» BHS seniors graduate

By Amy Moss Strong
Editor
Thursday, June 11, 2009 | No comments posted. The 57 members of the Bandon High School class of 2009 said their good-byes to classmates, friends and teachers Saturday night before an overflowing crowd at Otis Murray Court.

Class members thanked teachers for helping with their successes, which also were acknowledged by BHS Principal Gaye Knapp, who said the class of 2009 was one of the most outstanding she had ever seen, academically, artistically and athletically.

“I’m very proud of you,” Knapp told the seniors. “You have made your community proud with your successes, accolades and accomplishments.”

There was a record number of six valedictorians in the class and four salutatorians, and each of them gave a short speech. They talked about the challenges of growing up and having to now go out on their own, about the fun times they have had over the past years, with many of them having attending Bandon schools their entire lives. Some spoke of the diversity and uniqueness of class members, and of the high-achieving individuals in the class.

“A graduation is a ceremony is an event where students dressed in identical caps and gowns are told individuality is the key to success,” joked salutatorian Ashley Powell.

Valedictorian Tatiana Havill said she will remember high school as a place where she found it in herself to become involved with the community. She then thanked her teachers, mentioning several specifically, for sharing their knowledge, enthusiasm and hard work and jokingly recalled their teaching methods, which encouraged her to succeed. “They hold this school together and without them it’s just a building full of kids,” Havill said.

Teachers should make a difference in student’s lives and the BHS staff has “definitely met that goal,” Havill added.

Valedictorian Cole Scherer spoke about the challenges he faced his senior year battling Lyme Disease, which he contracted while on a hike with his family and friends. He said his struggle has embodied the class motto of how “the glory of success is not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall.”

“I did not rise alone,” Scherer said. “My family, my friends and my God helped me and it is in them I find glory.”

In addition to Havill and Scherer, valedictorians included Alex Sylvester, who gave a humorous speech, Tyler Park, Ayla-Mae Vedder and Gerald Davis, who quoted Mr. Spock from the television series “Star Trek,” telling the class to “live long and prosper.”

Along with Powell, salutatorians included Clarissa Castaldi, Ashley Tobiska and Brianna Valentine. Kody Lawrence recalled class memories and said he feels like he ran a marathon that started as warm-up laps and just kept adding miles. He personally thanked BHS English teacher Jim Proehl for all he has been to students over his 31 years at BHS. Proehl is retiring this year. Proehl also has been a Boy Scout leader for almost the same number of years, helping dozens of young men achieve Eagle Scout status, including Lawrence.

“I will greatly miss you as a mentor and BHS will greatly miss you as a teacher,” Lawrence said.

Students were then awarded scholarships, with the total amount given, including local gifts and college awards, exceeding approximately $590,000.

After the ceremony, class members were whisked away to all-night Project Graduation activities.

Scholarships awarded total approximately $590,000

BHS 2009 scholarship recipients:

Gerald Davis

Bandon Community Scholarship Fund, $1000 per year for four years; Southwestern Oregon Community College Academic Scholarship for grade point average of 3.75 or better, full tuition; Bandon Lion’s Club, $1,000; Robert C. White Technology Memorial Scholarship presented by the Corvette Club, $500; Harvey S. Mudd Scholarship for engineering and mathematics, $3,000; South Coast Running Club, $500; Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber Award, $3,000.

Tatiana Havill

Bandon Community Scholarship Fund,  $1,000  per year for four years; Bandon Lion’s Club, $1,000; Ford Family Foundation scholar, provides 90 percent of unmet needs for college expenses; Pathways Oregon award, UO; The Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, USA, $1,000.

Tyler Park

Bandon Community Scholarship Fund, $1,000 per year for four years; The Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship, full tuition; OSU Diversity Award, $2,000.

Cole Scherer

Prefontaine Scholarship, $1,000; Reese Family, $2,000; Bandon Community Scholarship Fund, $1,000 per year for four years; Oregon State University Diversity Award, $1,200; OSU Engineers Award, $2,000.

Alex Sylvester

Bandon Community Scholarship Fund, $1,000 per year for four years; Alda Lowe Day Scholarship for overall academic achievement in the Humanities, $3,000; University of Oregon resident dean award, $1,500; Ladies Dew Valley Club, $100; Chetco Federal Credit Union, $4,000;     Dr. Ric Dowling, $250; Bandon Playhouse, $1,000; Elks Lodge essay contest, first place award, $800; American Legion Post No. 26, $500.

Ayla-Mae Vedder

Bandon Community Scholarship Fund, $1,000 per year for four years; University Women, $400; Dr. Dominy Memorial Scholarship; Bandon By The Sea Kiwanis, $1,000; Bandon by the Sea Rotary Scholarship, $1,000; Norman F. Sprague Jr. Computer & Science Scholarship, $3,000; UO Diversity and Pathways Oregon Award, $6,000; Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, $1,000.

