMillen working toward owning business. contest where the goal is to have the only running car remaining. His friend urged him to compete, and the first time he was on the track, he was hooked.

“I bought my own car recently,” he said. “We never spend more than $300 to buy one, and after the derby we either repair and reinforce it, or get a new one. It’s a great way for me to work out my anger, doing something that I love and that makes me proud to be there.”

What makes McMillen’s accomplishments even more incredible, is that he

did them while facing his mother’s serious illness and his own shoulder injury that required surgery, New Vision instructor MeShell Nadeau said.

“The simplest tasks could feel like an uphill battle, and Taelor wasn’t just a student anymore,” Nadeau said. “He was also both a patient and caregiver. I watched him mature, learn patience and valuable time management.

He was determined not to let any setbacks stop him.

Witnessing his tenacity is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.”

Expected to graduate are: Lily Aparicio Horatio Badillo Amethyst Bennett Cameron Conner Carter Douglas Wyatt Ellis Taylor Floyd Weston Foster Justin Garrison Xavier Gonzales-Larson Noah Hofman Rihanna Jackson Quyanna Johnson Emily Juvan Joseph Kamps Takoda Kennedy Bailey Kerfoot Cheyanne Kessler Joseph Krickl Brooklyn Krzysiek Nova Leathers Taelor McMillen Brooklyn Miller Gavin Noesen Anna Ostapenko Mason Palmer Quentin Parton Julia Peterson Miranda Porter Adrein Riddle Daniel Rose Lily Rounsville Josie Sanchez Marcus Sanchez Ekaterina Slisenko Aden Steed Zabre Terrell-Williams Emily VanKeirsbulck Rylin Vigil Raylee Vinzant Kaiden White Hunter Williams

T18 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

THREE SPRINGS / LIBERTY LAUNCH / NORTH IDAHO STEM

‘Failure isn’t an option’

THREE SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation

Kaitlyn Collins ready for everyday life after transplant

By Mia Stillman

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Kaitlyn Collins has not let health complications get in the way of excelling as a student and putting one foot in front of the other.

Collins, who was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of 10, is a student at Three Springs High School, an alternative learning program within the Cheney School District, with small class sizes and a focus on hands-on, community-based learning.

When Collins had to start going to dialysis three days a week in October 2024, she started taking online classes through Apex Learning.

Travis Weese, Collins’ counselor at Three Springs, has supported her throughout her high school years as she has balanced her healthcare needs with being an engaged student.

“She’s done an amazing job at … her self-management, her self-regulation, coping through the difficulties and through the challenges.

She has shown resilience. She has shown grit,” Weese said.

Between road trips to Seattle Children’s Hospital and weekly appointments, Collins said her need for a hybrid learning experience has made high school less social.

Jenna Johnson, Collins’ mom, said her daughter was able to stay motivated while managing at-home learning through taxing health complications.

“Kaitlyn has a mindset that failure isn’t an option. No matter what life throws at you, you

just keep moving forward and show up and do the best you can,” Johnson said.

Weese said Collins was able to stay academically engaged while her health worsened over her high school career.

“Over the last few years, a lot of those health complications have intensified for her to the point where she has become eligible for an organ transplant, and it’s been a journey for her,” Weese said.

On April 20, Collins had kidney transplant surgery and is now turning a corner. She is set to walk the stage to graduate in June with her classmates.

Collins said the transplant has brought her some relief – and she thinks it will make life a lot easier.

“I think I’m just really excited to get back into everyday life with other people,” Collins said.

Despite her health, Collins has maintained a 4.0 GPA for the past several quarters and is an honor roll student.

“I think that right there speaks volumes to her as a person,” Weese said.

Weese describes Kaitlyn as a kind soul and a friend to all. “When she is on our campus … she’s a spotlight, she’s somebody who just has a smile on her face and is just happy to be here,” Weese said.

Outside of school, Collins has explored her passion for drawing. She said that she enjoys art because of its flexibility and lack of boundaries.

Beyond graduation, she hopes to attend Spokane Falls Community College and study in the

The Three Springs High School commencement will be at 5 p.m. June 11 at Eastern Washington University’s Showalter Hall, 526 Fifth St. in Cheney.

Principal:

Catheleen Scott

Valedictorian:

Aspen Smith

Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Adrianna Arnold Cardenas Cooper Blimka Bryce Carr Phoenix Clemens Kaitlyn Collins Liliana Coriell Charles DeLaCruz Emilio Diaz Elizabeth Donges Akira Edgerton Carrah Engfer Alexzander Gaskins James Leone-Christensen Claudia Leonhardt Brandon Lyon Quinn Mahar Orasa Maycumber Malakai Roybal Loriel Seymour Josiah Sims Aspen Smith Aiden Stark Gabriel Watson-O’Leary Chase Westby Esmeralda Zucati

COURTESY

Kaitlyn Collins received a kidney transplant in April. school’s art program.

“I just hope she gets out there, enjoys college, finds some good art friends and really starts sharing her art with others,” Johnson said.

Johnson said she would love for Collins to eventually showcase her art to others and get involved in the art community in Spokane.

“I think she has a very unique lens to share with other people about being positive and persevering through hard times at such a young age,” Johnson said.

Collins said she is excited to graduate and move forward.

“There’s no other student who really shines as bright as Kaitlin,” Weese said.

Cohen MacLeod’s love of world events spurs career goals

By Treva Lind

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COURTESY

Bridger Fobes is developing a business plan to open a gym.

BUILDING ON HIS STRENGTHS Bridger Fobes uses both his creativity and analytical mind for projects

By Treva Lind

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

While constructing a tiny house this year, Bridger Fobes also built a framework to help others.

The Liberty Launch Academy graduate documented his construction steps and materials, with plans to create a website showing other people how to design and build similar structures.

Fobes, a Coeur d’Alene resident, was among the first students when the private Liberty Lake K-12 school began four years ago. The school encourages internships and hands-on learning.

“Through my internship, I’m building a tiny house and when it’s done, I’m going to live in the tiny house,” said Fobes, 18. The house is just over 400 square feet and set to be completed in June.

He’s doing the project under an internship through his father, a civil engineer, on family property.

“That connects to my capstone project – I’m going to be creating a whole website that shows people in-depth how to build a tiny house under $60,000, because houses now are so expensive.”

He believes young adults who want to buy a home should be able to, although affordability is

often a barrier.

“I think moving out of the house is an essential step for your own growth,” he said. “I’m trying to help people to take that first step.”

Jason Miller, leadership and English teacher, said Fobes shows resilience, gratitude and a constant self-growth mindset.

His abilities range from creative to analytical.

“His right brain and left brain are both fully active – you don’t usually see that in a human,” Miller said. “He’s very artistic with his drawing and music.

He plays the piano well. Then, he has this engineering, logical, scientific, inquisitive mind.”

Miller said Fobes is known for mentoring younger students, helping to resolve conflicts.

During his own setbacks, Fobes remains positive and moves forward.

Fobes has regularly lifted weights, after a childhood bout of pneumonia.

“I started weightlifting, and then everything started to get better,” he said. Later in childhood, he had severe bronchitis that lingered. “It reset all my progress, but I got back into the gym” and improved again.

At Liberty Launch, he and a friend created a weight-training club for younger students, with oversight by a school coach.

Fobes also enjoys surfing, mountain biking and snow-

LIBERTY LAUNCH ACADEMY

Graduation

The Liberty Launch Academy commencement was at 5 p.m.

May 21 at MODE Campus, 2110 N. Molter Road in Liberty Lake.

Principal: Jason Miller Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Mailee Akers Carson Faller Bridger Fobes Hudson Horst Judah Mann Caleb Robison

boarding. He said he’ll keep that up, despite a hard landing while snowboarding more than a year ago that broke his collarbone.

“Now, I have a plate and 14 screws in my shoulder,” he said.

Still, he returned to the gym and slowly exceeded his weight-lifting targets.

“In the past year since my last injury, I’ve gained 30 pounds just in muscle, which was a huge goal.”

He also finished college classes through Arizona State University, including biology and world history. After graduation, Fobes plans to start a business right away.

“I don’t plan on going to college, but I’m keeping the door open,” he said. “My goal after high school is to start my own gym, and I’m developing a business plan.”

A chance to build Lego robots first attracted Cohen MacLeod to North Idaho STEM Charter Academy.

He started fourth grade at the Rathdrum school with its science, technology, engineering and math focuses. Later, history and international relations became his passions.

MacLeod is a National Merit Scholar, National Honor Society member and recipient of the school’s Trailblazer award.

But during the middle of high school, he went through a tough time. His sister Sadie died at age 9.

“I was in eighth grade when my sister was diagnosed with brain cancer,” said MacLeod, 17. “Two years later, when I was nearing the middle of my 10th grade, she passed away.

“It impacted my grades quite a lot. There was definitely a period of detachment from school, both in physical absence and with the loss being emotionally and intellectually very draining.”

MacLeod said he found a way to refocus, earning high grades in his junior and senior years.

“After she passed, I don’t know what exactly motivated me to work harder, but I think it showed me how finite the people and the life around me were ... I realized life gets real sometimes. I don’t want to waste it.”

English teacher Betsy Sims said MacLeod embodies two character traits that school leaders seek to foster: hard work and kindness.

“Among the four years that I have taught Cohen, he is that student,” Sims said. “He works his tail off. He’s had to face a lot of adversity and has overcome it with a lot of grace.”

She said MacLeod is inclusive of others, kind and seeks to draw others into conversations.

“He’s just very aware of others and compassionate, making sure they’re heard. It’s just his character.”

These are traits he attributes to his parents.

COURTESY

Cohen MacLeod plans to study international relations at Texas A&M. “They raised me to be very attentive, emotionally adept, just knowing how to read emotions and care for people, because the world can sometimes be a very scary, uncaring place,” he said.

“Whatever I can do to make people feel more seen and more cared for, I like to do.”

In addition to earning a high school diploma, MacLeod took dual credit courses to earn an associate degree in political science from North Idaho College.

MacLeod said he lives between his dad’s house in Spokane Valley and his mom’s in Hayden. At age 12, he started reading the news during long drives to school.

That fostered his interest in world events and history.

He was in the student leadership council and was Quiz Bowl team captain, winning in competitions with his history knowledge.

Next, he plans to attend Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government & Public Service for an international relations degree.

“I realized I found world politics and events a lot more interesting than I did American politics and events,” he said.

“Looking at world news feels like history in the making.”

He hopes to work at the U.S. State Department, or an international organization such as the United Nations.

“Seeing and being part of history in the making,” he said, “whether it be a peace agreement or trade, it’s like the ultimate calling.”

NORTH IDAHO STEM CHARTER ACADEMY Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Keira Barnhart Adela Boger Guevara James Breyer Marcus Cadar Mackenzie Conley Luken Egusquiza Tess Fallquist London Hoefer Keilee-Ann Kelly Konner Knoll Ciara Landon Melody Mack

Graduation

The North Idaho STEM Charter Academy commencement was May 27 at The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 1765 W. Golf Course Road in Coeur d’Alene.

Principal: Travis Swick Valedictorian: Tess Fallquist Cohen MacLeod Braddock Nelson Rhiannon Percival

Camilla Potter Tristan Smith Kady West

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T19

CHENEY HIGH SCHOOL / WIN ACADEMY

A love for math, music and the mat Cooper French’s hard work takes him places

By Mia Stillman

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

By Charlie Oltman FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Throughout his high school career, Cheney High School senior Cooper French has grappled with academics and extracurriculars with the support of his family, teachers and coaches.

“There’s a lot of good teachers at Cheney High School and athletic programs – especially wrestling – that really taught me a lot about how to work hard to get stuff done,” French said.

French first got into wrestling during the COVID-19 pandemic after seeing a video on YouTube that inspired him. “(I like) seeing how different moves connect to each other and just working on technique over and over again until you can do something perfectly,” French said.

Cynthia Dukich, French’s mom, said he started in eighth grade, later than many other wrestlers.

“He had a pretty steep learning curve at the beginning,” she said.

Dukich said French took the challenges in stride. He placed sixth in the 2026 WIAA Mat Classic for 3A Washington State competition in his weight class.

French said since the beginning, his coaches have inspired and encouraged him to always show up and work hard – something he has taken into other areas of his life.

On top of wrestling, French juggles academics, playing trombone in jazz band and baritone in marching band as well as a social life.

“With marching band, it’s the same thing as wrestling where you learn how to work hard,” he said. “But (band) taught me how to have fun and how to relax.”

While taking AP classes and performing in ensembles at the high school, French also attends classes through the Running Start program at Eastern Wash-

COURTESY

Cooper French will attend the University of Chicago this fall. ington University.

“Academically, Cooper’s been a rarity, especially with math,” school counselor Tyler Neely said. French has taken eight college-level math classes prior to his high school graduation.

French said that his favorite subject is math, and he plans to continue studying it in college. In the fall, he is attending the University of Chicago and is excited for the increased rigor of college classes, professional connections and research opportunities.

Dukich said she is excited for French to be able to attend his top-choice university.

“But it’s bittersweet

CHENEY HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Thomas Adderley Elizabeth Albright Brody Allaire Nevaeh Alvarado Licon Althia Ankien Jessie Anuntak Xavier Armstrong Daniel Arredondo Camilla Ayers Rachel Bae Braylen Bagnall Ashten Bailey-Kostelec Alexander Balcom Charice Ballard Layla Barnhart-Shepard Aurora Baty Victoria Baycroft Viktor Bazyliak Benjamin Bean Kimaya Begaye Tank Best Grayson Bingham Kenadie Boerger Blake Boling Isaiah Bolinger Savannah Born Hayden Bowdish Dylan Bowlby Austin Brett Mason Bridges Adam Brown Araya Burks-Jenkins Nicholas Bush Calvin Calendine Ava Campbell Noah Carlisle Jordyn Carmain Rachel Carpenter Aiden Carr Cordell Carswell Cash Carter Darlinson CastroMedina London Chaffee Caitlyn Christiansen Tyson Christiansen Anthony Cochran Dakota Collins Nathaniel Contreras Hayleigh Copher Kale Cordill Mason Coriell Fabian Cortaza-Garcia Victoria Cowart Miriam Cox Jesse Crapo Tyler Cross

Ryder Wilbanks keeps grounded despite many moves

Immanuel Cruz Kindle Cruz-McGrew Jazmin Cuevas Lucas Curley Samuel Dalton Alayna Daul Gracie Day Maya DeLaCruz Bryce DeLange Ally Deutsch Adalia Dieckmann Nevaeh Dow Mikhail Drake Blaise DuBois Savannah Erickson Chloe Ervin Tru Every Emma Ewert Chukwuemelie Eyimegwu Lillian Fawbush Lars Ferguson Taleah Findling Aidan Fishinghawk Kyren Fleming Liam Frantzich Cooper French Autumn Gahagan Quentin Gainer Danica Gall Darien GallawayMarquez Rowan Gardner Madilynn Garland Devone Gaydon Hannah Ge Sky Gilbert Henry Gipple Qui’Nya Givens Gavin Glock Micah Gondos Anthony Gonzalez Dominic Gonzalez Sir Gabriel Gonzalez Hayden Good Sophie Gooler-Hajek Joel Gooley Zion Gough Constantine Graham Cacee Gray Alexander Greer Callie Gregg Kylen Gueck Isaiah Guerra Cooper Guerrero Ethan Guske Evelyn Haig Jonathan Halbrook Brayden Hall Kainyn Hansen

because we’ll miss him a lot,” Dukich said. “The great thing about this world that we live in now is we’re so interconnected through the internet, FaceTime, phones and all that kind of stuff, so it’s not as big a deal to leave as it used to be.”

Dukich said Cheney will always be French’s home, but she is excited for him to spread his wings and see how he grows in the next chapter of his life.

Looking back on French’s high school career, Neely said he is impressed by French’s involvement on and off the high school campus.

“He’s shown that you can do both,” Neely said. “You can balance staying involved

Graduation

The Cheney High School commencement will be at 6:30 p.m.

June 11 at Reese Court at Eastern Washington University, 1136 Washington St. in Cheney.

Principal: Brett Hale Valedictorians: Rachel Bae, Savannah Born, Rachel Carpenter, Alayna Daul, Cooper French, Amira Zwart, Estelle Jordan, Sawyer Kissell, Nora Lonam, Addison Mink, Myles Moomey, Lauren Ricketson, Eleanor Roewe, William Thomsen, Xharlie Witt Sarah Hanson Nolan Harmon Kyle Hathaway Cody Hayes Sutton Heikkila Olivia Henderson Jaicey Henry Hayden Hernandez Watil Hernest Ava Heuschkel Ezekiel Heward Raymond Hezkeia Kyra Hickman Leah Hicks Jalisca Holmgren Lacy Holsten Gavin Holt Juleon Horyst Andrew Houndonougbo Dylan Howerton Arthur Huacuz Henry Hubbs Kaitlynn Huntsman Alena Iarmoliuk Genesis Illescas Madeline Isbelle Hesston Jacobsen Jamlina James Micah Jeffers Newton Jeik Ronald Jeik Axel Jensen Rosann Jerilong Eva Jones Lainey Jongeward Estelle Jordan Sierra Kalaaukahi Delia Keller Christopher Kennedy Khamlar Keopha Kira Kimball-Largent Sawyer Kissell

Mathieu paul Kohler Aubrey Kristof Johnny Labin Libi Langinbollang Julian Larcom Aubrey Lau-Windhorst Gold Lemman Kailee Leonard Larisa Lepekhina Maelynn Leppert Makayla Lesonik Lauro Lewis Emily Lienhard Robert Little Georgeton Lokboj Viktor Loktev Memory Lomae Nora Lonam David Lopez Karina Lucas-Fregoso Matthew Macomber Cecilia Martin Ethan Martin Rodolfo Martinez Shiloh Martinson Banyan Mayo Hudson McArthur Lola McClure Isaiah McCorkle Austin McCrum Sierra Mendoza Patrick Messing Brodin Miller Dante Miller Kody Miller Addison Mink Myles Moomey Nathan Moran Avery Morse Bradley Moultrie Macade Munro Junior Narruhn Rele Narruhn

and being active in lots of different things and still just be through the roof academically.”

While maintaining this rigor, Neely said French has remained humble throughout his time in high school.

“Super humble kid, very talented and very gifted, and at the same time is not one to boast or brag,” he said. “That’s been one of the things I’ve been most impressed with.”

French said there was no secret to his success.

“We wake up every day, we go to school, we go to work, and it’s the little things every single day that impact us and make us who we are.”

Daylynn Newbill Tucker Nicol Isaiah Northrup Sophia Oliphant Chelsea Opiyo Hailey Paget Abigail Palanuik Annika Palmer Caleb Parker April Passey Sofia Pastore Carter Paul John Peek Mia Pelayo Daisa Pemble Leah Pettet Taylor Pettit Jayde Phillip Julien Phillips Tristan Pierce Karina Piksayeva Alexi Potter Nathan Powell Spencer Powell Lilee Presson Aubrey Quaschnick Evelyn Quay Alexis Rabaglia Noah Ragaza-Bourassa Cash Rajewski Steven Rasmussen Hudson Redder Duff Reese Natalie Richards Lauren Ricketson Anna Rigmaiden Gerardo Rios Munoz Kayla Rivera Jhordyn Rodriguez Mia Rodriguez Eleanor Roewe Lillian Rose Zackery Ross Ayanna Russell Robert Ruth Nicol Salazar Jaimes Christian Samson Kiara Sandoval Kayla Schaber Parker Schatz Gretchen Schmitt Ashton Schwendiman Jersie Sconce Cody Scott Tatum Searls Caitlin Shaffer Adrianna Sharkey Elijah Shelukhin Loritha Sigrah Avery Sikes Kolby Simmons Derumk Singeo Eolt Singeo Kaine Skipper

Liliana Slater Malakai Slater Vincent Smeby Summer Smith Justyne Sorensen Brayden South-Bridges Sage Spencer Allison Stanfield Lue Stephens Mason Stinson Kullen Stober Josselyn Suksdorf Ernie Summerfield Lydia Swenson Braiden Tauanuu Juan Tercero Kaylee Thomas Rhiana Thompson Terrance Thompson William Thomsen Haiden Thornton Lainey Tillman Elvis Torres Christopher Sean Tydingco Sophia Vance Jace Vega Marius Verebceanu Jonathan Vipperman Rowen Volk Makayla Wahl Alexis Wallingford Sarah Walsh William Ward Claire Watkins Isabelle Weed Serenity Wells Wyatt Wells Finley West Emily Westerlund Ashlyn Wetzler Hailey Whitman Michael Wiley Anayah Williams Alanna Willis Savannah Willis Chris Wilson Na’Riyanna Wilson Xharlie Witt Maci Wittren Lennon Wood Quintin Woodcock Liam Wynhoff Andrii Yaremchuk Kaley Yonker Kolby Yost-Welty Kiley Zeisler Alexis Zenker Daniella Zetchov Oliver Ziemer Derric Zinkgraf Savannah ZuluetaBeuch Amira Zwart

WIN Academy senior Ryder Wilbanks has taken change in stride during his high school years, adapting and growing during transition.

Wilbanks has experienced his fair share of moving as the son of an active-duty military dad. With each change in location came a change in schools.

His mother, Kristi Wilbanks, said that during these transitions, Ryder Wilbanks remained flexible in the face of change.

“When he went out of the public schools and into home school, he adapted very well,” Kristi Wilbanks said. “When we got here and he went into more of a classroom setting again, he adapted very well ... We’re very proud of him.”

Ryder Wilbanks began attending WIN Academy in Wilbanks his junior year, transferring from HomeWorks. The small public school in Cheney operates through a hybrid competency model, with students learning in person and at home.

“It’s actually great for him because he can work at his pace ... He can work on what he needs to work on, focus on what he needs to focus on ... in his own style,” Kristi Wilbanks said.

The program emphasizes hands-on learning and field experiences to provide students with a tailored and empowering environment.

Looking back at his two years at WIN Academy, Ryder Wilbanks said he grew not just academically but personally.

“I definitely didn’t want to talk to anybody.

And now, I mean, I can talk a lot more and a lot more confidently, not so quiet, not so shy and reserved,” Wilbanks said.

Teacher Haley Rayburn echoed these sentiments.

“Over the course of the last two years, we’ve just really seen him come out of his shell ...

Now he’s really engaging with others. He’s shown his curiosity,” Rayburn said.

Wilbanks’ growth in the classroom has allowed him to engage with his peers and explore his academic interests, in and out of the classroom.

“He’s a great kid, very kind, very respectful.

He works really well with his classmates. He’s always there to help,” Rayburn said. “He’s just always participating and curious and asking questions … He’s worked really hard the last two years.”

This spring, students have embarked on passion projects, exploring their interests and potential paths after graduation.

Wilbanks has interviewed a history teacher at WIN Academy and a history professor at Gonzaga University for the assignment. He said this exposure has opened his eyes to the possibility of pursuing his long-held passion for history, something he had never considered until now.

“I think what really makes me passionate is probably just all the crazy things you can hear about, all the crazy things you can learn about,” Wilbanks said. “You read one book on one topic and you’ve heard about 15 different, almost unbelievable things that happened.”

Wilbanks said his love for history began in middle school and has carried on over the past five years.

“When I was about 13, when my family moved to Washington state ... I learned about a couple subjects. I don’t remember exactly what, but it just kind of sparked something in me,” Wilbanks said.

Looking forward, Wilbanks is weighing his options after graduation and looking at colleges in North Idaho, as well as Spokane Community College’s trades program.

“I’m thinking about college for a kind of history education while going down the trades route so that I have my options open to me,” Wilbanks said.

Rayburn said she hopes Wilbanks can find a way to pursue his love of history beyond his school years.

“He is a total history buff ... He always will work with me too and offer his perspective ... so I appreciate that about him,” Rayburn said.

Wilbanks is set to graduate in June and is excited for life beyond high school, taking his newfound sense of confidence along the way.

WIN ACADEMY

Graduation

The WIN Academy commencement will be at 4:15 p.m. June 11 at Eastern Washington University’s Showalter Hall, 526 Fifth St. in Cheney.

Principal: Stacy Delcour Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Malokai Anok Scarlett Broadwater Nicolas Cowart Pearl Dribo Addysen Esquibel Amiyah Green Moses Iriarte Abraham Ives Aiden Jackson Rhys Jordan Reiko Majmeto

Adrian Moreland Jazmin Moreno-Cuevas Zachary Norman Caleb Parker Renner Queen Jameson Samuel Cody Scott Theodore Townsend Jenessa Warren Bonnie Whitley Louden Wilbanks Lillian Zambryski Adelaide Zehr

T20 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Need a hand completing the FAFSA? STCU is here to help. We’re partnering with local high school and college career advisors and LaunchNW to offer free assistance for anyone considering college or vocational training.

Visit stcu.org/FAFSA to schedule an appointment at an STCU branch near you.

Membership not required.

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T21

CLASS OF 2026

SHE’S GOT SPIRIT

Looking to gear up students on the cheap, Scout Brown launched a thrift shop at Lake City

By Jim Allen

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

School spirit doesn’t come cheap, so Scout Brown did something about it.

As a sophomore at Lake City High School, she lamented the high cost of shirts, jackets and all the other gear that make Friday night lights so special.

Looking back, the idea seems so simple.

After winning a seat on the student council, Brown began her sophomore year with a goal of boosting school spirit.

“It’s hard for some kids to find affordable things to wear to games,” said Brown, now a senior. “The online store has some nice things, but it’s pretty expensive.”

With her mother’s support, Brown and others in student government opened an on-site thrift store and hoped that Lake City alumni would answer the call for donations of vintage gear.

