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Mission graduates 34 seniors
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ST. IGNATIUS — Not many people can say their high school commencement speech began with a song and dance, but that’s how Karen Kleinklaus kicked off her farewell address to Mission High School’s class of 2010.
Although she joked that she hadn’t done public speaking “since the dinosaurs roamed the earth,” Kleinklaus’ jazz dance routine and lively speech kept the audience chuckling while she shared some life lessons with the graduates. Since retiring after 28 years as an elementary school teacher, Kleinklaus said her horse Tango has played a big part in her personal growth.
“And this is straight from the horse’s mouth,” she said.
After many long, frustrating battles with Tango over his training, Kleinklaus was ready to give up. In fact, she and Tango were so stressed that they both had eyelid twitches for days.
But one day Kleinklaus buried her face in the horse’s neck and confided all her anxiety in him. Tango turned out to be a good listener, and the next day a miracle happened: both their twitches disappeared.
With renewed hope and dedication, Kleinklaus continued to work with Tango. Eventually, the pair formed a solid partnership that seemed impossible before, Kleinklaus explained.
“I have learned it’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks,” she told the graduating seniors. “Be determined; be patient … and never, never give up.
“May you all dance in the tango of life. I love you.”
After Kleinklaus, salutatorian Keenan Nerby and valedictorian Jasmine Gilleard spoke, and seniors Rachel Jensen and Jenny Dillard presented the class slideshow, which was dedicated to Joyce Easter. Easter, a fixture at the St. Ignatius School for many years, passed away earlier this year.
Two-time all-state softball catcher Katie McDonald was named the outstanding senior athlete, an award that athletic director Alan Pule said was well-deserved.
“I totally didn’t expect this (award). This is amazing,” McDonald said, adding that her father played a huge part in her becoming the athlete that she is today.
The St. Ignatius School also received a special award, foreign exchange program coordinator Marilyn Murchie announced. In recognition of the school’s commitment to hosting foreign exchange students, the American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation chose the St. Ignatius School as one of 19 schools nationwide to receive a $1,000 Tony Cook Memorial Grant. The grant will contribute to the school's foreign exchange program.
Graduates were Courtney Brock; Shaquille Bundy-Ness; Bella Dally; Ethan Dillard; Jennifer Dillard; Nicholas Dinnell; Travis DuMont; Jacob Durglo; Justin Evans; Jorren Gies; Jasmine Gilleard; Rebecca Hiatt; Rachel Jensen; Robert Jensen; Kiara LeBeau; Lakota Matt; Alonna McClure; Christopher McCollum; Kathryn McDonald; Keenan Nerby; Matthew Pierre; Rayanna Ranel; Shelby Rodda; Emily Rohrlach; Trevor Scott; Monty Shawl; Kayla Tammen; Amy Thompson; Thomas Trahan; Alexandria Trejo-Courchane; Dalena Weaselhead; Jacob Westenberg; Ezra Wilson and Antoinette Yazzie.
The class of 2010 earned $465,750 in scholarships.
Shaquille Bundy-Ness, child of Ellie McLeod, received a $3,000 tuition waiver from Salish Kootenai College and a $5,000 CSKT Higher Education Award.
Bella Dally, daughter of Jim and Virginia Dally, received a $3,000 Cottey College Achievement Award, a $8,200 Cottey College Scholarship, a $2,000 Cottey Softball Scholarship, a $2,500 Local PEO Star Scholarship, a $4,000 Montana State PEO Scholarship, a $5,000 CSKT Higher Education Award, a $3,000 SKC tuition waiver and a $350 St. Ignatius Mission Parish Scholarship.
Jennifer Dillard, daughter of Jess and Brenda Dillard, received a $500 Tim Ryan Scholarship, a $500 St. Ignatius Old Town Development Scholarship, a $100 Mission Valley Power award and a $350 St. Ignatius Mission Parish Scholarship.
Travis DuMont, son of Doran DuMont, received a $1,000 MSU Northern athletic scholarship and a $4,500 MSU Northern Native American Tuition Waiver.
Jake Durglo, son of Joe and Alana Durglo, received a $12,000 athletic scholarship from Concordia University, a $15,000 athletic scholarship from Carroll College, a $6,000 athletic scholarship from UM Western, a $6,000 athletic scholarship from Montana Tech, a $1,500 InterTribal Timber Council Scholarship, a $250 Mission Valley Power award, a $6,000 UM Native American Tuition Waiver, a $5,000 CSKT Higher Education Award, a $3,000 SKC tuition waiver and a $125 Waldo and Mildred Phillips Memorial Scholarship.
