by Cienna Richardson
Orcas High School student
Orcas Island students, alumni, friends and family all gathered at the Orcas Island High School gym on Saturday, June 15, to celebrate the class of 2024. Amongst laughs, smiles and many tears, our seniors graduated.
The days leading up to graduation had seniors traipsing about the school in their caps and gowns, turning in last-minute homework assignments and spending time with each other.
“I would say I’m very excited and kind of relieved to be done with school. It’s a really emotional time, all my family is here and lots of my friends. It’s really fun!” said senior Isaac Moss.
With senior projects and four years of high school behind them, the seniors are ready to start the next phase of their lives.
“I’m really excited, and I’m glad I accomplished so much in my time at the Orcas Island High School,” said senior Theo Vaccarella.
The graduation ceremony kicked off with the National Anthem played by the high school band and strings followed by an introduction and recognition of the Orcas Island School District by Principal Freeman. Salutatorian Moose Kinsey gave a speech and thanked all the members of our community who helped his class along the way. He closed with the line: “You can take the Viking out of the island, but you can’t take the island out of the Viking.”
Jefferson Freeman, class president and Class of 2024 speaker, followed Kinsey with a moving speech. He introduced his class and spoke about what they taught him over the years. Freeman sweetly mixed humor with sentimental anecdotes from his time in high school and with his class.
Valedictorian Bethany Carter gave her speech and outlined three things she hoped her class would remember: Do not be afraid to fail; seek truth; and be grateful/find joy in everything. She eloquently spoke to her class and the audience, moving many to tears.
Following Carter was the commencement address given by Robert Gates, former United States Secretary of Defense. He was introduced as working under George Washington, to which he responded, “I’m remarkably well preserved,” at the beginning of his speech.
Finally, the seniors received their diplomas and tossed their caps. I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say we wish the seniors all the best in the years to come.
As an Orcas Island High School student, I have gotten to know each and every student from this class, and I couldn’t be prouder of them. Go, Vikings!
Scholarships awarded to Orcas Island High School students
American Legion Voyle B. Martin Post #93
Academic Scholarship in Memory of Pam Doerr: Milana Schneider, $1,500
Claude A. Rubeling Academic Scholarship: August Moore, $1,500
Claude A. Rubeling Academic Scholarship: Elizabeth “Ellie” Wright, $1,500
Vocational Scholarship in Memory of Bob Folk: Ava Berge, $1,500
American Legion Leadership Award & Medallion: Bethany Carter, $250
American Legion Leadership Award & Medallion: Jefferson Freeman, $250
Sons of the American Legion
Sons of the American Legion Scholarship: Meg Waldron, $1,500
Allen Minnis Memorial Vo-Tech Scholarship: Andrew Garcia, $1,500
Jim Passer Memorial Scholarship: August Moore, $1,500
American Legion Auxiliary Unit #93
Betty Hall Memorial Scholarship: Elizabeth “Ellie” Wright, $2,000
Joyce Green Memorial Scholarship: Milana Schneider, $2,000
Kay Irwin Memorial Scholarship: August Moore, $2,000
Lou and Sue Parberry Memorial Scholarship: Megan Heisinger, $1,500
Veterans Legacy Scholarship: Hannah Alexander, $2,000
Banner Bank
Banner Bank Scholarship: Winston Boyd, $500
Banner Bank Scholarship: August Moore, $500
Banner Bank Scholarship: Ethan Moss, $500
Banner Bank Scholarship: Isaac Moss, $500
Banner Bank Scholarship: Valeria Villarreal Rosales, $500
Curtis Family
Glen W. Monson Memorial Scholarship: Ava Berge, $1,500
Pat Curtis Memorial Scholarship: Hannah Alexander, $1,500
Robert V. Curtis Memorial Scholarship: August Moore, $1,500
The Exchange
The Exchange Arts Scholarship: August Moore, $2,500
Fidelis Circle
Fidelis Circle Award: Ava Berge, $200
Fidelis Circle Award: Edgar Cunningham, $200
Fidelis Circle Award: Moose Kinsey, $200
Fidelis Circle Award: Megan Kuntz, $200
Fidelis Circle Award: Hayden Shaefer, $200
Funhouse Commons
Funhouse Commons College Scholarship Funded by the Daniel and Margaret Carper Foundation (Scholarship is renewed every year for up to four years): August Moore, Up to Full-ride