The message went out on Instagram, Facebook and old-fashioned word of mouth.

The response in that fall of 2023 was immediate and almost overwhelming.

“We got $200 worth of items on the first day and $400 on the second day,” said Brown, who collected bags dropped by former athletes, alumni and other people in Coeur d’Alene.

Led by Brown and several friends, the Lake City ASB established the thrift store on campus, allowing students to gear up at affordable prices.

Donations dropped off a bit after the initial response but have remained steady ever since.

The project has raised thousands of dollars for a variety of school functions, such as decorations for school dances and other school activities.

“I’m very proud of her,” said Scout’s mother, Gina Brown. “It was so great to see the community come around. And the staff has been really helpful.”

For Brown, who’s also a Timberwolves cheerleader, the results were heartwarming. “It’s been really fun,

LAKE CITY HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Alexa Abrahamson Wesley Adams Hailey Adkinson Hailie Allen Mitchell Allen Veronica Alvarez Giovanna Amador Duarte Lochlan Anderson Sawyer Anderson Kyla Antonelli Eli Aparicio Amanda Armstrong Matthew Armstrong Terry Armstrong Joshua Atwood Lukas Ault Justyce Aurora Samantha Baker Reiley Ballard Addison Baltzell Rebekah Barnett Gabriel Bateman Preston Beamesderfer Samantha Beghtel Rian Bennett Dominick Bergeron Carsen Besser Bronson Best Sydney Beyersdorff Joseph Biondo Charlotte Bishop Corbin Blair Mackian Blomer Mia Boettcher Tanner Bosworth Jackson Bowman Carter Boykin Carter Brandon Tucker Bridwell Destiny Brodwater Taylor Brouse

Damien Brown Scout Brown Avelean Bryant Ireland Burruss Ella Marie Cahill Kelsi Calderwood Kaiya Camp Zacariah Canada Paisley Carrier Taylyn Carter Adriana Castillo Alexander Cecil Sean Cehr Skyler Chaffin Kyliegh Chapman Dawn Charney Haylee Christensen Ava Clark Odin Clark Krystal Clary Emily Clausen Ohlson Clyne Lara Cocis Riley Cole Logan Collins Tanner Collins Bruce Connelley Jared Contreras Emma Cooper Ayden Correll Stella Cosgrove Xanaia Dahlstrom Sophia Daniels Collin Decker Owen Decker Anna Deem Carter Delport Emily Demarre Karsyn Dement Charlotte Dix Philip Du Brady Duce Kaden Duffield Jacub Duncan Zane Edwards

COURTESY

Scout Brown’s thrift shop at Lake City High School helped outfit students to show school pride and raised money for a variety of school functions. and I loved Friday nights, cheering on the boys in football and basketball.”

Even better, students turn out for games wearing the jerseys worn by past athletes.

In nominating Brown for inclusion in The Spokesman-Review special section, Lake City staffers praised her for “turning a hobby into a fundraiser and has established a great system for future student council leaders.”

Brown is also ranked in the top 10% in her class academically – an all-

Graduation

The Lake City High School commencement will be at 11 a.m. June 6 at the school’s Van Troxel Field, 6101 N. Ramsey Road in Coeur d’Alene.

Principal: Bryan Kelly Valedictorian: Erik Pierce

Miranda Enloe Eleene Erickson Shantaya Esler Andrew Everson Aidyn Exon Naomi Fairbanks Aubrey Finley Miranda Fitzsimmons Cade Fledderman Dayton Fletcher Kenneth Florence Caden Ford Gracie Ford Kodiak Foster Alexius Fouraker Chloe Fuqua Elizabeth Garrett Cooper George Kayce George Kira Gibbon Caitlyn Gibbons Collin Gibbons Madeline Gilmore Tanner Gober Joshua Godbehere Estevan Gonzalez Levi Goodsell Matias Greer-Murtha Rachel Gregg Benjamin Griffin Ellie Grimmett Maylynn Hammon Chloe Haney Ryland Hanson Cruz Harris-Novak

Hailey Hawkins Karingtin Hayes Spencer Heasty Hailey Hensley Caden Hess Aiden Hill Jacob Hill Kaadyn Hill William Hirst Macie Hoffman Quinn Holt Colin Horner Gavin Houpt Tessa Howell Ellie Huber Sarah Hunt Marissa Hyland Wyatt Jarrett Lily Jensen Aleena Jerald Aurora Johnson Chloe Johnson Conner Johnson Ike Johnson Kennedy Johnson Gavin Karlinsey Kristian Kaurin Parker Kearbey Aedan Kelley Brady Kelly Zachary Kerns Mia Kesner Kohen Kidd Vincent Kierna Kiana Kilgore

around success story even more noteworthy because she was a late entry into Coeur d’Alene Public Schools.

One of three children, Brown attended North Idaho Christian School for elementary, then made a big jump for middle school to Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy, enrollment 400.

“It was easy to make friends there,” Brown said. And, despite its 1,500plus students, she had no trouble adjusting to Lake City. At the same time she remains active in her church youth group and works part time in a

Caleb King Hailey King Matthew King Kamryn Kirk Aspen Kiser Kaelee Kolden Bailey Koster Benjamin Kruglov Elsa Laker Zane Laker Maverick Lanigan Vincent Lapresta Lexi Larwin Kendal Lawrence Zoe Lee Solan Lent Saige Lenz Tanner Leppert Haylee Lewis Taylon Lund Macy Lyons Joshua MacDonald Nevaeh Mares Aiden Martinez Garett Matthews Abigail McClure Samantha McDonald Isibeal McFarland Liam McFarland Daelyn McMurray Sofia McNamara Landon McNutt Brooklynn Medeiros Haven Mericle Drew Merk Jayden Meyer Cody Miller Jordan Miller Brenner Miller-Babb Abbigail Mills Mackynzi Mills-Drader Cameron Mitchell Isabella Mock Madelyn Moeller Alyssa Molina Koryn Montague Elizabeth Montgomery Brandon Morford Carson Morgan

Isabel Morisette Alyvia Morris Duncan Morrow Tyler Morse Hannah Mottice Sevasmia Muirhead Aiden Murphy Isaac Nelson Raina Nelson Alyssa Nguy Ezra Nichols Zion Nichols Andrew Nicholson Jack Nicholson Alara Nye Kaleb Overstreet Ashton Owens Caden Oxenrider Landen Oxenrider Sydni Packer Kaitlyn Patterson Devan Paul Mateo Paul Kymry Paxton Ethan Peak Beau Pearson Madelynn Penn Jack Perata Sofia Peressini Kloey Petersen Tessa Petersen Lincoln Peterson Lillian Phillips Lilyann Phillips Erik Pierce Anna Ploof Jace Plummer Jordyn Poole Allison Porcello Kambrya Powers Roxanne Profumo Joseph Proudfoot Emerson Rakes Maddox Ramey Matthew RamirezPlumage Bailee Ramos-Willford Jessica Rash Violet Rawley

Coeur d’Alene confectionery store.

The next transition will be tougher.

“I feel like I’m going to miss everything here,” Brown said. “When I when I think about graduation, I cry almost every time.”

Come fall, Brown won’t be far away. She’s already well on her way to an associate degree at North Idaho College, thanks to its dual-credit program.

And after that?

“I think I want to be a teacher,” Brown said.

Alexa Reed Jayden Reed Parker Rettstatt Carys Riggs Madeline Riggs Guenavere Robinson Timothy Robson Jack Rogers Joshua Rojo Savannah Rojo Dylan Romprey Mathew Roos Aaliya Ross Jaden Ross Lukas Ruchti Ethan Rusche Tritan Ryba Joshua Sadowsky Preston Samayoa Julianna Sanchez Johanna Sands Lillian Sayler Joseph Scarrow Chance Scheets Hunter Schlager Jackson Schreibeis Aubrey Schroeder Kayla Schwirian Lily Sharon Jacob Shepard Noah Shore Sienna Sickinger Caren Silva Kylie Singletary Sophie Singletary Abigail Smith Aidan Smith Kyla Smith Lawyer Smith Liliauna Smith Reilly Smith Talia Smith Alice Snow Trevor Sowa Ethan Stach Madyson Stewart Ava Stone Ryan Stone Sylvia Strow

Whitlee Sudol Asa Sutton Kylianna Swofford Easton Swope Kira Taft Samantha Taub Quinn Taylor Jacob Tenbrink Alana Thomas Chloe Todd Ethan Toomey Monica Torres Isabelle Tweedy Drew Vanos Emily Vaughan Nathan Vaughan Jonnie Vedder Maddox Vestal James Vincent Stella Vincent Sabrina Vogelbacher Tristan Vogt Riann Vreeken Taylor Wakefield Joshua Watson Ian Weber Mason Welton Jacob Werner Kona Westly Parker White Hallie Whitmire Aleah Whitson Jett Wiebe Ian Williams Maliya Williams Lilly Williamson Kolbie Wilson Marc Wilson Paxton Winey Kiemi Wisecarver Jackson Woods Robert Wright Addison Yochum Taylor Young Ethan Younger Maverick Zeman Max Zola-Neftin Emily Zuetrong

T22 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COEUR D’ALENE HIGH SCHOOL / VENTURE ACADEMY Connor Gallaher, who spent two years sailing the Atlantic, Caribbean on a catamaran, will now cross the Pacific to start his engineering studies

LEARNING ADVENTURES

By Treva Lind

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A 44-foot catamaran once served as a classroom for Connor Gallaher, who was raised in the Florida Keys. At the start of 2021, he embarked with family for two years of ocean sailing.

When his family moved to North Idaho four years ago, he traded those voyages for Coeur d’Alene High School, where he navigated advanced classes, clubs and service projects. Next, he will study engineering at the University of Idaho.

Among his achievements are Eagle Scout, National Honor Society, and November 2025 Kiwanis Student of the Month for community service. He also participated in speech and debate and DECA. “Connor is one of a kind,” said Megan Franklin, his counselor. “He’s so poised, responsible, capable and varied in his interests.

“I’d trust him in the future as my doctor, my lawyer – but he wants to go into engineering, and I’d trust him to engineer anything that I would use, because he’s so bright and capable. He has such a good heart and spirit.”

Gallaher has committed to UI’s Microchip Engineering and Security Alliance program, which has students spend their first two years studying at Hiroshima University in Japan.

“I’m very adventure-focused,” said Gallaher, 18. “I like to go out and see the world and do things. I’m definitely a nerd.”

He and his family – including dad Michael, mom Stephanie and brother Cameron, 17 – took on a project after they bought a catamaran as a fixer-upper.

“We worked on it for two COURTESY years,” he said. In Key West, Connor Gallaher and his family moved to Coeur d’Alene four years ago after spending two he lived with family on the years sailing the Eastern Seaboard and Caribbean. catamaran in a marina, “and, of course, I was going to school and everything.” textbooks and paper – no vanced Placement and honors ed Nations and were assigned “Then on New Year’s Day computers. After finishing his classes. to learn about the member of 2021, we left the dock and schoolwork, he could explore His Eagle Scout project nations. Gallaher tested well sailed up the Eastern Seaan island or city, or go diving. covered the building of alumi- in his AP classes, scoring a board for 2021, and for 2022, “I got to see amazing things num picnic tables for a park high of 5 for AP U.S. History. we sailed down to the Cawhile sailing around. I also in the city of Dalton Gardens.

He’s been to many of those ribbean. I spent tons of time got leadership experience.

In DECA, he got a firsthistoric U.S. places, among in the Bahamas, U.S. Virgin Everybody contributes when place award for his startup other travel highlights.

Islands.” you’re on a boat.” business plan to make U.S. “Going out to the ocean While in the north AtHis family moved to Coeur housing more efficient and really taught me a lot of leadlantic, they navigated New d’Alene seeking the Northless expensive for construcership experience that has York Harbor and the East west’s beauty, he said. They tion, maintenance and energy carried forward into my high River and sailed up to Bosalso sought a traditional use. school career, but also into ton. While sailing, Gallaher high school experience, and He and classmates in the Scouting and the other areas was home-schooled using Gallaher took several AdModel U.N. studied the Unitof my life,” he said.

COEUR D’ALENE HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Elyja Abell Tucker Ackerman Vance Ackley Katelynn Adams Bren Altenbach Skyler Andersen Brooklyn Anderson Cambriah AndersonMuehlhausen Dillon Apodaca Oliver Arine Trent Armstrong Rylee Arrotta Lyla Bailey David Ball Elli Barnard Liam Barnes Brooklyn Beck Lola Bell Riley Berger Grace Berrier Ryder Bishop Maile Bonsen Trevor Booze Willow Bosley Paige Bowman Carlee Bowmer Isaiah Bowsher Erlena Bradley Kelsey Breaux Skyler Breeding Sheen Broncheau Lola Brulotte Orion Burns Bailey Bussanich Jonathan Callahan Gianna Callari Alexander Campbell Avery Campbell Kate Cannon Daniel Carleton-Szigeti Braxten Carlos Allison Carrico Hunter Chambers Kamryn Chase Ashton Clancy Kristopher Clark Bryton Coburn Brianna Cohen Kalealah Coleman

Dylan Cook Julia Cooper Everest Cord Julia Cosson Aubri Curry Ian Dahlin Jane Dance Stella Deitz Cole Depriest Isaac Deuel Carson Dickey Blaze Dionne Emmaline Dirks Ashley Docherty Casey Dolan Hanna Donlan Michael Douglass Ryan Drappo Nathan Dreher Lilly Duncan Gwendolyn Dunkin Kiley Durham Rylin Eastman Izabella Entzi Mica Erickson Alexander Esposito Layla Everingham Taylin Everingham Luke Ewing Jaxon Fantozzi Camryn Farrar Emily Fehling Easton Fenter Carlee Fiora Scarlett Fisher Drake Flowers Blake Foulk Brenna Francis Allie Frank Reese Frank Isaac Frati Riley Frazier Samantha Freligh Ava Gabbert Connor Gallaher Lucinda Gallatin Abreham Gallegos Brooke Gallelo Ella Gates Brady Gatten Tanner George Bryant Gerhardt Nevaeh Gildea Anthony Gillie

Graduation

The Coeur d’Alene High School commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 5 at the school’s Viking Stadium, 5530 N. Fourth St. in Coeur d’Alene.

Principal: Victoria Beecher Valedictorian: Olivia May Caden Gimlin Thomas Girard Isabelle Gissel-King Gianna Gonzalez Milo Griebel Annika Hain Shea Hammer Byron Hammett Andrew Hammontree Logan Hanson Lillyanna Harper Avery Hart Jake Hasso Corbin Hawley Gavin Helms Ellie Henderson Lily Hendry Arrayah Henry Bradley Herndon McKenzie Herndon Charlize Hidalgo Kaleb Higginbotham Sibley Higgins Isaac Hildebrand Michael Hill Aubree Hinchliff Jake Holm Lauren Hubbard Reiner Hudson Joshua Hughes Madelyn Hunt Gabriel Hynes Jovie Ingham Sarah Isaksen Beck Jacobsen Ava Jaeger Levi Janson Jack Jenkins Levi Jensen Bennett Jockheck Camden Johnson Jocelyn Johnson Lillie Johnston Conner Keaggy Michael Keating

Rowan Keeton Riley Keller Abigail Kendall River Kermelis Dakota Keyworth Allen Kibler Abigail Kilburn Kaiya Killingsworth Fiona Knudsen Morgan Knutson Madison Kohal Alethea Konen Hezekiah Krell Andrew Kuespert Claire Kuhlmann Lucas Lametterey Beckett Larson Ava Lawhead Rylan Ledger Madison Lee Danika Lenocker Abigail Linder Brooklyn Lininger Colton Loisel Henry Lowry Tharan Lutner Julian Lybarger Brady Mack Hannah Maggard Michael Maniscalco Spencer Martin Roman Marzola Alyx Mathews Kate Mauch Olivia May Ally McBride Alexander McCall Marcus McFadden Evgeniya McGraw Brady Meehan Addelin Memmer William Merrill Macie Milette Aidan Miller Paul Miner

George Mitchell Libby Morrisroe Asa Morton Abigail Neff Jeralyn Norris Brady O’Quinn Chloe Orear Brayden Osterdock Jackson Oswald Ivy Otte Vincent Paliotto Vance Palmer Priest Palmgren Brooklyn Parkinson Arin Patrick Ty Paulin Kaylee Paulson Sawyer Pedersen Kaylee Pederson Justus PeregrinaDomebo Andrew Phillips Scott Pickens Elisabeth Pjesky Olivia Price Ashlyn Provost Rylee Racanelli Jazmyn Reasor Holly Reed Emmett Reitman Mateo Rhea Mitchell Rietze Jude Riley Colt Robertson Alyssa Robinson Savanah Robinson Juliana Rodriguez Mason Rogers Jacob Roland Brady Rubert Nora Ryan Vladislav Sanchez Kaiden Schaffer Grady Scheuermann Jocelyn Schey Hunter Schnitzler David Schoeny Zander Schrempp Mia Schug David Scott Ryan Scott Troy Seymour Lillian Shelley Dax Shirey Daniel Shoup Sophia Shtein Justin Siercke

Joshua Sines Caroline Sisk Conner Smalley Gunnar Smither Delaney Snell Benjamin Sorensen Austin Spang Ryder Spence Tristan Spiker Amanda Sprinkel Abrie Sterbank Grace Stevens Seth Stevens Jackson Stolebarger Collin Storey Jesse Sundberg Clarissa Susca Connor Swanby Tavian Swanstrom Parker Swink Caden Symons Gus Taylor Ian Taylor Max Taylor Logan Thompson Claire Thorpe Danielle Todd James Togiailua Caleb Torgenson Noah Toto Steven Tucker Cooper Turner Shayla Tyler Arianna Vanway Piper Velin Sophia Vignale Aidan Vincent Karisa Wallis Aiden Walter Macy Walters Theodore White Violet White Madden Whitley Emma Wiebusch Bryce Wilburn Paisley Wilkins Garrett Williams Kylen Williams Jaiden Williamson Raven Willis Samuel Wilson Ethan Witheridge Alexis Wood Natalie Wyant Nina Yap Christian Young Malakai Zastrow

Madisen Hart found stability at Venture

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

For senior Madisen Hart, success at Venture Academy in Coeur d’Alene runs in the family.

Hart was on her way to an unsuccessful high school career, failing classes, starting arguments, and being disrespectful to teachers, she said.

She recalls that she passed only one class in two semesters at Coeur d’Alene High School.

“I was horrible there,” she said. “I had terrible anxiety and didn’t do any of my work. I was skipping Hart classes, just hanging out or going to another teacher’s classroom. I had already been in several schools by the time I started high school, and moved back and forth between Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene and Kellogg.

“I didn’t have much stability at home, and I felt like everybody was against me so I was angry at the world.

But at the end of my freshman year, my brother Isaiah talked to me about Venture, how it was a lot smaller and there were people to talk with there.

Honestly, I didn’t mind transferring there because I wasn’t hanging around with good people then.

“As soon as I got to Venture, I had teachers who helped me in class and with my anger issues. It took a while, but I’m a lot better person now than I was my freshman year.”

Hart intends to enroll this fall in the Certified Nursing Assistant program at North Idaho College, and hopes eventually to become a pediatric nurse. She likes helping people, she said, and has wanted to become a nurse ever since she was a child.

“I will miss the teachers and the people I’ve been in school with at Venture. They have become my family,” she said, calling Skyler Mantz, the Venture assistant principal, her favorite person. “I was caught up in credits by my junior year, and at Venture I’ve had lots of classes that I’ve never seen before, practical classes that will help me after high school. The last thing I had to finish was my senior project, on pediatric nursing, radiology and cosmetology.”

Hart won’t forget the role that her brother, Isaiah, played in her success: “He and I had the same struggles, and he wanted me to be successful instead of a brat.”

Mantz echoed Isaiah’s importance in his sister’s life.

“He was a constant for her,” Mantz said. “He would come to me when he was concerned about her and ask me to check in. And we checked in through a lot of different circumstances.

“After she started at Venture there were some ups and downs. Madi was angry, and she struggled when people told her what to do or when she perceived that she was being wronged.

There were times I didn’t think she would make it, but she came in every day when she was having a hard time with math or English.

“She’s a great kid who’s had some ups and downs, but I am so proud of her for getting to the finish line.”

VENTURE ACADEMY

Graduation

The Venture Academy commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 4 at the school, 1619 N. Ninth St. in Coeur d’Alene.

Principal: Teresa Kennedy Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Travis Acosta Lola Anderson Molli Anderson Allison Arel Hudson Barlow Cameron Berg Caleb Bristol Thorean Browning Natalia Bucalo Wilhelm Buettner Brandon Byrd Delylah Candler Mason Carrasco Samuel Clark Colberg Steven Congdon Jayda Cox Aidan Cunningham Parker Draper Maximus Farmer Alex Garvin Sarah Gooley Emily Groven Skyla Guerrero Madisen Hart Roxie Hendry Ryann Hocking Miranda Hoover Shelby Howell Jada Huffman

Nevaeh Huston Jack Johnston Makenzie Kiger Jameson Kitchen Jonathan Kitsak Athailia Klemenok Joaquin Laboy Logan Leveque Delina Lewis Anthony Lobue Aydin Lusby Meleane Maile Oscar Martinez Christopher Mason Mckenzi Maxim Destini McCulloch Lilliana Murphy Kyla Olson Keidren Page Ryver Prudence Lauren Rook Eno Sargis Jeremy Schaal Damien Seifert Natalie Semprimoznik Addison Sprague Lindsey Stevens Kobe P Swayne Elliot Wand Laythia Warner Kasey Wirth Rashun Young Shianne Zulas

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T23

ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL

ON TRACK FOR SUCCESS

An International Baccalaureate diploma candidate, Per Sande will attend UW next fall ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL

By Cindy Hval

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Graduation

Grounded, measured, kind, respectful, well-liked and really funny.

That’s the way Jamie Billings describes student Per Sande.

Sande is an International Baccalaureate diploma candidate and has attended St. George’s School since kindergarten.

“He’s got a level head,” Billings said.

“He’s logical and makes good decisions.

His humor is understated, and he’s a friend to everyone.”

She’s had Sande in her Spanish class for four years and is his Knowledge Bowl coach.

“He’s a reserved leader – he leads by example, and his peers look up to him.”

Sande said he’s enjoyed his time at St. George’s. The private, independent, non-religious, college-preparatory school fosters connection and community.

“It’s a smaller school and provides a lot of different opportunities,” he said.

“Any student can try anything, and I like trying new things!”

He participated in sports such as soccer, basketball and track and field.

Track proved to be his passion and he wanted to participate in as many events as possible.

“The school doesn’t offer pole-vaulting, and I wanted to try it, so I joined Spokane Speed.”

Alongside his academic pursuits and sports, Sande participated in the Science Club and contributed to the water-quality research of the Little Spokane River.

He also spearheaded the Operation Christmas Child program at the school.

“My sisters started running it at St. George’s, and I helped out,” he said.

“When they graduated, I took over.

This year, I passed the baton to a family with younger kids.”

Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. Volunteers fill shoeboxes with toys, school supplies,

The St. George’s School commencement was May 31 at Saint George’s School Graduation Lawn, 2929 W. Waikiki Road.

Principal: Nathan Lill Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Colin Brennan Liam Brennan Solomon Chen Gavin Eliason Pierce English Brynn Hasenoehrl Andre Jiang Remmy Kiltz Laura Knight Matthew Longstreth Janie Martinez Lucia McMurray Maggie Morris

Sophia Naccarato Megan Neiwert Britta Ohnback Braeden Parker Nolan Rich Per Sande Jessie Sawyer Matthew Schultheis Eli Sieber Regan Thomas Jake Werner Max Wheeler Zeyu “Zach” You Jaden Young Shuyi “Tilly” Zhou Weichen “Michael” Zhou

hygiene items, and a note from the sender, and the boxes are distributed to children around the world.

The program has a special meaning for Sande’s family.

“Mom grew up in Bosnia during the independence war,” said Sande. “She received a Christmas box – it was so emotional for her. It was a scary time, and having this box with a note let her know someone out there was thinking about her.”

Sande will attend the University of Washington in the fall and plans to study biomedical engineering.

“I really want to go into research, specifically for prosthetics,” he said.

“I’m really passionate about track and seeing how prosthetics have evolved to help athletes.”

He feels his time at St. George’s has equipped him for the next phase of his life.

“I think St. George’s has prepared me well,” he said. “Direct communication

COURTESY

Per Sande, a graduating senior at St. George’s School, participated in multiple sports including soccer, basketball and track and field. with the teachers has taught me how to reach out and communicate, and I’ve had lots of hands-on experiences.”

Billings is excited to see what the future holds for Sande.

“Per will continue to be curious and find new passions while remaining true to who he is,” she said. “He’s a great example of what we hope the youth of today will be.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO SPOKANE’S INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE CLASS OF 2026

Colin Brennan

Liam Brennan

Solomon Chen

Gavin Eliason

Pierce English

Brynn Hasenoehrl

Andre Jiang

Remmy Kiltz

Laura Knight

Matthew Longstreth

Janie Martinez

Lucia McMurray

Maggie Morris

Sophia Naccarato

Megan Neiwert

Britta Ohnback

Braeden Parker

Nolan Rich

Per Sande

Jessie Sawyer

Matthew Schultheis

Eli Sieber

Regan Thomas

Jake Werner

AWARDED MORE THAN $3 MILLION IN MERIT AID Max Wheeler

Zach You

Jaden Young

Michael Zhou

Tilly Zhou

Accepted to these schools and many more:

SPARKING the Right BALANCE Accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year Learn more at SGS.org

T24 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

LAKESIDE / ENLIGHTIUM PREP / EAST VALLEY PARENT PARTNERSHIP

‘Angels watching over her’ Moving forward to experience new things

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

If anyone has learned at an early age that life is full of ups and downs, it is Lakeside High School senior Kyleigh Wolfe.

