graduation 2013

READY FOR THE WORLD2 | Friday, May 24, 2013 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News

What’s insidePullman, Vivek Jayaram ...............................................Page 3

Pullman Christian, Jamie Simanson ............................Page 4

Moscow, Jeremy Williams .............................................Page 6

Logos, Autumn Pratt ....................................................Page 7

Paradise Creek, Logan Intermill ...................................Page 8

Colfax, Justin Aucutt ....................................................Page 9

Genesee, Hailey Johnson ........................................... Page 10

Troy, Ceilidh McElroy ................................................ Page 11

Colton, Zach Devorak ............................................... Page 12

Potlatch, Tom Kenworthy ......................................... Page 13

Kendrick, Tim Olson ................................................ Page 13

Garfield-Palouse, Hannah Neibergs ......................... Page 14

Deary, Fidela Salayes-Araiza ....................................... Page 15

2590 S Grand Ave, Pullman(509) 334-6000www.jessford.com

Driving impaired is just stupid. No drinks, no drugs, no phones.

CELEBRATE GRADUATION SAFELY!

Keep your grads connected

after they leave the nest!

Moscow-Pullman Daily News online subscriptions are just

$12.50 a month.

Call (208) 746-8742or (800) 745-8742 to

subscribe.

Moscow-Pullman Daily News | Friday, May 24, 2013 | 3READY FOR THE WORLD

By Tom HagerDaily News staff writer

Vivek Jayaram still remembers the moment as if it were yesterday. In fact, most kids who

receive their acceptance letter to Harvard do. After all, it’s not ev-ery day that one is accepted into a school where only 5.8 percent of applicants were admitted this year. And like most of his incom-ing class, the image is still fresh in Jayaram’s mind.

“I remember exactly opening the letter,” Jayaram said. “I was on a soccer trip and we were in Colville. I checked my phone and I told my friend ‘Oh, time to see if I got into Harvard,’ kind of joking.”

But when Jayaram actually read the email, it was no joke. The oldest and most prestigious university in America wanted Jayaram as part of the class of 2017. The feeling was mutual.

“Harvard wasn’t even one of my target schools,” Jayaram said.

He said that to get in “you think you need some sort of special connections or something that’s beyond what you think is capable, so I applied to a couple of the Ivy League schools just to see if I could get in.”

For anybody who knows Jayaram, his admittance was no shock. He scored a 2340 out of 2400 on the SAT, and had a perfect score on the math portion of the test. His accomplishments, however, extend far beyond his test scores.

Last summer, Jayaram took part in a six-week internship at Washington State University, where he learned about compu-tational genomics. Jayaram was part of a team analyzing amino acid changes in several variations of peaches. The Pullman native was given the gene sequences and had to create computer programs that would be able to analyze the

data. He was also given a differ-ent database full of templates for genes, and while comparing both sets of data he had to discover which gene sequences were the most important.

Perhaps even more impressive, Jayaram worked with another high school student last year to analyze the folding of proteins.

“The same protein can fold one way or another way because it’s a change of molecules, and the molecules fold up on them-selves,” Jayaram said. “Protein folding is immensely important for biological systems. Alzheim-er’s, for instance, is caused by malformed protein conforma-tion, so basically we created a method that can more accurately measure the folding of proteins.”

Jayaram wrote an 18-page paper on his research, and along with his partner he was selected as a regional finalist for the West Coast to present his work at Cal Tech. Jayaram had also been ac-cepted as an undergrad applicant to Cal Tech.

He hasn’t decided what field he wants to study within the computer sciences program.

“It’s one of the most rapidly growing fields so you could do anything from the more straight-forward computer sciences, working in industry like Mi-crosoft or Apple,” Jayaram said. “Or you could do cyber security things or you could even take that into medical fields and do biotechnology.”

As for Harvard, he said, “You never know what kind of people you’re going to meet. … Your roommate might be the next president or Saudi prince or the next Mark Zuckerberg.”

Perhaps a few years from now, entering freshman will hope their roommate might be the next Vivek Jayaram.

Tom Hager can be reached at (208) 883-4633, or by email to [email protected].

Off to HarvardPullman’s Vivek Jayaram looks to

put knowledge to the test

Pullman High School

GreyhoundsCommencement: 5 p.m., June 1, Beasley ColiseumClass size: 162 seniors

•

•

Vivek Jayaram

We wish you the best for your future!

Pullman High School—rated in the top 20 Washington

State High Schools by US News and World Report, 2013!

Pullman Chamber of Commerce

Call us at 509-334-AUTO705 S. Grand PullmanMon.–Fri. 8am–5pm

www.PullmanAuto.com

Hats off to our 2013 grads!

Good luck on your journey ahead.

1115 S. Grand Ave, Pullman(509) 334-4525

www.wysupcars.com

Myers Auto Rebuild & Towing

“Where Service Is No Accident.”Myers Auto Rebuild & Towing

Collision Repair & Painting • 334-171724 Hour Towing • 334-4545

S. 2580 Grand Ave. • Pullman

Congratulations

Grads!

234 E. Main • Pullmanwww.neillsflowers.com Toll Free: 800-752-5287

(509) 334-3545

Would like to congratulate the

Class of 2013! Best wishes in your future endeavors!


