SSHS Seniors Recognized for Excellence

SEELEY LAKE – Seeley-Swan High School seniors and their parents gathered for the annual senior awards ceremony May 31. While many awards and scholarships had already been awarded, some students continued to add to their list of recognitions with class awards and local scholarships.

Six students received their honor chords for National Honor Society. Their membership is based on academic excellence, citizenship, leadership and service.

"These students are exemplary examples of those standards," said teacher Mary Stone.

Students who received National Honor Society tassels: Iriey Anderson, Elizabeth Done, Cameron Haines, Keaton Johnson, Ronald Klassen and Ibby Lorentz.

Several students received notable scholarships and tuition waivers to their selected institution.

Emily Mercado received the Horatio Alger State Scholarship for $10,000 per year from the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. for facing and overcoming great obstacles in her life. She was also the recipient of the Hilleman Scholarship From Montana State University for $4,000 per year and the Darcy Lynn Dengel Nursing Scholarship from MSU Bozeman for $1,000 per year. Mercado will be pursuing a degree in nursing this fall.

Elizabeth Done received a Carroll College Academic Scholarship $14,000 per year and a Debate Scholarship to Carroll College for an undisclosed amount.

Ibby Lorentz received the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Ruth Leverton Scholarship for $13,000 per year for her academic achievement. She also received a UNL Athletic Scholarship to shoot on their rifle team for an undisclosed amount.

Adia Stevenson had the highest grade point average of any applicant to Flathead Valley Community College. She received a tuition-fee waiver.

Finally Ronald Klassen received a scholarship from the University of Montana for an undisclosed amount.

The Seeley Lake Lions Club gave out two scholarships and two merit awards. The $1,000 scholarships go towards the seniors who put forth a great effort in and embody the idea of community service.

"It was really a tough choice this year," said Lion Cheryl Lewis. "We had great applicants but there were a couple that really came to the top when we reviewed the data."

Gabby Sexton received the John A. Bell Family Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 after 11 years of community service in Seeley Lake. Ibby Lorentz was recognized with the Lions' Seeley Lake Community Service Award for $1,000 for her many years in service to the community.

Lewis presented the merit awards to two students selected by their teachers. Iriey Anderson and Emily Mercado were chosen for their all around good citizenship and being a good student and friend.

Loving Hearts presented four students with scholarships: Elizabeth Done, Emily Mercado, Gabby Sexton and Justin Thomas.

The Foundation for Community Health presented Emily Mercado with a health care scholarship to attend Montana State University for nursing. They have provided scholarships for the past 28 years to Missoula County seniors that exhibit a high degree of motivation in school, participated in both school and community service activities and wish to pursue a career in health care.

"There was a theme in this year's applicant pool. We noticed the courage that was exhibited by these students as well as their perseverance. I think you will recognize that in [Emily Mercado]," said Dorcie Dvarishkis with the Foundation for Community Health. "Mercado was among 18 from seven different schools."

Missoula Community Foundation said this was the first year there have been applicants from Seeley Lake, which has one scholarship available each year. The hope is the student will stay in a post-secondary school in Montana and then return somewhere close to home and become a leader in their community.

"This year's applicants were impressive. The students out here were all civically engaged, involved in your communities, found ways to give back and you all are obviously are very, very busy," said Nikki Robb with the Missoula Community Foundation. "We were proud to award Adia Stevenson our $1,000 Seeley-Swan Scholarship. Our committee was really impressed with goals and ambitions and we want to wish her the best of luck in her criminal justice career."

The Cliff Nelson Scholarship went to Elizabeth Done recognizing her spirit of adventure, inquiry and pushing herself to discover those things that "you really didn't know that you could."

Gabby Sexton received the Youth Serve Montana Scholarship for $1,000. It was created to promote volunteerism among high school students, encourage young leaders to further their learning, and provide tuition assistance for Montana students who wish to attend college in-state.

Emily Mercado and Gabby Sexton each received the Anonymous Donor Scholarship for $1,000 per year to an institution of their choice as long as they maintain a 3.0 GPA.

A full list of senior scholarships and honors as of June 3 includes:

Iriey Anderson

• National Honor Society

• Lions Club Merit Scholarship $250

Lulu Bohlman

• Montana Achievement Award From University of Montana $1,500

• All-State, All Conference and Chevron in Track & Field

Alexis Carpenter

• Art Award

Pameela Davis

• The Thinker Award – U.S. Geography

Tyson Davis

• Art Award

Elizabeth Done

• Carroll College Academic Scholarship $14,000 per year

• Carroll College Debate Scholarship undisclosed amount

• Loving Hearts Scholarship $500

• Missoula Exchange Club $500

• Cliff Nelson Memorial Scholarship $400

• National Honor Society

• Lettered in Creative Writing

• Outstanding Creative Writing Award

Keaton Johnson

• Recognized as MCPS Board of Trustee Representative for SSHS

• National Honor Society

• All Conference and Chevron in Track & Field

Cameron Haines

• National Honor Society

• All Conference, All State and Chevron in Track & Field

Amaya Harman

• Senior English Project Awards for the highest achievement

Ronald Klassen

• University of Montana Scholarship, undisclosed amount

• National Honor Society

Amber Leetch

• Art Award

• Lettered in Creative Writing

Ibby Lorentz

• Ruth Leverton Scholarship $13,000 per year

• University of Nebraska - Lincoln Athletic Scholarship undisclosed amount

• Civilian Marksmanship Program Scholarship $1,000

• Blackfoot Scholarship $1,000

• Seeley Lake Lions Community Service scholarship $1,000

• Recognized as MCPS Board of Trustee Representative for SSHS

• National Honor Society

Logan Maughan

• The Thinker Award – U.S. Government

• All State, All Conference and Chevron in Track & Field

Emily Mercado

• The Horatio Alger State Scholarship $10,000 per year

• Hilleman Scholarship From Montana State University $4,000 per year

• Darcy Lynn Dengel Nursing Scholarship from MSU Bozeman $1,000 per year

• Blackfoot Academic Scholarship Award $1,000

• Foundation for Community Health Healthcare Scholarship $1,000

• Montana State Elks Association, Lodge 383 Meritorious Record in Scholarship & Achievement $500

• Loving Hearts Scholarship $1,000

• Missoula 2018 Hellgate Elks Lodge, 2nd Place Scholarship $1,000

• Anonymous Donor Scholarship $1,000 per year

• Lions Club Merit Scholarship $250

Gabby Sexton:

• Blackfoot Scholarship $500

• Back On Track Scholarship $2,000

• Loving Hearts Scholarship $1,000

• Youth Serve Montana Scholarship $1,000

• Skagit Farmers Supply Scholarship $1,000

• State 4-H Scholarship (Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply) $1,000

• Seeley Lake Lions John A. Bell Family Memorial Scholarship $1,000

• Strongest All Around Student of the Year in Senior English

Jasen Sokoloski

• Masonic Lodge 13 Scholarship $1,000

Adia Stevenson

• Community Foundation Scholarship $1,000

• Flathead Valley Community College Scholarship Tuition Fee waiver

• Art Award Winner

Justin Thomas

• Loving Hearts Scholarship $500