First, the ups. Wolfe was the Class 2A Scenic Idaho Conference Girls Basketball Most Valuable Player this season for the second straight year. She averaged 23 points per game, scored 35 in the 2A District 1 championship game and was honored several times as Athlete of the Week.

“Kyleigh has constantly been working on her game and ways to improve,” her coach, Chris Dohrman, told the Coeur d’Alene Press in February. “She has become a better shooter, leader, teammate and defender.”

In the classroom, Wolfe has completed numerous college courses through Idaho Distance Learning Academy and graduated from Lakeside with honors. She will attend Spokane Community College in the fall and play basketball there, and her intention beyond that is to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration. “That’s a very versatile degree,” she said,” and I think that college will be an experience for me to figure out what I want to do next.”

As she looks back at her time at Lakeside, she hopes her on-court legacy is leadership.

“To me, that means being there for my teammates, not myself, working to get along with everyone and helping to make them better,” Wolfe said. “I have tried to encourage my teammates to do more than they think they can do.”

All those accomplishments have come in the face of numerous tragedies over the years. Her father, a star three-sport athlete at Lakeside, was murdered when she was an infant, and other close family and friends suffered untimely deaths throughout her childhood and adolescence.

“All that loss has been really hard,” she said, “but I’ve pushed myself for them.

Through sports and school, I live my life for them. People say that I play basketball just like my dad. I lost my best friend two years ago and I didn’t know what to think or do. My family is my biggest support system, and my mom has been my biggest support through everything.

“I’ve lived in Worley my whole life,” she said, “and moving away will be hard.

Everything that I’ve ever known is here, so it will be hard to leave this place. It has just started sinking in. I’m a little worried about that, but I know that I need to move forward for myself, try new things, meet new people and have new

COURTESY

Jared Shcherbina’s early graduation from Enlightium Preparatory Academy is taking him to SFCC and beyond.

Success in school, on ice runs in this family

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COURTESY

Kyleigh Wolfe hopes her Lakeside legacy is leadership.

Graduation

LAKESIDE HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Curtis Abrahamson Fawn Abrahamson Santino Aldrich Angel Allen Myah Allen Thomas Aripa Archer Brown-Sonder Mya Carter

Tyson Charley Dylan Erickson Ericka Flower Cassidy Gorr Joshua Greve Zymri Hodgson Isabella Kee Tylah Lambert Paola Lozon Sylvia Matt Julian Moffitt

experiences. It sucks not to know about basketball, but I believe that things will work out how they’re supposed to.”

Her counselor at Lakeside, Jaclynn Watson, has the final word on Wolfe and her inspiration to succeed.

The Lakeside High School (PlummerWorley) commencement was May 30 at Miller Court, 1255 E St. in Plummer.

Principal: Carly Green Valedictorian: Ericka Flower

Toma Moses Hallah Peone Kimberly Pluff

Alberta Stensgar Rayna Thomas Kyleigh Wolfe

“The motivation behind Kyleigh’s athletic and academic drive comes from all the angels watching over her,” Watson said. “All these souls had such an impact on her life and continue to watch over her.”

Hybrid program helps Isabella Mattke excel

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Isabella Mattke has shone in her years at the East Valley Parent Partnership, a program that brings together homeschooling with school district support that includes classes, curriculum and equipment.

Mattke has been in the program since kindergarten.

She is autistic and her mother thought she would need extra support in school. “I have a learning disability, so it seemed like a better option to homeschool me,” she said.

She particularly likes the supplemental classes the program offers. “The classes are fun,” she said. “There’s pottery and art and I really like doing that.”

Mattke said she has enjoyed her time at the East Valley Parent Partnership and is grateful she didn’t have to attend a much larger mainstream school. “I like it a lot,” she said. “It’s easier to make friends.”

Counselor Mary-Hope Lakin said the EVPP has enjoyed working with Mattke.

“We have had the honor of watching her grow into an amazing young woman,” Larkin said. “She had her bumps along the way, especially in math, but her work ethic and perseverance allowed her to successfully navigate these times.”

Mattke said she was able to get through her math classes with the help of the EVPP. “I definitely struggled with that,” she said. “I had to have one-on-one help and the East

EAST VALLEY PARENT PARTNERSHIP

Graduation

The East Valley Parent Partnership commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 12 at First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

Principal: Jabez Harlan Valedictorian: Isabella Mattke Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Michael Abrahamson-Dietrick Kelsie Brulotte Asher Chapman Knight Davis Isaiah Flock Ayden Hall Julianna Keller Lilly Lightfoot Isabella Mattke Isaiah Merha Max Mikoski Nathan Nazar Malaki Nunn Grayson Sizemore Ruvim Sushchik

Valley Parent Partnership provided that.”

On the other end of the scale, she has loved studying English. “I like writing and telling stories,” she said.

She spent much of her childhood competing in horse shows, including dressage and jumping, on a horse her family bred and raised named Timbuctoo. She stopped doing shows last year and now she and her horse can be found riding the trails near her house.

She’s definitely been keeping busy, however. For

COURTESY

Isabella Mattke wants to be a social worker in the future. the past two years Mattke has been enrolled in the criminal justice program at the NEWTech Skills Center. She said she’s interested in pursuing a career in social work and believes studying criminal justice will help her.

This year she also joined the girl’s varsity wrestling team at East Valley High School. She said she enjoys the physicality of it and that it’s based on her skill alone.

She earned a letter in the sport. “It’s not the typical sport,” she said. “It’s one on one.”

She’s also been spending some of her time helping out in the EVPP kindergarten room. “It’s nice helping out where I was raised,” she said.

Larkin said Mattke has been “amazing” with the

younger students and if she ever pursues a career in early childhood education, she would be welcome at EVPP. “We would love for her to come back and teach some classes for us,” Larkin said.

After she graduates this spring, Mattke plans to attend Spokane Falls Community College and get a certificate in social work. She would then like to finish her bachelor’s degree at a four-year college, possibly the University of Washington. Her ultimate goal is to start working in a school, perhaps as a teacher, and then transition into social work.

“I think it looks cool,” she said of social work. “I just really want to help people. I think it’s a good way to help people and help kids.”

If Enlightium Prep graduate Jared Shcherbina’s story sounds familiar, that’s because it should.

Like his older brother Caleb – who was picked to be spotlighted in this section by his school three years ago – Shcherbina is graduating two years early and plays hockey on the 18U North Idaho Knights AA team based in Coeur d’Alene. But that doesn’t mean that Shcherbina operates in his brother’s shadow.

He decided to graduate early only at the beginning of the current academic year when he discovered that by including several additional electives to his core requirements, he could finish at Enlightium even sooner than he had planned.

“It was exciting and I was really happy to figure that out,” he said. “But it was also stressful because this spring I have had to choose what college classes I want to take next year.”

He will spend the next two years at Spokane Falls Community College, working toward an associate degree in arts with an accounting focus. After that, he hopes to enroll at Gonzaga University and continue to study accounting. His mother is a professional accountant, and Shcherbina has noted the numerous business pathways that an accounting degree offers.

He’s excited about the next steps in his life, and credits Enlightium with providing him the challenges to accomplish his academic goals so far.

“I’m very goal-oriented,” he said. “I’ve always been disciplined and set high standards for myself in school and in hockey.

I’ve been at Enlightium (previously Summit Christian) since kindergarten, and I’ve had great teachers. They’ve pushed me and all their students to do our best, and I had the opportunity to graduate early by earning several high-school credits while I was in eighth grade.”

Shcherbina credits hockey with helping to provide many of the qualities which have helped him to also be successful in the classroom, and says his love of the sport dates from his early childhood when his grandfather took him to games.

“The crossover between hockey and school translates to every area of my life,” he said. “I have practice almost every day after school, and we play 30-35 games during the season. I’m always working out or doing schoolwork. I have to make sure that I stay caught up with my classes.”

This season Shcherbina and his brother played on the same U18 team – Caleb’s last year at that level. Jared Shcherbina will remember it fondly as “a memorable season with a really great group of players.”

Jared’s work ethic and disciplined approach to his studies hasn’t gone unnoticed by Enlightium teacher Laura Carver.

“Jared’s natural creativity and curiosity drive a genuine interest in new ideas and challenges,” she said, “contributing to high academic achievement. He is a committed leader, serving on the Student Council and participating in school events, including speaking engagements. His faith, respect for his parents, and considerate nature reflect a maturity well beyond his years, and he brings positive energy and determination to both his academic pursuits and his interactions with others.”

ENLIGHTIUM PREPARATORY ACADEMY

Graduation

The Enlightium Preparatory Academy commencement will be at 5 p.m. June 10 at Enlightium Preparatory Academy, 4224 E. Fourth Ave. Principal: Heath Robertson Valedictorian: Jared Shcherbina Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Ella Kuropatkin Jesse Lellex Jared Shcherbina Anna Tarasov

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T25

EAST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL / EAST VALLEY ONLINE LEARNING

PUSHING TO THE FINISH Wrestler Chloe Bennett tackled challenge of more rigorous classes

By Treva Lind

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Wrestling gave Chloe Bennett a reason to show up at school. That motivation broadened when she chose to challenge herself with a full slate of rigorous classes.

In her senior year at East Valley High School, Bennett tackled four Advanced Placement courses along with leadership roles in a college readiness class, called Advancement Via Individual Determination.

She also kept competing in EVHS girls wrestling and as a track athlete, while working for Walmart in online deliveries.

“I wanted to prove to myself I could handle that much work,” said Bennett, 18, who took AP biology, government, pre-calculus and literature. “I’m not sure if four AP classes was the play, but it hasn’t been too horrible. It’s just been a lot of work.”

Reflecting on her first three years of high school, Bennett said she didn’t push herself very hard, and she had to get past an early disappointment.

“I took AP biology my sophomore year, and I did really bad in it. I ended up dropping (it) after that semester.”

But Bennett knew that top universities would require rigorous academics.

“I took AP Biology again, specifically, because I wanted to prove to schools that I can do it,” she added. “I just wasn’t prepared in my sophomore year.”

Now, she plans to study

biochemistry at the University of Washington.

Canada’s Simon Fraser University was another option, where she could compete in Division 2 wrestling, but UW proved a better fit.

“UW is one of the best science schools in the country,” she said. “I think it’s going to open up a lot of opportunities for me. There is still a wrestling club there.”

JoAnne Cook, EVHS teacher, has taught Bennett in geometry, algebra and in junior and senior AVID classes.

While some seniors seek an easier load to end high school, Cook said that Bennett went the opposite direction and leaned into it. During AVID sessions, Bennett patiently tutored younger classmates.

“Chloe is a hyper-determined person,” Cook said. “She has a genuine thirst for knowledge, which is a joy to teach.”

“At her core, she is just a lovely human, very sweet and willing to work with other people.”

UW will be a bit of a homecoming. In eighth grade, Bennett moved to Spokane from the Seattle area. Landing in a smaller city and school were at first a shock, she said. Getting into sports helped.

Once on the cross-country team, Bennett narrowed her focus to track and wrestling this year. She received honors as a Greater Spokane League winter 2025-26 student athlete for overall academic, athletic and community achievements.

“Since I started wres-

COURTESY

Chloe Bennett, of East Valley High School, is headed back to Seattle to study biochemistry at UW. tling my sophomore year, it’s been really important to me, and the reason I showed up in school the

Graduation

EAST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Skylene Albaugh Henry Allen Amir Alvarez Sofia Alvarez Hayden Anderson Carter Arquette Mason Ashenbrenner Terrance Austin Dahlia Autrey Giselle Avila Kempton Baca Xavier Bacon Kamdon Bales Payton Baugh Chloe Bennett Colby Bergman Braeden Bertholic Johnny Bittner Jaydalynn Blackwell Anthony Blessing Kallie Blewett Cheylynn Bloor-Stokes Baron Botello

Jenna Bradley Reilly Bridges Maelynn Brown Tyson Brown Zachary Brown Sarah Buck Nestor Castro Zeizah Catchings Grayson Chissus Mason Comstock Edwin Contreras Karma Cook Abigail Dach Kamea Davis Landon Dawson Natasha Demko Justice Denny Alexander Dietterle Brigid Dinnen Evelyn Dollard Jayce Eck-Crispin Ashlyn Engh Aubrey Erickson Tarin Fields Logan Figueroa-Castor Braedyn Fisher

way I do,” she said.

Then, college readiness took on a greater role.

“I do a lot through

The East Valley High School commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 12 at First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

Principal: Ryan Arnold Valedictorians: Brigid Dinnen, Olivia Gallagher, Mikaela Lavasseur, Taryn Lynch, Ava Payne, Trinidie Roybal, Cloey Taylor, Jocelyn Weger, Valentin Westerlund-Floyd Brady Flahavin Mathew Forsman Nico Francisco Olivia Gallagher Billy Glanville Greggory Glanville Kaylee Goll Victoria Gonzalez Eleanor Good Keeril Gorbunov Aiden Halvorson Keira Hanson Hannah Hays Raegan Heller Maria Herraiz Elisha Hill

Aviana Hinton Haylee Holznagel Jaxon Hutson Payton Ives Dakota Jackson Kyle Jonard Harper Jordan Jillian Justice Corey Keenan-Massie Kiarra Kienholz Riley Killarzoac Owen Kimbrell Joao (John) Kimura Charles Knapply Lucky Kobeney Laura Kopicova

Jackson Krogseth Judith Labadie Bianca Landa Kaylee Larson Mitchell Lauer Mikaela Lavasseur Koston Lawson Austin Lecaire Baylee Lewis Wesley Long Mercedes Lopez Gabriel Lund Emma Lungu Taryn Lynch Evan Magrini Lilyann Malakowsky

AVID, honestly,” she said.

“We do a lot of things for the school, a lot of tutoring projects. I’ve had a lot

Zoey Manley Preston Marks Cohen Marte Child Gabriel Martin Maelynn Martinez Teegan Martinez Alba Martinez-Molina Danyil Maryniuk Tori Mccormick Maddison McGraw Layla Mejia Briana Mendoza Claire Meyer Payton Miller Abby Moore Allison Moore Dakota Morris Lincoln Mosher Haylie Munson Joseph Neaves Alyssa Nelson Skylie Neu Emma Nguyen Conner Nicholson Hunter Nicholson Hunter Noel Kylee Noel Kaylee Owens Braelyn Parham Mackenzie Parks

Savannah Patten Preston Paukstis Ava Payne Camryn Petersen Ethan Peterson Noah Pickard SoLita Pineyro Jase Plumb Beau Pratt Sahvanna Ralston Katherine Ramirez Abby Rector Luna Reyes Kalob Riccelli Kayley Ringsbye Jose Rodriguez Alcantar Trinidie Roybal Ethan Ruchert Jack Rusakowicz Jameson Saeger Juan Sandoval Kaylee Sauceda Mckenna Schumacher Aspen Seamone Ella Shammo A’Niya Shaw Darren Shelley Aylin Shoop Isabel Shoop

‘I wanted to be the best I could be’

By Nina Culver

East Valley Online senior Elizabeth Miller felt lost in large public schools but has blossomed since beginning online classes in her freshman year.

As Miller tells it, she found her motivation.

“I picked myself back up,” she said. “I wanted to be the best I could be. I wanted to show improvement.”

Teacher Paula Cavaness said Miller’s turnaround to a student who has earned straight A’s for the past two years has been remarkable.

“She is the most positive and grateful student I’ve ever worked with,” Cavaness said. “She never hesitates to thank staff for even the smallest thing.”

Miller said she felt unsafe

in her previous schools because of the constant threat of school violence and drugs. “I felt like I didn’t belong there,” she said.

“East Valley Online, they made me feel welcome. It helped me greatly. I got to get my grades up, I got to do hobbies.”

She’s had time to explore drawing, playing piano and writing poetry. “All of it is self-taught,” she said. “I like to do opera musicals. I got to explore myself and explore me and what is of me.”

She said she enjoys that East Valley Online allowed her a time of self-discovery and appreciates that the school feels like a family where she feels wanted and heard.

Miller was born in Las Vegas and moved to the area with her family when

she was 3. In the past few years, her family has suffered terrible loss – her brother died in 2015, her grandmother in 2018 and her father in 2022. She and her mother have struggled financially and have few extras, but Miller said she doesn’t mind.

“Some say it’s simple,” she said. “That’s fine. I love this life.”

Their financial situation forced Miller to give up her extracurricular activities.

Their car broke drown and they haven’t been able to pay to get it fixed. She used to participate in wrestling, volleyball, basketball, track, choir, Key Club and Future Business Leaders of America.

Miller said she misses her school activities, but now focuses on her hobbies. “I just keep swimming,

just like Dory,” she said, referencing a character in “Finding Nemo.” “You don’t have to forget about the people in your life, but you can’t mourn in the past. You have to keep going.”

Miller said that though her journey has not been easy, she believes everything has a purpose.

Cavaness said Miller’s teachers have noticed the difficulties she’s had at home. “She has had struggles with her personal life as well but those who meet her would never know,” she said. “She is an extremely hard worker and just a great human being.”

Miller once thought about going into aerospace engineering, but is now having second thoughts. “I really love psychology,” she said. “I get to learn about think-

Brayden Smith Logan Smith Beckham Stearns Casey Stephens Zackary Stratton Michael Surprise Ruvim Svirgun Christian Swazer Cloey Taylor Josiah Terry Marcine Thomas Jude Todhunter Julian Torres Braeden Trom Aidan Tuttle Nathan Vickery Shirlwin Watt Saige Weaver Jacarie Webb Jocelyn Weger Sarah-Beth Wendel Valentin WesterlundFloyd Taylor Wilkes Vayda Williams Tarren Wirth Ophelia Woodstock Evan Yarnell Philip Yeromenko Kayden Yowell

EAST VALLEY ONLINE LEARNING

Elizabeth Miller shows gratitude for educational opportunities FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

of opportunities to make a large impact. I really like being able to help people.”

Graduation

COURTESY

Elizabeth Miller said online school allowed time for self-discovery. ing, mental processes.”

She has a College Bound Scholarship, a state program that offers free tuition at state universities for those who qualify. She’s considering taking some classes at a community college before moving on to a four-year school. She’s deciding whether to pursue a career as a psychologist or to harness her love of animals and become a veterinarian instead.

The East Valley Online Learning commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 12 at First Interstate Center for the Arts, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

Principal: Jabez Harlan

Valedictorian:

Ashlynn Lanphere

Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Jorian Abdnor Marlaina Ary Spencer Brandvold Tayleighauna Burkhart Kendra Cook Rowan Jackson Nolan Koch Ashlynn Lanphere Carsen Mertens Elizabeth Miller Amaris Molchak Elijah Morkve Lane Pratt Jeremy Schmeets Timothy Wheeler

T26 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

LAKELAND HIGH SCHOOL / MOUNTAIN VIEW ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL

‘She’s a miracle’

Haven Ryan keeps in step with school despite health struggles

By Treva Lind

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Serious health issues, including a heart transplant at age 14, meant that Haven Ryan often had to miss school.

Still, she kept up with her education and will graduate this June before starting a workstudy program.

“She’s a miracle,” said Lynn Stolken, a Lakeland High School extended life skills teacher.

As Ryan’s teacher for four years, Stolken has admired her strength and compassion. “She has a wicked sense of humor,” Stolken said. “With all the things she’s had to overcome, it makes her wise beyond her years.”

Ryan, 19, was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, meaning the left side of the heart was underdeveloped and too small to pump blood effectively.

She required early surgeries to reconstruct the aorta and redirect blood flow, but then had ongoing health concerns.

“I still miss school sometimes because I’m going to Seattle for checkups,” Ryan said. “I take immunosuppressant meds, and sometimes when I don’t feel good, I have seizures.”

Her mom Tanya Ryan said that her daughter’s first corrective procedure was at 10 days old.

“She had four open-heart surgeries as a child,” Tanya Ryan said. At 2 months, a second surgery didn’t go well.

“It failed and she coded, so they had to re-crack her chest open and do the whole thing over again,” her mom said. A third surgery came at age 3, but it all offered only a temporary reprieve.

“At 5 years old, she went into heart failure for the first time,” Tanya Ryan said.

Her daughter then got a pace-

maker and was placed on a heart transplant waiting list.

Meanwhile, Ryan suffered seizures and required constant oxygen.

“Before my transplant, I had an oxygen tank on wheels,” Ryan said. “I had to bring it everywhere. I named it Jerry, like the mouse in ‘Tom and Jerry,’ because it was always chasing me around.”

Her heart transplant surgery came through in 2020 at Seattle Children’s Hospital. It lasted just over 17 hours.

She missed all of seventh grade. During some absences, Ryan said teachers and paraeducators would bring papers and check in. She attended school whenever possible. This year, her favorite Lakeland subjects included a culinary class and math.

Next, Ryan will do Project SEARCH, a one-year educational program for students with disabilities through Coeur d’Alene Public Schools and Kootenai Health. It combines classroom time with a yearlong unpaid internship at a Kootenai Health site.

Her favorite activity is babysitting, and she also rides horses. Ryan and her family live in the Hayden-Rathdrum area, including her sister Eden, 13, now at Lakeland.

Since her transplant, Ryan’s quality of life has improved, but she still has health challenges.

“She has her good days, she has her not-so-good days, but she’s always that student who will take that step forward with the struggles,” said Stolken, who also credits strong family support.

“Haven is incredibly fortunate to have a dedicated and compassionate support circle at home, and having people like Tanya, her mom, and Cindy, her grandmother, who provide an immediate, calming presence.”

LAKELAND HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Levi Abbott Caleb Adams Marshall Adams Bellathalia Aldrich Cooper Allen Zoey Allison Nadia Alsakka Adriana Artz Hunter Avriett Olivia Bachiero Annabelle Baker Maverick Baldwin Danika Barker Bryson Bartimioli Cyler Bauer Kaylee Bennett Wyatt Berger Avery Bitton Benjamin Bixby Aryah Black Eagle-Seres Keetyn Blankenship Noah Bodak

Coltan Booth Hayley Brack Ryan Bridges Gage Briggs Blake Brooks Brenna Brownsberger Sophia Bruns Zoie Burrington Craig Burruss Jr. Evan Buschette Brayden Carrel Macie Chapple Keara Clanin Andrea Clauson Riley Clement Makena Cleveland Caden Collins Cole Cooper Caitlin Costello Zoie Davies Blaze Davis Emma Davis Bridget Derbyshire Katie Dewey Morgan Dickerson Olivia Domonoske

COURTESY

Haven Ryan’s next steps include a yearlong unpaid internship with Kootenai Health.

Graduation

The Lakeland High School commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 3 at Real Life Auditorium, 1860 N. Cecil Road in Post Falls.

Principal: Jimmy Hoffman Valedictorians: Brock Reabel, Amanda Olson, Colt Williams, Jaxson Sanborn

Lilly Dotson Kiersten Drake Grace Earley Zoey Ebaugh Griffis Johnathon Eggart Ryan Engelbrecht Zachary Engelbrecht Jaeden Erk Jonathan Evans Marisa Evans Christopher Fetting Isaac Fisher Wyatt Fitzmyers Dakota Ford

Micah Fox Brayden Frank Bryson Frank Charlee Friddle Mathilde Friebel Lydia Fries Kairi Fritz Kyle Fritz Bryce Fuller Cecelia Fus Jacqueline Gallus Kimber Ganske Catherine Garcia Ezra Godinez

Gracie Gurney Allyson Haag Audrey Halgren Mason Haller Amelia Hamburger Savanna Hamley Alexa Harman Summer Hazelton Liliana Hernandez Evan Hildesheim Kyle Hill Peyton Hillman Dominick Hinderman Alyssa Hinkle Aubrie Hodgkins Jacob Holan Jaxon Holdahl Casen Hostetler Taylor Howe Daemon Huddleston Aiden Huezo Ethan Hunt Natalie Ince Grace Jamison Brandon Jernigan Jack Jones Riley Jones Deegan Joseph-Gierke Maya Keck Karstyn Kiefer

Daniel Killian Carter Kinley Lily Klein Elijah Koller Abigail Kooiman Corvin Krause Jack LaBreck Aiden Larabee Jacob Larcher Katy LaRue Ingraham Landen Leonard Connor Lister Leeann Lohf Brennen Lowe Broxton Lukey Cash Lund Madison Lutz Wyatt Lyle Kambree Marreel Charles Mattila Richard McCaslandSutton Brennan McCrea Sydney McDonald Marisa McGee Skylie Miller Jackie Mobbs Grace Mummery Alexander Mura Chloe Neff

Olivia Nelson Ryder Newby Jonathan Nicolabo Yumol Quinton Norlander Amanda Olson Trayton Otley Daisy Palmer Troy Paoli Luke Parise Addison Paterson Teagan Patrick Christian Peck Gloria Peterson Isabella Peterson Cheyenne Peugh Lakiley Pfaff Cade Pittman Kailyb Pittman Morgan Porter Brock Raebel Reeve Richner Thoran Rogers Natalee Rose Paige Rose Haven Ryan Alyssa Ryckman Jaxson Sanborn Nathan Sapp Peyton Sardinha Reesa Saxe

Alexandrea Schroeder Carmine Sciascia Dreyden Smith Garrett Snyder Ernest Steele Hunter Steward Kya Stice Jace Taylor Lucia Temprano Perez Christopher Tenney Blake Thackeray Alyssa Thomas Paige Thompson Jesse Tincup Beau Upshaw Abigail Van Cleve Shariece Vandever Dezmond Vanek Lucas Vasquez Olivia Villa Bryleegene Waterman Blake Williams Colt Williams Gracie Wilson Isabella Wright Jaron Yager Natalya Young Verity Zichek Delilah Zimmerman

Robert Terry put in the work to get what he needed

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Whatever Mountain View Alternative High School senior Robert Terry does in the future, there’s a good chance that he’ll be an exceptional teammate because he has had plenty of real-life experience.