By Meredith MetskerDaily News staff writer

When Pullman Christian School senior Jamie Siman-son graduates

on May 31, he will move from his K-12 school of 45 total students to Washington State University where he will be surrounded by more than 19,000 college students.

Don’t expect him to be in-timidated, though.

An avid, lifelong athlete, Simanson, the son of Ty and An-drea Simanson, said he is looking forward to getting involved with athletics in any way he can at WSU. He plans to participate in

intramural sports and possibly study biological or athletic sci-ences.

“I’ve always liked sports and I’m not good enough to really continue past high school but

maybe stay involved in a differ-ent way,” Simanson said.

Simanson said he’s played sports his whole life, beginning with soccer when he was three or four years old. In high school, he’s played soccer, basketball and ten-nis and also plays on a local men’s league softball team.

Although the sports make for a busy schedule, Simanson said they help keep him focused.

“Honestly, I think it’s better to have sports than not, because if I didn’t have them I’d have too much time at home. Instead of getting my work done I’d prob-ably goof off, so with sports ... I get home, I take a shower, eat and then I get to work. My fun for the day is my sports,” Siman-son said.

Simanson’s sched-ule doesn’t stop at just sports and school. He also works with children ages 3-5 at the Living Faith Fellow-ship church day care once or twice a month and has participated in two mission trips to an orphanage in Haiti in the past two years.

Simanson said his most memorable experience in Haiti was becoming close with three boys who lived at the orphanage. He said he hopes to continue being involved in mis-sion trips.

“I’d like to stay involved in missions, whether it’s full time or once a year or once every five years, I don’t really care. It’s defi-nitely a life goal,” Simanson said.

When he’s not competing in athletics, going to school or participating in community service, Simanson said he enjoys juggling, playing video games and camping with friends.

As is customary for incom-ing college students, Simanson also said he’s been scoping out scholarships.

“Recently, applying for schol-arships has become a hobby,”

Simanson said, chuckling. “That takes up a lot of time.”

Simanson has attended PCS for 12 years and said he enjoyed the small school’s atmosphere.

“It’s a lot more personal with the teachers because of that, so you get in a relationship with them instead of just learning from them,” Simanson said.

Simanson’s older sister, Kara, graduated from PCS and his younger brother, Andy, is cur-rently in the sixth grade.

Meredith Metsker can be reached at (208) 883-4628, or by email to [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at: @MeredithMetsker

Avid athlete prepares for the futurePCS senior considers career in biological, athletic sciences

Pullman Christian

SchoolEagles

Commencement: 7 p.m., May 31, Living Faith Fellowship ChurchClass size: 6 seniors

•

•

Jamie Simanson

DISSMORE’S HAS EVERYTHING FOR YOUR GRADUATE! » Floral Department has Fresh

Bouquets and Colorful Centerpieces.» Complete Deli for Party Trays,

Hot Snacks and Chicken.» Scratch Bakery provides your Custom

Cake, Cookies and Desserts

1205 NORTH GRAND, PULLMAN

(509) 332-2918

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AREA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES!

Our staff and management wishes everyone in the Class of 2013 a bright and prosperous future.

Visit www.iga.com for extra savings! Check us out onwww.todaysdentalfairbanks.com

Alfred Fairbanks DDS1410 Bishop Blvd.

Pullman, WA(509) 332-2329

BestWishes to the

Classesof

2013!

Located in the Wheatland Mall

1690 S. Grand Ave.(509) 332-1450

Pullman

Best of Luck Class of 2013!


PARENTS, TALK TO YOUR KIDS!BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LATAH COUNTY YOUTH ADVOCACY COUNCIL

CHECK OUT: HTTP://WWW.LATAH.ID.US/YAC FOR MORE INFORMATION

LCYAC Congratulates the 2013 Graduating Youth Ambassadors

and Wishes Them Continued Success In Their College Careers!

“Now that we’re graduating, we’ll need your help in continuing the mission of LCYAC. To get involved in keeping our teens and our community safe and healthy, nd LCYAC online or on Facebook.”

~ The Class of 2013 LCYAC Youth Ambassadors

Rebecca Kruger Deary High School

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

~ Ferris Bueller

Attending: LCSC

Kristen HeierKendrick High School

“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.

~ Neil GaimanAttending:

University of Idaho

Jacy KnockMoscow High School

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Attending: University of Idaho

Megan AlexanderPotlatch High School

“If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.”

~ Alexander Hamilton

Attending: University of Idaho

Kaia CannonDeary High School

“Be yourself. No one can ever tell you you’re doing it wrong.”

~ Snoopy from the Peanuts

Attending: Wenatchee Valley

College

Text “LCYAC” to 879-40 for information and give-a-ways!


By Brandon MaczDaily News staff writer

Jeremy Williams has had a busy final year at Moscow High School splitting time studying, planning class activities,

putting together the yearbook and keeping up with his pho-tography — and he still needs to write his graduation speech as class president.

“I’ve spent enough time with the class over the past three years that I think I have a good idea what I’ll write about.”

The son of David Williams and Grace Simonetti, Williams

plans on studying business at the University of Idaho after high school.

“I probably will major in business administration, and back when I was a freshman, I thought I wanted to get in business, and I thought Busi-ness Professionals of America was a good way to get involved in business a little more.”

Williams was in Orlando in early April for the BPA nation-als where he competed in a presentation management team and entrepreneurship events.

“Moscow was pretty success-ful this year,” he said, though the hard part is waiting for the results.