Funhouse Commons College Scholarship Funded by the Daniel and Margaret Carper Foundation (Scholarship is renewed every year for up to four years): Milana Schneider, Up to Full-ride
Funhouse Commons College Scholarship Funded by the Daniel and Margaret Carper Foundation (Scholarship is renewed every year for up to four years): Valeria Villarreal Rosales, Up to Full-ride
Henigson Public School Student Fund Funded by the Henigson Family (Scholarship is renewed every year for up to four years): Bethany Carter, $12,500
Funhouse Commons/The Island Hardware Vocational Fund Scholarship is awarded over 2 years: Edgar Cunningham, Up to $3,500
Funhouse Commons/The Island Hardware Vocational Fund Scholarship is awarded over 2 years: Forest Friedli, Up to $3,500
Funhouse Commons/The Island Hardware Vocational Fund Scholarship is awarded over 2 years: Andrew Garcia, Up to $3,500
Funhouse Commons/The Island Hardware Vocational Fund Scholarship is awarded over 2 years: Hayden Shaefer, Up to $3,500
Funhouse Commons/The Pichu Fund Funded by the Foster Family Pichu Fund: Valeria Villarreal Rosales, $2,000
Funhouse Commons/Realtors of Orcas Island Funded by Orcas Island Realtors: Bethany Carter, $2,000
Island Artisans
Island Artisans Visual Art Scholarship: August Moore, $5,000
Island Artisans Visual Art Scholarship: Kiyomi Farish, $2,000
John Mount Model Aviation Memorial
John Mount Model Aviation Memorial Scholarship: Bethany Carter, $1,000
Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope Scholarship: Jefferson Freeman, $500
Kaleidoscope Scholarship: Milana Schneider, $500
Kaleidoscope Scholarship: Meg Waldron, $500
Madrona Club
Madrona Club Scholarship: Valeria Villarreal Rosales, $2,000
Robin DiGeorgio Endowment Scholarship: August Moore, $5,000
Robin DiGeorgio Endowment Scholarship: Elizabeth “Ellie” Wright, $5,000
Orcas Education Association
Orcas Education Association Scholarship: Jefferson Freeman, $500
Orcas Education Association Scholarship: August Moore, $500
Orcas Island Booster Club
Orcas Island Booster Club Scholarship: August Moore, $500
Orcas Island Booster Club Scholarship: Samuel Sutton, $500
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival
Marilyn Anderson Young Musician’s Award: Moose Kinsey, $1,000
Orcas Island Education Foundation
OIEF Scholarship: Bethany Carter, $5,000
OIEF Scholarship: Jefferson Freeman, $3,000
OIEF Scholarship: Moose Kinsey, $3,000
OIEF Scholarship: Megan Heisinger, $2,000
OIEF Scholarship: William Stephens, $2,000
OIEF Scholarship: Samuel Sutton, $2,000
OIEF Scholarship: August Moore, $1,500
OIEF Scholarship: Elizabeth “Ellie” Wright, $1,500
OIEF/Hobie Alter Scholarship: Moose Kinsey, $3,000
OIEF/Hobie Alter Scholarship: August Moore, $3,000
OIEF/Hobie Alter Scholarship: Samuel Sutton, $1,000
OIEF/Hobie Alter Scholarship: Andrew Garcia, $500
OIEF/Hobie Alter Scholarship: Megan Kuntz, $500
OIEF/Marian A. Berdan Scholarship: Emyln “Eve” Eon, $1,000
OIEF/Thurman Bond Scholarship: Hannah Alexander, $1,250
OIEF/Thurman Bond Scholarship: Ava Berge, $1,250
OIEF/Thurman Bond Scholarship: Meg Waldron, $500
Orcas Island Volunteer Firefighter EMT Association
OIVFEA Scholarship: Bethany Carter, $500
OIVFEA Scholarship: Megan Heisinger, $500
Jeff Patty Scholarship: Milana Schneider, $2,000
Orcas Island Lions Club & Foundation
Orcas Island Lions Club Scholarship: August Moore, $4,000
Abrahamsen Family Memorial Scholarship: Ava Berge, $4,000
Joseph Bond Memorial Scholarship: Milana Schneider, $4,000
Jim Golithon Memorial Scholarship: Megan Heisinger, $4,000
Leonard Wellman Memorial Scholarship: Valeria Villarreal Rosales, $4,000
Vic Hughes Memorial Scholarship: Bethany Carter, $4,000
Orcas Odd Fellows
Orcas Odd Fellows Award: Moose Kinsey, $2,500
Orcas Odd Fellows Award: Elizabeth “Ellie” Wright, $2,500
Orcas Online, Inc.
Terry Cairns Memorial Scholarship: Bethany Carter, $1,000
Terry Cairns Memorial Scholarship: August Moore, $1,000
Public School Employees of Orcas Island
Public School Employees of Orcas Island Scholarship: Bethany Carter, $150
San Juan County Sheriff’s Guild
San Juan County Sheriff’s Guild Scholarship: Hannah Alexander, $1,000
San Juan County Sheriff’s Guild Scholarship: Milana Schneider, $1,000
San Juan Preservation Trust
Climate Leadership Scholarship: Emlyn “Eve” Eon, $4,000
San Juan Masonic Lodge #175
San Juan Masonic Lodge #175 Academic Scholarship: August Moore, $1,500
Steve Resch Memorial
Steve Resch Memorial Scholarship: Moose Kinsey, $3,300
Steve Resch Memorial Scholarship: Seraphine Knapp, $3,300
