Mission graduates ready to tackle future
Graduates Emilie Charlo and Camaleigh Old Coyote celebrate graduation day in spectacles.
Nathan Doll sings the National Anthem.
Lindsay Johnson delivers the valedictory address.
Raymond Matt receives his diploma from his father, school board trustee Peter Matt.
Salutatorian Amanda Andres gets a big hug from her daughter.
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Lindsay Johnson noted all the negative things about going to a school in a small town during her valedictory speech at Mission’s high school graduation on Saturday.
Her list included a lack of things to do on the weekends, smaller sports teams that sometimes struggle and the fact that everyone knows your business. Folks in the audience nodded their heads in agreement. Although, she didn’t leave everyone feeling negative.
“I wouldn’t want to grow up anywhere else,” she said.
She credited the “unbreakable bond” between friends as the best thing about a small school, which was due in part to the fact that everyone does know everything about you.
And her advice for the next class: “Cherish every moment of high school,” she said. “It’ll go by before you know it.”
Raymond Matt kept the graduation ceremony moving forward by introducing each speaker. Matt was later recognized as an Outstanding Senior Athlete with Emilie Charlo.
Retired teacher John Fleming gave the graduation address saying the 28 graduates were sitting at their graduation “in these funny hats” because they believe in education. He said education teaches people not what to think but how to think. He encouraged them to continue thinking for themselves as they venture out into the real world.
Principal Jason Sargent recognized retiring teacher Marlene Lodge for her 25 years of teaching. Lodge plans to visit her family, including a son in Japan, during her retirement.
Salutatorian Amanda Andres stood in line with the graduates after the ceremony to shake hands and give out hugs. She gave a big hug to her 6-month-old daughter Dusty Blue. Andres said getting pregnant during high school made everything much more difficult, but she was determined to graduate, and she did — with honors. She plans to go to college to major in elementary education.
“I stayed up nights to study when she was asleep,” she said of her daughter. “It wasn’t easy, but I made it.”
Mission graduates and scholarships include:
• Aaron Ahenakew: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; MSU Bozeman Native American Tuition Waiver $17,491; Salish Kootenai College Tuition Waiver $3,000.
• Amanda Andres: Salutatorian; Waldo and Mildred Phillips Scholarship $250; Vern and Amelia Harris Scholarship $250; Lake County Job Service/Ken Rohrenbach Scholarship $1,000; UM Gallagher Scholarship $3,000; Blackfoot Communications Scholarship $500; St. Ignatius MEA/MFT Scholarship $250, Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500.
• Steven Bravo Oliver
• Gentry William Andrew Brown: Salish Kootenai College Tuition Waiver $3,000.
• Randi Butterfly: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; Salish Kootenai College Tuition Waiver $3,000; CSKT Higher Education Scholarship $20,000.
• Auxsceinna Cates: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; Montana GEAR UP Pathways Scholarship $23,100; Mission Valley Masonic Lodge Scholarship $1,000; Connor Arnot Memorial Scholarship $500.
• Emilie Charlo: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; Salish Kootenai College Tuition Waiver $3,000; UM Missoula Native American Tuition Waiver $17,491; CSKT Higher Education Scholarship $20,000.
• Shania DuBois: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500.
• Nyqolas Gillingham: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; Montana Gear UP Pathways Scholarship $23,100.
• Danielle Glover: Montana Gear UP Achievement Grant $1,500.
• Pascao Green: Montgomery GI Bill $81,000.
• Courtney Heath: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; NAU W.U.E Scholarship $33,032; NAU Founder’s Gold Award $12,000.
• Zachery James: Montgomery GI Bill $81,000.
• Lindsay Johnson: Valedictorian; Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; Montana University System Honors Scholarship $17,491, St. Ignatius Honors Scholarship $2,000; Montana GEAR UP Pathways Scholarship $23, 100; Sid Allard Memorial Scholarship $750; Blackfoot Communications Scholarship $500, University of Hawaii STEM $20,000, MSU Premier Scholarship $10,000; George and Faye Harris Scholarship $1,000.
• Kelly Lee Klawitter, Jr.
• Mason Livingston: Fayler Family Memorial Scholarship $500.
• Raymond Matt: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; • Montana GEAR UP Pathways Scholarship $23,100, Salish Kootenai College Tuition Waiver $3,000; CSKT Higher Education Scholarship $20,000, Mission Valley Scholarship $500; UM Western Football Scholarship $8,198.
• Shane Morigeau
• Jamie Mullins: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; UM Entering Freshman Scholarship $1,000.
• Camaleigh Old Coyote: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; Salish Kootenai College Tuition Waiver $3,000.
• William Powell: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; MSU Bozeman Rodeo Scholarship $39,200; Muralt Family Foundation $1,000; Sid Allard Memorial Scholarship $250.
• Laurel Elizabeth Scott: Montana GEAR UP Grant $1,500.
• Dominik Stallings
• Matthew William Tackitt: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500; Montana GEAR UP Pathways Scholarship $23,100; MSU Northern New Student Scholarship $1,000; Mission Valley Scholarship $500; Governor’s Best and Brightest Scholarship $8,000.
• Ridge Vanderburg: Salish Kootenai College Tuition Waiver $3,000; CSKT Higher Education Scholarship $20,000; Sealaska Heritage Scholarship $5,000.
• Robert Jay Wadsworth: Montana GEAR UP Achievement Grant $1,500.
• Richard Dale Walls