Only time will tell if he can blend his interest in business with his love of photography.

“That’s probably one of my biggest interests,” said Wil-liams. “When I’m traveling, I’m always taking pictures. I guess I like the ability to be able to capture memories essen-tially — being able to capture that.”

Williams is the photo editor for the school’s yearbook and

newspaper, and while taking a photography class at the UI crafted a 100-page handbook addressing concepts on the subject he said he wished he’d had handy when he started.

“I’m just try-ing to wrap up everything,” he said of his im-pending gradu-ation. “The yearbook’s done and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Last year re-ally helped me because I knew what would work best.”

Williams said he plans on joining the UI Argonaut to continue his in-terest in photography, but the career he hopes for after college is to enter music management, possibly managing a band someday.

“I’ve got some pretty good scholarships too,” he said, “just from everything here at the high school.”

Brandon Macz can be reached at (208) 883-4631, or by email to [email protected].

Moscow senior keeps future in focusJeremy Williams busies self with

photography, class presidencyMoscow

High SchoolBears

Commencement: 7:30 p.m., June 7, Kibbie DomeClass size: 158 seniors

•

•

Jeremy Williams

The City of Moscowwould like to extend its best wishes to all of the

graduates in ourcommunity.

You Inspire Us!

Congratulations on graduating with honors from Idaho Distance Education Academy

Briana Lynaé McCallClass of 2013


By Ben HandelDaily News staff writer

Autumn Pratt will be remembered for a long time at Logos, not because she is a 4.0 student, not

because she is one of the fastest girls in Idaho, and not because she is planning on helping handicapped people once she gets her college degree. While she is an outstanding student, an accomplished athlete and has a heart of gold, Pratt will be forever remembered for a simple mistake she made at a cross-country practice.

“We have a rule here, we call it the ‘Autumn Pratt rule’ because of an incident that hap-pened in the summer,” Logos athletic director John Carnahan said.

One of the dads at Logos helps the school’s runners train and stay in shape on a regular basis by taking them out on the back roads between Moscow and Troy. Sometime boys and girls show up, but on this par-ticular summer day, Pratt was the only girl to show up.

“I was running with the guys, and they are super fast,” Pratt said. “Eventually I fell behind and was just trying to keep up. I came to a fork in the road, and I had been there before so I thought I knew which way to go. Eventually, I realized I had made a mistake, but I knew which way to go still so I wasn’t worried.”

Meanwhile, the rest of her cross-country team had fin-ished its vigorous regimen and returned to the starting point to wait for Pratt. After lingering for some time, her teammates began to worry and eventually started searching for her.

“Eventually I came to the Troy highway and was out about

four miles farther out than I should have been,” Pratt said. “I crossed the road and went to the bike trail and ran home. It wasn’t until I got home and saw how worried my dad was that I realized how big of a commo-tion I had caused.”

Needless to say, kids aren’t allowed to run by themselves at school-sanctioned practices anymore.

In the end, the extra running may have paid off for Pratt. Be-sides helping guide the Knights to a successful cross-country season, Pratt recently made her mark at the state track and field competition, capturing fifth in the 1,600 meter and sixth in the 800 meter.

Carnahan, who doubles as Pratt’s distance coach and litera-ture teacher, said the determina-tion Pratt runs with carries over into the classroom and has made her a straight-A student.

“She’s a hard worker, has intellectual gifts that help her a lot, and she’s very rhetorically expressive in essays and even in test answers,” Carnahan said. “She’s very good at communi-cating her ideas to others.

“She does well on both sides of the brain, science and math on one, literature and writing on the other. She’s been very capable at understanding the things she reads and grasps

themes with ease.”Pratt said she plans to attend

the University of Idaho and get a degree in mechanical engineer-ing before working on a masters in prosthetics. She hopes to be able to help those less fortunate than her and design artificial limbs.

“It’s something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Pratt said. “I have a friend who only has half of an arm. I used to make her arm gloves and things like that and would like to be able to do that for a career and help people.”

Ben Handel can be reached at (208) 883-4629, or by email to [email protected].

Making her markWandering senior leaves legacy at Logos

Autumn Pratt

Educational & Psychological Services

Best Wishesto the

Graduatesof 2013!

s

W. Rand Walker, Ph.D.Tim S. Rehnberg, Ph.D.

Jeanne M. Steffen, Ph.D.Jarod Fitzgerald, Ph.D.

Masha Gartstein, Ph.D.Priscilla Hernandez Hacker, Ph.D.

Allison B. Harrington, Psy.D2301 West “A” St, Ste C | Moscow

ss te C | Moscow

CLAS

S OF

2013

Logos High School

KnightsCommencement: 3 p.m., June 1, University of Idaho administration buildingClass size: 23 seniors

•

•


Patrick GrovesDaily News staff writer

Logan Intermill, 20, was once an at-risk student, but he found a place where he belongs at

Paradise Creek Regional High School.

“I kind of make a habit out of showing up every now and then even though I haven’t had to take classes for the last two quarters,” Intermill said. “Some-times I’ll show up and talk and hang out at the school when it’s later in the day.”

Intermill, who has at-tended Paradise Creek for three years, completed his gradua-tion requirements in January. However, he said he stops by the school once or twice a week to help his fellow classmates

with homework, such as essays and speeches.

