PHS grads encouraged to celebrate, contemplate, participate
Nicole Tavenner
One-hundred and twelve Polson students participate in their graduation ceremony as family and friends look on.
Nicole Tavenner
Senior class president, Sophie Sisler, thanks faculty and the administration for all their extra efforts and hard work.
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Salutatorian Annabelle Smith
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Orchestra trupeter Walter Woods
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Diplomas
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
By Caleb M. Soptelean
Valley Journal
POLSON – Celebrate, contemplate and participate.
That was the message on Saturday at Polson High School’s graduation.
One hundred twelve graduates were assembled to hear PHS social studies teacher Patrick Danley’s speech before an overflow crowd at the Linderman Elementary gymnasium.
Danley, who has been at the school for 17 years, said he had either taught or coached 88 of the graduates over the years.
Although he encouraged the grads to celebrate their accomplishment, he said he didn’t want receiving their high school diplomas to be the apex of their life. “In 20 years, I don’t want you to be celebrating this event,” he said.
“Set goals and contemplate how you will accomplish these,” he said. “If they are worthy goals, they won’t be easy. You will have to innovate and change some things to accomplish these goals. As the world changes, you may have to change your goals.”
Along the way, he told them to make time for conversation and participation.
“Texting and Snapchatting shouldn’t replace face-to-face conversation,” he said.
His advice included joining a campus group, volunteer organization or church.
“Do something you’re passionate about,” he said. “Make your community better because of your passion.”
Salutatorian Annabelle Smith said her fellow graduates should remember the community that supported them while being brave enough to make new friends.
“Whatever you do, continue to conquer,” valedictorian Sierra Garcia said.
Polson High School Class of 2017:
Rayne Albert
Ashley Alexander
Lane Appelt
Jacob Asencio
Marquise Askan
John BakerStreet
Whitney Barr
Jaydon Bautista
Ashley Benson
Wyatt Aaron Benson
Bradee BigSam
Tyler Bledsoe
Josephine Breining
Leeaisha Bunce
Jonah Burke
Ryan Burland
Cassie Carlyle
Dylan Caye
Cadis Chowning
Amber Clarke
Kyle Clendenin
Trevor Corley
Mikayla Croft
Ghanima des Lions
Daniel DiGiallonardo
Siera Donovan
Madison Duff
Tiara Duford
Thomas Durand
Jenna Evertz
Rochele Farnsworth
Mollie Fisher
Alana Fox
Hannah Fryberger
Haley Fyant
Sierra Garcia
Alexis Geldrich
Tigrai Gipe
Beau Goldberg
Kolby Gralapp
Marritta GrowingThun
der Fogarty
Ryan Harrop
Katelyn Hedeen
John Hendricks
Bryce Henning
Emiliano Hernandez
Cody Herreid
Olivia Hewston
Chance Hoover
Parker Hoxie
Morgen Hoyt
Emily Ibbs
Hannah Kasnitz
Colin Kenney
Joshua Kinzle
Skyler Knutson
Sarah Konen
Presley Learn
Lauren Lefthand
Madison Licano
Steele Licano
Bryce Lindesmith
Fayth Loveless
Russell Matt
Breyland McColl
Jayson McCrea
Kiyara McCue
Noah McDonald
Christopher Meeks
Michael Mercer
Nore Messing
Samuel Moll
Jaron Morgan
Montana Morigeau
Cheyanne Morrison
Josey Motichka
Chase Murrin
Dakota Neiss
Adan Nielsen
J’von Niemeyer
Jeremiah North Piegan
Cherrish Olson
Rylee Ortiz
Calvin Ortlandt
Stephen Ostberg
Caitlin Peel
Brandy Pope
Camas Renault
Matthew Rensvold
Benjamin River
Cameron Rosatti
Jewel Runsabove
Harley Shepard
Aurelia Shrider
Scott Sicz
Sophia Sisler
Matthew Sitter
Anabelle Smith
Chadelle Smith
Mason Smith
Kiana Snyder
Sophia Speckert
Maria Spence
Tiffany Thomas
Katelyn Toland
Kabe Webster
Collyn Williams
Tanner Wilson
Walter Wood
Justin Young
Braden Youngren
Scholarships and Awards
Rayne Albert: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
Jacob Asencio: Montana TRIO Achievement Grant, Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Higher Ed Scholarship, Cobell Scholarship Undergraduate Award
Abigail Ayers: Washington State University Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship, Washington State University Arts & Science Scholarship, Washington State University Visit Scholarship, Rocky Mountain Twist-JORE Scholarship, George & Florence Clarkson Scholarship, Mars & Verna Rolfson Scholarship
Whitney Barr: Montana TRIO Achievement Grant
Bradee BigSam: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
Tyler Bledsoe: R. F. Chadwick Foundation Scholarship, Montana State University Premier Scholarship, George & Florence Clarkson Scholarship, Mars & Verna Rolfson Scholarship, George & Faye Harris Scholarship
Jonah Burke: Montana Tech Football Scholarship
Cassie Carlyle: Buck Young Memorial Scholarship, Montana TRIO Achievement Scholarship
Dylan Caye: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
Amber Clarke: Polson Scholarship & Education Foundation Robert DePoe, III Scholarship
Trevor Corley: Montana TRIO Achievement Grant
Mikayla Croft: Reach Higher Montana Scholarship, Polson Scholarship & Education Foundation Trusler Family Vocational Scholarship, Polson Rotary Scholarship, Buck Young Memorial Scholarship, Peggy Unrau Scholarship
Ghanima des Lions: Montana TRIO Achievement Grant