Justin Evans, son of Jeff and Lisa Evans, received a $1,500 UM Montana Tech David and Bette Gleason Scholarship, a $1,000 Governor’s Americorps Community Service Scholarship, a $1,000 Bryant Schliep Memorial Scholarship and a $125 Waldo and Mildred Phillips Memorial Scholarship.
Jorren Gies, son of Guy Gies and Gina Robertson, received a $3,000 SKC tuition waiver.
Jasmine Gilleard, daughter of Brandon and Melissa Gilleard, received a Gates Millenium Scholarship for funding through a doctorate, estimated at $180,000. She also received a $40,000 renewable Carroll College Trustee Scholarship, a $20,000 renewable Carroll College Diversity Scholarship, an $8,000 renewable Governor’s Best and Brightest award, a $1,500 George and Faye Harris Memorial Scholarship, a $200 Montana Gear Up Essay Scholarship, a $10,000 renewable Horatio Alger Scholarship, a $1,000 Youth Serve Montana Community Service Scholarship, a $100 Mission Valley Power award and a $500 Blackfoot Telephone Scholarship.
Becky Hiatt, daughter of Pat and Annette McGreevey, received a $250 Verne and Amelia Harris Memorial Scholarship, a $500 St. Ignatius MEA/MFT, a $500 Tim Ryan Scholarship and a $500 St. Luke Community Healthcare Network Scholarship.
Rachel Jensen, daughter of Ray and Rhonda Jensen, received a $10,000 UM Horatio Alger Scholarship, a $1,000 UM Orchard Scholarship, a $500 UM Walker Scholarship, an $8,000 Governor’s Best and Brightest Scholarship, a $500 Blackfoot Telephone Scholarship, a $100 Mission Valley Power award, a $500 Tim Ryan Scholarship and a $1,000 Allard Memorial Scholarship.
Kiara Lebeau, daughter of Chi and Adam Wolf and Kyle and Bobbie Sinclair, received a $3,000 SKC tuition waiver.
Lakota Matt, son of Louis and Anita Matt, received a $3,000 SKC tuition waiver.
Alonna McClure, daughter of Gordon and Gloria Whitworth, received a $3,000 SKC tuition waiver and a $5,000 CSKT Higher Education Award.
Christopher McCollum, son of Dale and Merry Lou McCollum, received a $1,000 Muralt’s Family Foundation Scholarship, a $1,000 Mission Valley Masonic Lodge Scholarship, a $500 Tim Ryan Scholarship, a $200 Montana Gear Up Essay Scholarship and a $500 Blackfoot Telephone Scholarship.
Katie McDonald, daughter of Philip and Monique McDonald, received a $5,000 CSKT Higher Education Award, a $3,000 SKC tuition waiver and a $350 Montana Gear Up Essay Scholarship.
Keenan Nerby, son of Bruce and Kristie Nerby, received a $24,000 — $6,000 is renewable — UM Montana Tech Bright Prism Scholarship, a $1,500 UM Montana Tech Chancellor’s New Student Scholarship and a $200 Montana Gear Up Essay Scholarship.
Matthew Pierre, son of Frances Pierre and Christine Matt, received a $5,000 CSKT Higher Education Award and a $3,000 SKC tuition waiver.
Rayanna Ranel, daughter of Lee and Hope Ranel, received a $150 Montana Gear Up Essay Scholarship.
Emily Rohrlach, daughter of Geoff and Heidi Rohrlach, received a $500 St. Luke Healthcare Network Scholarship and a $250 Shad Marks Memorial Scholarship.
Trevor Scott, son of Ken and Adrienne Scott and Callie and Rayne Simons, received a $1,000 UM Montana Tech David and Bette Gleason Scholarship and a $200 Montana Gear Up Essay Scholarship.
Kayla Tammen, daughter of Ron and Terri Canfield and Dale Tammen, received a $250 Shad Marks Memorial Scholarship.
Thomas Trahan, son of Dan Trahan and Cynthia Sias, received a $3,000 SKC tuition waiver and a $5,000 CSKT Higher Education Award.
Alexandria Trejo-Courchane, daughter of Amanda Bourdon and Baylor Baylor and Candy Baylor, received a $500 Tim Ryan Scholarship.
Ezra Wilson, son of Lonnie and Jackie Wilson, received a $2,000 Gallagher Scholarship to UM College of Technology.
Antoinette Yazzie, daughter of Curtis and Gigi Yazzie, received a $3,000 SKC tuition waiver and a $5,000 CSKT Higher Education Award.