“I like to help people if they need it,” he said. “I’m pretty good with words.”

Intermill will receive his di-ploma June 5 along with six others in his graduating class. Paradise Creek Regional High School is an alternative school in the Moscow School District serving to increase the graduation rate of students who experience extraordinary circumstances, according to their website.

Intermill said his greatest high school accomplishment has been earning his diploma.

“The school is wonderful and it was the factor that led me to

the point I am now where I am going to be graduating and get-ting my high school diploma,” he said.

When Moscow High School labeled Intermill an at-risk student who may not gradu-ate during his sophomore year, counselors presented Paradise Creek as an option for him to obtain his diploma.

“(Paradise Creek) didn’t feel like a last chance, even though it was for me for a little while

there,” he said. “It just gave me the opportunity I needed to graduate.”

Intermill said his chronic insomnia made attending Moscow High School dif-ficult, but the later starting schedule and rigid attendance policy of Paradise Creek helped him overcome set-backs.

“That was the biggest issue I had, was my sleep,” he said.

He said he has been at the alternative school longer than the average one or two years, but felt no other teachers could instruct him better than the ones at Paradise Creek.

“The teachers are more understanding toward the students,” Intermill said. “You don’t feel like you’re being shuffled through from class, to class, to class, to class, to class by teachers who don’t really care.”

Intermill said his immedi-ate plans after graduation are to find work and save up enough

money to move out of his par-ents’ house.

“You know, just generally liv-ing a bachelor’s life,” he said.

Patrick Groves can be reached at (208) 883-4632, or by email to [email protected].

Student finds place at alternative schoolLogan Intermill continued to give back while waiting to graduate

Paradise Creek Regional High

PhoenixCommencement: 7 p.m., June 5, Moscow High School auditoriumClass size: 7 seniors

•

•

Logan Intermill

NISSAN - TOYOTAHONDA - MAZDA - SUBARU

Factory recommended extended mileage maintainance.

For all your automotive needs, we will be there.

MINOR & MAJOR REPAIRS

263 E. Palouse River Dr.Moscow, ID

(208) 882-5678

Serving your Grandparents, Parents & now your

automotive needs Since 1979

FACTORYTRAINED30 YEARSEXPERIENCE

CONGRATULATIONS TO

ALL AREA GRADUATES!

DENY’S AUTO SERVICE

Federally insured by NCUA p1fcu.org

Supporting our community since 1938.

Congrats2013Classof


By Holly BowenDaily News staff writer

Justin Aucutt has wanted to become a pilot ever since he was in the third grade, when he aced a Space Shuttle landing

simulation game during a family vacation to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Now the 18-year-old Colfax High School senior is almost ready to take his first official steps into the wild blue yonder — he’s just two flights away from earning his private pilot’s license and plans to enter the Air Force ROTC this fall at Mon-tana State University in Boze-man.

“It’s a reality that I may be able to do this now for a career,” he said.

He chose to obtain his private pilot’s license for his senior proj-ect at CHS, where he and about 40 of his classmates are sched-uled to graduate June 1.

Aucutt, a lifelong Colfax resi-dent, said he hopes to become a commercial pilot after eventu-ally retiring from the Air Force. He said he chose MSU because “it has a really good ROTC program” that is relatively small, so cadets have more access to leadership opportunities.

He said he is “a little bit” ner-vous to leave behind his parents, Rob and Tonya, and his 12-year-old brother in Colfax.

“She’s helped me out a lot with everything I’ve done,” he said of his mother. “She’s pushed me to do the best I can.”

At MSU, he plans to major in political science, an interest that he has explored during his favorite CHS class — current world issues.

“It’s learning about all the current events, all the major

problems right now, and forming an opin-ion and talking about what you feel and what you believe in,” he said of the class.

Aucutt said he knows everyone in his small class, which provides a sense of security, and knows “everyone is there for you.”

In his spare time, he said, he and his friends enjoy hunting, fishing and eating at Super China Buffet in Moscow.

He also has participated in track since the seventh grade and special-izes in the 400-meter dash, 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-me-ter relay. He said he enjoys “the competition, trying to beat the person next to you and trying to get better,” and credited his coach, Jason Cooper, with encouraging his progress in the sport.

“Coach Cooper has helped me a lot the last few years and re-ally helped me in the 400 to get where I am now,” he said.

Although he is used to run-ning across the land during track events, he’ll soon be soaring through the skies with his private pilot’s license.

His father, Rob, said Justin practiced with an instructor sev-eral times a week last summer.

Rob said even during that initial trip to the Kennedy Space Center years ago, Justin demon-strated his natural aircraft-fly-ing skills when he successfully landed the Space Shuttle during the simulation game.

“Everybody else kept crashing and burning bad,” Rob said.

Justin realizes that flying isn’t for everyone, but that’s part of the attraction, he said.

“It’s a sense of freedom,” he said. “It’s just something that not a lot of people can do. It’s not a common thing to be able to fly.”

Holly Bowen can be reached at (208) 883-4639, or by email to [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @DailyNewsHolly

Colfax grad wants to take to the skiesJustin Aucutt pursues pilot license for senior project

Colfax High School

BulldogsCommencement: 1 p.m., June 1, Colfax High School gymClass size: 41 Seniors

•

•

Justin Aucutt

TICK KLOCK DRUG, LLC

109 South Main StreetPO Box 189 | Colfax

(509) 397-2111

Best Wishes to Colfax High

School Graduates!

