Outstanding Grit
Thursday morning at Ephrata High School 30 exceptional seniors were recognized for their hard work, growth and excellence throughout the last four years. Each department presented both the Outstanding Senior Award and the Grit Award.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Ephrata High School Principal Ashlie Miller presents the Outstanding Senior Award from Administration to Zander Leasher.
Ephrata High School Principal Ashlie Miller, representing Administration, presents the Grit Award to Monty Muir.
Ephrata High School Counselor Jay Mills presents the Agricultural Grit Award to Lionel Ruedes.
Jaemyson Durfee was presented the Outstanding Senior Award for the Science Department by Ephrata High School science teacher Jessie Young.
Conner Johnson was awarded the Grit Award for the Science department by science teacher Jessie Young.
Tori Falconer was presented with an Outstanding Senior Award by Spanish teacher Marcy Evenson.
Crow Ross was awarded the Grit Award for the Spanish department at Ephrata High School by teacher Marcy Evenson.
The English Departments Outstanding Senior award went to Erika Morford and was presented by Ephrata High School English teacher Don Hendrixson.
Audreyah Gray was awarded the Grit Award for the English Department by Maya Allsopp.
Math teacher Michele Ramirez presented the Grit Award for the Math department to Aryz Navarro.
The family consumer science department selected Makayla Johnson for the Outstanding Senior Award. Ephrata High School FCS teacher Andrea Anderson presented the award.
Jose Mejia Alvarez was awarded the Family Consumer Science Grit Award by teacher Mikki Johns.
Physical education teacher Dan Martin presents the Grit Award for the PE department to Kaydence Hector.
The special education Outstanding Senior Award went to Makenzie Johnson. The award was presented by teacher Holly Haugan.
The Grit Award for the Special Education department went to Isabelle Ware. The award was presented by teacher Marilyn Limb.
Ephrata High School Performing Arts Teacher Tim O’Donnell presented the Outstanding Senior Award to AdeLyne Simmons.
The Performing Arts Department presented two Grit Awards. The first went to Tori Falconer and was presented by Tim O’Donnell.
The second performing arts department Grit Award went to Charles Flynn and was presented by Tim O’Donnell.
Chase Moser was awarded the Outstanding Senior Award for Visual Arts by teacher Tobin Springs.
Devin Moisher was presented with the Grit Award for Visual Arts by teacher Tobin Springs.
The Learning Center presented Ashley Marquez with the Outstanding Senior Award. The award was presented by teacher Ashley Marquez.
Teacher Heidi Burns from the Learning Center awarded Analise Marquez with the Grit Award from the Learning Center.
Social studies teacher Patrick Mitchel presented Jordan Smith with the Grit Award for the Social Studies Department.
Counselor Jay Mills presented the Business and Technology Outstanding Senior Award to Dayana Nolasco.
Landon Coe was awarded the Grit Award for the Business and Technology Department by Jay Mills.
The Agriculture Outstanding Senior Award was presented to Kendra Rickert.
Cayleb Sedgewick received the Math Department’s Outstanding Senior Award.
Corbin Reeve was awarded the Welding and Construction Outstanding Senior Award.
The Grit Award for Welding and Construction went to Marcey Hundtoft.
Llandon Ahman was awarded the Physical Education Outstanding Senior Award.
Ali Helass was given the Social Studies Outstanding Senior Award.
EPHRATA – Thirty exceptional seniors were called on stage with other students cheering and clapping Thursday morning during the Ephrata High School assembly. The students were presented with Outstanding Senior Awards or Grit Academic Department Awards.
The Outstanding Senior Awards had the following requirements, listed on each student's certificate: “Exceptionally good. Sticking out, attracting notice especially because of excellence, rises above and excels, marvelous, magnificent, superb, fine, wonderful, superlative.”
Half of the students recognized Thursday received this award, each nominated by departments around the school.
The Grit Awards are presented to the students who have the “grit” to accomplish their goals. These students' certificates read: “COURAGE. Bravery, pluck, mettle, backbone, spirit, strength of character, strength of will, moral fiber, steel, nerve, fortitude, toughness, hardiness, resolve, resolution, determination, tenacity, perseverance, endurance.”
Each department nominated and presented both awards.
Ephrata High School Principal Ashlie Miller presented awards for the administration department. Zander Leasher was awarded the Outstanding Senior Award and Monty Muir was presented the Grit Award.
Counselor Jay Mills presented the agriculture awards giving Kendra Rickert the Outstanding Senior award and Lionel Ruedes the Grit Award.
Jessie Young, science teacher representing the science department, presented the Outstanding Senior Award to Jaemyson Durfee and the Grit Award to Conner Johnson.
Spanish teacher Marcy Evenson, representing the Spanish department, presented Tori Falconer with the Outstanding Senior Award and Crow Ross with the Grit Award.