When Terry was 12 years old, his father died and he has lived with his grandmother for the past six years. With his mother not in the picture, Terry had already spent much of Terry his time with his grandmother, so that part wasn’t much of an adjustment, but now it was permanent.

“It was a lot to go through,” he said. “I lost my dad, but it was her son that died, and that made it hard for her, too. But we helped each other through everything and spent lots of quality time together. She has always been my most consistent source of stability.”

Stability was something that was lacking in Terry’s academic experience as well. After three

years at Timberlake High School, he found himself far enough behind in credits that he would not be able to graduate there, so he transferred to Mountain View at the beginning of his senior year.

“I have dyslexia and it’s hard for me to do reading assignments,” he said. “At Timberlake, I would get behind, and I was working so I didn’t have time to come in after school to finish them. I didn’t really feel that my teachers had the time to help me the way that I needed.”

He wasn’t initially excited about the transfer.

“I wanted to graduate with my friends at Timberlake, and I hadn’t heard the best things about Mountain View. But I found a few people who I knew there and we stuck with each other, and I’ve made the best of my senior year.

“It’s been a completely different learning environment there for me. Teachers have gone out of their way to help me, and it was everything that I needed.

My dyslexia hasn’t really been an issue there, because my teachers have explained things in a way

MOUNTAIN VIEW ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation

Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Hayden Adams Madison Addleman Brayden Anderson Jacob Baldwin Maverick Baldwin Madden Batman Jacob Becker Alliandra Bergen Kenneth Bowen Brooke Bowman McKade Brown Kloe Carr Kayci Contreras Madilyn Cunningham Emily Davis Marshall Dawson Mei-lien Dea Joseph Dorn Cameron Driskell Noah France Catherine Garcia Aurora Gardiner Athena Garridomovia Coltin Gearhardt Landon Gordon Justice’May Green Bristow

The Mountain View Alternative High School commencement was May 29 at Real Life Post Falls, 1860 N. Cecil Road in Post Falls.

Principal: Paul Uzzi

Falon Grijalva Donayit Gunderson Jessabell Hart Arianna Herrera-Schell Alexander Hickey Annalyssa Holton Logan Jeremenko Ashlyn Jonas Willow Kaminski Violet King Vera Kirby Katy LaRue Ingraham Vicki Leon Ryver Magner Mason McCall Richard McCasland-Sutton Natalie McCune Alea Meyers

that I was able to understand. At Timberlake, I felt that many of my teachers didn’t understand what I was going through personally.”

Terry said that he has been

Lilly Mollett Donovan Peterson Benjamin Possinger Nicholas Potter Samuel Raiche Jocelyn Richardson Lottie Robbins Samantha Roberts Piper Rae Schneider Jazzlyn Shultz Presten Sobel-Schlewitz Jackson Sphuler Dominic Taormina Robert Terry Matthew Vargas Treay Vialpando Izaiah Wulf Melanie Zimmerman

working since he started doing yard work at 11 years old, and he is now working at McDonald’s and Silverwood. He’ll continue until next month, when he ships

out to Army basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia.

“I’ve worked out of necessity, to help get the things I needed,” he said. “During high school, I worked to save money for my driver’s license, a car, and insurance. I haven’t really had much of a social life because I was focused on work, but that’s been a little better this year.”

And just to show that Terry isn’t all work and no play, he plays the trumpet as a member of the school Color Guard he helped to create, honoring the flag as it is raised and lowered each day. That sense of patriotism is something that Mountain View paraeducator Jimmy Benson admires most about Terry, along with his commitment to graduating on time.

“I told Robert that the only thing that would hold him back from recovering the credits he needed was himself,” Benson said, “and that if he was willing to work hard there would be nothing to stop him from crossing the stage at graduation. He often sought assistance from MVHS teachers and he has succeeded where previously he was lost.”

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T27

TIMBERLAKE HIGH SCHOOL

Finding his niche Jeremiah Rummerfield had speedcubing and band to help him find community

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Timberlake High School senior Jeremiah Rummerfield has fingers like lightning, but it isn’t because of his time playing the saxophone. Rummerfield has participated in speedcubing, a competitive sport, since he was 10.

“It’s like professional Rubik’s Cube solving,” he said. “I learned by watching a YouTube video and I got faster and faster.

I’ve gotten down to the 10-second mark on the regular Rubik Cube.”

Rummerfield admits that not many people are into speedcubing. “It’s pretty niche,” he said. “You have to learn to flick your fingers. It’s small, precise movements.”

Rummerfield is one of four people who works to organize local speedcubing tournaments. “It has a very welcoming community,” he said.

Rummerfield has lived his entire life in North Idaho. He attended schools in Priest River before transferring to Timberlake last year after his parents became concerned about the stability of the West Bonner School District. “The school district was having a lot of superintendent issues,” he said. “My parents decided to switch us.”

Rummerfield said he has enjoyed his time at Timberlake. “I’ve had a great time there and I’ve found it easier to meet people,” he said. “It somehow feels like I’ve been there forever.”

He has never been into sports and instead has focused on music. When he was in elementary school, his class was shown a video that demonstrated a variety of musical instruments. He decided he wanted to play the saxophone.

“I really liked the way the sax looked,” he said. “I also really wanted to play ‘Pink Panther.’ ” He did, in fact, play the “Pink Panther” theme. “I did learn it when I first started and I’ve completely forgotten it since,” he laughed.

He now plays in Timberlake’s pep band, jazz band and wind ensemble.

The jazz band recently attended Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho. “We had a lot of fun,” Rummerfield said. “It was certainly one of my favorite school trips that I’ve ever been on.”

Timberlake teacher Katelynn Eppenstein said the school has enjoyed having Rummerfield as a student and she’s pleased he is involved in several bands.

“Jeremiah transferred here as a junior and we are so happy he did,” she said.

“He is such a sweet, fun kid to have at our school.”

Rummerfield plans to attend North Idaho College for two years, then move on to the UI. He isn’t certain of his career goals, though he said he could see himself being a band teacher.

“I’m still really undecided,” he said.

“I’ve been looking at a musical career. I know it’s something I’d love to do.”

Graduation

TIMBERLAKE HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Kaedan Adams Keira Adams Shelby Adkison Ethan Applegate Ivan Armijo-Vickers Megan Bangs Caden Bates Noah Bayless Hunter Bebout Shane Bell Gracie Berbig Addisen Berg Ethen Blansfield Caleb Brekke

Jax Britton Wyatt Carey Scarlett Clugston Kaitlyne Cooper Jay DeFrehn Alexander Disney Kaydence Edwards Maxxx Etsitty Rylee Fitzgerald Andrew Fuentes Paul Gambrill Emma Gdula Rachel Gray Matthew Greene Bianca Grimaldi Christopher Haase

Logan Handlen Breyanna Harden Sterling Hart Greta Hegstad Jack Hegstad Kacy Hess Aydin Hester Lake Hiaasen Rayne Holland Kyla Hollloway Hunter Horn Emmalee Howell Harrison Hunter Sawyer Huston Hayden Johnsen Rilynn Kaiser

COURTESY

Jeremiah Rummerfield is considering a career in music.

The Timberlake High School commencement was June 2 at Real Life Ministries, 1860 N. Cecil Road in Post Falls.

Principal: Ryne Eberlin Valedictorian: Malia Miller

Bohdan Kasian Finley Keck Kiana Kelly Savannah Lane Carter Loutzenhiser Emily Lovie Tessa Lynch Daniel Magsam

David Magsam Abigail Martin Brendan Martin Megan McClellan Ashlynn McCorkle Vanessa McLachlan Abigail McLean Nevaeh Mendoza

Congratulations to the PNWU Class of 2026!

The Future of Health Care Begins in Communities Like Ours

You now join the ranks of more than 1,700 PNWU graduates serving communities across the Northwest.

We can't wait to see the difference you'll make.

PNWU.EDU

Hailey Mervin Dallas Miller Malia Miller Kylie Mock Dakota Montes Brylie Moore Ashlyn Morse Alicia Nield Micah Nield Alec Nielson Amarijana Olivieri Chad Paul Kaeleb Pertle Sean Peterson Ezekiel Potter Brandon Prey Alexander Reece Mylie Reed Tristan Robinson Zoie Rodriguez

Pheiffer Rosenberger Courtney Ross Cody Routt Madysin Royce Julianna Rude Jeremiah Rummerfield Brant Rush Jacob Sateren Quinton Sherrett Isaac Short Samuel Simmons Andrew Smith Dylan Smith Elizabeth Smith Ethan Smith Nicholle Smith Wyatt Smith Sophia Soumas Jason Spalding Andrew Sperry

Hudson Stapleton Delilah Stewart Jayce Stewart Vennessa Taormina Braiden Tompkins Makenzie Trott Nathaniel Tumang Elly Vander Kolk Tanner Van Tassel Zebulon Von Pohle Eva Waggoner Colleen Ward Lauren Wass Aubrie White Preston Wolfe Eric Wylie Lincoln Wyndham Joshua Yeager Payton Young Rylee Zepeda

T28 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

NORTH IDAHO CHRISTIAN / LUMEN HIGH SCHOOL / SPOKANE VALLEY

Chelsey Cate keeps her eyes on her blessings

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Chelsey Cate learned way before a child ought to have to that you can only play the cards you’re dealt.

The North Idaho Christian School senior was only 9 years old when she was sent by her parents from Las Vegas to her paternal grandparents in Coeur d’Alene. Her parents Cate intended to move to Idaho shortly thereafter. The move never happened.

Although her parents visited occasionally and she did her best to stay in contact, Cate has lived with her grandparents ever since and has built a life filled with love and support.

“I’m really blessed with my grandparents and my friends,”

Cate said, “but it definitely wasn’t easy. It was hard growing up seeing other kids with their parents and I didn’t have that. It was always really confusing for me, but I have done my best to move through those feelings a little bit at a time. I feel that I know more now about what happened now that I’m older, but I may always have questions.”

With the exception of a year in seventh grade, Cate has been enrolled at NICS since fourth grade, and treasures the close-knit community there. This year, she was student-council president and captain of the basketball team.

“Our senior class isn’t very big,” – 10, besides herself, as she counted – “and all of the kids are really nice. We all want to love and serve Jesus and each other. I know that

is different from what many other kids experience. Everyone gets involved in activities and fundraisers, and kids who have graduated often come back to help out.”

After she graduates, Cate will work at North Idaho Eye Institute as an optometric technician. She has been intrigued by the intricate design of the eye ever since her grandmother read her a book about optometry, and says that its function reminds her “that we were created by a loving God.” That faith is noted by her long-time basketball coach, Jerry Bittner.

“Chelsey lives her Christian faith every minute of every day,” he said. “Her commitment to her church, family, school, team and friends is unbelievable. Her maturity is way beyond her years. I never had to ask her to watch over a new player, and she would help

NORTH IDAHO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

them to understand drills and to feel comfortable.

“She was a fierce competitor, but always treated the other team with compassion and grace. I have had many parents from other teams come up and tell me how great a young lady Chelsey was.

In her last game at the regional all-star game, she had 19 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocked shots against players from larger schools. She has been a blessing from God to me for the last nine years.”

“I could have chosen to be negative and difficult, mad at every adult, and make bad decisions,” Cate said, “but I’ve gone down the right path and people tell me that they’re proud of me. Leaving NICS will be hard because I love being in school, but everyone in my class will stay in the area and we’ll still get to see each other.”

Graduation

The North Idaho Christian School commencement will be at 1 p.m. June 6 at North Idaho Christian School, 251 W. Miles Ave. in Hayden.

Principal: Paulette O’Neal Valedictorian: Chloe Kaiser Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Dane Carpenter Chelsey Cate Jacob Dzick Sydney Ellis Daniel Finney Jacob Holte Chloe Kaiser Colton Malinauskas Kadon Sakae Madison Salaiz Sadie Wade

Charter school helps Kaylee Spaulding grow as a student and parent

By Azaria Podplesky

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Before her first day at Lumen High School, Kaylee Spaulding was reluctant to attend. She remembers being upset when her mother told her about the school, which serves teen parents, because she was active in her previous school and had made friends she didn’t want to leave.

But after her first day, Spaulding’s feelings changed.

“My first day was actually amazing,” she said. “Everybody came up to me, they gave me hugs and were saying, ‘Hi.’ Everyone was really friendly, and then it just kept getting better. I definitely regret how I felt the first day. This is by far the most amazing school I’ve ever been to, and I think anyone will ever go to.”

The school offers students a full education while also providing for them as parents, including childcare and other resources such as clothing, diapers and access to programs like the Women Infants and Children Nutrition Program.

Spaulding and counselor Katy Vancil know not everyone has a support system in their family, so they see the Lumen community as a chosen family.

With the help of this chosen family, Spaulding has been able to pursue interests like art and being outside. Last year, for example, she created one of her favorite pieces of work, a tree growing against a pink and purple background, that represented starting over. And last month, she spent the day with classmates doing research at Turnbull Wildlife Refuge, where they saw a moose and her baby.

All while her son was being cared for and making friends of his own.

Outside of school, Spaulding has been

LUMEN HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation

The Lumen High School commencement will be at 10 a.m. June 13 at Central Library, 906 W. Main Ave. Principal: Aleisha Concepcion Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Caleb Dellinger Gabe Drouhard Ivory Griese Aubrie Lowman Kaylee Spaulding Shelby Wilkerson Maliyah Wilson-Abney

able to get work experience as well.

What was meant to be an internship at People’s Waffle turned into a job on the first day. She’s also picked up work at the Grain Shed. At both businesses, she does a mixture of prep work, washing dishes, cleaning tables and welcoming guests.

After graduation, Spaulding is considering becoming a dog handler in the military, which she’s been interested in since she was young, or pursuing a different path: a career in criminal investigation.

“I find that really interesting, learning the inside of people’s brains and why they do things,” she said.

Vancil said Spaulding is a fixture at the school and will be missed when she does pursue her post-high school plans. She’s the first to offer help to students and staff and interacts with everyone in a kind, empathetic, mature way.

“We won’t have a go-getter who’s going to be the person who’s going to say,

COURTESY

Kaylee Spaulding with her son, Jackson.

‘OK guys, let’s do this. This is fun.’ Our cheerleader,” Vancil said. “We need that person at our school, and that’s who she is. We’re going to really miss that when she’s gone.”

The feeling is mutual, but Spaulding knows her time at Lumen has prepared her for wherever her post-high school

After many moves, Alexis Reyes finds her place

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Spokane Valley High School senior Alexis Reyes had a childhood marked with multiple disruptive moves that made settling in difficult.

She was born in Omak, then moved to Spokane with her mother and brother when she was 4. They moved around town several times, then to Texas for a while before coming back to Spokane. When she was in the eighth grade, she returned to Omak for part of the year before coming back again to Spokane.

Reyes said she had been a social child who made friends at each new school, but it got harder to leave her new friends over and over again. Soon, she withdrew and stopped making friends.

Now, she said, she can appreciate her moves “because I got to meet so many different people,” she said. “In elementary school, it was a lot harder.”

By the end of her eighth grade year, she said she was unmotivated and skipped school. That was also a year of tough family and health issues. “I just wasn’t feeling it,” she said.

One of her teachers at Centennial Middle School suggested she look into Spokane Valley High School. She liked that it was small and that she would be in classes four days a week and have Fridays off.

“I loved the idea of having small, personal classes,” she said. “It’s not a huge school.

I figured I’d try it out. I ended up loving it.”

During her sophomore year, her family moved to north Spokane. Reyes said her mother wanted her to go to the neighborhood school, Rogers High School, but she didn’t want to.

“I really fought with her to stay at Spokane Valley High School,” she said. “We figured it out.”

She’s been involved with Future Business Leaders of America and is the president this year. She serves as a student representative on the West Valley School Board and also serves on the Ronald McDonald House teen board.

Reyes is an enrolled member of the Colville Tribe and helps out at the Salish School, a Salish language immersion school. She helps provide babysitting for the evening language classes for parents of enrolled students. Her younger sister is currently enrolled in the school.

School counselor Elise Barlow said Reyes works hard. “Alexis embodies Spokane Valley High School and the values we uphold,” she said. “Alexis is a young adult who I believe really will make a positive change in the world around her as she continues to grow and mature.”

This year, however, Reyes doesn’t attend Spokane Valley High School full time. She attends part-time while also attending the NEWTech Skills Center’s nursing assistant program. She’s currently doing clinical work at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center.

Reyes said she’s been thinking about becoming a nurse and saw the NEWTech program as a way to test whether she

life takes her, something the school hopes all students feel by the time they graduate.

“They’re constantly trying to make you grow and do better,” Spaulding said. “I feel better as a person being here, stronger and more capable, being a parent and carrying my life out after high school.”

SPOKANE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation

The Spokane Valley High School commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 11 at Spokane Community College auditorium, 1810 N. Greene St. Principal: Eric Jurasin Class of 2026

COURTESY

Alexis Reyes found stability, direction and success. would like it.

“I just wanted to know if nursing is the thing for me,” she said. “It really reassured me that nursing is what I want to do.”

She plans to attend Whitworth University for her bachelor’s degree in nursing, then work for five years as either an emergency room or ICU nurse. Her ultimate goal is to work as a nurse with Life Flight.

Reyes said she will be the first in her family to attend college. “Things are really looking up,” she said. “That’s helped motivate me.”

Expected to graduate are: Kaetlyn Afana Gabby Aiello Chelsea Anderson Sen Aragon Adelina Ayala Travis Bippes Carson Bouvier Andie Bradford Jalyn Brophy Liam Bryant Kaden Bumbeck Trinity Burris Jean Carranza Lisette Castillo Iris Daniels Roman Elder Ky Ethredge Daniel GallagherSchatz Violet Giba Cael Giles Joshua Hakizamungu Cody Harvey Tristen Jenkins Tye Jones Amorae Jordan Grace Justice Reauna Klaas Trinity Kohlman Alexandria Konchel Sadie Lazcano Skylar Lee

Brianha Love Liam Mccorry Raynna McIver-Van Dam Alexander Meier Grolman Mia Melendrez Truden Miller Traves Moe Simon Morgan Ava O’Hair Olivia Parker Moises Peralta Evelina Popov Brisen Price Chancelor PriceLarison Rebecca Puckett Ofelia Quindlen Lindsay Rehfeld Alexis Reyes Lakai Rodriguez Liam Roeh Austin Royer Joshua Schoenberger Deirdre Seilhan Olivia Sheppler Cris Steele Hallie Sturm Zamir Tubbs Jamison Walker Kayla Wight Stone Williams Sarina Wolf Jai’Dyn Young

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T29

WEST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL / DISHMAN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

A JACK OF ALL TRADES

Cooper McQuitty uses craftsman skills to help others

By Azaria Podplesky

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

If you can dream it, West Valley High School senior Cooper McQuitty can build it.

In his home shop, McQuitty completes a lot of woodworking and metal working projects. Lately, he’s been building custom subwoofer boxes and is also doing some fiberglass work.

At West Valley, he can often be found in shop class, building everything from yard games for school barbecues and garden boxes to a cat house made for a Pet Savers auction.

And the work doesn’t stop with McQuitty’s own projects, as he and his friends have been approached by teachers to repair things from their own homes, most recently an old table.

“We’re the guys that people want to go to to get things fixed and things done,” he said. “I really like helping people in aspects that I’m good at, of course.

You feel good about it.”

McQuitty has been a craftsman since he was young, following in the footsteps of his late grandfather, who introduced him to various tools and guided him through projects. The pair started with things like birdhouses before moving onto more advanced work as McQuitty became more skilled.

“I really like being a jack of all trades,” he said. “I do a lot of random stuff. I build a little bit in a lot of fields.

I just learned a bunch of fiberglass stuff pretty much by myself. I’m a self-taught welder. I had an old truck that I rebuilt, dropped the transmission and everything.

I’ve never done any of that

before. I like jumping into projects and figuring it out.”

McQuitty takes a lot of pride in his work, which helps at West Valley, where he said students take pride in the school’s legacy, especially when it comes to athletics.

McQuitty himself is on the track team as a discus thrower. Everyone in his family, he said, is a giant who isn’t built for running. Both his brothers pitch in baseball though, so he knew he could throw.

He’s also proud of how the school fared in the Golden Throne and Golden Plunger spirit competitions against rivals East Valley High School. This year, he and some friends participated in a halftime show doing stunts with the cheer team.

He stays busy before school, as well. McQuitty, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, started each day of his high school career in seminary, a gospel study that begins at 6 a.m.

After high school, McQuitty is considering attending school to become a lineman.

“He is a very focused student,” manufacturing teacher Josiah Hunter said.

“He knows exactly what he wants. He knows how to get it.”

And even when he faces setbacks, like not receiving a grant for the Pet Savers cat house project, Hunter said McQuitty doesn’t let that stop him. Instead, McQuitty and the friends he was working with approached local businesses and raised the necessary funds to complete the project.

This year marks Hunter’s first teaching in the manufacturing program, which is only becoming more popular with students. McQuitty, he said, is the type of student

WEST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Morgan Aikman Fazulqader Aimaq Aidan Anderson Quincy Andrews Alix Arana-Gutierrez Liana Artemenko Grace Atabelo Lauryn Baldi Ivy Barsness Devin Batke Clarion Bergland Blayne Bishop Erik Borg Dayton BoudreauxJohnson Lucas Bragdon Cassie Brooks Alexander Buck Evelyn Bunch Abigail Burger Claire Busse Cristian Calvillo Vazquez Hayden Carr Adrianna Carroll Mylie Caufield Melia Cerenzia

Avah Cheroke Zeindeen Chreiki Cohen Clark Elizabeth Clemens Noah Clouse Isabelle Collins Kyler Collins Hailey Colyar Addison Cooper Salena Courchaine Ethan Cox Ely Cramer Brooke Cratty Lucas Cratty Monroe Cummins Hailey Dach Isabella Daugherty Pheonix Davey Logan Donato Olivia Drake Kayleen Ellis Lauren English Logan Ensor Daisy Framstad Madison Frisina-Knight Dekker Frost Copperlyn Gannon Luis Garcia Nicholas Gardner

COURTESY

Cooper McQuitty’s focused attitude is an asset he leverages to excel. needed in the program, someone who is focused on their own work but also willing to stop and help others.

He’s hoping that some of the younger students Mc-

Graduation

The West Valley High School commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 12 at the Podium, 511 W. Joe Albi Way. Principal: Ashley Barker Valedictorians: Hailey Colyar, Lucas Mortensen, Olivia Schlosser, Kyia Silva, Breck Simmons, Alexis Wolfe Ta Gay Selihom Gebrewold Keyondra Gerimonte Castro Isabella Gillespie Blake Gipson Gabriella Glass Haiden Gohl Mersed Grebic Brooklynn Green Micah Grothe Chris Guevara-Banegas Landon Gustafson Jake Haight Piper Halverson Jocelynn Harris Elizabeth Hehr Grace Hehr

Denton Heuett Madison Holzer Jaxx Hoog Caden Hoskinson Jenna Howe Brooklyn Ingram Zachery Inman Samuel Isaacson Nathan Jeffries Ryder Johnson Israel Jones Cassie Kappen Khloie Kaster Claire Kellogg Haylee Kelly Lily Kelly Elizabeth Kensok Adam Knapp

Quitty is helping see the impact he’s had on the program and continue his legacy as they become upperclassmen.

“They’re getting some firsthand experience with

Alexander Koch Janessa Korchemnyy Mark Kulyk Violet Kummet Ella Larson Moses Lashkay Samantha Lee Ayden Lesofski Lynette Lopachuk Alana Lulgjuraj Liam Lyons Hailey MacKay Clinton Maddalena Morgan Marsh Stella Marsh Orion Mastel Lauren Matthew Johanna McCurdy Daphney McGovern Addison McIntyre Shawn McManigal Cooper McQuitty Ava Melcher Josue Melendez-Banegas Ava Mitchum-Burdick Vincent Moliterno Braden Moore Joseph Mortensen Lucas Mortensen Morrissa Munday Luke Munson Parker Napier Madeline Nickens

Audrey McClinton Priestly is there for others She shows a lot of grit in her personal and academic life, and can FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW often be found in the middle of school Dishman Hills High School senior drama – as a mediator, not an agitator.

Audrey McClinton Priestly is not one “Her character is top notch,” to seek the spotlight.

Groshoff said. “Of the 30 years I’ve McClinton Priestly is more interbeen teaching, she is definitely in the ested in being there for others top 1% of kids that are caring and taking some of the load and compassionate and can off their shoulders. If someone do it even through such tough is behind on their work, for times that she’s had in her example, she will help them as life.” much as she can so they stay McClinton Priestly aton top of assignments. tended another high school “I try to show up with a in Spokane for her freshman McClinton smile and not try to be all year before moving to Ocean Priestly gloomy and down, because Shores with her family. After when you’re gloomy and her mother Cara died, she down, it makes other people around moved back to Spokane, where she you gloomy and down,” she said. now lives with her grandmother.