1-888-445-9421 or(509) 397-6944

[email protected]

CongratsGrads!

Ask us about Geo Heat Pumps!

Congrats allgraduating seniors!14 locations to serve you

and online at www.whitco.lib.wa.us

FARMCOMMODITIESDIVISION OF POMEROY

GRAIN GROWERS

Proud of Our

2013Graduates!324½ S. Main | Colfax

509-397-9239www.pomeroygrain.com


Patrick GrovesDaily News staff writer

Hailey Johnson, 18, is the only swim-mer from Genesee High School. For four years she

has commuted almost everyday to Moscow to swim.

“Some days when things are re-ally tough, after you get in the water things just go away and you get to focus on swimming,” Johnson said.

Johnson is the valedictorian of her 2013 class of 15 people. She said she will be graduating May 25 with a 4.0 GPA and will be a member of the Washington State University women’s swim team in the fall.

Johnson said she began swim-ming at age 11 when her family lived in Lewiston.

“The reason I started swimming

was because my mom wanted me to be able to swim if I fell out of a boat,” she said.

She ended up liking to swim and found she was much better at it than other sports, she said. She now spends about two hours Mon-day through Saturday in the water.

Johnson said she is particular

good at sprint swimming, 50 to 100 yards. She led Genesee to a 3A-1A state title with her sprint swimming.

“I give my medals to my little

Genesee’s only swimmer to graduateHailey Johnson led her school

to a state title this year

Hailey Johnson

See Genesee Page 14

Genesee High School

BulldogsCommencement: ll a.m., May 25, Colfax High School gymClass size: 15 seniors

•

•

A FARMEROWNED

COOPERATIVEA Family of Farmers

Genesee, ID | (208) 285-1729 Steptoe, WA | (509) 397-4664 Fallon, WA | (509) 878-8202 Chambers, WA | (509) 334-4632

GENESEE OFFICE (208) 285-1141 | COLFAX OFFICE (509) 397-4381 | TOLL FREE AND MARKET LINE (866) 986-2008 | www.pnw.coop

Seed House Phone Numbers

DELIGHTED FOR OUR

2013 GRADUATES!

2035 Genesee Juliaetta Rd Genesee

(208) 285-1741

Good Luck,Graduates!

YOUR SUBARU SPECIALISTBrent & Shawna Lindquist, Owners

Monday–Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM2681 Highway 95 South Genesee, ID • (208) 285-0285

Love your Subaru? Bring it to Brent!

Congratulations Graduates!


By Brandon MaczDaily News staff writer

Ceilidh McElroy is busy planning for the future, but luckily her future and planning go

hand-in-hand.The Troy senior and

daughter of Ned and Ann McElroy has been accepted to the University of San Francisco where she will study to become an event planner or manager in a hotel.

“I’m excited but kind of nervous. I love the city and it’s very diverse and a lot of oppor-tunity,” she said. “I’ll definitely miss being able to go into the mountains and how open it is and how you don’t have to lock your door or anything. You feel pretty safe. I’ll miss that. And

family and friends, of course.”While battling senior-itis,

McElroy is also an FFA chapter and district president, and participated in the program all through high school where she focused on parliamentary procedure and forestry.

“It’s been a lot of work, especially at the end of the year with a banquet and events,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of help, so it’s been running really well and really smoothly.”

McElroy also focused on parliamentary procedure while in Business Professionals of America.

“It’s kind of like debate, but not really,” she said. “It’s how you run meetings. You make a lot of motions and pass mo-tions.”

She said she is grateful to Steve Braun, her FFA adviser

and agricultural education teacher at Troy High School, and her English teacher, Lisa Nelson.

“She definitely assured me and was always there when I was freaking out about (college) applications,” said McElroy.

McElroy also passed her title as 2012 Troy Distinguished Young Woman along this year. She said she has been heavily focused on FFA, but last year also served as activities director on her student council.

She said competing at state for DYW last year was a great way to make friends and learn about planning.

“If I did parties all the time, it would just be exhausting,” McElroy said. “But if I did corporate or school events, it wouldn’t be that fun, so I try to balance it out.

“I definitely have senior-itis. I’m ready to get out of high school. I’m really anxious for college.”

Brandon Macz can be reached at (208) 883-4631, or by email to [email protected].

Big plans ahead for Troy seniorCeilidh McElroy heading to San Francisco after graduation

Troy High School

TrojansCommencement: 7 p.m., May 24, Troy High School gymClass size: 21 seniors

•

•

Ceilidh McElroy

405 S. Main St.Troy, Idaho

(208) 835-2331

‘13


By Meredith MetskerDaily News staff writer

Colton High School senior Zach De-vorak is no stranger to the busy life.

In high school, Devorak has played baseball, basketball and football and has been a member of the local FFA chapter.

When he’s not in school or at welding competitions with FFA, Devorak, 18, is out riding his motorcycle, working on his home-made go-kart and mowing lawns and doing farm work dur-ing the summer.

“It seemed like there was never really a break, but once it really came down to me orga-nizing my time well, which I learned as a life lesson, that it’s

better to be organized. It helps a lot,” Devorak said.

Devorak, a team player, said he enjoys working with other people to achieve a common goal, whether that’s in sports or another activity. He said he en-joys the leadership opportunities group projects provide.

