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Polson graduates head into the future

Issue Date: 6/3/2015
Last Updated: 6/3/2015 3:25:34 AM | By Berl Tiskus  

POLSON —  Traditions are important, and Polson High School’s Class of 2015 followed some long-held traditions: “Pomp and Circumstance” played as they marched into Linderman gym on May 30, the building was sweltering, and the gym was packed with family, friends and well-wishers of the graduates. But then the students put their own stamp on their commencement. 

Some of the Valedictorians — Sarah Howell, Kylie Koberg, Ainur Lucas, Linnea Madsen, Thomas Mercer, Sarah Rausch and Taylor Rost — used comedian Jimmy Fowler’s thank-you note skit to “write” a few of their own, complete with the same corresponding music from the local pianist.

The tongue-in-cheek “notes” included:

—  “Thank you, graduation gowns, for basically saying this is one of the most important days of our lives so we dress in our finest clothing then throw this loose fitting garbage sack over the top of it.” 

— “Thank you, Linderman gym, for barely holding our student body, let alone the 10,000 people who want to attend graduation.” 

— “Thank you, Mr. Danley, for showing us we don’t have to tie our shoes and tuck in our shirts to have a masters degree.” 

Salutatorians were Laura Freeman and Jaiden Toth.

The class of 102 students chose Vice Principal Scott Wilson as their commencement speaker. 

“He’s not just another teacher or administrator … he’s someone we respect,” said Student Body President Sarah Rausch, who introduced Wilson. 

Wilson drew from sports to craft an analogy between golf and life. 

“I’m excited to go out and step up to the first tee box,” Wilson said, “but I don’t want to mess up and I don’t want to look stupid.”

But happiness isn’t just playing one hole.

“There are 17 other holes there,” he said, “Some are hard, some have more water, some have more sand.”

Comparing golf to school, Wilson said kindergartner is the first tee box. The kids are excited to start school, but they are scared to death and don’t want to leave their parents. 

Once they meet their teacher and their classmates and get a look at their classroom, they are okay.

In golf what works with for Wilson is “being true to myself and playing to the best of my ability.”

That also proves true in his career.

“I’ve been in education for 23 years. I love going to work every day,” Wilson said.

He added that he like to help people make decisions and give good advice.

“Be true to yourself and success will follow,” Wilson advised the graduates. 

Counselor Emily Johnson noted that the class of 2015 was awarded just a little less than a million dollars in scholarships and awards as she announced all the students who earned scholarships.

The Polson High School Class of 2015 included:

• Christopher Alexander

• Rylee Andrews; Western Washington University Academic Excellence Award;Total Screen Design Artistic Scholarship

• Kyle Araos; US Army National Guard GI Bill- Missoula College; Mars and Verna Rolfson Scholarship

• Kaleb Auld

• Mohammed Banna

• Wyatt Barr

• Trevor Basler

• Nicholas Becker

• Riley Berlin

• Keliegh Borchers

• Taylor Brackey

Dawson Community College Softball Scholarship; Dawson Community College Kettner Family Scholarship

• Justin Brester

• Amelia Brooks

• Jordan Broussard

University of Montana Freshman Scholarship

• Rhett Burland

• Gracie Carlyle

University of Great Falls Mortacci Merit Scholarship; University of Great Falls Courage Award

• Haven Cenicola

• Keely Clairmont

• Grant Clark

Montana State University Premier Scholarship; Montana State University Wilhelm Wurst Engineering Scholarship; Bertram and Alta Hochmark Scholarship; Polson Rotary Scholarship

• Libby Clay

Polson Dollars for Scholars Mildred and Hib Hanson Memorial Scholarship; University of Montana Academic Achievement Scholarship

• Thomas Crosby

Dorris D. Harbert Scholarship; Polson Dollars for Scholars Trussler Family Vocational Scholarship; Mars and Verna Rolfson Scholarship

• Madeline Cunningham

George and Florence Clarkson Scholarship; Mars and Verna Rolfson Scholarship; Polson Kiwanis-Key Club Scholarship

• Andrew Curley

• Taylor Davis

• Shilah Doble

Polson Dollars for Scholars; Chris Hoyt Memorial Scholarship

• DeLancey Doty

Montana State University Premier Scholarship; Peggy Unrau Scholarship

• Courtney Emory

• Noah Eslick

Polson Rotary Scholarship

• Sabrina Fernandez

• Bridger Fitzpatrick

• Colten Fitzpatrick

• Noah Fouty

• Laura Freeman

George and Florence Clarkson Scholarship; Polson Dollars for Scholars Emma Sager- Women of Rollins Club Scholarship; Dorris D. Harbert Scholarship; George and Faye Harris Scholarship; St. Luke Community Healthcare Rosemary Miller; University of Montana Academic Achievement Scholarship