Teacher Eric Groshoff, who had McClinton Priestly said her mother McClinton Priestly in advisory and raised her to think more of others Makerspaces classes, noticed that than about herself. She also credits quality in McClinton Priestly soon her mother for being the reason she after she arrived at the school for her is graduating high school, saying it junior year. McClinton Priestly, he was one of the last things she asked said, is more concerned about others McClinton Priestly to do before she than she is about herself, even down died two years ago, a month before to the projects she chooses to work McClinton Priestly’s 16th birthday. on, which are almost always gifts for “She’s very much the light of my others. life story,” McClinton Priestly said. “I

By Azaria Podplesky

have a necklace with her ashes in it that I wear every single day. She very much was my rock in my life.”

After graduation, McClinton Priestly plans to attend Spokane Community College to study cosmetology. She hopes to become a hairstylist, as she’s been doing her own hair since fifth grade, and she and her mother used to do each other’s hair. She has also helped style her siblings’ hair, saying hair is fun to play with.

While at SCC, she also wants to take business classes with the goal of one day opening up a shop with her friends. One is interested in doing nails, another is interested in tattooing. Combined with McClinton Priestly’s hair salon, she thinks they can bring in a lot of customers.

McClinton Priestly said she tries not to make big plans for the future lest she be disappointed when they don’t come to fruition, but when it’s something she’s really interested in, she can’t help it.

“I go with the flow of life, and when things pop up, I’m like, ‘I’m going to try this,’ ” she said. “When things come up and it’s something I really want to do, I’m very driven to do it.”

an older student that is as high quality as Cooper, and that rubs off a little and that helps inspire the next group that’s coming up,” he said.

Jesse Nieffenegger Taylor Norman Devon Oliver Livia Olson Brynlee Ordinario Tyler O’Rourke Sabryna Pasamonte Adeline Pavlischak Jaiden Peak MaKenzie Peterson Austyn Philips Elizabeth Pokhodun Breanna Post Kaden Quenzer Walker Reid Parisa Reynolds Logan Riley Hemry River Brandon Roberts Hailee Robinson Grace Rogers Celina Rose-Cristales Alyssandra Ruiz Liam Ruppert Aiden Sabota Olivia Schlosser Elijah Shackleford Logan Shearer Rowan Sherwood Kyia Silva Breck Simmons Jordan Smith Noah Smith

Sadie Smith Sophia Smith Keenan Spletstoser Wyatt Stern Londynne Stratton Abigail Swatzell Ariah Tabor Christie Tate Isaiah Thompson-McBride Dylan Thomson Talon Tone Cyrus Turner Damon Turner Chloe Van Wey Liliana Vargas Arenas Ellianah Vaughn Zoe Vaughn Michael Votava Khloe Wanberg Addison Watson Lillian Weber Brayden Webster Cameron Wendell Scarlett Wessner Kaitlyn White Jessica Wilborne Noah Willard Collin Willis Brooklynn Winkey Alexis Wolfe Channing Wu Braydon Wurtz Gabrielle Young

DISHMAN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Enver Adjiasmanov Jayci Anderson Matthew Anglesey Ryan Arredondo Kyle Ashwood Adan B. Bosston B. Cody Barnett Hanna Barriner Avalon Bartels Bee Bowe Chris Breyer Izabella Breza Jocelynn Burns Elijah Cabanas Aria Camacho Aiden Campos Eli Cannon Kaylee Cooley Astalyn Daimler Parker Dana Madelyn EdwardsJackman Rosetta Espinoza Dagan Eveland Joseph Eveland Jess Falkner Brayden Fenton Silence Gannon Mason Godfrey Shelby Goldsmith AJ Gooding Caylob Grace Holly Grace Emma Gray-Wood Ty Gunion Maria Hagan

Graduation

The Dishman Hills High School commencement will be at 6 p.m.

June 10 at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. Principal: Lauren House Valedictorians: Oliver Poshusta, Teagan Herrin Kayleanna Hensley Teagan Herrin, Jenny Hodges Sierra Hollingsworth August Jackin Mya Jefferson Grace Johnston Kiondra Karns Octavia Kieffer Ti’ger Kimble Jami King Makila Lacer Emily Larsen Tristan LightfootHunter Preston Lindor Jazmine Lopez Chris M. Ivan Malov Carter Marsh Audrey McClinton Priestly Avery McPeak Jonah Michlig

Silas Mueller-Gay Neveah Pearl Teenah Pedigo Laine Polello Oliver Poshusta Naeden Powers Alex Rice Bristol Roberts Connor Schilling Joseph Schmaltz John T. Sherlock Michael Shevchenko Heidi Mae Spangler Jordan Tart Isaac Terpko Faith Thomas KayCi Trickler Makayla ValdezLester Ashlyn VanDusen Kiara Vega Vega Sierra Walls Morgan Wyatt

T30 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COEUR D’ALENE CHARTER ACADEMY / RIVERSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT

JUGGLING HER PRIORITIES

COEUR D’ALENE CHARTER ACADEMY

Gabrielle Hill sets nursing path after tutoring and government roles

Graduation

The Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy commencement was at 6:30 p.m. May 29 at Lake City Church, 6000 N. Ramsey Road in Coeur d’Alene.

Principal: Stacey Peppin

By Treva Lind

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

A frequent tutor, Gabrielle Hill is known for making young students feel valued in one-onone sessions.

Hill juggled regular classes at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy, dual credit courses at North Idaho College, a NIC student senator role and tutoring. Earlier this year, she worked as a page in the Idaho Legislature.

“She is someone who can do a lot of different things at the same time, but whenever she is with one person, one-on-one, you feel like you are the only one she is thinking about,” said Drew Burfeind, the school’s tutoring center coordinator.

Charter has students in sixth through 12th grades. After school tutoring has upper-class students helping younger peers in typically science and math. Hill regularly met with sixth-graders, Burfeind said.

“She meets them where they’re at,” he said.

“She is a very gifted individual in working with people.”

Hill entered the Legislative page program for high school students this year, serving in the House from mid-January through most of February.

“I was assigned to specific committees where I would set up and tear down committee rooms, assist secretaries, and then help on the floor daily,” said Hill, 18.

“I learned a lot about how – at least on the state level – our government runs, especially on the House side. I’m a lot more familiar with how bills are made, how they’re passed and what it looks like to put ideas into law.”

However, a political future isn’t in the plans.

Hill wants to be a nurse after completing those studies at NIC. Then, she hopes to train as a midwife.

“After my cousin was born, I realized how much of an interest I had in all things pregnancy, labor and delivery,” Hill said. “I know that a nurse midwife needs a master’s degree, but I don’t have specific plans where that will be yet.”

Hill said math comes naturally to her, and she first helped at Charter’s math camp for sixth-graders. In tutoring, she helps students understand how one math concept builds off another one. “I try hard to go back or to help students with those concepts.”

Making others feel valued is a priority, she said. “I think the biggest reason that I am like that is because of my relationship with God, and how that influences my life.

“I really enjoy spending quality time with people, and I try hard to make that a priority,

Valedictorian:

Erin Griffith

COURTESY

Gabrielle Hill is interested in a career in midwifery. even though life can be crazy and sometimes it’s difficult. It’s always worth it.”

She said being a NIC dual credit senator helped connect her to campus and students, while she also learned about leadership. With NIC dual credits so far, she’s on track to complete a general associate degree this year.

For fun, she dances ballet, tap and swing. She joined a “Need A Little Christmas” production this past season.

“After I got over the stress of learning the dances that were challenging, it was a cool way to release the stress of the school year and just do something fun.”

Twins got comfortable enough to come out of their shells Cheyenne and Remmy Irvine leaving lasting impression after thriving at Riverside

Graduation

The Riverside High School, Riverside Achievement Center and Riverside Independent Scholar Program commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 5 at Riverside High School stadium, 4120 E. Deer Park-Milan Road in Chattaroy.

Riverside and Riverside Achievement principal: Clint Hull Riverside Independent Scholar Program principal: Scott Frueh Riverside valedictorians: Cheyenne Irvine, Remmy

Irvine, Landen McCanna

RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

By Azaria Podplesky

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

As with many sets of twins, there are a lot of similarities between the pair but also a lot of differences that make each individual.

Riverside High School students and twin sisters Cheyenne and Remmy Irvine both like to work with their hands but in different ways.

Cheyenne is interested in welding sculptures (she’s currently working on a sculpture of an owl) and keeping orchids, a hobby inspired by the Irvines’ late grandmother. In school, Cheyenne explores those interests through Career and Technical Education classes.

“I want to learn skills that are going to help me, not just in my career, but in life as well,” she said.

“I’ll take classes that are going to give me more life skills. I want to be able to know how to use power tools, how to repair an engine.”

Remmy likes reading and writing fiction and short stories. She enjoys English and other creative-based classes, including digital photo and media classes and yearbook. She was drawn to these classes because, while growing up, she didn’t feel like she had a safe place to express herself.

“Taking those classes and being able to explore and try different things and just be creative has really helped me,” she said.

The sisters felt like they were a little conservative when it came to participating in activities in or out of school their freshman year because they were feeling shy, but they’ve since made up for it.

Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Lochlann Bailey Branston Banta Edmund Bardwell Christian Blasick Grace Bredeson Jackson Burbank Audrey Campbell Annabelle Carr Bridger Crawford Mason Curry Nola Deepchandani Cadoc Dobbins Anthony Donnelly Danielle Edmiston Hayden Ellison Amy Fisch Violet Furlong Erin Griffith Gwenneth Guan Bailey Halfhide-Burke Kai Hensley Gabrielle Hill Minh Hoang Julianna Hodges Liam Hughes Justice Jaszczak Kourtni Johnson Mallory Judd Lily Kuhnhausen Isaac Liew-Nguyen Greyson Luce Seaton Luce Mattis Macmillan John MacPhee II Kaelyn Manuel Declan McMenomy Reagan Meine Charlie Miller Alexander Mroczko Joseph Nicklay Helen Oyler Sofia Peppin Violette Persling Cruz Portellas Jennifer Pytlewski Tucker Rigg Adysen Robinson Ethan Rode Annalise Scott Isabel Trinidad Iverson Vandegrift Lily Wessels Lucas Wessels May Wiglesworth Lucas Witherwax Thomas Wright Caitlin Zent

COURTESY

Remmy and Cheyenne Irvine are two of Riverside’s three valedictorians.

Both Cheyenne and Remmy participated in LaunchNW Youth Council last year, for which Cheyenne packed kits for homeless youth and Remmy worked on a fire safety project for Latinos en Spokane.

They also participated in the Production and Manufacturing Institute in the summer and, in their sophomore and junior years, the pair helped with Hillbilly Haunted House in Chattaroy building sets and working as scare actors.

After being affected by a death in the family, Cheyenne and Remmy credit their grandma and the Riverside community for helping them to step out of their comfort zones.

“We became so comfortable that you start growing because you’re like, ‘I can start doing this now.

I can start talking to people. I’ve been through so much. Now, it’s nothing,’ ” Remmy said. “Meeting those people is how we came out of our shells, all of our friends, being away from bad situations, it all allowed us to take daring moves and

be willing to go and do something.”

Cheyenne and Remmy are two of Riverside’s three valedictorians this year. After graduation, Cheyenne plans to attend Whitworth University or Spokane Community College to earn a degree in business and minor in political science.

Remmy plans to attend Whitworth or Spokane Falls Community College to study graphic design or cybersecurity.

Spanish teacher Mary Ressa has taught Cheyenne and Remmy since they were sophomores and is happy to brag about the pair. They’re Spokane Scholars, for example, with Remmy excelling in history and Cheyenne in math.

Ressa said both sisters are the whole package, with above-average intelligence and work ethic but also a desire to roll up their sleeves and get involved with the community.

“They will give more than they take,” she said. “I’ve taught for 35 years, and I probably don’t remember all of my students. I will always remember these two.”

Expected to graduate are: Gabriel Anderson Samuel Apperson Winter Boardman Penelope Bohs Lillian Bonn Samuel Booth Madison Boucher Kaydence Brook Amelia Carroll Bella Cole Isabelle Cotner Vanessa D’Amico Mikaela Davis Landon Edwards Kyra Eligio Jace Foubert Wyatt Freeman Wylen Gordon Alyssa Groom Shelby Grow Paisley Harper Liam Hart Jaylynn Hayworth Aubrie Heiman Jordyn Heinecke

Ryder Howard Cheyenne Irvine Remmy Irvine Nolan Jarman Athena Jones Emily Jones Alina Kuropatkin Torin Larson-Fetters Nicole Lee Sammuel Leming Dylan Leu Angelina Lopachuk Payton Lundgren Megan Luttrell Dallas Lyman Trinity Mally Josiah Marquardt Jameson Martin Oliver Martin Landen McCanna Rowdy McKenzie Amy Mechling Alexis Miller Ashley Miller Viviann Moen Braden Morrill Hailey Morrill Maxwell Motteshard Marcus Oergel

Aliyah Ortega Anna Pace Lincon Papineau David Parker Jude Pebley Madisyn Plybon Logan Profitt Zoie Ramsden Benjamin Ramsey Helena Renk Javin Repp Nina Rudenko Jayden Savage Ruby Schneider Jacob Schuch Elise Slattum Margaret St. Amand Victoria Stiles Isabella Strey Caysen Taylor Alexander Thompson Tyler Thompson Eathen Turner Ashlee Usher Emma Vavilin James Ward Isabella Willhite Coltayo Wilson Ryder Wolcott

RIVERSIDE ACHIEVEMENT CENTER Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Marshall Baker Kaleb Boegli Kelsey Braman Mason Dell Mac Green

Abigail Guyette Dawson Johnson Haley Jones Harmony Jones Guhnnar Julius Jason Kesti Isabella McCalip Reese Morris

Ryker Parkins Brady Rickey Colby Scarpelli Brody Schauls Brandon Shoemaker Veronika Warren Chase Welch Jevon Wilkie

RIVERSIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOLAR PROGRAM Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Jared Arce Matilda Bates Elle Borth Kieryn Durham Gabriella Euell Dade Fietkau Justin Gaffaney Jazmine Gunther Joy Hendrickson

Holden Hymas Austin Jenkinson Payten Johnson Savannah Jones Zackary Peone Kinzee Reopelle Addison Rice Addison Simpson Sean Trochta Ethan Wiltfong Aydan Zweigler

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T31

MEDICAL LAKE HIGH SCHOOL / CHESTERTON ACADEMY OF NOTRE DAME

Faith and math add up

Sean Conway sees similarities in the two the opportunity there to live my faith as a choice and not as a requirement.”

He sees no conflict between the The mission of Chesterton Academy certainty of mathematics and that of of Notre Dame is to educate its students faith, and feels that it is not a problem to in the classical tradition and the truths of integrate the two. the Catholic faith, and to help them de“In math, there are basic principles velop the skills and character necessary that you have to follow, nonnegotiables,” for success in college and profeshe said. “It’s the same in faith; sional life as well as in building there are some things you can’t up the kingdom of God. deny. When there’s a hard math Graduating senior Sean Conproblem, you have to find your way is an exceptional example of way through it. In the same what Chesterton strives to do. way, when there’s a real-world Conway, one of 18 seniors, has problem in faith, you also have to been at the Academy for all four work through it to find the best Conway years of high school after being solution. The beauty of faith is home schooled. His parents were that there’s not just one answer. part of a group that sought to launch There are different answers, and you a Spokane chapter of the Chesterton trust in God to help you do the right Schools Network, which supports new thing.”

Catholic high schools across the United Conway has been active in the school States. The Spokane school is only 6 community as an altar server at daily years old.

Mass and as a member of the soccer, “Our teachers help us to find our own basketball and golf teams. He had never solutions to problems instead of just played competitive basketball until ninth giving them to us,” Conway said. “That grade, but eventually became an Alloften involves teaching methods like Soc- League guard and team captain despite ratic seminars, where students are asked injuries that limited him during his questions and invited to ask our own.” senior season.

Conway plans to study mathematical Chesterton students were given the science at Franciscan University of Steu- job of choosing which of their classmates benville in Ohio next year, but doesn’t would be recommended for profiling know what he wants to do beyond that. in this section. Headmaster Shane He has always been good at math, he O’Doherty said it was easy to guess that said, because there’s always one answer the seniors would choose Conway to and “you keep working until you find it.” represent the school.

He knows that his faith may be chal“Sean is an incredibly gracious and lenged at Franciscan. kind person,” O’Doherty said. “He works “I’m looking forward to Steubenville,” hard at everything he does and there is he said. “I chose that school because I nothing that he does half-speed. In the think it’s best for me to be around others classroom, there is nothing that doesn’t who are strong in their faith. But I know get done despite his busy sports schedthat there will not be complete uniformi- ule, and he always wants to know how ty in religious views there, and I will have high the bar is so that he can make it.”

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COURTESY

Katherine Hart’s love of math is taking her places.

BY THE NUMBERS

Katherine Hart fills high school career with math, JROTC

By Azaria Podplesky

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Medical Lake High School math teacher Tina Shull remembers one of the only times student Katherine Hart raised her hand in geometry class as a freshman.

“It was, ‘Can I maybe do some Algebra II independently on my own?’ ” she said.

Shull allowed it, and Hart began completing her algebra work independently.

She finished that course over the summer and went into precalculus, continuing her math studies fairly independently during her time at Medical Lake and began tutoring students in Shull’s geometry classes.

“This is my 31st year teaching, I’ve taught calculus all 31 years, she’s probably one of the top five students I’ve ever taught,” Shull said.

Hart has been interested in math since elementary school, where she would help her fellow students during class. She placed first in fifth and sixth grade out of students from around the region in Math is Cool competitions and took advanced math in middle school. She arrived at Medical Lake already a year ahead. Hence, the desire to work ahead in Shull’s class. “(English) is really a matter of opinion, but math, for the most part, you’re working toward one answer, and at least in school, it’s always going to be right or wrong,” Hart said. “There’s no in between.”

Hart has also excelled in JROTC, which she joined freshman year for the academic portion, which covers things like aerospace science and history, as well as the leadership portion, which includes participating in things like color guard and flag folding at school and in the community.

It was an easy choice to join JROTC, as

MEDICAL LAKE HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Joel Alvarez Layla Armes Trinity Auckerman Dillon Bahr-Crewdson Savannah Baker Ethan Bales Isabel Barry Abbigale Baumiller Levi Baxter Claire Bergner Rylee Bolles Elliott Bovey Markus Bowman Isaiah Bowser Noah Boyd Loghan Bradley Cyderlyn BroniolaRoberts Kenshinryu Brown Cheylyn Brundage Grace Burns Layla Burris Jesse Burt Amaya Cole Dominic Cole Kartr Cooley Sereena Dancel Evan Dennis Kaylee Dennler Skylar Doolittle Aiden Doramus Kadence Endres Justin Eutsler Sadie Evans Abelino Feliciano Tlasmanteco

Sylas Fino Braden Fitch Zackary Flory Mae Foley Emry Fuller Giselle Garza Vincent Gassner Connor Gibby Jayden Goodson Cecilia Graham Alexilei Green Sarah Grubaugh Jace Haines Jaden Hammac Jess Harrison Katherine Hart Shawn Herron Traven HewankornJoseph Conner Hollauer-Leach Zachary Hooser Brooklyn Jackson Ja’Mya Jackson Nolan Jeppsen Auston Jorgens Antonio Jurancich Abram Kane Henry Kelm Kaeden Kelso Conner Kenny Emily Killian Kyle Kipp Lily Knight Ethan Lamb Christopher Lariosa Claire Leitz Lonnie Lindley Sydney Lund

her father was in the Air Force, and two of her brothers also participated in JROTC while students at Medical Lake. When Hart’s father retired, the family moved off Fairchild, and Hart saw JROTC as an opportunity to return to a similar environment. She participated all four years, earning the rank of cadet colonel and acting as the cadet group commander her senior year. She was also a member of the school’s Windborne choir her freshman year, played flute and piccolo in band and has been a member of the National Honor Society since she was a sophomore. With that group, she taught kindergartners and first-graders about fire safety in partnership with the American Red Cross.

She is also the treasurer of Book Talkers, the school’s book club, and edits Cardinal Reads, the newspaper Book Talkers produces. She’s a mentor with MPower, a peer mentoring program, vice president of the senior class and spent most days after school her freshman year with the robotics club building wooden structures used to test the robots.

Hart is one of three valedictorians at Medical Lake. It wasn’t something Hart necessarily strove for, but she knew she had a good chance of earning the distinction because of her grades and the classes she took during her high school career.

Plus, there’s the matter of sibling rivalry.

“I have three older brothers, very competitive,” she said. “They all like sharing how much smarter they are than me, and so I’ve got to keep up with them.”

In the fall, Hart will attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, where she’ll study forensic biology. She loves the small campus and small town and that the school focuses on project-based learning.

“From a parent’s perspective, it has been so inspiring to watch her journey, the grit that she has demonstrated, the strength that she’s shown,” said Hart’s mother Tera Hart, who works at Medical Lake as a graduation specialist. “She doesn’t let anything stop her.”

CHESTERTON ACADEMY OF NOTRE DAME Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: May Grace Betz Philip Bovey Thomas Cary Mattea Chester Sean Conway Amelia Dach Allison Dodge Austin Haney

Joseph Hartman Elaine Korn Paul Michael Leaver Aidan Mallahan Natalie Miller Brendan O’Doherty Gianna Olson Bryna Schell Ethan Tansy Gemma Tichy

Graduation

The Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame commencement will be at 10 a.m. June 6 at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, 1115 W. Riverside Ave. Principal: Shane O’Doherty Valedictorian: Sean Conway

GK Award Recipient

Joseph Hartman

Graduation

The Medical Lake High School commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 12 at the school’s athletic field, 200 E. Barker St. in Medical Lake.

Principal: Jeremy Vincent Valedictorians: Sereena Dancel, Katherine Hart, Roslyn Lundberg

Roslyn Lundberg Davis Luppino Tanner Manson Sam Mars Thomas Mayer James McHenry Colton McKenney Elisabeth Merrick Austin Michaud Soraya Michel Margaret Moody Austin Mumaw Morgan Murphy Elijah Norman Cian O’Connor Chukwunememma Okemgbo James Oliver Dane Ollogollimot Isaiah Park John Parker Tanna Pedersen Wyatt Phillips Matthew Pierce Owen Pitts Maya Rahman Dayton Rife Aleeseia Ritdecha

Trenton Roberts Braden Roldan Ivan Rolle Mackenzie Roop Madelynn Sabatino Austin Scott Hailey Scott Anna Shcherbina Liliana Shcherbina Abbigail Smith Gavin Soderberg Max Steadman Charlyse Stevens Julian Taylor Ian Thompson Slade Thompson Bia Vester Lance Julien Viloria Mikalyn Walker Keelan Williams Skylar WilloughbyKnight Stella WilloughbyKnight Zoe Wilson Kaylani Woodruff Brennan Zahm Juniper Zunin

Socrates Award Recipient

Brendan O’Doherty

T32 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

DEER PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT / THE OAKS CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

TALENT COMBINED WITH WORTH ETHIC Emily Harris excelled through academics, music and student media leadership

By Jase Picanso

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

When Emily Harris walks across the stage at graduation, she will leave behind more than a perfect GPA and the title of valedictorian.

Harris has brought steady leadership and creativity to nearly every corner of campus – in the band room, on stage, as a Link Crew leader and as the student leader of Stag TV. What began as a middle school interest in cameras grew into a defining part of her high school career, culminating in serving for two years as the main editor for Stag TV. “Since junior year, it’s really shaped the career path that I’d like to pursue after high school,” Harris said. “It’s allowed me to become more confident in the fact that I’d like to pursue broadcasting.”

She said the role pushed her into leadership in ways she didn’t expect.

“I usually wouldn’t consider myself a leader in terms of friend groups or assignments, but for Stag TV I really grew into being one,” Harris said. “It was really great to share the joy of creating media with other students.”

This year, Harris also took on a teaching role, helping new students learn how to run

the broadcast to ensure the program continues after she graduates.

“The overall experience of being in Stag TV is definitely one that I’m going to hold with me after graduating,” she said.

“Whenever I’m working on film stuff in the future, I think I’ll definitely look back to my moments in Stag TV.” Outside of broadcasting, Harris has built a long-standing presence in the music program, where she’s been involved in percussion, band and steel drum ensembles.

“Emily is somebody who I’ve had in band since fifth grade,” said her band teacher Cory Thompson.

Thompson said her impact on the department extends beyond performance.

“She’s developed her skills as a musician for sure, but she’s also developed in terms of becoming a leader and somebody that all the students respect and look up to, especially the younger students,” he said.

Harris credits Thompson as a key influence throughout her school years.

“I’ve had him since even before middle school,” Harris said. “He also taught my brothers, and he’s just been my biggest motivator to keep going with music for all these years.”

Thompson said Harris con-

DEER PARK HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Lillian Abbott Aiden Anderson James Anderson Kelsey Barlass Bailey Barton Samuel Bates Maria Benavidez Ava Berg Lydia Berg Blake Berger Damien Berry Joseph Blakemore Jacey Boesel Jonas Bond Thomas Bond Olivia Bossio Matthew Bouldin Sienna Breneman Evan Brinlee Oliver Brown Emma Bryant Deacon Byrd Tanessa Calicoat-Coward

Ezekiel Callaham Gabrielle Cassels Vincent Chandler Izzie Cherrington Austin Cohrs Brohdy Couch Katori Cross Lillian Daniels Tara Davison Easton Delcampo Zaide Demasters Marconet Adam Demir Lance Dittrich Colin Eickmeyer Madison Ellingson Ethan Elmore Jonathan Empert Samantha Empert Caleb Erickson Chloe Erickson Skylar Erickson Olivia Evans Andrew Feist Olivia Gannon Isaac Garcia Onesimo Garcia Iv

Class of 2026

Elise Blunt Brody Brown Haileigh Brown Aiden Callahan Sophia Clark Aiden Cooper

COURTESY

Emily Harris wants to continue studying broadcasting. sistently holds herself to a high standard.

