Fifteen bid adieu to Charlo High
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Charlo Class of 2015 pops confetti in celebration.
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
Nicole Tavenner
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CHARLO – Superintendent Thom Peck is confident that the 15 graduates of Charlo’s Class of 2015 will change the world. The purple and white clad Vikings made one last trek across the high school gymnasium floor to a packed house of spectators at commencement on Sunday.
“My biggest belief is in you, each one of you,” Peck said. “You will change the world. Now you are probably saying, ‘Dude, Mr. Peck, I don’t even have a summer job,’ but you will, you will change the world. You already have. You’ve changed my world.”
Peck listed the accomplishments of the class, with state, regional, and district sports titles among them. He noted that from all schools in Montana, including mega-schools in large cities, tiny Charlo brought home a 7th place ranking for statewide ACT testing college readiness. Ninety-six percent of the graduating students were going on to some form of higher education, Peck said. And one of the students – Lindsey Tryon – brought home one of the nation’s highest honor scholarships, the Gates-Millennium scholarship, Peck pointed out.
Peck said that Charlo students should never feel inferior because they came from a small Montana school, but that they should actually feel superior. He encouraged the students to work hard, cherish the people in their lives, have a good attitude, and pursue their passion. He emphasized that the students will likely face tough times, but that they can overcome.
He used an example of his own diagnosis with lymphoma as a college junior. Previously a basketball and football athlete at Carroll College, — who was a self-described “chick magnet” — the disease dashed his hopes of becoming a pediatrician in an office where the staff wore sports jerseys, the air smelled like candy and there was a Donald Duck-shaped entrance-way.
Peck’s life took a turn as he went through experimental treatment. But being exposed to pediatric cancer patients gave him a positive outlook on life and eventually led him to a teaching career once he beat the disease.
“During the tough times, you learn the most and you become better,” Peck said.
Becoming better is what salutatorian Madison Foust envisions for her classmates.
“No matter where we go from here, we will come across some difficulties in life,” Foust said in her salutatory address. “But just as Frederick Douglas once said, ‘If there is no struggle, there is no progress.’ Growth comes differently through a variety of experiences, especially in our most challenging times. We may become torn and damaged, but just like the muscles that make up our body, we can repair and grow stronger, ready for the next obstacle.”
Valedictorian Shayna Nagy encouraged the class to move in a positive direction.
“Whether we are ready or not, this journey begins today,” Nagy said. “No matter what paths we chose we will face challenges. There will always be obstacles standing in the way of our dreams … what I am asking of each of us is that we never allow those obstacles to win. Instead of backing down and giving up, face them head on with full intention of removing them. I truly believe that there is no challenge we cannot overcome, no task so daunting we cannot defeat it, no mountain so high we can’t climb it.”
The graduates raked in $473,850 in scholarships averaging $31,590 per graduate.
Sienna Brown, daughter of Michael and Dana Brown, plans to attend Washington State University and major in pre-medicine. She received the Ronan Harvest Foods Scholarship, $100; Ronan Eye Clinic Scholarship, $150; George and Faye Harris Foundation Award, $1,000; GearUp Achievement Grant, $1,500; Clayton E. DeVoe Scholarship, $5,000; GearUp Pathways Scholarship, $23, 100; Washington State University Cougar Academic Award, $44,000.
Kyle Couture, son of Todd Couture and Missy Peterson, plans to attend Salish Kootenai College and major in forestry. He plans to continue working for the Division of Fire.
Kobe Cox, son of Blaine and Mindy Cox, plans to attend Dixon State University and major in biology. Cox received the Charlo Grocery Scholarship for $200; the Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative Scholarship for $1,000; GearUp Achievement grant for $1,500; George and Faye Harris Foundation Award for $3,000; Dixie State University Scholarship for $8,300; the Gear Up Pathways Scholarship for $23,100; and a printer and laptop from the Elks Most Valuable Student Award.
Lisa Cox, daughter of Tate and Neoma Cox, plans to attend Williston State University and major in psychology. Cox received the Valley Bank scholarship for $100; Ronan Cenex Harvest States Scholarship for $100; Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative Scholarship, $1,000; GearUp Achievement Grant, $1,500; and GearUp Pathways Scholarship for $23,100.
