Lind-Ritzville graduates net $187,000 in scholarships

The Lind-Ritzville High School honored 32 students on the afternoon of Saturday, June 7, and together the group of academics racked up an impressive $187,498 in awards and scholarships.

Three valedictorians and three salutatorians led the Class of 2014 onto the stage in Gilson Gymasium to recognize the achievements of the class. Dylan Hartz, Maya Wahl and Lisa Koss served as valedictorians while Elizabeth Schofstoll, Connor O’Neill and Alexis Koss led the class as salutatorians.

Hartz and Schofstoll presented a joint speech in representation of the Ritzville students, while Wahl and O’Neill combined a speech for students from Lind.

“Oh and the competition for grades between Elizabeth and I since the moment we found out we were cousins,” Hartz added. “Being Val and Sal would make our great-grandpas proud!”

“As we now reminisce on the last 13 years, we are able to look back on all the great memories we have had…” Hartz said as he shared memories about individual classmates. “We made it through broken bones and have our scars to prove that they really did happen.”

“We jump forward to where we are now. Sitting here for the last time with everyone. Last time we will all be together, last time being recognized as the Class of 2014. Now we look back and truly appreciate the four years within this community, receiving the support we did, and being surrounded by loved ones here today,” Schofstoll said.

“Jarradd has become quite the poet these last couple years and he also was able to create our quote… He came up with it saying, ‘If we were all ingredients, we would be the best soup.’ We’re sure that every person here would agree with this. We now look back on everything and see that we could have waited to get older and start the next chapter of our lives,” Schofstoll said. “I truly do believe that if we all were ingredients, the Lind-Ritzville Class of 2014 would in fact be the best soup!”

Wahl and O’Neill focused on memories made with classmates throughout the years and talked about the initially cooperative as Lind-Ritzville High School.

“And we’ll never forget that tragic moment we were told that we would have to start going to school in Ritzville,” Wahl joked. “We grumbled and complained for all that we were worth, little did we know that traveling to Ritzville would become one of the best memories of our high school careers.”

“We’ll never forget our first day of junior year feeling like outsiders. We’ll never forget that by the end of our first week here, we felt completely at home,” O’Neill continued. “High school would have never been the same without this change, and we are so grateful that we have been given the opportunity to make history within the Lind and Ritzville communities.”

The duo also thanked those individuals who had been instrumental in the class members’ success, with a special thank you to the class advisor Thomas Pulliam, before reflecting on the past 18 years.

“So, yes today is the day that we’ve waited for over the past 18 years. And what lies ahead for our class is unknown,” Wahl said.

“But something that is known is this, if we were all ingredients we’d be the perfect soup. A soup that’s been in the making for the past 18 years as each one of us has become their own person,” O’Neill added.

“We are confident that our classmates will do great things because every student that graduates from the Lind-Ritzville High School has been prepared for whatever life may throw at them,” said Wahl.

O’Neill concluded with, “Classmates, we did it, now it’s time to get out there, make memories and have the best days of our lives.”

The ceremony ended with a short speech and poem written by graduating senior Jarradd Morely. He spoke about each of his classmates individually through the poem, and shared favorite memories of the group. The speech, without the poem, is printed below.

“So I guess its time for me to give this speech and tell you all goodbye. Yeah I didn’t think it was going to be this long either but bear with me its almost over.

“Before I get started I would like to thank my family for voting for me to give this speech, and yes I say family because they are! They are my brothers and sisters and I have so much love for them. I don’t know where I would be today without these amazing people! And it’s really sad that we’re leaving each other for now.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve had to say goodbye to family though, when I was born my parents were not capable to raise a child so as a baby I already lost family, but in return I received two loving grandparents that I love with all my heart. And when I moved from Spokane to Ritzville in the second grade my life changed dramatically.

“I received a third parent, a Mom to be exact! That woman was Mrs. (Camille) Nelson. There is no way I would be standing here today without that amazing woman. This small token of my appreciation can never show how much that I will miss you Mrs. Nelson and all the love and help you gave me... and the discipline helped too.

“Growing up with these fine individuals was hard... mostly because they couldn’t stand me when we first met. But as the years gone by they learned to understand me and I understood them. We grew closer through sports, funny moments in the classrooms and hallways and the occasional gossip with the size of our school where everyone knew the ‘truth’ in a matter of minutes. As we grew closer I realized that they weren’t just people I’ve went to school with but they were my family…

Morley concluded with, “I love you guys so much and will miss you ‘Ohh my,’ and will continue to love you guys till... the…day…I die.”

The list of scholarships and awards is as follows:

Sabrina Bauman received the Evergreen State College Scholastic Achievement Award for $600.

Soraida Chavez earned the University of Washington Scholarship for $4,000 and the Chapter AR, P.E.O. Scholarship for $750.

Tyler Frederick received the Pat (PO) Oestreich Memorial Scholarship from the Ritzville Gun Club for $500.

