Orcas Vikings win or lose will move into another round of play off hosted at Coupeville High School on Sat. 10/30. If Orcas wins a match there we will be heading to TRI DISTRICT hosted in Edmonds Nov 5th & 6th.

Jaylin Peacock
Orcas Island High School
Athletic Director


Over $37,000 awarded to Orcas grads

The Islands' Sounder, June 16, 2004
By Ted Grossman

Ted Grossman / Staff Photo

Orcas High School seniors celebrated by throwing their caps into the air at Saturday’s commencement exercises in the school gym June 12.

A generous Orcas Island community awarded over $37,000 to its graduating seniors.

Graduates of the public school received about $35,000, while those from the Christian school received scholarships totaling $2,300. The donors, recipients, and amounts are as follows:

Key Bank of Washington Academic Scholarship, Natasha Warachowski, $1000; Vocational Scholarship, Rachel Duke, $500.
Madrona Club Scholarship, Scott Wrobel, $1000; Angela Boucher, $250. American Legion, Kyle Folk Memorial Vocational Scholarship, Justin Rorabaugh, $750; American Legion Leadership Awards, Marriah Vinson and Zac Parkerson, $250 each; Voyle B. Martin Academic Scholarship, Teddy Coleman, $750.
Kiwanis Club of Orcas Island Scholarships Lee Roach Memorial Scholarships, Boucher and Zoeller, $500 each; Presidential Freedom Scholarship, Madeleine Tuson-Turner, $1000; Voc-Tech awards, Vinson, $1000 and Rorabaugh, $500; Kiwanis Club Hat Draw Award, Scott Nichols, $100.
Orcas Education Association, Boucher, $500.
Orcas Island Education Foundation, Wrobel and Boucher, $1000 each.
Islanders Bank Scholarships, Wrobel and Vinson, $1000 each.
American Legion Auxiliary Scholarships, Sally Hart Memorial Scholarship, Randi Tellefsen, $500; Mid Flaherty Memorial Scholarship, Wrobel, $500; LarVerne Key Memorial Scholarship, Tuson-Turner, $500.
Orcas Island Board of Realtors, Vinson, $500.
Orcas Center Scholarship Volunteer Award, Wrobel, $200; Special Award, Zoeller, $200.
Masonic Lodge Scholarships, Wrobel and Boucher, $1000 each.
Islands’ Sounder Scholarship, Zoeller, $400.
Lions Club Scholarships, Leonard Wellman Memorial Academic Scholarship, Zoeller, $2000; Jim Golithan Memorial Scholarship, Jon Russell, $2000;
Vic Hughes Scholarship, Barry Jones, $2000; Joe Bond Vocational Scholarship, Wrobel, $1000; Academic Scholarships, Coleman and Tuson-Turner, $1500 each, Ryan Harvey and Jesse Russell, $1000 each.
Booster Club Scholarships, Jon Russell and Harvey, $500 each; Parkerson, $250.
Jeff Patty Scholarship (Orcas Firefighters Association), Jon Russell and Zoeller, $500 each.
Key Club Scholarship, Tuson-Turner, $250.
Funhouse Scholarship, Matt Buehler and Vinson, $100 each.
DAR Good Citizen Award, Boucher.
San Juan Builders Assoc. Scholarship, Wrobel, $500.

SCHOLARHIPS TO ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL GRADS

Islanders Bank, Adam Shaefer, $500.
Lopez Fire Dept., Caleb Pal, $500.
Orcas Island Restaurant Assn., Shaefer, $1000.
Orcas Island Community Foundation, Beth Leggett and Paula Leggett, $150 each.

Honored for scholarship, service

The Islands' Sounder, February 20, 2004
By Ted Grossman

Ted Grossman Staff Photo

Madeleine Tuson-Turner, left, helps induct Orcas High School’s members of the National Honor Society.

Madeleine Tuson-Turner, left, helps induct Orcas High School’s eight newest members of the National Honor Society during a special ceremony Feb. 12 in the school commons. They are, from left, Jenole Peacock, Barry Jones, McLane Stone, Minnie Bredouw, Muriel Gallo-Chasanoff, Marriah Vinson and Angela Boucher. Not pictured are Kellan Bernhardt, who was away, and Leah Schmidt, who also helped induct the students. Each new inductee received a white rose.

Stunning display of generosity

The Islands' Sounder, June 11, 2003

Ted Grossman Staff Photo

Joy is written all over the faces of Anna Storey, left, and Kimmy Clancy as they march into the Orcas High School gym at the onset of the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2003.

The numbers keep going higher and higher.

This year the Orcas community contributed around $43,000 to its 42 graduates. That’s more than $1,000 per graduate.

Last year the community gave scholarships totaling $33,250.

Virtually all the scholarships were presented at the school’s annual Celebration of Success Friday, in the school gym.

The graduation ceremony, which took place the next day, featured plenty of music: by Jesse Anderson, the duo of Drew Gutschmidt and Will Fritzberg, the trio of Chris Rosa, Emmanuel Chocano and Zac Lefton, and a solo by Christiana Speed. English teacher Tish Knapp added to the musical tone by singing a portion of her address to the graduates. Anderson’s song took the place of Elizabeth Nelson’s salutatorian address.

