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