English teachers Don Hendrixson and Maya Allsopp presented the English awards together, awarding Erika Morford with the Outstanding Senior Award and Audreyah Gray with the Grit Award.
Michele Ramirez, representing the math department, awarded Cayleb Sedgewick with the Outstanding Senior Award and Arys Navarro with the Grit Award.
Mills presented the welding and construction department awards, rewarding Corbin Reeve with the Outstanding Senior Award and Marcey Hundtoft with the Grit Award.
Both Andrea Anderson and Mikki Johns presented the Family Consumer Science awards. Makayla Johnson was awarded the Outstanding Senior award and Jose Mejia Alvarez was presented with the Grit Award.
Dan Martin presented the physical education awards with Llandon Ahman was awarded the Outstanding Senior Award and Kaydence Hector was presented with the Grit Award.
Mills presented the special education awards with Makenzie Johnson being awarded with the Outstanding Senior Award and Isabelle Ware was given the Grit Award.
Tim O’Donnell, representing performing arts presented AdeLyne Simmons with the Outstanding Senior Award. For the Grit Award, the department chose two students: Charles Flynn and Tori Falconer.
For visual arts, Tobin Springs presented the awards. Chase Moser was chosen for the Outstanding Senior Award. Devin Moisher was presented with the Grit Award.
The learning center awards were presented by Heidi Burns. She awarded Ashley Marquez with the Outstanding Senior Award and Analise Marquez with the Grit Award.
The social studies awards were presented by Patrick Mitchell. Mitchell awarded Ali Helaas with the Outstanding Senior Award and Jordan Smith with the Grit Award.
Mills presented the final award for business and technology with Dayana Nolasco Gomez as the Outstanding Senior Award and Landon Coe for the Grit Award.
Ephrata High School Principal Ashlie Miller presents the Outstanding Senior Award from Administration to Zander Leasher.
Ephrata High School Principal Ashlie Miller, representing Administration, presents the Grit Award to Monty Muir.
Ephrata High School Counselor Jay Mills presents the Agricultural Grit Award to Lionel Ruedes.
Jaemyson Durfee was presented the Outstanding Senior Award for the Science Department by Ephrata High School science teacher Jessie Young.
Conner Johnson was awarded the Grit Award for the Science department by science teacher Jessie Young.
Tori Falconer was presented with an Outstanding Senior Award by Spanish teacher Marcy Evenson.
Crow Ross was awarded the Grit Award for the Spanish department at Ephrata High School by teacher Marcy Evenson.
The English Departments Outstanding Senior award went to Erika Morford and was presented by Ephrata High School English teacher Don Hendrixson.
Audreyah Gray was awarded the Grit Award for the English Department by Maya Allsopp.
Math teacher Michele Ramirez presented the Grit Award for the Math department to Aryz Navarro.
The family consumer science department selected Makayla Johnson for the Outstanding Senior Award. Ephrata High School FCS teacher Andrea Anderson presented the award.
Jose Mejia Alvarez was awarded the Family Consumer Science Grit Award by teacher Mikki Johns.
Physical education teacher Dan Martin presents the Grit Award for the PE department to Kaydence Hector.
The special education Outstanding Senior Award went to Makenzie Johnson. The award was presented by teacher Holly Haugan.
The Grit Award for the Special Education department went to Isabelle Ware. The award was presented by teacher Marilyn Limb.
Ephrata High School Performing Arts Teacher Tim O’Donnell presented the Outstanding Senior Award to AdeLyne Simmons.
The Performing Arts Department presented two Grit Awards. The first went to Tori Falconer and was presented by Tim O’Donnell.
The second performing arts department Grit Award went to Charles Flynn and was presented by Tim O’Donnell.
Chase Moser was awarded the Outstanding Senior Award for Visual Arts by teacher Tobin Springs.
Devin Moisher was presented with the Grit Award for Visual Arts by teacher Tobin Springs.
The Learning Center presented Ashley Marquez with the Outstanding Senior Award. The award was presented by teacher Ashley Marquez.
Teacher Heidi Burns from the Learning Center awarded Analise Marquez with the Grit Award from the Learning Center.
Social studies teacher Patrick Mitchel presented Jordan Smith with the Grit Award for the Social Studies Department.
Counselor Jay Mills presented the Business and Technology Outstanding Senior Award to Dayana Nolasco.
Landon Coe was awarded the Grit Award for the Business and Technology Department by Jay Mills.
The Agriculture Outstanding Senior Award was presented to Kendra Rickert.
Cayleb Sedgewick received the Math Department’s Outstanding Senior Award.
Corbin Reeve was awarded the Welding and Construction Outstanding Senior Award.
The Grit Award for Welding and Construction went to Marcey Hundtoft.
Llandon Ahman was awarded the Physical Education Outstanding Senior Award.
Ali Helass was given the Social Studies Outstanding Senior Award.