Siera Donovan: Polson Rotary Scholarship, St. Luke Community Healthcare Rosemary Miller Memorial Scholarship, Polson Chapter AI, PEO Scholarship, Dorris D. Harbert Scholarship, George & Faye Harris Scholarship
Jenna Evertz: Polson Kiwanis Key Club Scholarship, Polson Scholarship & Education Foundation Montecahto Club Scholarship, North Idaho College Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship, George & Florence Clarkson Scholarship, Mars & Verna Rolfson Scholarship
Mollie Fisher: Youth Serve Montana Scholarship, Polson Rotary Scholarship, Polson High School SERVE Scholarship, Paul & Mary Lou Fugleberg Memorial Scholarship, Dorris D. Harbert Scholarship, George & Faye Harris Scholarship
Sierra Garcia: Harvard University Family Scholarship, Harvard University Start-Up Grant
Marritta GrowingThunder Fogarty: Montana TRIO Achievement Grant
Ryan Harrop: Polson Scholarship & Education Foundation Travis Dolphin Memorial Scholarship
Emiliano Hernandez: Polson Scholarship & Education Foundation Class of ’59 Scholarship, Montana TRIO Achievement Grant, Peggy Unrau Scholarship
Olivia Hewston: Polson Chapter AI, PEO Scholarship, Peggy Unrau Scholarship, Montana State University Music Scholarship, Glacier Symphony Chorale Scholarship
Parker Hoxie: George & Florence Clarkson Scholarship, George & Faye Harris Scholarship, Oklahoma Christian University Founders’ Scholarship, Mission Valley Power Student Award, Oklahoma Christian University Northwest Scholarship, Oklahoma Christian University Music Scholarship
Morgen Hoyt: Odd Fellow & Rebekah Lodges of Montana Scholarship, George & Florence Clarkson Scholarship, Mars & Verna Rolfson Scholarship
Hannah Kasnitz: Grand Canyon University Dean’s Award, Dorris D. Harbert Scholarship, George & Faye Harris Scholarship
Colin Kenney: Mission Valley Power Student Award, Montana Tech Marcus Daly Silver Scholarship, Polson Scholarship & Education Foundation District 23 Employees’ Scholarship, Rocky Mountain Twist-JORE Scholarship, Polson Golf Association Fathers’ Day Golf Scholarship
Joshua Kinzle: Polson Scholarship & Education John Oberlitner-Theiler Family Scholarship, George & Florence Clarkson Scholarship
Sarah Konen: Polson Chapter AI, PEO Scholarship, George & Florence Clarkson Scholarship
Lauren Lefthand: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
Russell Matt: Rocky Mountain College Presidential Scholarship, George & Florence Clarkson Scholarship
Noah McDonald: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
Michael Mercer: King’s College Presidential Scholarship, King’s College King’s Grant, King’s College Visit Scholarship, King’s College Early Action Scholarship
Montana Morigeau: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
Josey Motichka: Carroll College Trustee Scholarship, PEO Star Scholarship, Carroll College Montana Advantage Award
Jeremiah North Piegan: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
Rylee Ortiz: Fried Pickle Friday Merit Scholarship
Calvin Ortlandt: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
Caitlin Peel: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
Camas Renault: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
Matthew Rensvold: University of Montana Football Scholarship, Dorris D. Harbert Scholarship, George & Faye Harris Scholarship
Benjamin River: Bertram & Alta Hochmark Scholarship, George & Florence Clarkson Scholarship, University of New Mexico Amigo Scholarship, University of New Mexico Lobo Grant, VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship,George & Faye Harris Scholarship
Aurelia Shrider: Flathead Valley Community College NW Montana Attendance Area Scholarship
Scott Sicz: Weber State University Edge Scholarship
Sophia Sisler: Polson Scholarship & Education Foundation Mildred & Hib Hanson Memorial Scholarship, Montana State University Premier Scholarship, George & Faye Harris Scholarship, T. Eugene Young Montana’s Promise Scholarship, MSU Spirit of the West Marching Band Scholarship, Peggy Unrau Scholarship, Mars & Verna Rolfson Scholarship
Matthew Sitter: Peggy Unrau Scholarship, George & Faye Harris Scholarship
Annabelle Smith: University of Montana-Montana Academic Achievement Scholarship
Chadelle Smith: Washington State University Cougar Academic Award, Washington State University Visit Scholarship, Karen Huffine Scholarship, Polson Rotary Scholarship, Job Service Employers’ Committee Ken Rohrenbach Scholarship, Bertram & Alta Hochmark Scholarship, Polson Beta Sigma Phi TORCH Scholarship, Polson Chapter AI, PEO Scholarship, Dorris D. Harbert Scholarship, George & Faye Harris Scholarship
Sophia Speckert: George & Florence Clarkson Scholarship, George & Faye Harris Scholarship
Maria Spence: Montana TRIO Achievement Grant
Tiffany Thomas: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
Katelyn Toland: QuestBridge Scholarship-Yale University, Polson Elks Most Valuable Student Award, Montana State Elks Most Valuable Student Award, National Elks Most Valuable Student Award
Kabe Webster: Polson Elks Most Valuable Student Award, Montana State Elks Most Valuable Student Award, Duke University Engineering Scholarships
Tanner Wilson: University of Montana Football Scholarship, Buck Young Memorial Scholarship, Peggy Unrau Scholarship
Justin Young: Lake Region State College Baseball Scholarship
Braden Youngren: Salish Kootenai College Scholarship