“Emily, probably more than any other student I’ve ever worked with, has such incredibly high standards for herself in everything she does,” he said.

“Everything she completes, turns in or performs is always developed and prepared to such a high level.”

Harris plans to pursue broadcasting production in college, likely at a community college in the Seattle area with plans to transfer to the University of Washington. She is also considering a second major in photography to further develop her work behind the camera.

For Harris, the path forward feels closely tied to the support

Kimberlee Dally Clarity Demick Arkayah Doney Sallie Edwards Wyiatt Forbes Elijah Fout

system that helped her get here.

“I unexpectedly lost some people that were important to me this year and have been grieving since,” Harris said.

“However, this has led me to realize the grand importance of support systems and further appreciate my family and friends and those who have been by my side.”

Thompson is optimistic for her future.

“I just hope that she is able to find a creative outlet to showcase all of her gifts,” he said. “She really does have some extraordinary talent and work ethic, and whatever path she pursues, she’ll continue at a high level just like she’s done in high school.”

Emily Harris Christopher Heath Faith Heffling Daria Helm Joshua Henry Dakota Hoffman Hope Hoskins Caden Howes Paul Huber Kierstyn Ingram Jaiden Johnson Talhon Johnson Laila Jones

Cameron Knudsvig Morgan Knutson Jonathan Koch Preston Lands Madeline Lebsack Isaac Lee Meredith Lee Nevaeh Lee Anna Leonard Bridget Libey Zane Lichtscheidl Piper Luginbill Stormy Marich Devin Marshall Emily Martin Jesse Martinez David Mayzak Elizabeth Mayzak Connor Michal Kole Miller Maegie Miller Elivia Morrow Raelynn Muto Kyle Naccarato Rodney Newman Haley Payseno Calvin Rasmussen Madison Rice Cooper Rich Parker Russell Samantha Sander

Jacoby Sandgren Branen Sandven Alexa Santonocito Nikolas Santonocito Daniel Savin Jenna Schill Garrett Schurger Blythe Simonson Joriann Smith Fisher Solomon Christopher Soto Austin Stone Noah Strugarevic Brady Suarez Lily Swenson Chance Taylor Cheyanne Thomas Shelby Tomlanovich Ticiana Towell Blaine Warner Sylas West Angelina Williams Sydnee Williams Grayson Wilson Logan Wise Nathan Womack Leila Woods Madeline Ylitalo Whyatt Young Berlyn Zimmerer

Lena Franklin Savanna Greer Emma Hall Darin Harkins Aiden Hennessy Drayson Hewson Hannah Howdyshell Mason Jarvis Benton Jens Kahnor Johnson

Emmelia Martin Shawnee Martin Jacob McBeth Lilly Miller Amy Moore Gage Nauditt Cash Orgill Madison Palmer Destinee Patterson Tavin Ragland

Zavier Rapp Megan Roundtree Kasey Sauders Rylee Schlosser Clay Simonson Lydia Simpson Aspen Smith Robert Snyder Mason Suitor Jade Theurer-Kane

The Deer Park High School and Deer Park Achievement High School commencement will be at 1 p.m. June 6 at Deer Park High School main gymnasium, 800 S. Weber in Deer Park.

Principal: Troy Heuett Deer Park valedictorians: Jacey Boesel, Sienna Breneman, Madison Ellingson, Andrew Feist, Eden Gilstrap, Emily Harris, Christopher Heath

DEER PARK ACHIEVEMENT HIGH SCHOOL

Expected to graduate are: Harmony Allison Jonas Baumgardner

By Jase Picanso

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Graduation

Kordell Gauvin Bailey Geiss Cody Gilbert Gabriel Gilbert Eden Gilstrap Isabel Ginsel Brooke Gordon Keeley Grissom Connor Hallgarth Elizabeth Hamilton Parker Hamilton Deacon Hardenbrook Isis Hare

Clara McEachran knows the importance of hard work

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

The Oaks Classical Christian Academy senior Clara McEachran is no stranger to hard work, whether she’s at home, on the volleyball court or in classes.

Her family lives in the Mead area, where they have an orchard, lots of land, and chickens. McEachran said her father has always emphasized work before play, so it’s not unusual for her to be outside feeding the chickens, cleaning up after them or collecting their eggs.

“Things like that have really helped me see the importance of work,” she said.

McEachran is the third child and she said her parents wanted them to attend the Oaks because they wanted their children to have a biblical foundation in their lives.

“That was actually very important to them,” she said. “I’ve always gone to school there.”

Her mother died of cancer when McEachran was a year old. Her father has since remarried, but she said he has always made it a point to talk about her mother. “I don’t really remember my mom at all,” she said. “I’ve heard great stories about her. He makes sure we don’t forget her.”

McEachran has followed in her mother’s footsteps by playing volleyball, which her mother played at Washington State University. McEachran started playing on the high school varsity team when she was in the eighth grade, though she doesn’t think her skills were as good as they should have been. However, she was 5-foot-10, an asset on the volleyball courts.

“That’s definitely why they wanted me early,” she said of her height. “I was a little

THE OAKS CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Graduation

The Oaks Classical Christian Academy commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 12 at the Oaks Classical Christian Academy, 11711 E. 24th Ave. in Spokane Valley.

Principal: Charlie Dowers Valedictorian: Anna Garriques Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Aimee Cook Mairenn DeRuyter Amanda Dorta Jim Doster IV Colin Foster Hope Funchess

Pedar Tobeck embraces challenge on and off the field

Anna Garriques Kyrie Hertz Jack James Adelaide Jones Clara McEachran Gracie Singer Margaret Tate Elena Thompson Nadia Welch Ellie Williams

sloppy then.”

She also started playing basketball in middle school and has been on the varsity team for years. “I love team activities,” she said. “It’s a great way to get a workout in but just hang out with people and have fun.”

She also participated in swimming for a while, but had to give it up. “If I had infinite time, I would love to do that,” she said.

She’s been in her school’s Select Choir for three years and also played percussion since the sixth grade. She stopped doing percussion this year because of time constraints. “It was really fun, but it was a lot, so for senior year I decided to pick just

COURTESY

Clara McEachran is planning to attend Gonzaga University. one,” she said.

A skier since age 4, during the winter she keeps busy by visiting local ski slopes with her family. She said her family normally goes to Mount Spokane because it’s close, but they’ve also skied at 49 Degrees North and Lookout Pass.

School counselor Lynn Gibson said McEachran demonstrates leadership, humor and compassion. “Clara’s easygoing and joyful countenance is her trademark at the Oaks, where she has attended since kindergarten,” Gibson said. “Now a senior, her moral leadership, integrity and contagious laughter have strengthened our school community.”

McEachran plans to attend Gonzaga University for a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She said she hasn’t decided what kind of nursing she’d like to specialize in, but likes helping and caring for others.

“It really brings me joy,” she said. “I love medical stuff, also.”

Whether he was earning college credits, stepping up for his baseball team or preparing for his future at Gonzaga University, Pedar Tobeck built his high school years around one goal: pushing himself to take on difficult challenges.

Tobeck has attended Deer Park Home Link since kindergarten, where he balanced home-schooling core Tobeck subjects with supplemental classes on campus.

“It was more like fun classes, and that was a good social thing,” he said.

“I had a lot of fun experiences.”

His mother, Tracy Tobeck, said his independence showed early on in his academic career.

“I rarely needed to hound him about getting his work done – which is rare for a home-schooling parent,” she said.

Tobeck graduated with a 3.7 GPA and an AA degree through Running Start at Spokane Falls Community College, where he earned quarterly Honor Roll recognition.

He will attend Gonzaga University this fall and plans to study physics or business. After college, he hopes to join the military and pursue special operations or flight school.

“In two years, when I get my bachelor’s, I plan on going to the military and we’ll see from there,” he said.

Consulting teacher MaryEllen Germaine said Tobeck has shown steady growth throughout his time at Home Link.

“Pedar exemplifies strong character, integrity and a solid work ethic,” she said.

That mindset has carried into baseball. As a senior shortstop on the Deer Park High School varsity team, he earned First Team Greater Spokane All-League honors and was named Offensive MVP, which Tobeck said is one of his proudest achievements. He also earned Northeast A League academic awards for three consecutive seasons and first-team all-league infielder honors as a junior.

“I just like to do things that are difficult and challenge myself,” he said.

“I think failing is a great thing, and the more you do it, the better you’re going to be for it.”

He said baseball also taught him how to be a stronger leader and communicator.

“My coach has taught me to communicate a lot and really make sure we as a team are on the same page,” Tobeck said.

More than anything, he said, the team itself stands out.

“Honestly, it’s definitely my favorite sport,” Tobeck said. “The community is the best. Overall, I just have had a really fun time there with my team over these last four years.”

One of his favorite memories came during Deer Park’s 2023 state baseball run, when as a freshman he unexpectedly stepped in as a pitcher.

“We kind of ran out of pitching,” he said. “I ended up starting that game and pitched well. That was a really cool experience.”

Outside of school, Tobeck has worked at Deer Park Golf Course and the Wild Rabbit Wedding Venue and participated in Home Link Game Night events, playing volleyball and basketball.

As graduation approaches, he said he is looking forward to independence and seeing what comes next.

“I’m just excited to get away from my house, to progress and to become something,” he said, “to see the world a little bit.”

DEER PARK HOME LINK

Graduation

The Deer Park Home Link commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 5 at Deer Park High School, 800 S. Weber in Deer Park.

Principal: Gretchen Hausman Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Hailey Grace Billesbach Kinsadie Bowen Stanton Butler Allison Byrd Faith Carter Gerrit Chambers Caleb Chantry Nateya Chavez Alyson Coe Elizabeth Deborde Ezekiel Dierks Silas Dierks Madelyn Edwards Savannah Egbert Abigail Fauth Nicolas Flammini

Mason Frye Ceana Guyaz Elsie Hanley Lily Hatley Macey Hoffman Connor Hynek Eliana Jones Tonya Lehto Laela Lennartz Emma Mennealy Benjamin Montague Avy Morris Gunner Olsen Rachel Olson Rihanna Pirness Shania Shupe Solomon Slind Pedar Tobeck Ayden Vander Mey Nathanael VanWormer Grace Wortman

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T33

SPOKANE INTERNATIONAL / GRACE CHRISTIAN / COEUR D’ALENE CLASSICAL

Down-to-business attitude helps Isabella Figueroa excel SPOKANE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY

By Azaria Podplesky

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Spokane International Academy student Isabella Figueroa had a startling first day at her internship at a drugstore pharmacy.

To start, Figueroa wasn’t even supposed to be at that location, but her instructor accidentally mixed up placement with two other students. The three students decided not to switch to the correct locations, and everyone at her pharmacy was really nice, but even still, Figueroa had a weird feeling.

Toward the end of the shift, she would understand why when a man started yelling at the pharmacist for oxycodone, threatening to shoot the pharmacist .

Eventually the man left and no one was hurt, but Figueroa was shaken .

“My parents got there, so they were able to comfort me,” she said. “It was definitely a crazy experience. I tried to keep calm and not freak out, because I didn’t want to add more to the situation.”

English teacher Chad May recalls the next day at school hearing the story of the robbery from Figueroa’s brother. Figueroa herself, May said, didn’t seem all that rattled.

That down-to-business attitude seems to be a staple of Figueroa’s time as a student, with May noticing it after she transferred to the school her sophomore year. She

Graduation

The Spokane International Academy commencement will be at 4 p.m. June 7 at Spokane Community College Auditorium, 1810 N. Greene St. Principal: Morgen FlowersWashington Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Elzbeth Baumgardner Gydance Brown Guinevere Carson Shilah Carvell Kayden Cook Lizzy Davis Nikita Demyanovskiy Isabella Figueroa Melvin GiTonga Caleb Myers Zoe Scott

came into Spokane International already knowing she wanted to apply to the pharmacy program at NEWTech Prep.

“Obviously a lot of high school students aren’t sure and figure it out later and that’s totally fine,” May said, “but it’s cool because she always had a really clear idea of what she wanted to do and what kind of work that would take.”

Figueroa’s interest in health care grew from watching medical

professionals assist her father through his ailments.

“My big passion is helping people, and seeing the way that doctors and pharmacists and nurses have helped my family and been there has really inspired me,” she said. “I want to make people feel better, being an outlet for people to go to. Being a comforter, in a way.”

Along with her work in the NEWTech program, Figueroa is also a member of the Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital teen board which creates fundraisers to support the children receiving in-patient treatment . After working at the drugstore last year, Figueroa spent her senior year working at Sacred Heart.

“I rotate through all the different types of pharmacy, so getting to meet different people and seeing the different things you can do in the hospital, where it’s not just being a doctor and nurse,” she said.

After graduation, Figueroa plans to work as a pharmacy technician during the summer before attending Eastern Washington University or Gonzaga University to study biochemistry or biology on a premed route. She ultimately plans to become either a pharmacist or a doctor.

Thinking back on her senior year, Figueroa enjoyed the opportunity to tour colleges and will miss hanging out with friends, both fellow Spokane International Academy students and those

After shy start to school, Gavin James breaks out of his shell

By Azaria Podplesky

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Grace Alliance Christian School student Gavin James loves to draw and read – he said his younger brothers sometimes throw toys at him to get him to stop.

Perhaps because of this experience, James was surprised to see older students and younger students getting along so well when he entered GACS as a sophomore.

Students at GACS are divided into four houses, all of which include students from first through 12th grades. Each house has two leaders who help with, among other things, Friday activities that bring students of all ages together for various challenges.

Looking for a chance to grow and develop his leadership skills, James expressed interest in being a house leader at the end of his junior year and was selected. He said his main responsibility is making sure everybody has fun.

“The primary focus is nobody’s sitting in the corner not doing anything, really making sure that everybody’s participating and having a great time, making sure that nobody gets injured,” he said.

James is also a student leader in his youth group and helps students bridge the gap between middle and high school. He also made his GACS stage debut as a headmaster in “Puffs,” a parody of the “Harry Potter” series.

He previously participated in Spokane Civic Theatre summer camps, and James thought it would be fun to join his friends onstage. Outside of school, James has run the lightboard for several of Civic’s youth productions.

That all marks a major

COURTESY

Gavin James plans to direct his instinct to help people into social work or counseling. milestone for James, who is high-functioning autistic and has ADHD. When he first arrived at GACS, he was dealing with social anxiety and worries that he wouldn’t fit in.

James decided to make more of an effort his junior year and quickly found a supportive group of friends and faculty.

Jenice Baker, James’ writing and sociology teacher, has known James since before he attended GACS and said it’s like night and day to look at James now compared to his younger, more shy self.

“His parents have done a good job working with him, but the school has also been this really safe place for him to find out who he is and not said, ‘Hey, you need to fit in this hole,’ ” she said. Instead, it was, “ ‘Let’s figure out who you are and what you’re good at.’ ” After graduating, James

plans to attend George Fox University and study either social work or counseling.

“I really love hearing people’s stories and helping them through that, being a part of it,” he said. “It’s always been something that’s really interested me. That really feels like a good fit in general.”

James’ mother Laura James is of course sad to see him go but is so proud of all the work he’s done to get to this moment.

“He has overcome a lot,” she said. “We got to his senior year, and there was a time, probably five or six years ago, where we weren’t sure what this would look like at this stage, because he had so many hurdles to overcome.

He has honestly risen to a place where I know he’s able to set out into the world and do whatever he’s called to do and do it with excellence and thrive.”

GRACE ALLIANCE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Atalie Caldwell Alyssa Cartwright Emily Carver Kaleb Hogan Gavin James

Lydia Martin Bethan Miles Katerina O’Bannan Isaac Organ Jocelyn Organ Marc Schmidt Joshua Wallach

Graduation

The Grace Alliance Christian School commencement will be at 5 p.m. June 6 at Summit Church.

Principal: Jennifer Hogan

COURTESY

Isabella Figueroa has a business-focused attitude, which will serve her well in the pharmaceutical industry. she met at NEWTech from other schools.

She wants to give a special shout-out to her teachers and counselors, who she said deserved the spotlight. May, of course, wants to put it right back on Figueroa.

“She is a really good friend to a lot of other students, a really sup-

portive friend in terms of being there for them and being willing to help them with school or with other things they have going on,” he said. “She’s been a really consistent presence too, she’s very involved. … There’s a lot of positive energy and involvement and activity and doing things to help the community, help the school.”

COEUR D’ALENE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Graduation

The Coeur d’Alene Classical Christian School commencement was May 28 at Lutheran Church of the Master, 4800 N. Ramsey Road in Coeur d’Alene.

Principal: Michael Howard Valedictorian: Benjamin Kummer

Class of 2026

Abigail Hoefling Benjamin Kummer Titus Roberts

T34 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

LAKESIDE HIGH SCHOOL / FREEMAN HIGH SCHOOL / KOOTENAI HIGH SCHOOL

Despite challenges, she persisted Masame Osborn and her siblings were adopted from Ethiopia

LAKESIDE HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation

The Lakeside High School commencement will be at 7 p.m. June 5 at Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, 1001 W. Sprague Ave. Principal: Brent Osborn Valedictorians: Andrew Divine, Olivia Divine, Téa Simonson

By Cindy Hval

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Overcoming difficulties with grace and quiet resilience makes Masame Osborn stand out in the Lakeside High School class of 2026.

She, her twin brother, and her older brother were adopted from an Ethiopian orphanage after their biological parents died of tuberculosis.

“Throughout high school, Masame has faced significant personal challenges,” said counselor Lisa Perdue. “Her story reflects perseverance and strength of character.”

Her first challenge was finding a school that fit.

She started at Mead High School as a freshman.

“It was a horrendous fit – I felt excluded. There was racism, and the hazing event was disgusting and heart-wrenching,” Osborn said, referring to sexual assaults of several Black football players in 2022 and 2023.

She attended a small private school during her sophomore year, before landing at Lakeside in 11th grade, where her dad is the principal.

Osborn quickly plugged into the community and enjoyed playing soccer.

“Attending a smaller school allowed her to make some great connections and get involved with things like LaunchNW, where she served as a youth advocate,” Perdue said. “She’s just amazing.”

Unfortunately, her older brother’s mental health issues were spiraling.

“It got bad – I felt like I didn’t know him,” Osborn said.

On New Year’s Eve, 2024, she and her family enjoyed

Class of 2026

COURTESY

Masame Osborn will attend WSU to pursue nursing. their traditional bowling outing.

“My brother was home, and my dad got a call from a neighbor saying our house was on fire,” she said. “My brother had set it on fire.”

It took months for the home to be repaired, and the family stayed in a rental.

“It was stressful,” she said. “I had no clothes – no school stuff. It was really hard.”

Yet she forged ahead.

“I never felt like I was the strongest in my school subjects. I just tried to maintain my grades and have a positive attitude.”

Perdue said school staff were impressed by her resilience.

“Despite these obstacles, Masame remained committed to her education, pushed herself academically, and stayed actively involved in her school and community.”

In addition, she got a head start on her career.

“She attends NEWTech

and plans to attend WSU,” said Perdue.

Medicine captivated her interest early.

“I’m in the medical assistant program at NEWTech and will receive my MA certificate,” Osborn said. “I’ve known since I was a freshman that I wanted to be a nurse. I want to help people and be there for them. I’m looking forward to seeing where life takes me.”

Perdue has no doubt she’ll make an excellent health care provider.

“Masame is so caring,” she said. “She’s grounded, mature and really determined to have a great future. I can’t wait to see what she does.”

During the turmoil of her high school years, she found that open communication with her parents helped her process events, and her innate steadiness enabled her to persevere.

“I’m a quiet person – I don’t react fast,” Osborn said.

“I just kept moving forward.”

Expected to graduate are: Sylas Artalejo Isla Ashley Hailey Axel Logan Barnes Alexis Baumgartner Jesse Beckman Rowe Benavidez Alexander Blevins Matthew Bolles Parker Bolt Breeanne Bonham Praithan Borja Timothy Brecto Tyler Bronson T.J. Brown Ashlyn Bunnis Jack Bunnis Jaxon Busch Elizabeth Carver Peyton Conley Halle Cossette Aedan Cothern Syras Craig Paige Davis Kadence Denison Katelynn Dennis Gavin Depner Hunter Diana Andrew Divine Olivia Divine Abbigail Doddridge Caleb Dornbos Ellise Drummond Brooklyn Duncan Dylan Floyd Carson Fritz Kaden Fuller William Graham Lola Grecco-Perry Kaden Grove Emma Guilmet Brady Haff Torren Hamlin Blake Hanson Meltiar Hatch Porter Hatch Ava Hattenburg Addison Heffernan Lexi Hendershott Lainee Higgins Tambre Hill Colton Howell Avery Hubbard

Lily Johnson Norah Kaluza Silas Kaluza Sailor Kenny Kayden Knop Mya Laquindanum Nathan Larson Carter Lenard Logan Lewallen Kyden Lizarraga Rachel Major Mackenzie Martin Jeremiah Maulolo Regan McGarvey Noah Merrill Micah Mongrain Brooklyn More Alex Morehart Christian Morrell Brooke Mosher Robert O’Brien Kaydence OrantesDietzen Benjamin Orth Masame Osborn Tsegaye Osborn Avery Owen Jillian Owen Jayda Owens Ireland Paulson William Pearson Harmony Pennington Maksym Rakovskyi Cy Reeves Alayna Reynolds Gabrielle Sanchez Teagan Sheppard Beau Shockley Téa Simonson Abygaile Smeltzer Parker Smith Grayson Stanford Kole Stephens Brady Stetson Isaac Streight Aleya Sturm Jessee Surran Alexander Taylor Anna Thomas Oli Todino Jude Van Dyke Kaelynn Watkins Alexander Watson Riley White Julie Whitney Jett Winger Jacob Winkoski Dylan Wisener Abigail Yurkin Jenna Zehm

‘Pressure is a privilege’ Avery Boswell said she was fortunate to be involved in so many activities at school

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Take one look at the long list of Freeman High School senior Avery Boswell’s accomplishments, and you can’t help but wonder how she has had time for everything.

In the classroom, Boswell has earned a 4.0 GPA. She has been a successful threesport varsity athlete, winning a Washington State doubles championship on the tennis court, being named All-State on the state-runner-up Scotties volleyball team, and serving as co-captain in both basketball and volleyball.

She has been first-chair clarinet in the Advanced Band, a student government officer, Future Business Leaders of America regional-award winner, National Honor Society member and an active community volunteer.

So how did she balance all those activities?

“Just time management,” she said, “working to be able to fit everything in. I always put my best effort toward everything. I love what I do, whether it’s been sports, school, or band. It helps that my parents are very supportive.”

Is there stress from her own expectation to perform at a consistently high level in so many different areas?

“The way I view stress is that pressure is

FREEMAN HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Ava Aylward Noah Baker Kellynn Beach Josiah Bessire Serynah Beydler Avery Boswell Madison Brebner Kassie Broers Dawson Burk Nathan Burnett Mae Cashmere Gage Chapman Capri Collett

Emerson Conklin Eli Cotton Naomi Davey Jared Dryden Nicole DuPont Ava Ellis Nicole Exner Evan Fricke Avery Gass Tyce Gilbert Gavin Goode Madyson Granozio Asher Gray Drew Greger Emma Gregory Austin Guinn

a privilege,” Boswell said. “I consider myself fortunate to be in a small school where I have been able to do so many things that I like. I have really enjoyed my time at Freeman and I have been determined to get the most out of it. I know that in college I won’t have as many similar opportunities, so moving on will be sad, leaving all these experiences behind.

But she is also very excited about what the future holds when she starts at Whitworth this fall, where she’ll play volleyball and major in kinesiology and exercise science.

“I want to be a physical therapist after I’m done with school,” she said. “I had an ACL injury during my sophomore year, and my recovery really opened my eyes to that profession. I want to help other athletes the way my therapists helped me, to be that person for other people. It was challenging to be on the sidelines during my recovery, but that time helped me to grow as a person. I don’t know if I would have looked into PT if it hadn’t been for that.”

Serving others has been an important part of Boswell’s high school experience, and that is one interest she intends to continue.

“It’s important to me that I find ways to give back to the communities that have given a lot to me,” she said. “FBLA provided several opportunities for me to do that,

Graduation

The Freeman High School commencement will be at 1 p.m. June 6 at Freeman High School, 14626 S. Jackson Road in Rockford.

Principal: Jeff Smith Valedictorians: Ava Aylward, Avery Boswell, Madison Brebner, Mae Cashmere, Anneke Haskins, Taylor Juhnke, Josiah Kann, Paige Lochmiller, Addyson Putz, Kaylee Ripke, Maris Vernon Anneke Haskins Tucker Hawk Micah Hodges Anna Jensen

Taylor Juhnke Tyler Juhnke Josiah Kann Jamyson Keating-Allen

COURTESY

Avery Boswell has plans to become a physical therapist. and I hope to be able to continue to serve.

I chose Whitworth because I wanted to attend a Christian college, and when I visited I saw how the students there interacted with each other.”

Her band instructor, James Jydstrup, said that Boswell is one of the most dedicated, responsible and well-rounded students that he’s ever taught.

