North Beach Class of 2017: ‘It’s Your Passion’

With one of the largest crowds in recent memory cheering throughout, 45 students received graduation diplomas at North Beach High School on Saturday in a ceremony that packed the gym with family, friends, teachers and administrators.

In addition, about $800,000 in scholarship funds were awarded to a number of the students moving on to college careers, and four students also received their Associated Arts degrees from Grays Harbor College in addition to their high school diplomas: Joyce Hoy, Chyna Kinkade, Benjamin Poplin and Mariah Vogler. Vogler was the biggest scholarship winner, earning a U.S. Naval Academy scholarship worth $420,000, including four-year military training. Joyce Hoy earned two scholarships worth as much as $38,000 from the University of Washington Scholarship and the University Scholarship Seattle.

Highlights were many, including the opening National Anthem performed on guitar by graduating Josh Holman in cap and gown, performing it like Jimi Hendrix from Woodstock.

Special tribute was paid to retiring teacher Paul Bouma (30 years in the district) and to returning North Beach co-Superintendents Stan Pinnick and Dave Wayman.

Principal Lynn Budefeldt paid homage to the Quinault Indian Nation, referring to the replica Quinault canoe on stage with the graduating class. Budefeldt asked a Quinault artist, Corinna English, to design the canoe “because our school is multi-cultural and we have a lot of First American children. I wanted their traditions to be honored here.”

Budefeldt, in her first year as North Beach, told of teaching in China where she was told not to touch the students. She told her first graduating class: “You have touched my heart. Sometimes on bad days, you have given me hugs, and your smiles are amazing. Think about your passions as you go forward. It isn’t the awards you have won that you will be remembered for. It’s your passion and what you do about it.”

Salutatorian Collin Klemetson said he didn’t think he could adequately represent all that his graduating class is about in the framework of the speech. “Each of us graduates would have a completely unique narrative representative of our high school experience,” Klemetson said. “Some of us will talk about how they excelled in athletics; some as musicians; some as artists, some as scholars, and, notably, all of us as students with a Hyak name.”

Valedictorian Natasha Fruh, who excelled in wrestling, track and field and powerlifting, listed many athletic accomplishments and thanked her coaches: “These values that I obtained will last a lifetime and benefit me greatly. I trust that I can say this not just for myself but for all of us athletes.”

Fruh said she had one word she wanted her classmates to consider — perseverance. “It is never giving up when everything you see is telling you to do so,” Fruh said of her definition of perseverance. “It is the will to keep going because you have hope that there is something better waiting for you in the future.”

Vogler was given a standing ovation when her Naval Academy scholarship were announced. “Above all else, we look for smart, well-rounded promising leaders to develop into officers with strong character,” said Naval recruiter Morris Boyer. Vogler was chosen from among as many as 17,000 applicants each year for 1,200 appointments.

Boyer noted he interviewed at least nine different people locally. “I consider this scholarship not just an extraordinary achievement for Mariah, her deservedly proud parents and family, but also for the North Beach School District and community that helped shape this young lady into the person that she is,” Boyer concluded.

The 2018 graduates: Bradley Biggs, Tawni Blankenship, Evin Brattain, Austin Brown, Shelby Butler, Madisen Camacho, Shiva Capoeman, Brenden Chaney, Nolan Charley, Cassady Colgrove, Joel Contreras, Dean Davis, Marlo Detorres, Joanna Duncan, Jordan Evans, Emmilee Findlay-Macasieb, David Flores, Natasha Fruh, Sylvia Gallant, Tausha George, Beau Hartsell, Joshua Holman, Joyce Hoy, Mick Igo, Chyna Kinkade, Collin Klemetson, Paul Logan, Octavio Muro, Tyson Owen, Benjamin Poplin, Alexandrea Rapoza, Carlos Robles, Levi Salmond, William Schmidt, Kris Shepherd, Dylan Sims, Steven Sotomish, Davis Stoddard, Emily Swaner, Matthew Thomas, Rayven Underwood, Mariah Vogler, Rodney Washington, Lilly Wey, and foregin exchange student Fay Jurraanise.

Nineteen of the graduates intend to attend college next year,

with Shiva Capoeman committed to the U.S. Marine Corps.

Scott D. Johnston photo Valedictorian Natasha Fruh Scott D. Johnston photo Valedictorian Natasha Fruh

Scott D. Johnston photo

Scott D. Johnston photo Salutatorian Collin Klemetson

Scott D. Johnston photo Ocean Shores Police Officer J.J. Justman presents the Ocean Shores Police Association Lt. Jim Davis Memorial Scholarship to Natasha Fruh.