Dalton Delaney, son of Ryan and Amy Delaney, plans to attend the University of Montana- Western and major in elementary education. Delaney received Stuart’s Mountain View Cenex Scholarship for $100; Lake County 4-H Scholarship for $250; University of Montana Western Scholarship, $400; Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative Scholarship, $500; FUPS Basketball Scholarship, $600; Kelsey Rollins-Hanson Memorial Scholarship $750 James O Atkinson Memorial Scholarship, $750; Charlo Perpetual Scholarship, $1,000; University of Montana Western Athletic Scholarship, $1,000; GearUp Achievement Grant, $1,500; and the George and Faye Harris Charitable Foundation Award, $3,000.
Brittany Evelo, daughter of Curtis and Christina Evelo plans to work as a nanny after graduation.
Madison Foust, daughter of Arnold and Kathryn Foust, plans to attend Brigham Young University in Idaho and major in nursing. She received the Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship for $100; Charlo Lions Club Scholarship, $250; State Elks Scholarship, $500; St. Luke Community Healthcare Scholarship for $500; Charlo Perpetual Scholarship, $1,000; Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative Scholarship, $1,000; George and Faye Harris Charitable Foundation Award for $1,000; GearUp Achievement Grant, $1,500; GearUp Pathways Scholarship, $23,100; and a printer and laptop from the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship.
Michelle Little, daughter of Rick and Robyn Little, plans to attend Modern Beauty School and major in cosmetology. She received the ??, $200; Westland Seed Scholarship, $100; Stuart’s NAPA Auto Care Scholarship, $100.
Jesse Long, son of Brad Long and Charlene Priddy, plans to attend the University of Montana and major in pre-medicine. He received the Ninepipes Lodge Scholarship for $100, the Phyllis Stivers Memorial Scholarship for $300; State Elks Scholarship, $500; St. Luke Community Healthcare Scholarship, $500; Charlyn M. Rogers Memorial Scholarship $1,000; GearUp Achievement Grant, $1,500; George and Faye Harris Charitable Foundation Award, $3,000; University of Montana Resident Scholarship, $8,000; and a printer and laptop from the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship.
Shayna Nagy, daughter of Patrick and Lillian Nagy, plans to attend Washington State University to major in pre-veterinary science. She was awarded the Community Bank Scholarship, $100; Dan Aadsen Ford Scholarship, $100; Grace Ritzman Scholarship, $1,000; George and Faye Harris Charitable Foundation Award, $1,000; Clayton E. DeVoe Scholarship, $5,000; Montana University Honor Scholarship, $16,000; Washington State University Glenn Terrell Presidential Scholarship, $16,000; and Washington State University Cougar Academic Scholarship, $44,000.
Maverick Nelson, son of William and Leslie Nelson, plans to major in Wildlife Biology at Salish Kootenai College. He received a Shamrock’s scholarship, $200; FUPS Basketball Scholarship, $600; and GearUp Achievement Grant, $1,500.
Tristan Petticrew, son of Greg and Melanie Petticrew, plans to enter the workforce upon graduation.
Lindsey Tryon, daughter of Paul and Amie Tryon, plans to attend Montana State University and major in agriculture. She won the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship which pays for all of her college education and is estimated to be worth $100,000. She also received the Horatio Alger Scholarship for $12,000; Rod’s Harvest Foods Scholarship, $100; Odd Fellows and Rebekahs Scholarship, $500; Lake County 4-H Scholarship, $750; GearUp Achievement Grant, $1,500; Northern Seed State 4-H Council Scholarship, $2,000; Montana State University Premiere Scholarship, $10,000, Montana University System Honor Scholarship, $16,000; and GearUp Pathways Scholarship, $23,100.
Courtney Vaughan, daughter of Dean and Sara Vaughan, plans to attend the University of Montana-Western and major in elementary education. She received the Ninepipe Scholarship, $500; Charlo Lions Club Scholarship, $250; Charlyn M. Rogers Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; Charlo Perpetual Scholarship, $1,000; and GearUp Achievement Grant, $1,500.
Andrew Wiggin, son of Ernie Wiggin and Deborah Johnson, plans to attend Montana State University – Miles City and major in diesel mechanics. He received the Ronan Auto Parts Scholarship, $100; Ronan Les Schwab Tire Center, $100; and Charlo Perpetual Scholarship, $1,000.