Despite his affinity for team sports and group activities, last fall Devorak decided he wanted

to do something on his own for his senior community service project. Devorak held his own food drive and collected about 1,700 pounds of food to contrib-ute to the community’s Thanks-giving food baskets.

“One of the things I’ll always remember is seeing how thankful the people were to actually have had that food,” Devorak said.

Next year, Devorak said he plans to take the mechanical skills he’s learned in FFA and apply them toward a degree in mechanical engineering. Devorak will attend North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene for two years before transferring his credits and completing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Idaho.

Devorak said he is considering using his mechanical engineering degree to work on a develop-

ment team to create off-road vehicles, such as the ones used in the annual Baja 1000 off-road race in Mexico.

“You have one driver but it takes all of those people to make that truck run, so it’s kind of cool to work together. Each person brings what they have to complete a goal and get that car running,” Devorak said.

The Uniontown native said it will be a little strange leaving the tight-knit com-munities of Union-town and Colton, but he is excited for the freedom of college and becoming an adult.

Devorak said he and his older brother, Dustin, are both working to become the first college graduates in their family.

“That’s a big step to live up to and go do that. I’m hoping that works out great for me,” Devorak said.

Devorak is the son of Kurt and Lynda Devorak. He has three younger siblings Courtney, 16, Meghan, 14, and Blake, 10.

Meredith Metsker can be reached at (208) 883-4628, or by email to [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at: @MeredithMetsker

A man with a planColton High School senior to attend NIC for engineering

Colton High School

WildcatsCommencement: 11 a.m., June 1, Colton High School gymClass size: 15 seniors

•

•

Zach Devorak

We wish you the best for your future.

780 SE Bishop Blvd ✦ Pullman, WA ✦ (509) 334-7101

WE HAVE FUN TO SPARE!


By Tom HagerDaily News staff writer

Nine months ago, Tim Olson had no idea what the future held. The Kendrick senior

was getting ready to start his last football season, not knowing if he would be able to play college football.

“I knew I wanted to but I didn’t know if I had the skills to, and my coaches never talked to me about it until this year after a couple of weeks of practice,” Ol-son said. “My coach Mike Towne asked me if I would be consider-ing playing in college.”

Olson was dreaming of play-ing at the next level, and Towne got started on finding any takers.

Several colleges were interested, including College of Idaho in Caldwell, Whitworth University in Spokane, Carroll College in Montana, and Eastern Oregon University. None of the schools had any money for athletic schol-arships. But that was not going to deny Olson his dream.

“College of Idaho is pretty ex-pensive and finances were a pretty big part of it and it came down to who could give me a scholarship or partial scholarship,” Olson said. “I ended up getting almost a full ride to College of Idaho on academics and so that sort of so-lidified it for me — this is where I’m supposed to go.”

Olson, who had a 3.8 GPA in high school and was near the top of his class, will be part of a special group of College of

Idaho students. He will be part of the first group to play football at CI in 37 years. The NAIA school of about 1,000 students recently decided to reinstate its football program, and Ol-son will be the centerpiece of the team’s resurrection. The Kendrick star, who tore defenses apart last year, will be playing quarterback for the Coyotes.

“It’s definitely interesting time,” Olson said. “I’ll be a lot of fun. It’s sort of an honor to be part of that first incoming class and the regeneration of their football program. It’s a totally new experience for everyone in it.”

The team will not be playing games Olson’s first year. Rather, the entire team will be redshirt-ing as they gear up for football in 2014.

“It’ll be a little bit different not having those games to get pumped up for but I think it’ll actually be good,” Olson said.

“We can all get bigger in the weight room and learn the play-book and get comfortable with each other, and so it’ll be good because we’ll have that time for team bonding.”

When he’s not preparing for College of Idaho’s first season back, Olson will be in the class-room working on his exercise science or health science classes. He hasn’t decided which route he would like to take yet, but based on his past success in the class-room, it’s not a stretch to think he will thrive in his freshman year at CI.

“My dad is a pastor and so there’s a lot there that I just want to make my parents proud and live for God,” Olson said. “I just don’t want to disappoint anyone I guess so working hard has always

been in my lifestyle.”Olson’s work ethic was a

main factor in the coaching staff tabbing him as their quarter-back. He had played receiver for some of his high school career, but his leadership abilities were too much to ignore. He will be directing the offense in 2014, and if his football career turns out to be anything like his academic success, opposing defenses better watch out.

Tom Hager can be reached at (208) 883-4633, or by email to [email protected].

Starting a traditionTim Olson will help restart

College of Idaho’s football program

Kendrick High SchoolTigers

Commencement: 4 p.m., May 26, Kendrick High School gymClass size: 13 seniors

•

•

Tim Olson

By Patrick GrovesDaily News staff writer

Tom Kenworthy, 18, has always been a little musi-cal, so it made perfect sense for

him to build an electric guitar for his senior project at Potlatch High School.

“Right about that time I picked up a guitar that was my brother’s and I decided I wanted my own,” Kenworthy said.

He ordered a maple and ma-hogany guitar set that featured a complete body and neck from eBay. Kenworthy then had to sand down the wood, stain the wood and wire the electronic components himself.

He said the wiring process was his favorite part of the construction.

“You just sit down and turn up the tunes a little bit, start soldering and it’s relaxing,” Kenworthy said.