• Josiah Gallatin

Mars and Verna Rolfson Scholarship

• Cole Garza

• Robert Grove

• Rachael Hagen

University of Montana Freshman Scholarship

• Robert Hayes

• Cody Hedeen

• Alex Helgeson

George and Florence Clarkson Scholarship

• Nicole Howell

• Sarah Howell

Peggy Unrau Scholarship; Plum Creek Community Scholarship; Bertram and Alta Hochmark Scholarship; Polson Dollars for Scholars Toby Nelson Memorial Scholarship; Polson Dollars for Scholars John Oberlitner/Theiler Family Scholarship; Polson Rotary Scholarship; University of Great Falls Presidential Scholarship; University of Great Falls Soccer Scholarship; University of Great Falls Courage Award

Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation Scholarship

• Conor Hubbard

• Waylon Jacobs

• Jonah Kasnitz

Polson Dollars for Scholars Montecahto Club Scholarship; Polson Elks Most Valuable Student Award; George and Florence Clarkson Scholarship; Bertram and Alta Hochmark Scholarship

George and Faye Harris Scholarship; Seattle Pacific University President’s Scholar Award

• Jordan Kenmille

• Katrina Knutson

• Kylie Koberg

Polson Dollars for Scholars Freshman Scholarship; Northwest Nazarene University President’s Academic Scholarship

• Skyla Krantz

North Idaho College Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship; George and Florence Clarkson Scholarship; Peggy Unrau Scholarship

• Trisha Lafferty

• Reno Lindesmith

George and Florence Clarkson Scholarship; Mars and Verna Rolfson Scholarship; Polson Dollars for Scholars Chris Hoyt Memorial Scholarship

• Ainur Lucas

Navy ROTC Scholarship—Tulane University 

• Linnea Madsen

Mary Lou Fugleberg Memorial Scholarship; Peggy Unrau Scholarship; Polson Rotary Scholarship; North Central University Scholar’s Award; Assembly of God John Ashcroft Scholarship; Assembly of God District Youth Director’s Scholarship; Polson Beta Sigma Phi Torch Scholarship

• Austin Martinez

• Eric Matt

• Brandi Mays

• Christopher McDonald

• Shannon McGinnis

University of Montana Freshman Scholarship; George and Florence Clarkson Scholarship; Mars and Verna Rolfson Scholarship; Polson Dollars for Scholars Freshman Scholarship

Polson Rotary Scholarship

• Samantha McNair

• Thomas Mercer

Navy ROTC Scholarship—University of Rochester

University of Rochester Dean’s Scholarship

• Sophie Mitchell

Montana State University Premier Scholarship

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Higher Education Scholarship

Horatio Alger Scholarship

• Morgan Moll

Polson Dollars for Scholar District 23 Employees’ Scholarship

University of Montana Freshman Scholarship

Polson Rotary Scholarship

 

• Cody Morin

• Alexander Murphy

• Paul Nield

• Derek Peel

• Wyatt Peffley

• Dylan Quinn

University of Montana Academic Achievement Scholarship

Dorris D. Harbert Scholarship

Buck Young Memorial Scholarship

Polson Rotary Scholarship

• Mariah Quintana

• Sarah Rausch

Oral Roberts University Quest Whole Person Scholarship

Oral Roberts University Presidential Scholarship

Peggy Unrau Scholarship

Polson Dollars for Scholars Freshman Scholarship

St. Luke Community Healthcare Rosemary Miller Memorial Scholarship

• Spencer Raymond

St. Luke Community Healthcare Rosemary Miller Memorial

• Austin Redfern

• Nicole Robbins

• Machaela Roberts

• Morgan Roberts

• Ruby Roberts

• Dominic Rosatti

• Taylor Rost

Polson Elks Most Valuable Student Award

Peggy Unrau Scholarship

Bertram and Alta Hochmark Scholarship

Buck Young Memorial Scholarship

Polson Rotary Scholarship

Pacific Lutheran University Congregational Scholarships

• Bridger Rowley

Air Force ROTC Scholarship—Montana State University

R. F. Chadwick Foundation Scholarship

• Lindy Rutledge

US Army National Guard GI Bill—Pennsylvania State University

• Liam Schoening

• Dusty Shepard

• Elena Sherlock

• Trinity Simmons

• Natalie Slonaker

Flathead Valley Community College NW Montana Attendance

• Kania Smith

• Kirra Snyder

• Lauren Spell

• Thomas Sylvester

• Paula Symington

• Eli Torgenrud

• Jaiden Toth

Boise State University GEM Scholarship

George and Florence Clarkson Scholarship

Dorris D. Harbert Scholarship

Polson Dollars for Scholars John Oberlitner/Theiler Family Scholarship

Polson Rotary Scholarship

• Ryan Turner

• Taylor Walhood

• Kaelen Wall

Graduation Matters Montana Circle of Success Scholarship

Lambeth Memorial Scholarship

Dorris D. Harbert Scholarship

George and Faye Harris Scholarship

Polson Dollars for Scholars Class of 1959 Scholarship

Mission Valley Masonic Lodge Scholarship

Polson Rotary Scholarship

• Peyton Weingart-Anderson

• Douglas White

• Alyssa Whitworth

• Ursula Wise

• Layne Zimmerman

• Nickhloas Zorotovich