Facing their future
Polson High School graduates earn more than $1 million in scholarships
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POLSON — “The tassel was worth the hassle,” LaiLa Skalsky said during her valedictory speech.
Skalsky, Macall Banner, Riley Kenney, Kelsey Koberg, Clark Rubel, Michael Venters and Jaime Young were the seven valedictorians of the Polson High School class of 2012, and they all spoke during class commencement exercises at Linderman gym on June 2. The graduates also heard from salutatorian Brock Bleazard.
The seniors chose PHS athletic director Scott Wilson as their speaker. Wilson said he’d been thinking back on his own high school graduation. With approximately 400 graduates in his class, Wilson told the students they were lucky PHS was “small enough you know all the graduates.”
Wilson spoke about change. As a high school student, he listened to a Walkman; students today listen to iPods’s, he played PacMan instead of Xbox games.
Research papers used to entail going to the library, “looking in something called a card catalog,” finding books and writing a paper. Then “you used a thing called a typewriter” to type the paper. Today students “Google” a topic and type their paper all from the comfort of their home.
More seriously, Wilson cited 9/11 as a day that changed everybody’s life and perceptions of safety. No one had any control over the devastation and loss of life, and now anyone who flies faces lines and increased security. Wilson’s advice to the graduates was to roll with change, embrace change and be part of change.
Thanking the community for believing in these students, guidance counselor Emily Johnson announced that class of 2012 received more than a million dollars in scholarships.
Graduates were:
Justine Rae Albert
Stephanie Marie Angle
Vincent Joshua Araos
Dawson Jerome Baer
Macall Christine Banner
Laura Grace Barta
Drew Michael Battista
Marisa Breanne Binder
Brock LaBron Bleazard
Karmen Dawn Borchers
Leslie Ann Brower
Sarah Maie Cannon
Alyssa Monique Cassidy
Jeltsi Deigh Chisholm
Josiah John Clairmont
Kaitlin Ann Clairmont
Mackenzie Lynn Clay
Clint Gregory Cooper
Rebecca Ann Costilla
Christopher William Cote
Karlee Jo Cottle
Angel Francisco Couture
Lorelie Dawn Couture
Gitone Eugene Couture Ware
Candace Hope Coxen
Chelsey Bree Anne Cree
Eric Steven DeLay
Vincent Thomas DiGiallonardo
Skyler Mackenzie Dodson
Michael Anthony Ellerton
Audra Dee Engebretson
Stephanie Kay Fahlgren
Bryce Andrew Aaron Fiorentino
Cody John Fischer
Gavin Ray Fox
Peregrine Barclay Frissell
Sydney Marie Gambrel
Eric James Gerrity
Daniel Evan Gibbs
Miranda Emerald Green
Genevieve Georgia GrowingThunder
Everardo Guerrero
Austin Baun Gyzeny
Mariah Justine Hamel
Madeline Odessa Hewston
Henry Ho
Justin Andrew Hoel
Reed Stuart Hovenkotter
Nicholas Paul Howell
Colleen Nicole Jacobson
Ashley Dawn Johnson
Dylan Taylor Kelly
Destini VioletMarie Kenady
Kienan Leroy Keniston
Riley Alyse Kenney
Kelsey Jo Koberg
Delaney Alice Kohler
Cade Patrick Komlofske
Dylan Michael Korpi
Tyler James Krell
Camille Alexander LaDue
Ian Patrick Laimbeer
Zackahry Charles Lee
Riley Joseph Lemm
Arif Bin Mansor
Aspen Dawn Many Hides
Veda Shawntai Mathias
Jordynn Imari Mays
Paul Wyatt McClurg
Maxwell Elliott McLean
Niche’ Pasquilina McLure
Katharina Sofia Medland
Steven Anthony Milian
Ciara Richelle Moran
Tori Nicole Morris
Jonathan David Murphy
Trey Mckenzie Nordberg
Veronika Novotna
Logan Alan Nutzman
Alexander Evan Nystrom
Samuel Paul Peel
Andrew James Perkins
Justine Lee Pichler
Kendra Marie Poole
Megan Elaine Pope
Jordan Elizabeth Quinn
Jordan Taylor Richer
Riley Lige Newton Roberts
Sara Elizabeth Robinson
Cinthia Mariana Llaguno Rodriguez
Brynn Christina Rowley
Jessica Lynn Rubel
Roland Francis Clark Rubel IV
Erika Michelle Siegelin
LaiLa Joy Skalsky
Diamond WinterHawk Miles Smiley
Steven Stuart Starke
Thomas Henry Tibbles
Conrad Robert Russell Todd
Dakota Storm Van Meter-Burke
Annie Therese Venters
Michael Joseph Venters
Austin Thomas Von Tom
Caden Bill von Wildenradt
Thomas Joseph Wallace
Kylee Nichale Wegner
Makenzie Noelle Wegner
Molly Rietta WhiteWater
Makaliah Audrey Wilson
Jaime Kiona Young