The goal was to give the homemade guitar the ability to sound either like Slash from Guns N’ Roses or Eddie Van Halen, he said.

Kenworthy said he has only been playing the guitar for about a year, but he began play-ing string instruments in third grade.

He started out on the trum-pet, but played it by ear instead of using the correct hand posi-tions, he said.

“So I was playing the right notes, just not properly,” he

said. His music teacher recom-

mended he learn an instrument easy to play by ear.

“And we knew a fiddle teacher in the area who teaches you to play the fiddle by ear,” Kenworthy said.

But, he hasn’t played the fiddle in about four years, he said. He chose to return to string instruments because of a guitar video game he and his brother played.

Some of his peers didn’t believe he could build a guitar, he said. So he started getting a lot of attention from his class-mates when he began bringing the guitar into the high school woodshop to work on, he said.

“There was a few more impressed than I thought there would be,” he said.

Kenworthy is one of 30 seniors who will graduate June 1 in the Potlatch High School gym.

“My after high school plan as of now is to find a place to work for a few years and go to college,” he said.

Since he finished his guitar, Kenworthy said he has played in his history teacher’s class-room because the teacher plays the bass. Kenworthy sports a small portable amp that clips onto his back pocket when he performs.

“When you go through the

whole project knowing that ‘Hey, I get to play this when I’m done with it’ you can’t help but play it,” he said.


Potlatch student builds guitar for senior projectA video game inspired him

to learn the instrument Potlatch High School

LoggersCommencement: 10 a.m., June 1, Potlach High School gymClass size: 30 seniors

•

•

Tom Kenworthy


By Holly BowenDaily News staff writer

Hannah Neibergs has spent her junior high and high school years successfully rais-

ing and showing cattle, but the Garfield-Palouse High School se-nior plans to switch gears this fall, when she will enroll at Washington State University to begin studying neonatal nursing.

“It’s going to be a big change,” said Neibergs, 18, a Palouse resi-dent. “It’d be fun to sell show cattle on the side or something, but for my main job, I’d like to become a nurse.”

She said she chose neonatal nursing because she enjoys being around small children and helping people.

Neibergs shadowed Brenda

Cook, a nurse in the Family Birth Center at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, for her senior project. She said she saw a couple of C-sec-tions and helped care for babies after their births.

“I cut the umbilical cord on one baby,” she said, adding that she learned a lot during the job shadowing experience. “It’s been crazy, but it’s been fun.”

The study of human health will be a change for Neibergs, who is used to working with cattle as part of 4-H and FFA.

The matriarch of her cattle clan is Layla, a cow she purchased when she was a freshman. Layla gave birth to a male calf, Bear, at the end of April.

She also cares for Ironman, Layla’s calf from last year, and Ali, a show calf named after boxer Muhammad Ali.

“They all have their own per-

sonalities,” she said.She said each animal has a dif-

ferent thing it dislikes doing — for example, one of the steers has a hard time standing still — so she works with it on overcoming that resistance.

Neibergs said she shows her animals at competitions around the state, but the Palouse Empire Fair in Colfax is the final test, as that’s where she sells the steers at market.

Her steer last year, Teensy, won grand champion at the fair, mean-ing he was first in the sale order and demanded a higher price. She said it’s hard to sell her animals even though she knows the goal of raising them is to make money.

“You get very attached, and you spend so much time with them,” she said.

Studying and working with newborn humans won’t be the only

change of pace for Neibergs when she enrolls at WSU this fall. She will also have to become accus-tomed to living in a dorm room that’s just a fraction of the size of her family’s 10 acre property.

Her family moved to Palouse from Louisville, Ky., the summer before she started the sixth grade because her parents, who were originally from the area, got jobs at WSU.

“It was home to them, and they came back,” she said.

She has spent recent summers working on bovine research with her mother, Holly, a genetics professor in the Department of Animal Sciences. Two summers ago, she said, she traveled to a California slaughterhouse to help take tissue samples from the bodies of cattle that were suspected to have suffered from disease. She then helped bring the samples back to Pullman to be processed in a laboratory as part of her mother’s grant-funded research.

Her father, Shannon, is an associate professor of agricultural economics in WSU’s School of Economic Sciences. She also has a younger brother, Ian, a freshman at Gar-Pal.

Neibergs has also kept busy by playing volleyball during all four years of high school and serving as a member of the National Honor Society. She also babysits and works with children who partici-pate in the local cattle club.

Now, she is preparing to take a senior trip to Wallowa Lake, Ore., and then graduate June 1 along with about 20 of her classmates.

“Palouse is very close-knit,” she said.

Holly Bowen can be reached at (208) 883-4639, or by email to [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @DailyNewsHolly

From cattle to childrenGar-Pal graduate eager to work with people

Garfield Palouse High

SchoolVikings

Commencement: 1 p.m., June 1, Garfield Palouse High School gymClass size: 19 Seniors

•

•

Hannah Neibergs

brother to wear because he likes them,” she said, “but I keep a few of my favorite ones in my room.”

Johnson said she chose to join WSU’s swim team because Head Coach Tom Jager has won Olympic medals in freestyle.

“I thought I would have a really good chance at becoming a better sprinter through WSU,” she said.

“I’m really looking forward to being on a team with the girls of my swim team,” she said. “I really want to have friends for life and build really strong bonds with those people and have a great experience and learn from each other.”

