Mount Si High School sends off class of 2018

This year, 406 seniors in the Class of 2018 earned their high school diplomas from Mount Si High School.

Principal John Belcher shared some highlights of Mount Si High School’s 74th graduation ceremony on June 8.

218 graduates, or 54 percent of the class, earned special stoles or cords to wear at graduation for their academic excellence. Gold stoles signified those who earned a 3.8 or higher grade point average (GPA), about 16 percent of the class; gold cords represented a 3.5 GPA or above; and silver cords achieved at least a 3.2 GPA.

Three valedictorians, Elizabeth Bourgault, Rachel Brucchieri and Christina Williams, earned 4.0 GPA’s and had the honor to speak at the ceremony. Salutatorian Corey Seaman had the next highest GPA of 3.98.

Nine seniors from the Class of 2018 earned National Merit Achievement Scholar awards, one of the highest academic honors in the United States, placing in the top 3 percent of seniors, based on PSAT scores. Commended Scholars included: Tyler Bateman, Liam Cole, Julia Crumb, Briana Dowling, Mallory Golic, Olivia Henning, Amanda Linder, Andy Roman Pantoja-Valerio, and Nick Young. Pantoja is also a National Hispanic Scholar, one of just 5,000 students in the nation.

$12 million in scholarships were awarded this year—$53,000 of which came from local scholarships.

450 students took at least one AP exam, and a total of 697 exams were taken this year. Of those students, 110 were seniors or roughly 27 percent of the Class of 2018 accepted the challenge of rigorous college-level coursework in high school.

Sixteen seniors earned AP Scholar awards for completing three or more college-level exams with a score of three or more, out of five possible. Ten seniors earned AP Scholar with Honors awards for completing four or more AP exams with an average score of 3.25 per exam. And, nine students were AP Scholars with Distinction for completing five or more exams before their senior year with an average score of 3.5.

Eight seniors have enlisted in U.S. military service: four Army, one of whom will receive ROTC Officer Training while attending PLU, and four Marines, one of whom will enter as an officer due to Sea Cadet service.

Seventy-two senior members in National Honors Society logged a total of 16,680 hours of community service during their membership, while maintaining academic excellence. 31 seniors volunteered over 200 hours each, and three students, Chloe Lind, Anastasia Killian and Mia Fowler, served over 400 hours each.

Six seniors earned scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout, and each contributed a service project to the community.

Seniors Mallory Golic and Jake Ehrlich received the Wildcat Senior-of the-Year awards from Mount Si staff for modeling integrity, pride, leadership, sportsmanship, school spirit and service to the school.

In sports, 34 senior athletes earned a 3.75 GPA or higher. Individual recognition was given to Kat Hodgson (golf), Chloe Cosgrove (cross country), Alec Bothwell (soccer), Duncan Harrison and Conor Holt (wrestling), and Jesiah Irish (football). Mount Si Varsity Cheer (with eight seniors) also placed third at Nationals in Orlando and finished second in Worlds.

In debate, Alejandro Ramirez was ranked 8th in the state in Public Forum and competed at the prestigious Tournament of Champions in Kentucky. Filmmaker Kaiden Barlow earned three Awards of Excellence at the Northwest HS Film Festival and produced the Mock Crash video this year.

Mount Si’s Jazz I Band was one of only three high school jazz bands selected to play at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. In state competitions, Tyler Bateman earned third place two years in row, for the multi-percussion category. In choir, Alison Caswell received an outstanding vocal jazz soloist award at the Reno Jazz Festival, and Hayla Takele’s ensemble placed 1st in the regional WMEA competition.

Among 406 Mount Si graduates, 69 percent of the class plans to attend a four-year institution; 14 percent will attend a two-year college; eight are going into the military; four are participating in apprenticeship programs; 23 students are taking a gap year or mission trip before resuming their education; and three percent are entering the world of work.

Seventy-eight seniors earned their Associate of Arts degrees through the Running Start program at Bellevue College while also earning high school diploma.

Lastly, Cameron McCarty had perfect attendance since the fourth grade.