First combined LRHS class shines

The first ever graduation ceremony for Lind-Ritzville High School students was smooth sailing Sunday afternoon.

Forty-five students from the communities of Lind and Ritzville have blazed a new trail, serving as the first to graduate together following the academic merger of the two school districts.

The students processed into the Gilson Gymnasium in single file at the start of the ceremony and then gathered in front of a capacity crowd for an hour-long ceremony that featured speeches from valedictorians and salutatorians.

The highlight of the day’s event was the accomplishment of Kyle Ritz. He achieved his dream of walking during graduation. The double amputee proudly crossed the gym floor to receive his diploma and was promptly greeted by a standing ovation from the entire audience and his classmates.

Valedictorians Brittany Dew-Blaske and Amalia Perez delivered individual speeches. Diana Longoria served up her thoughts as a salutatorian. Fellow salutatorians Ashley Ambers and Satchel Henneman teamed up to deliver a joint speech fashioned in the theme of the Harry Potter series.

“As I stand alongside this unique group of individuals, I see so much potential in each and every one of them,” Dew-Blaske said. “I know that wherever life takes them, they will accomplish great things. Even though we are saying goodbye to high school, the memories that we have made will stay with us forever.”

Perez highlighted the memorable moments in her school life.

“I believe in the importance of moments,” she said. “Moments are like memories, but stronger. They are exact points in time that are remembered so vividly, it is like the person is reliving them. When I look back on my life, I know I am going to remember it as a string of moments. Even though I am a young 18-year-old graduating from high school, I have thousands of moments to reflect on.”

More than $180,000 in scholarships were earned by members of the LRHS Class of 2013. The following is a break down of awards and honors they received.

Ashley Ambers received a $4,000 Eastern Washington University Honors Program Scholarship, $1,000 Richard B. Ott Scholarship, $500 Bronc Booster Scholarship, $500 Ritzville FFA Alumni Scholarship and $500 Ritzville Education Association Scholarship.

Ambers also received the Society of Women Engineers Award and Ritzville Math Student Award.

Jacob Anderson was awarded a $1,000 Ritzville High School Alumni Scholarship, $500 John Dugger Scholarship and $500 Pat Oestreich Memorial Scholarship.

Lindy Brown received the Ritzville Music Contribution Student Award.

Haley Campbell is the recipient of the $1,000 Ritzville High School Alumni Scholarship.

Johnny Carson received the $1,000 Paul Simonson Memorial Scholarship.

Catherine Coon earned the $300 Emanuel Lutheran Church Scholarship.

Brittany Dew-Blaske is the recipient of a $15,000 Whitworth University Academic Scholarship, $2,200 Virginia Moorman Moore Scholarship, $1,500 Chapter AR PEO High School Scholarship, $1,000 Phillips Family Foundation Scholarship, $1,000 Ritzville Warehouse Scholarship and $500 Urquhart Memorial Scholarship.

Dew-Blaske also received the Lind Inspirational Student Award, Lind English Student Award and the Harry P. Hays Award.

Scott Diefenbach received the Lind Agriculture Achievement Student Award.

Christina Field received a $2,200 Lind High School Alumni Association Scholarship and $1,000 Phillips Family Foundation Scholarship. Field also received the Lind Music Contribution Student Award.

Matt Fryberger was awarded a $5,000 University of Mary Academic Scholarship and $500 Bronc Booster Scholarship.

Tyler Greenwalt is the recipient of the $1,200 University of Idaho Discover Idaho Scholarship, $1,000 Ritzville High School Alumni Scholarship and $200 Bankers Scholarship.

Satchel Henneman received $33,550 Cornish College of Arts Full-Ride Merit Scholarship and $1,000 Ritzville High School Alumni Scholarship.

Henneman also received the Ritzville Science Student Award and Ritzville Music Achievement Student Award.

Juan Hernandez earned the $2,200 Virginia Moorman Moore Scholarship, $1,000 Washington State University Honorable Mention Opportunity Scholarship and $500 Lind Chamber of Commerce Scholarship. Hernandez also received the Lind Athletic Student Award.

Kristine Lamping is the recipient of the $1,000 Columbia Basin Community College Department of Education Scholarship. Lamping also received the Ritzville Social Science Student Award.

Diana Longoria received the Lind Math Student Award.

Larissa Miller received the $2,200 Virginia Moorman Moore Scholarship and $1,000 Phillips Family Foundation Scholarship. Miller also received the Lind Music Achievement Student Award.

Haley Oestreich earned the $3,000 Eastern Washington University Presidential Scholarship, $1,000 Willard and Patricia Hennings Scholarship, $1,000 Ronald W. Baumann Scholarship, $1,000 Ritzville High School Alumni Scholarship, $500 Lind-Ritzville FFA Alumni Scholarship and $500 Lincoln-Adams County 4-H Scholarship.

Gabriela Oliva is the recipient of the $1,000 Ritzville Warehouse Scholarship. Oliva also received the Society of Women Engineers Award.

Amalia Perez received the $15,000 Seattle Pacific University Presidential Scholarship and $1,000 Distinguished Young Woman Scholarship. Perez also received the Ritzville Inspirational Student Award, Ritzville English Student Award and the Society of Women Engineers Award.

Brooke Pichette earned the $1,500 David L. and Francis G. Ray Scholarship, $1,000 Ronald W. Baumann Scholarship, $1,000 Willard and Patricia Hennings Scholarship, $500 Distinguished Young Woman Finalist Scholarship, $500 Lind-Ritzville FFA Alumni Scholarship, $300 Ritzville Professional Women’s Club Scholarship and $300 Washington Potato Foundation Scholarship.

Eduardo Reyes is the recipient of the $300 Mary C. Pierce Talent Award Scholarship.

Kyle Ritz received the $200 Moses Lake Education Association Scholarship.

Casey Sackmann earned the $2,200 Virginia Moorman Moore Scholarship, $1,400 Big Bend Community College Foundation Scholarship, $1,000 Phillips Family Foundation Scholarship, $1,000 Ritzville High School Alumni Association Scholarship, $500 State WAPT Scholarship and $250 Regional WAPT Scholarship.

Sackmann also received the Lind Social Science Student Award and the Honor Cup Award.

Ariana Salazar received the Ritzville Creative Arts Student Award.

Madelynn Simons earned the Lind Creative Arts Student Award.

Colby Starring received the Ritzville Athletic Student Award.

Amanda Yockey is the recipient of the $24,000 University of Idaho Scholarship, $1,500 Washington Potato Scholarship, $1,000 Ritzville High School Alumni Scholarship, $1,000 National FFA Scholarship, $500 Lind-Ritzville FFA Alumni Scholarship and $500 Ritzville Vocational Agriculture Scholarship. Yockey also received the Ritzville Agriculture Achievement Student Award.

Taylor White received the $20,000 Montana State University Academic Achievement Scholarship and $750 Distinguished Young Woman Finalist Scholarship.