Also, she said she likes the environmental engineering options

available at the university. However, before she attends

freshmen orientation she’ll have to give her speech as valedictorian.

“To be a good influence on others, that’s kind of my main mes-sage,” Johnson said.

To emphasize her point, John-son chose a quote from George Burton Adams.

“There is no such thing as a ‘self-made’ man,” Adams’ quote says. “We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.”


Geneseefrom Page 10

8683 State Rt. 270Pullman-Moscow Highway

(509) 872-3600ToyotaOfPullman.com

S


By Ben HandelDaily News staff writer

It wasn’t long ago that Fidela Salayes-Araiza was living in a rickety old bus parked in a junkyard. What a difference a few

years can make. Today, the high school senior is preparing to graduate at the top of her class from Deary and planning her college education.

Salayes-Araiza spent her childhood in Maui, Hawaii. However, her mother, Lorrie Robles, struggled to provide for her and her sisters. Meals were often sparse and unsatisfying and living quarters were crowded. At one point, Salayes-Araiza and her mother and sisters had to live in a bus.

“That was probably the most stressful time of my life,” Salayes-Araiza said. “I was forced to be

mature when I was younger. I had a rough lifestyle, now I am more confident and better able to take care of myself.”

When her mother asked her if she would like to live in Idaho with her uncle, Salayes-Araiza jumped at the chance.

“I thought living in the coun-try would be fun,” Salayes-Araiza said. “Eventually my mom and little sister came and lived out here, too.”

Salayes-Araiza enrolled in the seventh grade at Deary and was immediately challenged. At her old school, she had never really had time for homework and school was never a priority. At Deary, she was in over her head.

“They didn’t really care about every individual student in Maui, so a lot of the time I was left in the dust and had to try and figure out things for myself,” Salayes-Araiza said. “I always felt

like I was really behind. When I arrived here, I had to start at the bottom and work my way up.”

Fitting in and making friends also presented a challenge to the Hawaii native. Luckily, she was able to speak the language with-out words – music.

“I knew how to play the clarinet so I joined band to make friends,” Salayes-Araiza said. “Band is always the place for the really geeky kids but I definitely fit in with them and I feel like they are my family, made a bunch of close friends.”

Shortly afterwards, Salayes-Araiza found herself conscripted into playing volleyball, and although she was new to the

sport, she quickly found herself enjoying it. With a little bit of help from their outside hitter from Maui, the Mustangs took third place at state this last year.

Salayes-Araiza said she owes her success to her three uncles. She moved to Idaho with David Brunstad, who is her biological uncle. When Brunstad was gone with his job as a flight attendant, Salayes-Araiza lived with some family friends – Greg Crouch and Matt Huddelson – whom she now refers to as her “uncles.”

“They’ve become like dads to me,” Salayes-Araiza said. “They paid for my braces, they’ve taken care of me and they’re the reason I’m going to be able to go to college.”

Salayes-Araiza said she plans to attend the University of Idaho for a year before transferring to Washington State University. If things go according to plan, she’ll graduate with a degree in busi-ness and accounting and start her own private business.

“My big dream is to get a good-paying job, get opportuni-ties to do everything we have the privilege of doing,” Salayes-

Araiza said. “My mom missed out on a lot of those opportuni-ties raising us and I would like to make it up to her.”

Warren Case, her English, technology, chemistry and phys-ics teacher at Deary, said that compassionate and determined spirit make Salayes-Araiza the person she is today.

“She’s a leader, leads by exam-ple and by being independent,” Case said. “She’s not worried about following the crowd, but fits in very well when she wants to. She’s going to do great in col-lege and after that.”

Ben Handel can be reached at (208) 883-4629, or by email to [email protected].

From Maui to DearySalayes-Araiza has big dreams

Deary High School

MustangsCommencement: 11 a.m., May 25, Deary High School gymClass size: 31 seniors

•

• Fidela Salayes-Araiza

We’d rather wait.

1225 E. 6th Street | Moscow | (208) 882-4534 | www.shortsfuneralchapel.netDon’t

drive

unde

r th

e in

uen

ce.

We’d rather wait.


208-882-3538 • 1421 White AveMoscow, ID

509-334-1835 • SE 160 Bishop BlvdPullman, WA

509-397-4678 • 214 W Walla Walla HwyColfax, WA

www.LesSchwab.com

Congratulations Graduates From The Les Schwab Team!

CLASS OF 2013LL S h b

PASSEENGER CAR WHEELLS

LIGHT TTRUCK / SUVV WHEEELS

FREE WITH EVERY PASSENGER CAR

AND LIGHT TRUCK TIRE PURCHASE

Free Lifetime Tire and Mileage Care To help you get more miles out of your tires and more miles per gallon of gas. We provide:• Free Flat Tire Repairs • Free Tire Rotations• Free Tire Rebalancing • Free Air Checks• Free Brake & Alignment Checks

Free Peace of Mind Tire Protection Whatever the road throws at you - from potholes to nails - if your tire is dam-aged from any road hazard, we will replace the value of your tire.• If your tire is damaged beyond repair

we’ll replace its value• Our workmanship is guaranteed for

the life of your tires• We offer free pre-trip safety checks

GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR DADS & GRADS!

graduation 2013

Documents

moscowpullman daily

area grads

area high schools

target schools

harvard wasnt

incoming class

ivy league schools

prestigious university