Dylan Hartz earned the United States Army Reserve National Scholar and Athlete Award; Athletic Award; Willard and Patricia Hennings Scholarship for $1,000; David L. Frances G. Ray Scholarship for $500; The Ritzville Warehouse Scholarship for $1,000; Lind-Ritzville High School Alumni Association 2014 Scholarship for $1,000; Eastern Washington University Presidential Scholarship for $12,000; Lind-Ritzville FFA Alumni Scholarship for $500; John Dugger Memorial Scholarship for $500; and the Ritzville Professional Women’s Club for $300.

Dalyn Killian received the U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar and Athlete Award; Social Studies Award; Harry B. Hayes Award; Distinguished Young Women (DYW) of Ritzville Spirit Award for $100; DYW of Ritzville Scholastic Award for $150; DYW of Ritzville for $1,000; DYW of Washington Talent Award for $250; DYW of Washington Second Runner Up for $1,000; Northwest Farm Credit Jay Penick Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship for $1,500; Brigham Young University of Idaho Award of Excellence for $938; LRHS Alumni Association 2014 Scholarship for $500; Bronc Booster Club Scholarship for $500 and the Willard and Patricia Hennings Scholarship for $1,000.

Alexis Koss earned the U.S. Air Force Outstanding Math and Science Award; Certificate of Merit for Honor in Science and Mathematics from the Society of Women Engineers; and a University of Washington Scholarship for $4,000.

Lisa Koss received the Certificate of Merit for High Honor in Science and Mathematics from the Society of Women Engineers; and a University of Washington Scholarship for $4,000.

Logan Morley earned the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship for an amount ranging from $1,000–$2,500.

Jarradd Morley received the Mary C. Pierce Talent Award for $300.

Sydney Nelson earned the Agriculture Achievement Award; National FFA Tractor Supply-Growing Scholarship for $1,000; LRHS Alumni Association Scholarship for $500; and the Garrison Foundation Scholarship (Texas Tech) for $500.

Alessa Neilan received the Lind-Ritzville Creative Arts Award.

Connor O’Neill received the U.S. Air Force Outstanding Math and Science Award; David L. and Frances G. Ray Scholarship for $1,000; Lind Education Association Scholarship for $300; Lind Alumni Association Scholarship for $1,000; Urqhuart Scholarship for $500; Bronc Booster Club Scholarship for $500; LRHS Alumni Association Scholarship for $1,000; Phillips Family Foundation Scholarship for $1,000; and the Chapter AR, P.E.O. Scholarship for $750.

Gabby Perez earned a full-ride scholarship through The Gates Millennium Scholarship; Certificate of Merit for Highest Honor in Science and Mathematics from the Society of Women Engineers; and the Washington State University Award for $4,000.

Caitlin Schoessler received the Destination Washington State University Award for $1,000; Northwest Farm Credit Services Scholarship Award for $1,500; LRHS Alumni Association Scholarship for $1,000; DYW Finalist Award for $500; Zion Philadelphia Congregational Church Scholarship for $1,200; and the Ritzville Education Association Scholarship for $500.

Elizabeth Schofstoll earned the Honor Cup Award; LRHS Alumni Association Scholarship for $500; David L. and Frances G. Ray Scholarship for $1,000; Richard B. Ott Memorial Scholarship for $1,000; DYW Finalist Award for $500; Destination Washington State University Award for $1,000; Washington State University Achievement Award for $2,000; and the Bronc Booster Club Scholarship for $500.

Bridger Smith received the Lind Lions Club Scholarship for $500; LRHS Alumni Association Scholarship for $1,000; AgVentures NW, LLC–Odessa Union Warehouse–Reardan Grain Growers for $1,000; Virginia Moorman Moore Scholarship for $1,000; David L. and Frances G. Ray Scholarship for $500; Big Bend Electric Cooperative for $2,000; McGregor Standing Tall for Agriculture Scholarship for $1,000; Bronc Booster Club Scholarship for $500; Union Elevator Scholarship for $1,000; National FFA Tractor Supply-Growing Scholarship for $1,000; Phillips Family Foundation Scholarship for $1,000; Cox Crop and Soil Scholarship for $1,000; Washington State Potato Foundation Excellence in Agriculture Award for $1,000; University of Montana Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship for $56,060; Lind Chamber of Commerce Scholarship for $500; Lind-Ritzville FFA Alumni Scholarship for $500; and the Montana State University Achievement Award for $10,000.

Maya Wahl earned the Agriculture Achievement Award; Ritzville Warehouse Scholarship for $1,000; Virginia Moorman Moore Scholarship for $1,000; Union Elevator Scholarship for $1,000; Washington Wheat Growers Scholarship for $1,000; National FFA Tractor Supply-Growing Scholarship for $1,000; Kansas State General Scholarship for $20,000; McGregor Standing Tall for Agriculture Scholarship for $1,000; National Marketing FFA Scholarship for $450; Washington Potato Foundation Scholarship for $500; DYW Self-Expression and Interview Award for $300; LRHS Alumni Association Scholarship for $500; DYW of Lind Award for $800; Phillips Family Foundation Scholarship for $1,000; Ritzville Vocational Agricultural Scholarship for $750; and the Bankers Scholarship for $400.