Published May 03, 2011
14 local student-athletes will be honored today
THE OLYMPIANFourteen student-athletes will be honored today at the 15th annual Dick Nichols West Olympia Rotary Awards Luncheon. Awards will be given to graduating high school students from seven high schools in the Olympia, Tumwater and North Thurston school districts. The recipients are chosen for their excellence in academics, athletics and community service. Each will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The award is given in the name of Dick Nichols, long-time sports announcer, former county commissioner and supporter of young people in the community.” The ceremony is at noon today and is open to the public. Lunch costs $15. Emily Cotey Black Hills High School GPA 3.9; All-Academic Award, completed three AP courses; varsity athlete in soccer and tennis; Advanced Leadership, Men’s Soccer manager, Project Renaissance and Freshman Fair; volunteers at Big Brothers Big Sisters, YMCA Youth Soccer, Reach for the Stars Gala Auction and Tumwater Middle School assistant soccer coach. Plans to attend either Western Oregon University or Evergreen University to study Behavioral and Organizational Psychology. Jared Pauly Black Hills High School GPA 3.858; varsity athlete in football and basketballl; volunteered as a football camp coach. Plans to attend the University of Washington to study aerospace and avionics. Jay Maiava Capital High School GPA 3.7; Running Start student at South Puget Sound Community College; varsity athlete in football and basketball and weight room club; Two-time All-Academic State Champion; Boy Scouts of America: Eagle Scout recipient and Scout Troop patrol leader. Plans to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa and study business. Brianne Wright Capital High School GPA 3.9; International Baccalaureate participant, four-year Academic All-American, Comcast Leadership Award winner; varsity athlete in cross-country, basketball and track and field; 11-year 4H participant; volunteers with her church, Capital City Marathon Association and Lakefair Run; Has participated in multiple mission trips to Mexico, San Francisco, Poland, Guatemala, as well, as many domestic trips. Plans to attend Whitworth University and study elementary education Kenzie Nix North Thurston High School GPA 3.97; Scholar-Athlete, AP Scholar, Cross-country Academic Excellence Award, Evergreen Conference, All-Academic Award; varsity athlete in cross-country, track and field and gymnastics; ASB secretary and Interact treasurer; has played the violin for 10 years; volunteers as a Thurston County Food Bank food drive coordinator. Plans to attend either Ithaca College of the University of Washington to study pre-medicine. Nathan Schmedake North Thurston High School GPA 3.987; earned the Top 10 Calculus Student Award; varsity athlete in golf and soccer; National Honor Society and German Club treasurer; one of 240 students who was selected for the Washington Aerospace Scholars Program; selected from that group for a weeklong residency at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. His team won the competition. Plans to attend the University of Portland on and Air Force ROTC scholarship to study mechanical engineering. Rose Hoonan Olympia High School GPA 4.0; Two-time Math Student of the Month, Academic Student of the Month, Olympia High School Top Ten; varsity athlete in soccer, track & field, gymnastics and tennis; ASB Secretary, Newspaper Layout Editor, Food Drive organizer and school mascot; volunteered with the Hands On Children’s Museum, St. Michael’s Clothing Bank, neighborhood helper and the Olympia School District’s performance of the musical My Fair Lady. Plans to attend University of Portland to major in communications studies and become a traveling journalist. Brett Wittenberg Olympia High School GPA 3.93; National Honor Society member and Scholar-Athlete Award for the Narrows League; varsity athlete in football and basketball; involved in school leadership as and Olympia School District Task Force on Athletics member, manager of the junior Bear football camp, and football council leader and team co-captain; Bear Buddy and volunteer with the Thurston County Food Bank, Christmas Letters for the Troops and the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen. Will attend Assumption College in Massachusetts to study atmospheric sciences and play left tackle for the Assumption College Greyhounds. Isaac Lucas River Ridge High School GPA: 3.618; National Achievement Outstanding Participant and National Honor Society member, varsity athlete in basketball, soccer and track and field; Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, Leadership Class and DECA. Plans to attend UC Berkeley Hannah Christenson River Ridge High School GPA 4.0; American Association of University Women for mathematics, National Honors Society, eight All-Academic awards; varsity athlete in soccer, track and gymnastics; Most Employable Student of the Month in the Culinary Arts Program at New Market Skills Center; volunteered more than 1,800 hours at church activities, Community Care Services and babysitting. Plans to attend Minnesota State University and study nursing. Kevin Russell Timberline High School GPA 3.5; Honor Roll, Golden Pen Award and Student of the Month; varsity athlete in football, basketball and baseball; All-League Offensive MVP, Team Captain and multiple coaches awards; Leadership Class, After-School Weight Room and Student Safety Summit; youth football and basketball camp coach, in neighborhood clean-up and janitorial service. Plans to attend the University of Puget Sound and study Business Management. Gatalina Schuster Timberline High School GPA 3.78; Attends Timberline High School and enrolled in the Professional Medical Careers program at New Market Skills Center; varsity athlete in volleyball and softball; Spanish Student of the Month, All-Academic and Distinguished Scholar awards; volunteer at Barb’s Dinner, Soup kitchen, Chehalis Pumpkin Train, Wrapping up the Holidays, Toys for Tots, Blazer Citizen and Honor Guard. Plans to attend Lower Columbia College and study to become a paramedic or nurse Kyle Warner Tumwater High School GPA 3.95; Four-year Honor Roll student; varsity athlete in football and basketball; THS’s Leadership Team; volunteers with his church and at youth basketball camps. Katie Berquist Tumwater High School GPA 3.7; Honor Society, received Student of the Month and The Olympian Student Recognition Award; varsity athlete in soccer, basketball and track; Honor Society treasurer; volunteers as a Tumwater Parks & Recreation youth sports coach, Cispus leader, Link Crew member and with the Habitat for Humanity. Plans to attend Centralia Community College and study psychology.