“As impressive as her accomplishments are,” he said, “Avery’s character is what makes her truly exceptional. She is positive, dependable and always willing to step forward when help is needed. She approaches every challenge with determination and humility.”

COURTESY

Lauren Lowery volunteers as an EMT to prepare for a healthcare career.

Lauren Lowery relishes helping her community

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

If at any time during the next few years you find yourself in need of an emergency medical technician who can also do backflips, look no further than the Lewis-Clark State College campus in Lewiston.

That’s where you’ll find Kootenai High School graduate Lauren Lowery, who for the past three years has balanced a demanding academic schedule with extracurricular activities and her position as an EMT volunteer with the Harrison Ambulance Association.

Lowery hopes to attend medical school and become an emergency surgeon, but first she plans to get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at LCSC. She also will be joining the cheer team after receiving an invitation from the coach there.

Lowery is graduating after only three years in high school, thanks to a full load of classes at Kootenai combined with dual enrollment at both North Idaho College and the University of Idaho. She didn’t realize until the beginning of her junior year that she was only a couple credits short of graduation, and made the decision to move forward after this year.

While at LCSC, she will continue to volunteer occasionally as an EMT in Harrison, and after her 18th birthday, she will be able to work alone. She was licensed this year, and is able to administer basic medical procedures under supervision.

“My dad and science teacher were both EMT volunteers,” she said, “and they recommended that I take the class if I was interested. At the beginning, I went on really cool calls and got to see how medics work. My instructor in the class had military experience in ER surgery, and I became interested in that too.

Her Kootenai science teacher, Matt Greer, noted that Lowery is receiving an Idaho Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics diploma and that this year she completed a significant senior project that involved refurbishing a retired ambulance and restocking it to functional capacity.

“In addition,” he added, “I have watched her be a role model to other students, a good listener, a sage adviser, and a mentor to other young women in our school.”

Lowery has been involved in the cheer program at Kootenai for all three years there, watching it grow from four students to more than 10.

She was elated when she got the opportunity to participate in the LC State program.

“I’ve always wanted to go to LC State,” she said. “I just filled out a sports interest form with my college application, and the cheer coach emailed me after that. She contacted me at competitions and gave me resources to build my skills. I submitted a video tryout, and I went to a clinic in April.

“I’m super excited about the nursing program and cheer at LC State,” she said. “I will miss knowing every person that I see in the halls and the closeness of the Harrison community, but I’m grateful for the support that my friends and family have given me.”

KOOTENAI HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation

Lily Knight Finn LaPointe Paige Lochmiller Quinten Malone Anna Marie McNally Logan Melin Camdyn Mercier Cicily Millsap Isaac Parry Marshall Patzlaff Taylee Phelps Jordyn Poston Trent Primmer Addyson Putz Kaylee Ripke Trayce Rothrock Rylee Russell Trenton Sandborn Logan Schultz Jordyn Schulz

Ruth Sharp Daniel Smith Jackson Smith Logan Smith Tate Smith Giovanni Sutherland Kalyn Swanson Rylan Talley Sienna Tatsey Parker Teague Aralynn Ullrich Greta Van Gemert Maris Vernon Paige Vinson Sierra Watson Levi Wellner Matthew Wigen Colton Wolfinbarger Taylor Zehm

The Kootenai High School commencement will be at 1 p.m. June 6 at Kootenai High School gymnasium, 13030 E. O’Gara Road in Harrison.

Principal: Jacob Williams Valedictorian: Micheal Nyman Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Riley Ausman Peyton Bierman Claire Cook Chloe Dorman Preston Dunsmore Levi George Anikka Hunter

Taryn John Ashton Lewis Lauren Lowery Joshua Moore Maddison Murdock Sydney Murdock James Myers Micheal Nyman Kahlen Tondevold Josephine Wilson Teagan Wright

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T35

INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL

MAKING THE CUT Nazo Campbell finds true friends, caring teachers at Innovation

By Azaria Podplesky FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Innovation High School student Nazo Campbell said he has two mothers to thank for getting him to where he is today.

The first is his birth mother who put him in an orphanage in his native Johannesburg, South Africa, shortly before her death when Campbell was 6 years old. The second is his adoptive mother who brought him to Spokane.

“A lot of people need to understand that without the people in our lives, we wouldn’t be who we are,” he said.

Thanks to those two mothers, Campbell has grown into someone Innovation counselor Jesse Dhillon said was a positive part of the school community from the moment he stepped into the building.

“He came in with a big smile on his face, positive attitude, ready to jump right in and be a part of the school,” he said.

Campbell transferred to Innovation for his junior year. He liked it right away because it was smaller, both in number of students and the size of the building, than his previous school.

He also likes the atypical classes the school offers.

Band, for instance, doesn’t just include the expected groups like brass and woodwinds. At Innovation, students can play instruments like the guitar, bass and ukulele. Campbell is a ukulele player, following in the footsteps of his sister.

“Since I was young, I’ve loved listening to music and dancing to it or playing it,” he said. “Music makes me happy. It also makes me have fun. It’s a good way to have fun and dance to it. Also when I play the ukulele, I can express myself through those words on a ukulele.”

At his previous school, Campbell said it was hard to tell who he was and who his good friends were. He

Graduation

The Innovation High School commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 12 at Riverside Place, 1110 W. Riverside Ave. Principal: Sara Kennedy Valedictorian: Nyx Townsend

got into trouble for being late to class or not doing his work because he was hanging with the wrong group.

Once he enrolled in Innovation, he quickly found friends who told him “Hey, bro, make sure you get to class on time.” The teachers were also good about checking in on his progress on a project, being patient with him and being gracious with extensions when he needed them.

“Everybody needs someone in their life that helps them with something, whether it’s schoolwork or job work or life work, you need that person in your life to help you out,” he said. “For me, it was the teachers at Innovation.”

Outside of school, Campbell enjoys Minecraft and Fortnite and likes to play basketball.

Unsurprisingly then, one of his favorite things about Spokane is Hoopfest. This year will mark his second year playing on a team.

After graduation, Campbell plans to become a barber, inspired by his barber and longtime friend Big Mike who works at Headhunters and who gave Campbell his first haircut in America.

Campbell thought about how much Big Mike loves his job and all the people he gets to speak with everyday and thought he wanted to follow in those footsteps.

“I realized barbering is a great job to help people get a fresh look whether you’re going to a new school or going to a job,” he said. “That’s good, but also barbering is a way to connect with people and make them feel good. They can be impactful.”

COURTESY

Nazo Campbell plans to become a barber.

INNOVATION HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Austin Arnold Grace Bateman Zana Beaman Caden Boring Emily Brown Micah Caley

Moses Camacho Nazo Campbell Danika Carpenter Oakleigh Deno George Domitrovich Lilyana Glamuzima Ivy Holcomb Jordyn Horton

Jessie Juarez Raider Liesch Alexis Linn Sam Manley Lily Marsh Adryan Jermayne Martinez Abigail Mazza Alexander Mcniel Michael Mitchell Duane Moore Kaylee Patterson Adrien Pirtle

Luke Prish Xavier Pugmire Cooper Reichert Verity Risenhoover Sakima Sanchez Kayden Sanders Damien Shaw Zemira Speight-Wright Apollo Staples Nyx Townsend Asher Trammell Christopher Wright

T36 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS / UPPER COLUMBIA ACADEMY

‘She’ll make the world a better place’ Presley Somes expected to be an asset anywhere she goes

By Cindy Hval

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

For someone who spends a great deal of time on horseback, Presley Somes seems to have her feet firmly planted on the ground.

“I got my first pony when I turned 1,” she said.

By age 7, she was competing in rodeo.

Currently, she’s a member of the Washington State High School Rodeo Association and serves as the student board secretary. Somes plays a vital role in organizing, promoting and leading the youth activities for the association.

“I compete in barrel racing, pole bending and breakaway roping,” she said, “My favorite is racing barrels. The top four in each event go to Nationals, and I’m hoping I’ll make it. I’ve been blessed with great horses.”

Despite fierce competition for points, Somes said the rodeo community is a tight-knit, supportive group.

“It’s the only sport where other people (competitors) are cheering you on and rooting for you,” she said. “They’ll loan you a horse if yours is hurt.”

When she came to Northwest Christian High School as a freshman, she found a similar environment.

Graduation

The Northwest Christian High School commencement will be at 1 p.m. June 6 at Turning Point Church, 11911 N. Division St. Principal: Scott Ferguson Valedictorians: Jordan Hatfield, Aidan Van Ornum

“I’ve loved Northwest Christian,” she said. “The school feels like a community – the teachers really want to get to know you.”

Fine arts instructor Deborah Sinclair enjoyed having Somes in class.

“I’ve had the honor of being more than just a teacher, but a mentor,” she said.

Sinclair watched Somes exhibit qualities she feels will serve her well in life.

“She’s a deeply kind, caring person – a genuine empath,” said Sinclair. “She’s gracious and sees and includes others.”

Somes enjoyed playing basketball for the school during her freshman and sophomore years and was part of a team that went to State.

But her commitment to rodeo meant she didn’t have time to spend on the basketball court.

“I played my whole life,” she said. “But as junior year approached, I had to keep my

horses in shape.”

The family has six horses, and Somes gives riding lessons.

“Riding my horses is where I get mental clarity,” she said.

“Horses have a way of connecting with you. There’s no better feeling than when you swing your leg over a horse and go for a ride.”

When it comes to academics, she said she especially enjoyed her Bible classes. That doesn’t surprise Sinclair.

“Presley doesn’t just attend a Christian school, she’s a believer and faith is a central piece of her life,” she said.

Somes has been accepted to Grand Canyon University, and Cal Poly has invited her to join its renowned rodeo team.

As she weighs her decision, several things are clear.

“I have a business mindset, and I’ve always wanted to work for myself,” Somes said. “Whatever path I take, I’ll be in the equine industry. I want to love people and produce a positive impact.”

Sinclair is confident Somes will thrive.

“She’s going to knock it out of the park and be an asset to whatever school she selects,” she said. “Presley’s not just about advancing herself, but serving others. She’ll make the world a better place.”

COURTESY

Presley Somes is approaching her future with confidence.

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Soohyun Baek Benjimin Bak Nathaniel Barker Drew Bevan Kendall Bevan June Birnbaum Kaiya Blandi Evelynn Bowman Alexander Bowman Boast Zoë Campbell Lincoln Crockett Joshua Davis Luke Del Pizzo Rongxian Fan Ethan Fidler Jackson Freeze Mason Gassaway Caleb Grant Jackson Grant

Olivia Greenup Jackson Griffin Delaney Hall Emma Hall Lindsey Hart Jocelynn Hastings Jordan Hatfield Kaitlyn Hohenstreet Caden Hollister Dane Jones Sophie Koutecky Paityn Kyle Owen Lyerla Jack Marcinko Joshua Mathison London McLain Audra Mirante Benjamin Mitchell Preston Mortlock Cole Newton Tyler Nielsen

Justin Patrick Eliana Popa Jonah Pope Mackenzie Prince Matia Lou Rademacher Ethan Reid Allie Robertson Ahrya Robins Nakoa Rocha Sienna Rose Macey Shamblin Hannah Smith Presley Somes Jesse Spaulding Abigail Strandy Mykel Strickland Caleb Towell Aidan Van Ornum Braden Walker Kaitlyn Waters Ezekiel Young

Home-school program gives Kaily Davis support for her learning needs

By Cindy Hval

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

COURTESY

Kaily Davis is heading to Arizona for college with confidence.

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM

Graduation

The Northwest Christian Homeschool Program commencement was May 16 at Crossover Church in Mead.

Principal: Sara Jones Valedictorians: Raegan Mayberry, Emma Stewart

Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Kailyn Davis Logan Hawkinson Raegan Mayberry Darian Moore Seona Phillips Emma Stewart

Kaily Davis attended Northwest Christian School from second through sixth grade, her family drawn by the support she knew she’d receive there.

“I’m dyslexic, and they have a good learning center program,” she said.

In middle school, she moved to NWC’s home-school program.

“I work better independently and need more flexibility.”

Davis appreciated that the school uses physical textbooks in addition to online learning.

“I’m a kinesthetic learner,” she said. “I need to interact with what I’m learning. I take notes and make lists.”

During her junior year, her family moved to Camano Island to be near extended family.

After leaving her familiar surroundings at Northwest Christian’s home-school program, she pivoted and became deeply connected with the Camano Island community.

“I got involved with the youth group and served in student leadership at the church,” she said.

Last year, her family returned to Spokane. It was a difficult transition for Davis.

“It’s not what I expected,” she said. “I wasn’t happy at the beginning of my senior year.”

Her teachers understood the challenges she faced and admired

the way she’s persevered.

“Kaily worked her tail off retrieving credits because of interrupted high school time – she’s a hardworking, kind, genuine student,” said teacher Courtney Manuel. “She’s spent lots of effort building friendships, as well as excelling in school.”

Kristy Boblet agreed.

“It can be pretty intimidating, returning as a senior, but Kaily got plugged in right away,” she said.

“She’s detail-oriented and very thorough.”

Boblet’s Bible class requires analysis and introspection, and she said Davis shines at both.

“She gives thoughtful answers – she goes the extra mile.”

April Young, director’s assistant and registrar, said, “Kaily is a strong individual – she overcomes any obstacle thrown her way. At school, she’s the one to reach out and lend a hand – she’ll take a leadership role when needed.”

Davis gravitates to history and art.

“I’m a history nerd,” she said.

“And I’m enjoying sketching this year – I set a goal to get better at realism.”

A self-taught crocheter, she made a beautiful cardigan for her senior project.

As she looked toward her future, she considered pursuing a counseling degree, but a job-shadowing experience revealed another possibility.

Childhood interest sparked a career path Caleb Crawford already working as a volunteer firefighter firefighter program a couple years ago,” he said.

“One of my cousins did it Ask any 4-year-old what and I went with her one they want to do when they time and it seemed like grow up, and there’s a good fun. I loved it from the chance the answer will be, start. There were very few “I wanna be a firefighter.” departments with junior For most kids, that’s just programs, so even though a phase, but not for Upper it was an hour drive from Columbia Acadeschool, it was my my graduate Caleb only option.

Crawford.

“We used to live “That’s a comin Newman Lake, mon goal for kids,” and I went to all Crawford said, “and their open houses I’ve been interested then. I didn’t think ever since I was about it for a while, little. I just never but my interest was Crawford grew out of it.” reignited when I And so Crawford, who went with my cousin, and now serves as volunteer around that same time firefighter with Pend there was an electrical fire Oreille Fire District 2 in at UCA and it was chaos – Newport-Ione, plans to no one knew what to do or make a career from that how to help.” interest, and has already Crawford credits UCA taken the first steps. teacher Jesse Melendy, a “I joined the junior retired firefighter, with

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

guiding him in the right direction.

Melendy says that Crawford didn’t need much guidance: “He is super self-motivated and a perfect candidate for a career as a firefighter. He’s done everything he needs to do to get started.”

Crawford has graduated from the Grizzly Mountain Fire Academy, which he attended three days a week during the winter, and will spend this summer doing wildland firefighting throughout Washington.

He hopes to begin an Emergency Medical Technician program in the fall, and when that’s completed he plans to apply to different area departments.

Crawford has attended and boarded at Upper Columbia Academy for all four years of high school, and he says he has loved

the experience.

“I didn’t really get homesick when I started there,” he said. “I like being able to do things on my own, and I’m with my friends pretty much all the time.

UCA has offered me the opportunity to develop adult-like independence at a young age.

“When it comes to my career, I want to learn as much as I can as quickly as I can. I’m pretty quick to get things done, and I don’t want to wait around to start working. I couldn’t work at a desk job; I like being outside and on my feet. I’m a decent student, but I don’t like to sit still.”

“As a firefighter, you can see the results of your work in a positive way, and a career as a firefighter aligns with my spiritual beliefs, serving others with kindness. You’ll see

“I’m job-shadowing Mrs. (Michelle) Gibson in the learning center,” Davis said. “She works with students who need extra help reading and writing, and she’s part of the Inland Northwest Dyslexia Alliance.”

Davis plans to attend Grand Canyon University in Arizona in the fall.

“Maybe I’ll become a dyslexia advocate – maybe a counselor or teacher.”

Boblet has no doubt that her student will succeed.

“Whatever she does, she will do it well,” she said.

Davis credits her parents for investing in her education.

“They’ve always encouraged me in my schooling,” she said. “My mom pushes me to do the best I can.”

She values the participation of the staff in the NWC home-school program.

“Northwest Christian has given me a lot of perspective and skills that I wouldn’t have gotten at another school,” Davis said. “The teachers really invest in your spiritual life.”

Adapting to living with dyslexia and a challenging move during a pivotal time has given her insight and depth and left her profoundly thankful.

“I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had,” Davis said. “They formed me into who I am. I know God’s been directing my path.”

UPPER COLUMBIA ACADEMY

Graduation

Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Natalia Aitchison Aidan Angeles Zachary Appel Emily Baerg Logan Bailey Audrey Benado Stephen Birmingham Matson Blackwelder Timothy Blackwelder Dylan Bowen Malcolm Browning Aaron Byrd Zachariah Chavez Macy Chilson Emma Christensen Zion Colburn Sarah Connell Caleb Crawford Dante DiBiase Timothy Eng Brysen Ermshar Tayton Evans Derek Fischer Jesse Flemming Patrick Frey Milena Galicia Noelle Haeger Gage Halversen Avery Hickok Bradyn Johnson

The Upper Columbia Academy commencement will be at 10 a.m. June 7 at the school’s gymnasium, 3025 E. Spangle Waverly Road in Spangle.

Principal: Jeff Deming

Connar Johnson Jack Johnson Scout Jordan River Keys Kristian Kim Judson Knoll Lyla Libby Aurora Majors Claire Mallory Andrea Martinez Lopez Naioby Maya Martí­nez Xander Melendy Esther Mercill Mikara Miller Chloe Morgan Jacob Nelson Lilliana Nelson Mark Nesteruk Audrey Olson Jeongwoo Park

tragedy, but you will also see a tangible difference that you can make. I’m still nowhere near or have seen

Elianne Patzer Andrew Penhallurick Shane Phillips Ginger Purcell Aeden Reasor Mackenzie Reasor Chloe Reese Brianna Rentfro Matthew Roth Andrew Rothe Rachelle Sanchez Castrejón Dana Sanchez Cuellar Seth Santee Sophia Sigrist Claireese Smith Zachary Tungesvik George Twigg Jacob VanDenburgh Jacquelyn Wilson Eden Wiltison

as much as most senior firefighters, but I’ve seen enough to know that a difference can be made.”

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T37

SPOKANE VALLEY TECH

FIRED UP FOR HER FUTURE

Alaina Kudrna will balance fire department duties, studies at UI

By Nina Culver FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Spokane Valley Tech senior Alaina Kudrna has kept a packed schedule all through high school.

She doesn’t see that changing anytime soon as she prepares for a firefighter residency program while attending the University of Idaho in the fall.

Kudrna has attended Spokane Valley Tech for all four years of high school, recruited by her older sister. “She really liked it,” Kudrna said. “... It’s definitely a different experience from what I’ve seen of normal high school. It’s a very small community and easy to get involved.”

She said she really likes that classes are small and teachers have time to give attention to every student. One class was just her and one other student.

The other reason she was attracted to Spokane Valley Tech is that she wanted to enroll in the school’s EMT program. She said she likes the idea of doing something that helps people while also putting something good back into the community. “I’ve known for a while I wanted to do something medical related,” she said.

In addition to studying for finals, Kudrna has also been getting ready for her EMT exam in June. “I’ve been studying a lot for it lately,” she said.

This year she has also been president of the HOSA club, which is for students interested in joining a medical field. She went to the HOSA state competition for EMT and medical spelling, where she took sixth place.

She is also the starting catcher on the University High School softball team, a role she has filled for four years. “It’s one of my favorite parts of my day,” she said.

She also plays club softball to

Graduation

The Spokane Valley Tech commencement will be at 6 p.m.

June 5 at University High School Theatre, 12420 E. 32nd Ave. in Spokane Valley.

Principal: Amanda St. Pierre Valedictorian: Noah Cook

keep her skills sharp. “Softball takes up most of my time,” she said.

Teacher Elizabeth Warren said Kudrna is a student who takes advantage of every opportunity that is available to her. “Alaina is a standout student at Spokane Valley Tech,” Warren said. “Alaina works hard, shows up consistently and is an excellent representative of Spokane Valley Tech. She is a student that our staff can count on to be an example for others.”

Kudrna has also been preparing for her next step. She learned about a Moscow Fire Department resident program, which will allow her to go on calls and live in a fire station while also attending college full-time.

The resident program is competitive. Kudrna said she sent in an application early this year and the department selected 25 people to interview. She also had to pass a physical test that included carrying fire hoses and other firefighting related tasks. In the end, she was one of a handful of people selected for the program. “It was really fun,” she said of the application experience.

The fire department program is the cherry on top of her studies at the University of Idaho. “I was going to go there anyway because they have a really good forensics program,” she said.

Kudrna said she is considering a career in forensics “if I don’t get sucked into the whole firefighter thing,” she said. “I just wanted to do something cool.”

COURTESY

Alaina Kudrna was in the EMT program at Spokane Valley Tech and will take her exam this month.

SPOKANE VALLEY TECH Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Aidan Allan Maverick Ashby Shayla Banning-Gregor Isaac Bishop Wyatt Broach Jackson Brownson

Aidan Campbell Aile Carter Alexander Chaney Noah Cook Drew Creese Rylan Dao Ciara Fivecoat Evan Fuher Ancel Haroldsen

Samuel Jeakins Sal Kerns Kaden Kirsch Alaina Kudrna Cooper Lackey Kate Larson Duncan Mohorcich Hazel Moss Samuel Moss Adam Murphy Chloe Nelson Cy Nelson Cooper Olmstead-Abrams

Sarah Orebaugh Nathan Peterson Owen Phillips Braiden Porter Isabelle Romine Tayten Sale Nathan Scott Joseph Seaboldt Savannah Soule Nicholas Strandlof Ryan Terhune Timothy VanOrman Aiden Wooley

Congratulations Graduates!

Students across our high schools earned outstanding recognition at state and national competitions, highlighting excellence in academic achievement, career pathways, leadership, and career and technical education, alongside success in athletics and performing arts.

Students captured top honors through Washington HOSA–Future Health Professionals, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and the CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Education Program, with Spokane Valley Tech teams earning �rst in Washington and national rankings in cybersecurity.

As graduation approaches, these accomplishments re�ect our students’ dedication, innovation, and readiness for college, careers, and future success, as well as the ongoing commitment and support of our staff and families.

We are incredibly proud of our 1,135 graduates in the Class of 2026—our future leaders.

Congratulations as well to our caring, committed educators and staff for helping make this an award-winning district with improved academics and a 94.2% graduation rate.

The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University recognized CVSD as among Washington’s Districts on the Rise in both math and reading, “Central Valley School District (CVSD) stands out for scaling a truly system-wide instructional model across all 29 schools.”

Seven of our schools were recently recognized by the Washington School Recognition Program for their work in closing opportunity gaps and supporting students' growth and academic achievement, including Ridgeline High School and Spokane Valley Tech.

McDonald Elementary became one of four Washington schools to receive a National Distinguished Schools Award for exceptional student performance and academic growth.

Central Valley School District 2218 N MOLTER, LIBERTY LAKE, WA 99019 (509) 558-5400 | www.cvsd.org

Superintendent John Parker was honored with a Robert J. Handy Most Effective Administrator Award for large districts by the Washington Association of School Administrators.

Learn more...

T38 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL / MICA PEAK HIGH SCHOOL

TAKING AIM AT WHAT MATTERS Quinn Lipke leads by doing, on and off the track field

By Jim Allen

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

There are no easy labels for Quinn Lipke, and that’s just as well.

Poised to graduate from University High School, Lipke has excelled at almost every Advanced Placement class, placed at the state track meet in the javelin and volunteered with the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council.

Yes, Lipke is hard to define, but his track coach gave it a good shot.

“He’s that Clark Kent-kind of guy,” said Ernesto Aguilar, who also is a counselor at U-Hi. “He’s quiet on the inside but very gifted,” Aguilar said.

Lipke has quietly made a difference on the track team, which lacked a javelin coach. Not only did Lipke go on to place fourth at state last year, he transformed javelin into the most popular event in the program.

“Now we have about 25 guys throwing the javelin,” Aguilar said. “He runs our athletes through the workout drills, putting all of them first, before himself.

“That is so humble,” Aguilar said.

“Quinn respects everyone and is wellliked by everyone in the building. And he’s made a big impact for our school.”

In selecting Lipke for inclusion in The Spokesman-Review’s graduation edition, the school said in a statement that “what

UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Ashlyn Aaron Helora Agrippa Chloe Ahumada Gavin Ahumada Haylie Allen Asil Al Zaki Josiah Anderberg Jack Anderson Peyton Anderson Julian Angel Daeton Aragon Eleanor Artemov Kenna Ashton Calie Baldwin Leah Baldwin Jazmin Barrouk Jaxon Barton Dylan Basden Ethan Belgarde Hailey Bell-Roseboom Briana Belt James Betts Gianna Bianco Jaxson Bisquera Minah Blackburn Mia Blackmore Nicholas Blackwood Matthew Boden Steven Bomengen Arianna Bonner Catelin Bordelon Alexander Boyle Ashlei Brady Hunter Branning Ethan Branson Camren Breeden Savanna Brewer Sayler Brown JJ Bryant Anna Bucklin Scarlett Burchill

Jacob Burget Jay Byrd Natalya Campbell Devin Carbury Aaron Cardenas Brayden Cargile Joshua Carlson Ashley Carney Abigail Carpinteyro Dylan Carruthers Kelsi Claypool Alicia Comer Evan Conrad Rae Contreras Lucielle Couch Hiett Kai Coursey Jayden Cox Logan Cox Korbin Crenshaw Jacob Cude Paxon Cunanan Faith Cunningham Andrew Dalton Rylan Davidson Milo Davis Milo Daykin Halle Del Mese Jayden Denney Garret DePew Kylee Deremer Kellen Deyarmin Ashlynn Dill Karter Downie Jace Dugger Makynna Duricic Faith Duvert Benjamin Edmiston Calep Edmond Kortni Edmondson Areylah Elizares Alex Elliott Elijah Elliott Isabelle Erickson

truly distinguishes Quinn is his approach to learning. His personal philosophy is to try everything once because opportunities are rare and everyone is smart in different ways.

