Six high schools will confer diplomas on more than 500 students this week, completing the second week of the annual rite of passage for North Olympic Peninsula young adults.
Members of the Class of 2015 from Port Angeles, Lincoln, Sequim, Neah Bay, Clallam Bay and Crescent high schools will walk across the stage in front of their families and friends.
The number of graduates in each class is estimated until all final grades and exam results are complete.
Port Angeles High School
The Port Angeles School District will award diplomas to 226 members of the Roughriders Class of 2015 at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Civic Field, with entrances on Race Street between East Second and East Fourth streets.
Port Angeles High School does not select a valedictorian.
Student speakers will be Stephanie Dudley, Katelyn West, David Winsor, Zoe Bozich and Kayla LaFritz.
Tickets are required for entry to the graduation ceremony and were issued to students to distribute to family and friends.
A higher-than-usual number of tickets were expected to be available this year due to a late change in location from the gymnasium to Civic Field.
Sequim High School
The Sequim School District will award diplomas to 237 members of the Wolves Class of 2015 at 6 p.m. Friday at the Sequim High stadium, 601 N. Sequim Ave.
The school will have three valedictorians — Shannon Gordon, E. Vance Willis and Emily Carter — who will all speak at the ceremony.
Lincoln High School
Port Angeles School District will award diplomas to 15 members of the Wildcats Class of 2015 at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Peninsula College Little Theater, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Lincoln High does not select a valedictorian.
Student speakers are Katie Gilbert-Lord, with the assistance of Brooke Horn, Tristen Geiger and Cassie White.
Gilbert-Lord, who speaks using a “talker” similar to that used by physicist Stephen Hawking, is the school’s first “medically fragile student,” said Principal Cindy Crumb.
She has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair but has persevered to earn her diploma, Crumb said.
“She is funny and smart. It’s been an amazing three years with her,” she said.
Crumb noted that Lincoln is an alternative school and that all of this year’s graduates have overcome serious obstacles to earn their diplomas.
Some are homeless, others have medical disorders or serious family issues, she said, but the entire group has a positive, optimistic approach to life.
“It has been an emotional year, Crumb said.
Neah Bay
The Cape Flattery School District will award diplomas to 25 members of the Red Devils Class of 2015 at 7 p.m. Friday at the Neah Bay High gymnasium, 3560 Deer St.
The Neah Bay valedictorian will be Rachel Castaneda, the salutatorian is Elisha Winck and the class historian is Josh Monette.
Each will speak at the graduation.
Many of the students will wear woven cedar graduation caps made by family members, a traditional Makah art form updated for modern graduates, said Principal Matt Vandeleur.
After the ceremony, graduates will exit to take part in another tradition in which the community comes out to shake their hands and congratulate them at the circular planter outside of the school. They then return to the gymnasium for a reception, Vandeleur said.
Clallam Bay High School
Cape Flattery School District will award diplomas to 17 members of the Bruins Class of 2015 at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Clallam Bay High gymnasium, 16933 state Highway 112.
A reception will follow in the school cafeteria.
The class is almost evenly split between students who plan to stay close to home, either starting local jobs or attending Peninsula College, or travel far to attend a university or join the military, said Principal Mark Herndon.
Jeddie Herndon was named the Clallam Bay class valedictorian, and the salutatorian is Samantha Metcalf. Class historian is Inga Erickson.
Students took part in the school’s traditional junior-senior breakfast and Ivy Ceremony on Monday, in which each senior was given a sprig of ivy from a staff member’s yard to plant when they reach their new home, he said.
Crescent High School
Crescent School District will award diplomas to 17 members of the Loggers Class of 2015 at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Crescent High gymnasium, 50350 state Highway 112.
The valedictorian will be Martin Waldrip, and the salutatorian is Cody Wolfer.
Retired teacher Debbie Hibbard will be the guest speaker.
Hibbard taught middle school language arts and social studies for more than 20 years and retired in June 2012.
Many of the graduating students were among her last students.
“Lots of classes held her in high esteem,” said Associate Principal David Bingham.
Superintendent Clayton Mork said the class is diverse, including a number of students who spent much of their time as Running Start students at Peninsula College, while others remained at Crescent School.
The class saved money and kept their grades up to earn a four-day class trip to Disneyland, Mork said.
The other five North Olympic Peninsula high schools held graduations Friday and Saturday.
Port Townsend High, Chimacum High, Quilcene High, Crossroads Community and Forks High schools honored about 500 graduates.
Students of Distinction
Meanwhile, the Peninsula Daily News will again publish a magazine, Students of Distinction, featuring photos of all North Olympic Peninsula high school honors and scholarship recipients Sunday, June 28.
In addition to the honor students, the names of all graduates will appear in the keepsake publication.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