Clarissa Castaldi

William Arnot Day Scholarship for Outstanding Speech and Communications, $3,000; Oregon First Community Credit Union, $500; Bandon Playhouse, $1,000; Elks Lodge essay contest, first place award, $800; George Fox University Award, $6,000; Various awards from the University of Hartford, $26,000.

Ashley Powell

Bandon by the Sea Kiwanis, $1,000; Bandon by the Sea Rotary Scholarship, $1,000; Michael and Lindy Keiser, $1,000 for four years; University of Oregon Pathways.

Ashley Tobiska

Linfield Faculty Academic Scholarship, $10,000; Linfield Faculty Scholarship for Leadership and Service, $1,000, renewable for three additional years; Oregon State University Diversity Scholarship, $1,000, renewable for three additional years.

Briana Valentine

SOCC Academic Scholarship for grade point average of 3.75 or better, full tuition; Ladies Dew Valley Club, $500; Neil Faber Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; Elks Lodge essay contest, second place award, $500; OSU renewable Diversity, $1,500; Bandon By The Sea Rotary, $1,000.

Maggie Allen

Bandon Masonic Lodge  No. 130, $1,000; Floyd Ingram, $2,500; International Air and Hospitality Academy, $500; Northwest Career Colleges Association, $1,000; South Coast Business Employment Corporation, up to $5,000.

Emily Brooks

Michael and Lindy Keiser, $2,000 for four years; Chetco Federal Credit Union, $2,000; Bandon Lion’s Club, $1,000; Bandon by the Sea Kiwanis, $1,000.

John Castaldi

Elks Lodge essay contest, second place award, $500; Bandon By The Sea Kiwanis, $1,000; Caryll Mudd Sprague Creative Art, $3,000; Pratt University, $26,000.

Kayleigh Duval

Michael and Lindy Keiser, $2,000 for four years; Bandon VFW Post No. 3440, $500; Bandon By The Sea Rotary Scholarship, $1,000; Marsha Felton, $1,000; SOCC Miller Foundation, $800;  Umpqua Bank, $200.

Samantha Hohlweg

Bandon Police Support Gene Roach Scholarship, $300; Weedum Seedum Garden Club; Michael and Lindy Keiser, $2,000 for four years.

Holly Horath

OSEA Union Scholarship; Floyd Ingram, $2,500; Michael and Lindy Keiser, $1,000 for four years; South Coast Business Employment Corporation, up to $5,000.

Nathan Miller

OSEA Union Scholarship; Bandon By The Sea Rotary, $1,000; South Coast Business Employment Corporation, up to $5,000; Chairs Scholar Award, $3,000 a year.

Jason Routenberg

Marsha Felton Scholarship, $1,000; Michael and Lindy Keiser, $1,000 for four years; University of Phoenix First Chance, full scholarship, approximately $50,000.

Jordan Tipton

Michael and Lindy Keiser, $1,000 for four years;  Bandon VFW Women’s Auxiliary Post No. 3440, $350; American Legion Post No. 26, $500.

Melinda Torres

Western Oregon University ETS award, $1,000; Ester Millard Trust, full tuition for four years.

Corinna Warner

Mildred E. Mudd Music Scholarship, $3,000; Neil Faber Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; OSEA Union Scholarship; SOCC Academic Scholarship for grade point average of 3.75 or better, full tuition; SOCC Music Scholarship.

Amanda Berry

Chetco Federal Credit Union, $1,000; Bandon Masonic Lodge No. 130, $1,000; Jack and Margaret, $1,000.

Beth Castro

Math Skills Day award; Michael and Lindy Keiser, $2,000 for four years.

Jarrid Doffing

SOCC Soccer Scholarship, $1,300.

Kody Lawrence

Bandon by the Sea Rotary, $1,000; Math Skills Day award; Michael and Lindy Keiser, $1,000 for four years.

Cord McCabe

Michael and Lindy Keiser, $2,000 for four years.

Kim McGeehon

Michael and Lindy Keiser, $1,000 for four years.

Zenaida Montes

OSEA Union Scholarship; Floyd Ingram, $2,500.

Albert Moralez

South Coast Business Employment Corporation, up to $5,000.

Kayla Nayaert

Bandon Police Reserve, $500; Michael and Lindy Keiser, $2,000 for four years.

Tyne Riddick

UO Resident Dean Award, $1,500; UO Dean’s Scholarship, $4,000.

Cecilia Rynone

Michael and Lindy Keiser, $1,000 for four years.

David Stadelman

South Coast Business Employment Corporation, up to $5,000.

Cayla Ulery

Michael and Lindy Keiser, $1,000 for four years.

Erik Helms

Math Skills Day award.