Track and field wasn’t Lipke’s first choice. A solid baseball pitcher, “he kept hitting his friends, and he didn’t like that,” said his mother, Lindsey Dunham.

Lipke also started on the Titans basketball team.

Lipke has an even bigger workload in the classroom. “Lots of AP classes … my parents have always asked me to challenge myself.”

His favorite: AP European History with teacher Sara Wagenblast. “It’s not the most enthralling topic, but she was excellent in her planning.”

Lipke’s passion for the underdog goes far beyond helping struggling javelin throwers.

He has spent many hours volunteering with the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council, specifically its efforts to reduce sentences for first-time DUI offenders through the court system.

Ideally that means working with judges to impose alternatives to jail time.

The connection came through his grandmother, who babysat Lipke years ago. Across the street lives Linda Thompson, director of GSSAC since 1993.

“We work in a formal setting with serious issues, and it’s a meaningful way to help the community,” Lipke said.

Back at school, Lipke devoted his senior capstone project to discrimination, especially the less-obvious forms that can profoundly affect a young person’s future.

“I focused on multiple forms of dis-

Graduation

The University High School commencement will be at 3:30 p.m. June 6 at Gonzaga University’s McCarthey Athletic Center, 801 N. Cincinnati St. Principal: Rob Bartlett Valedictorian: Charles Skidmore

Heidi Espana Irvin Fentroy Isabella Ferris Elijah Fischer Jamilyn Foley Colton Francis Marley Francis Devon French Brooklyn Fridinger Claire Fulkerson D’Asia Fullard Nathan Gadd Amethyst Gaston Bailey Gatchalian Monina George Carsyn Gildehaus Halli Glover Jamie Gomez Kristina Gonzales Taylor Gordon Neil Govindaraju Kya Green Carter Gregerson Izabella Griffey Annabelle Grossman Jaq Grove Tristan Groves Jacob Haag Jacob Haiar Kaleb Hamilton Mckenzie Handran Kamryn Hansen Micah Hansen Sophia Hansen

Ryver Harris Nicolas Hartley Sam Hartley Natalie Hatch Lilly Heaton Richard Heineck Alexis Heinen Quinn Helf Connor Hendricks Ella Hickman Emily Higham Jeanneanne Hinderer Rebekah Hoch Lillian Holmquist Jeffrey Holten Deacon Hoopes Peyton Hoppe Trey Howard Channce Howell Ava Hubble Cole Hubble Rhyan Huckins Hailey Huff Gwenyth Huffstetler Marykate Hull Susanna Javier Isaac Jeross Andrew Jones Charlie Jones Victor Jones Cael Jordan Gracie Jordan Suzanna Joy Katelyn Jundt

COURTESY

Quinn Lipke will attend USC in the fall, where he plans to study gerontology. crimination,” Lipke said. “For example, when a student is passionate about a subject like biology but a teacher dissuades her from pursuing that.”

Lipke’s academic pursuits will take him to USC, where his parents graduated.

“They were pushing it a little, but it really is the best option for me,” Lipke said Once there, Lipke will take the road less traveled. On the premed track, his undergraduate focus will be on gerontology, the study of aging and human development.

Kaydyne Justice Nick Justus Jan Kaemmner Kendra Kane Audrey Kannapien Titus Kasner Ellion Kelly Isabella Kenney Antonio Kenyon Adrina Keplinger Cheyanne King Madison Kinne Emmett Kopczynski Daniel Korneychuk Dakota Krauss Robert Kropp Brad Laird Illia Laptanovych Unique Lasiter Landon Le Shaun Lee Jaxon Lefler Travis Letts Quinn Lipke Anderson Lloyd Reya Lunderman Aiden Lymuel Nathan Mallonee Riley Malone Marlee Manos Christina Mantsevich Owen Marshall Marquez MartinezGibson Nina Mathews Karmin Matthews Connor McCullough Aarynn McGee Nathan McGowan Peyton McGregor Luke Meeker Addison Mercer Paul Miller Sadie Miller Natalia Minor Victoria Mix Elijah Moll

Kyla Roberts Saige Roberts Ryan Robinson Neveya Robles Cole Rodgers Lily Rohaym Elena Rojas Myles Romero Samari Romero Mejia Audrey Russell Benjamin Sartell Isabelle Sater Bailey Saucedo Aiden Sautter Dylan Schauble Elise Schoonover Hudson Schulz Levi Seitz Lucas Sessions Kaelyn Setter Tristan Seubert Henry Shepard Joshuah Sherwin Jasmine Shiva Ella Silvey Jordan Sitts Charles Skidmore Isabel Slack Brenden Slocum Finnegan Smart Dominic Smeby Kaylee Smith Sheilagh Smith Jeremiah Spayde Abigail Spedick Landon Steggell Danielle Stephens Mackenzie Stewart Grady Stinson Sean Stoeser Paige Stolp David Stolz Tessa St.Prix Alysa Stradley AmarEldine Tallouj Sean Taylor Jarom Tenney

Ashton Moss Kennedy Mungiiria Rowan Munkers Lincoln Murray Kayden Nathan Fatima Navarrete-Salazar Kaiden Nelson Makenna Nepean Ashley Ngugi Berkley Noble Clairebelle Noel Liliana O’Conner Lexus O’Hara Liana Oleynik Payden OlmsteadAbrams Troy Olson Denisse Ortiz Jaramillo Lucy Osborn Kristopher Otradovec Analyce Paris Liam Parnell Emery Payne Alexander Pecha Lily Peglow Oliver Peirano Lilyan Pendergrass Owen Peterman Landon Peterson Lucina Peterson Ryelan Pew Rilon Pharness Shawn Poll Mason Potter Lillie Puckett Xzayvion Pulver Jaelynn Qualley Czar Quintanilla Autumn Ralph-Curry Isaiah Ramirez Abigail Randall Clara Ray Tayegyn Reed Danny Richards Anna Richter Brayden Robbins Kaden Roberts

New home and new school steered Ethan Vaughn to success

By Joe Everson

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

This is a story about Mica Peak High School senior Ethan Vaughn. Or more accurately, about Vaughn and the sister he says saved him.

Vaughn was almost halfway through his sophomore year in Oklahoma, failing most of his classes, with little interest in school or anything else. He decided to visit his older sister, Julia, for Thanksgiving, and it wasn’t long before he asked if he could move in with her, subject to his parents’ approval.

“At that point, I didn’t have any thoughts about my future and I didn’t care about anything,” he said. “And even after I moved, when I started at Mica Peak, I was indifferent about the idea. I had never heard about alternative schools where you could make up credits and I didn’t

know what to expect.”

It wasn’t a wake-up call right away, he said, but as he was able to meet more students and staff at Mica Peak, he began to understand that an education was not just a requirement, but a privilege: “When I did, I found more purpose to everything that I was doing. That was something that I hadn’t previously understood.

“I was no angel, though, and I gave Julia plenty of reasons to regret keeping me before I turned it around. She’s 10 years older and had practically raised me and my siblings anyway, so she understood that it would be a challenge, but she knew that she could give me a better chance at a future.

For a while, though, I kept not listening to her.

“But Julia never gives up on anything, even if it costs her everything, and she didn’t give up on me. She’s an amazing and

compassionate person, and she was always patient with me.”

When Vaughn realized that at Mica Peak he could make up his missing credits, his attitude and his effort took an abrupt turn for the better.

“During my freshman and sophomore years before I moved up here,” he said, “I used to say that I wanted to run away and live in the woods. No one at home or school was really invested in me, but that changed when I got up here. I was still way behind, but I was able to regain some credits through state testing and eventually graduating on time with my peers was something that I really wanted to do. I don’t think that I would have graduated if I stayed in Oklahoma.”

Vaughn has been enrolled during his senior year in the Automotive Tech program at NEWTech Prep, the

Annalise Thomas Larry Thomas Bo Thompson Sophia Thoresen Lily Thornburg Shane Tibbetts Grace Ticknor Solomon Toft Lucille Tollett Melody Torchio Brant Trautman Luke Trefry Tanner Turnbull Valeriia Tymofiienko Micah Ullman Colton VanDorn Brandon Vazquez Peyton Victor Noah Warner Samuel Wasley Emily Waters Eli Watson Imani Webb Kaylee Webster Cole Weinrich Hunter Wensel Hayden Wheeler Jacobi White Christian Whitmer Avery Whitmire Trey Wiggin Ezekiel Wilburn Keira Wilburn Keira Wilkinson Lance Wilks Taylor Williamson Emma Wineinger Ella Winston Leo Wirthlin Steven Wissink Talan Wood Anna Woolley Kailan Wright Borys Yarosh Riley Yates Amya Young Megan Zapalac

MICA PEAK HIGH SCHOOL

Graduation

The Mica Peak High School commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 4 at Ridgeline High School, 20150 E. Country Vista Drive in Liberty Lake.

Principal: Kamiel Youseph Class of 2026

COURTESY

Vaughn credits much of his turnaround to his sister.

Spokane-area cooperative skills center.

“NEWTech gave me amazing opportunities,” he said. “I’ve always loved math and eventually I’d like to become a mechanical engineer. Right now, I just want to get my foot in the door somewhere and get a start as a technician.”

The lesson that Vaughn

has learned from his experiences, and from his sister?

“Never give up, no matter how hard things seem.

You may be your biggest problem until you figure that out, and when you do, you can accomplish anything. I owe my sister everything. She and her fiancé are the reason that I am where I am today.”

Expected to graduate are: Colby Allbee Ash Allen Ava Baddeley Yamz Burnam Gabriel Connerley Madison Dunlap Brady Durbin Natalia Garcia Zaria Gibb Isabella Gill Novella Grosvenor Levi Gumminger Rydia Hose Kaleaha Humphrey Aubrianna Johnson Michael Klemme Mariah Luna Dane Norman Rachel Osborn Jonathan Pillsbury Ethan Pope Cash Treadwell Alexander Valencia Sapphire Varacalli Ethan Vaughn Roxzann Weyerts Talya Whittemoore Aaron Willard Elijah Williams Abagail Wood Adisyn Woodbury

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

June 3, 2026 • Wednesday • T39

CENTRAL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

‘Education is the biggest privilege in the world’

COURTESY

Faylanna Moore has big dreams and an indomitable spirit.

Faylanna Moore channels her energy into dance

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Central Valley High School senior Faylanna Moore can trace her love of dance to hours spent dancing with her mother in their tiny kitchen.

The skills she developed there brought her to the Central Valley dance team.

Moore said her mother is disabled, but would watch online videos so she could teach her daughter to dance.

“My mom taught me,” Moore said. “We just spent hours and hours dancing in the kitchen. It has obviously paid off.”

Her mother’s goal was to channel Moore’s energy into something positive.

“I have really bad ADHD,” she said. “She was like, we’re going to put that energy to work.”

Moore said she tried medication for her ADHD when she was younger but felt it “stripped me from me,” so she stopped taking it.

When she got to high school, she joined the dance team. She’s been the captain the past two years and the team has gone to State three years in a row. “I’m really proud to have grown that program,” Moore said. “Its first year was my freshman year.”

Although she loves just about every style of dance, hip hop is her favorite. “I love hip hop, just the history of it,” she said.

She has also danced with the Alegria

Graduation

CENTRAL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Sadie Acuna Christopher Adams Muna Aikuij Grace Allen Lauryn Allen Reuben Allen Cody Anderson Parker Anderson Makayla Anton Kelly Arnold Andres Artiles Liam Atwood Alora Baer Campbell Baird Mark Bakhtin Savannah Baldonado Hudson Ball Cayden Banta Jesse Banta Gisela Barnett Matthew Barnhart Shane Barnhart Zaydyn Barth Fischer Baxter Joel Bays Owen Beal Michael Beckham Justin Beckner Aaron Belarde Danica Bell-lutrick Ella Bendele Brooklyn Benson Teagyn Bickston Dakota Bigchild-Chatwin Paul Bilimon Tyler Bissell Tyson Blake

Cameron Blakesley Gage Blakesley Peyton Bogart Ksielia Bohanny Annabelle Breeding Akiya Britton Cooper Brown Marley Brown Emma Buckholdt Dakota Buege Chloe Bunch Rylee Bunch Ava Marie Bungcayao Raeleen Burggraf Antony Cachupe-Fuentes Daniel Carpenter Alyssa Cartwright Juan Castro Giselle Ceballos Jonas Chadwell Alex Chaoukouri Brianna Chapin David Charo Alejandro Chavez Sophia Cifrese Ayden Clapper-Garry Cannon Clemons Fatima Cortes Kody Crawford Ella Crisp Oceana Cuevas Landry Cummings Korah Dahl Edwin Dahle Canon Daines Jack David Nakoda Deaton Urijah De La Rosa Sam Delgado Liam Demler

Tristen Devereaux Abhinavlal Dharavath Skyler Diogo Jianna Dixson Huy Do Cora Donley Emma Druffel Sharon Dudley Desean Dunbar Logan Dunwoody Trinity Eddy Nathan Edwards Robbie Eickerman Max Eldred Morgan Eldred Gavin Ellersick Reece Erickson Justus Esbi Mohammad Esmaili Grant Evans Camdyn Faller Calub Farabee-Clark Aiden Farley Parker Fenton Georgeson Figireg Ali Folsom Jordan Folsom Nina Folsom Jackson Ford Essence Foreman Devin Gaipo Charles Gamache Kael Gannon Kate Gannon Kayla Geoghagan Brooklynn Gillis Sicily Glover Liliya Gnatenko Alexander Gonzalez Reed Grady

The Central Valley High School commencement will be at noon June 6 at Gonzaga University’s McCarthey Center, 801 N. Cincinnati St. Principal: Katie Louie Valedictorian: Joesph Hilton Mariah Graham Anthony Gregory Sophia Griffin Piper Griffith Raeann Grogan Julian Gutierrez Julissa Gutierrez Audrey Hall McEwen Haney Jacee Hardy Skyler Harty Kaitlin Hashagen Jackson Heidel Aspen Henry Isabella Hensley Alison Hernandez Joseph Hilton Nicholas Hirt Nicole Holdren Ashley Huettl Paige Huettl Samantha Hunter Shaley Huth Nour Ibrahim Benji Ikelang Ryle Jamode Moshtaq Janati Mia Jarvis Teagan Jarvis Whisper Jennings Alexander Jensen

CENTRAL VALLEY VIRTUAL LEARNING HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: William Ayerle Sydney Barrie Brady Bell Christian Blake Jayden Bommer Michael Chertov Yaroslav Chobu Brayden Claypool Samantha Comer Casey Conley

Kaden Dire Eli Flowers Erik Golub Evan Gore Jayden Hansen Angel Hawley Kiril Herlazhyi Vitalina Herlazhyi Taylor Howard Addison Hunnel Zahraa Khalil Khalil Raymond Kimbrough Maximus Knight Viktoriia Kochubei

Brooke Kolloen Darien Lawson William Machler Kidd Mannan Avery Materne Shayla Miller Shawn Mitchell Devonte Moody Kaitlyn Napier Montana Neal Jewell Nelson Matthew Peterson Mark Polishchuk Logan Rosholt

dance company. “I love dancing with a team but I also love dancing with a company,” she said. “I feel like I was being pushed every day.”

It’s not just dance that keeps her busy.

She has played the violin since the fifth grade and is in the school orchestra. She’s a member of Key Club, has studied French for four years and enjoys taking Advanced Placement classes.

“I love educating myself,” she said.

“Education is the biggest privilege in the world.”

She also has the responsibility of doing a lot of the housework her mother is unable to do. She is a regular volunteer at Second Harvest. Moore said she and her mother used the food bank in the past and so she volunteers as a way to give back.

“I keep myself busy,” she said. “I just do

Lily-Anna Saunders Claire Sayler Kennedy Schutz Wesley Sharp Christian Shoffner Makayla Spradlin Noah Stoup Cheryl Stretch Addison Stuckrath Alena Topov Walker White Evan Wittig Michael Wright

Jentz Jensen Nerisha Johnny Bailey Johnson Charles Johnson Kyler Johnson Maddox Jordan Addy Jorgensen Adam Judd Harsharan Kaur Erin Kirishian Riley Kirishian Jonathan Lance Gracie Lanphere Danielle Lapin John Larratt Hilie Larson Josephine Laska Campbell Lathan Jackson Leach Keyan Legg Azlynn Lemay David Lewis Jacob Lewis Paityn Lickey Zachary Lindow Tracen Lockwood Evan Luckey Shekinah Luna Torres Calli Luthi Leelen Lux Joel Mandira

Alexius Mardini Eli Marion Sydney Martinez Sima Mashwani Bella Matina Preston Mayhew Grace McAllister Michael McCauley Dalton McComas Ethan McCombs Alissa McKinney Esther McNeilis Anthony Mello Halle Mendenhall Landan Meyer Madison Meyer Annie Monks Connor Monks Ellie Monks Lah Moo Breckin Moore Faylanna Moore Ariel Morgan Ezekiel Morrow Karelis Rachael Mosquera Durand Joseph Mucheru Samuel Mulvaney Mackenzie Munn Sam Nealey Nevaeh Neeser Creighton Nesbitt Natalie Newbill Kaylee Nilles Tate Nix Michael Njagi Michelle Njagi Isabelle Olson Mallory Olson Gus Parker Isabella Parrish Olivia Paventy Mackenzie Pearson

Graduation

The Central Valley Virtual Learning High School and the Open Doors Youth Reengagement commencement will be at 6 p.m. June 10 at Ridgeline High School, 20150 E. Country Vista Drive in Liberty Lake.

Principal: Janice Boyd

what I love.”

Teacher Mason Flemmer said Moore is an inspiration. “Life hasn’t always been easy for her, but she has this incredible way of overcoming every obstacle without ever letting it slow her down,” he said.

“She’s constantly proving that she can handle anything thrown her way. Seriously, nothing seems to stop her and I just know she’s going to do huge things in the world.”

Moore has not finalized her college plans for the fall, other than she wants to focus on media studies. She’s thought of attending San Diego State so she can also dance in Southern California. One of her dreams is to dance for the NBA and she’d like to see if she can make it happen.

“Mainly I want to be able to do something in dance,” she said. “I know that things are going to work out.”

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OPEN DOORS YOUTH REENGAGEMENT Class of 2026

Expected to graduate are: Clayton Bucholtz Kyle Cornell Katherine Gamez Dio Gimbel Lillee Hinton Neveah Jones Bella Lambert

Kevin Levchenko Max Maughan DeShawn Nenema Charlene Prince Darlene Prince Andre Ramierez Ryan Runnels Kayona Snell Roman Zimmerman

T40 • Wednesday • June 3, 2026

THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

RIDGELINE HIGH SCHOOL

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED Robotics, tennis and ham radio helped Andrew Bota balance his heavy work load

By Nina Culver

FOR THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

Andrew Bota was excited to be starting at Ridgeline High School four years ago because he expected interesting classes. He got them, and this year he’s signed up for six Advanced Placement courses.

“I wanted to take on that challenge,” he said. “I enjoyed them better than regular classes in the past. I always try to push myself as much as I can.”

Bota was born in Seattle and spent time living in Rhode Island and Texas before moving to Liberty Lake in the sixth grade. When he started at Ridgeline, he signed up for an introduction to engineering class on a whim.

He learned how to use CAD software and his teacher in that class led the school’s robotics program. He recruited Bota to join. “That got me hooked up with a lot of things,” he said.

He has stayed in the robotics program all four years, helping build a new robot every year that had to be able to complete a specialized task. In his junior and senior years he helped design the robot. “I felt really proud of being able to do that both years,” he said.

He also signed up for tennis his freshman year because he wanted to try something new and had a couple of friends who played the sport. “It ended up being really fun,” he said.

Since then he has played varsity doubles and a mix of singles and doubles, continuing to enjoy the sport.

“I’ve met a bunch of new people doing that,” he said.

He’s also a licensed amateur ham radio operator, but he doesn’t have a setup at home. Instead he can be found in local parks, climbing trees to string wire. “I like to go out to parks and just make a station and reach out to people across the country,” he said. “It’s kind of my excuse to get me outside.”

Bota has also done well in competitions, but he hasn’t always been able to go as far as his skill allowed. He’s been a member of Future Business Leaders of America and in his sophomore year he did the business plan event and qualified for Nationals but wasn’t able to go.

In his junior year, he took first place in the region for network design and computer problem solving. However, he had to skip the State competition because of robotics. Students are given a relatively short amount of time to build their robots and it’s not unusual to work until midnight some nights, Bota said.

“Robotics steals the whole fall,” he said.

Bota has worked as a courtesy clerk at the Liberty Lake Yoke’s since last June. He said he enjoys his co-workers and his time there has earned him the nickname “Bagman” among his tennis teammates. “I really enjoy it,” he said of his job. “It’s a good gig for a high schooler.”

Teacher Brandon Dailey said Bota

RIDGELINE HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2026 Expected to graduate are: Tearstin Adamson Ava Alderman Elisa Aliu Hunter Allen Russell Allen Saegan Allen Jackson Allison Kailey Allison Akayla Almquist Keegen Altermatt Maelia Amen Evan Anderson Joaquin Anderson Saige Anderson Sawyer Anderson Caden Andreas Hailee Argaw Eric Artemenko Carson Atwood Xian Au Kaedyn Aurand Olivia Avery Joel Ballinger Summer Barney Chris Bashaw Marjorie Baumgartner Mckinley Bell Beatrice Beykirch Payton Bigham Sophia Bigner Aidan Bjorklund Svetlana Blagikh Victoria Blagikh Christopher Blake Kyler Blanchard Liam Bokma Meghan Bollinger Kalina Bolter Andrew Bota Natalie Bradbury Natalie Braesch Ethan Braid

Andrew Branum Gracie Brickner Grace Brinkmann Grant Brito Zachary Brockway Teigan Bronec Brooke Broom Cole Brower Dillan Brower Ryleigh Brumwell Ava Brunstetter Dixie Bushman Reagan Butler Emma Caldwell Quintan Call Kailyn Carl John Carle Matthias Carpinteyro Alexa Carpinteyro-Flores Jamai Carrol Gretchyn Carter Tj Carter Joel Carver Owen Carvo Sarah Chappell Miguel Choate Brynlee Christensen Rachel Christensen Melodi Clark Joshua Clements Serenity Cline Quincy Coder Allison Coman Sofia Combs Rolin Coney Riley Connolly Alexander Corona Hayleigh Cromwell Chloej Cross Abby Crowe Madilyn Crowley Spencer Crowley Caiden Crum Tessa Currin Sydney Davey Josie Davis

COURTESY

Andrew Botaplans to study electrical engineering at Oregon State University. has been doing excellent work while taking a very rigorous course load.

“He is dedicated, kind and inclusive, consistently demonstrating a strong commitment to both his academics

Graduation

The Ridgeline High School commencement will be at 8:30 a.m. June 6 at Gonzaga University’s McCarthey Athletic Center, 801 N. Cincinnati St. Principal: Jesse Hardt Valedictorian: Talene Rivera Rory Davis Samantha Day Madison Devenere Mya Donnell Nick Duggan Matthew Ehlers Jayden Elledge Toby Emmerson Matt Enriquez Eleanna Faith Espiritu Brodie Evans Rhett Ferguson Jago Fernandez Jenna Fleeman Jakob Ford Malia Forsyth Jessica Fox Nathan Fox Emma Frankenberg Maia Frederick Adisen Frieling Parker Fuhriman Noah Garcia Cameron Gardner Brandon Genovese Alaiyah Gentry Ashiyah Germany Eva Gertsen Sydney Giblette Matthew Gillespie Ethan Gingras Joseph Gionfriddo Carissa Glenn Elyssa Goldsberry Timothy Goode Anthony Goodwin Pace Greenup

Nelson Gribble Christopher Gulin Kaden Haddox Adison Hamry Chloe Hamry Kara Hanchor Avery Hanley Maggie Hardesty Ayden Hardy Jayden Harrington Mylee Hatch Tandrup Hauge Thatcher Hemphill Amie Henry Sutherland Joel Hernandez Dylan Herrera Avery Heskett Jackson Hieb Carter Hill Lola Hill Mikayla Hill Peyton Hill Lance Hilton Dylan Hively Jacob Hosig Ty Hudson Jack Huettl Joshua Hunt William Hutyler Morgan Hymas Piper Irmer Danicka Ivanovitch Xavier Jacobo Brody Jacobs London Jeffries Caitlyn Jensen Isabella Johns

and his community,” Dailey said. “Andrew is not afraid of a challenge and approaches his goals with determination and persistence.”

Bota will attend Oregon State

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University, where he plans to study electrical engineering while continuing to play tennis. “They actually have a ham radio club that I will be joining when I get there,” he said.

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