Neah Bay High School Class of 2012 will open the North Olympic Peninsula graduation season at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Neah Bay High School gymnasium.
It will be the first Peninsula commencement ceremony to honor new graduates this year.
The little school at the northwestern tip of the contiguous United States has had many successes in the 2011-2012 school year, and Saturday’s graduation will be a celebration for the school’s 16 graduates.
“The cycle of success feeds on itself,” Principal Ann Renker said Tuesday.
Neah Bay’s football team won the state Class 1B football championships Dec. 3.
In March, a science and technology team of high school and middle school students brought home $71,000 in educational technology in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest.
On April 23, science teacher Wilson Arnold was featured in People magazine as a model educator.
Every one of the school’s seniors will graduate Saturday, and every one of them has either a letter of acceptance from a college, trade school or the military, Renker said.
One student was accepted to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and others will attend the University of Washington and Washington State University, she said.
Renker added that one graduate has joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
“Success is contagious; it helps people keep making investments,” Renker said.
Renker said the cycle began with the football effort, which led to “hundreds and hundreds of hours” spent in practice and after-school tutoring to keep players’ grades up.
None ineligible
Not a single football player became ineligible because of grades during the 2011 season, she said.
The school has not yet announced the total amount of scholarships earned by seniors.
That will be announced at the graduation ceremony.
The Warriors’ valedictorian is Crysandra Sones, and the salutatorian is Courtney Winck.
Forks Alternative School will present diplomas to five graduates at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Forks High School auxiliary gymnasium.
Several high schools on the Peninsula will conduct commencement ceremonies the weekend of June 8-9.
Sequim High School will present diplomas to 197 graduates at 6 p.m. Friday, June 8, at the Sequim High School stadium.
Port Townsend High School will present diplomas to 95 graduates at 7 p.m. June 8 at McCurdy Pavilion, 200 Battery Way, Fort Worden State Park.
Other graduations
Clallam Bay High School will recognize 10 graduates at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 9, at the Clallam Bay High School gymnasium.
Forks High School will present diplomas to 63 graduates at 6 p.m. June 9 at the Forks High School gymnasium.
Chimacum High School will present diplomas to more than 80 graduates at 1 p.m. June 9 at the Chimacum High School gymnasium.
Several other schools have plans the following week.
Quileute Tribal School will present diplomas to two graduates at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 14, at the A-Ka-Lat Center in LaPush.
Lincoln High School will present diplomas to 16 graduates at 6 p.m. June 14 at the Peninsula College Little Theater.
PA High School, others
Port Angeles High School will present diplomas to more than 250 graduates at 8 p.m. Friday, June 15, at the Port Angeles High School gymnasium.
Tickets, issued four per student, are required for entry to the ceremony due to limited seating.
Quilcene High School will present 20 graduates with their diplomas at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at the Quilcene High School gymnasium.
Crescent High School will present 16 graduates and two foreign-exchange students with diplomas and certificates at 3 p.m. June 16 at Crescent High School gymnasium.