Kathleen Kline gave the valedictorian speech, while class President Lyria Shaffer-Bauck also spoke.

The scholarships, recipients and amounts were as follows: Kay Bank of Washington, Academic, Vanessa Button, $750; Vocational, Jessica Briggs, $750;

Madrona Club, Danielle Johanneck, $1,000; Matthew Keenan, $500; Jay A. Quealy Perseverance Award, Matthew Keenan, $500; Elizabeth Nelson, $500

American Legion, Kyle Folk Memorial Vocational Scholarship, Chris Rosa and James Brown, $500 each; Inspirational Award, Jesse Anderson, $250; Citizenship Award, Amy Berdan, $250

Kiwanis Club of Orcas Island, Lee Roach Memorial Scholarship, Kate Hansen and Christiana Speed, $500 each; Presidential Freedom Scholarship, Kathleen Kline and Elizabeth Nelson, $1,000 each; Voc-Tech Award, James Brown, $500; Kiwanis Club Hat Draw Award, Drew Gutschmidt, $100

Orcas Education Association, Jordan Gage, $ 500

Orcas Island Education Foundation, Kimmy Clancy and Lyria Shaffer-Bauck, $1,000 each

Islanders Bank Scholarships, Desirae Lowry, Vanessa Button and Jessica Briggs, $1,000 each

American Legion Auxiliary Scholarships, Sally Hart Memorial, Christiana Speed, $500; Mid Flaherty Memorial, Kimmy Clancy, $500; LarVerne Key Memorial, Kathleen Kline, $500

Orcas Island Board of Realtors, Kate Hansen, $500

Orcas Center Scholarship, Volunteer Award, Kate Hansen, $200, Special Award, Julie Garritan and Christiana Speed, $500 each

Orcas Island Restaurant, Jordan Gage, $1,250

Masonic Lodge Scholarship, Christiana Speed and Vanessa Button, $1,000 each

Islands’ Sounder Scholarship, Elizabeth Nelson, $400

Lions Club Scholarships, Leonard Wellman Memorial Academic Scholarship, Christiana Speed, $2,000; Jordan Gage, $2,000; Matthew Carter, $1,000; Jim Golithan Memorial, James Brown, $1,500; Vic Hughes, Katie Wrightsman, $2,000; Joe Bond, Chris Rosa, $1,500

Booster Club Scholarship, Danielle Johanneck and Jessica Briggs, $1,000 each

Island Artisans’ Scholarship, Elizabeth Nelson, $1,500

Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce, Kimmy Clancy, $1,000

Orcas Firefighters Association, Jeff Patty Scholarship, Vanessa Button, $500

Key Club Scholarship, Elizabeth Nelson, $250

The Funhouse Scholarship, Zach Lefton and Kimmy Clancy, $100 each

It Takes A Child To Make A Community, Maggie Vinson, $100

Spanish Club Scholarship, Emmanuel Chocano, $100

Mayme Nilson Scholarship, Matthew Keenan, $3,000

SJ County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild, Jessica Briggs, $500

Kline, Nelson head Class of 2003

The Islands' Sounder, June 4, 2003
By Ted Grossman

Ted Grossman Staff Photo

Orcas High School salutatorian Elizabeth Nelson, left, and valedictorian Kathleen Kline are excited to be starting college.

Kathleen Kline will give the valedictory address, but salutatorian Elizabeth Nelson will not speak at the Orcas High School commencement exercises Saturday, June 4, at 2 p.m. in the high school gym.

Associated Student Body President Jesse Anderson will deliver a speech in Nelson’s place. “He’s a better speaker, and he’s funny,” Nelson said, explaining her decision to break with tradition.

Prior to the 2002-03 academic year, class rankings were determined entirely by Grade Point Average (GPA). Had the past policy remained in effect, Nelson would have been ranked fourth. But this year the high school revised its system, giving extra credit to students who took the more rigorous Advance Placement (AP) courses. The policy change was intended to encourage students to take more AP classes, high school counselor Nancy Wrightsman explained.

Since Nelson, as well as Kline, have been taking one or more AP classes every year since they were sophomores, she was able to move up to second. Kline would have been valedictorian under either circumstance.

Kline, the daughter of high school Principal Barbara Kline, will attend Seattle University next fall. The valedictorian selected that school largely because of its emphasis on community service. She was recently honored at the Pacific Northwest District Key Club convention for exemplary service both in the school and the community.

Nelson will attend the University of Chicago. She fell in love with the university after a visit to the school, where she was struck by the students’ love of learning.

On Friday, June 6, the Orcas Island community and the school will present the students with scholarships and other academic awards at the annual Celebration of Success. It will take place at 10 a.m. in the high school gym. Baccalaureate will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Orcas Island Community Church.

Saturday night, after graduation, the students will attend an all night drug- and alcohol-free party at The Funhouse. Cost of the party will run around $7,000, with the money coming from donations furnished by parents of the students plus other members of the community.

Orcas DI Shines at Globals
2 of 3 teams: placed 10th in world

The Islands' Sounder, May 28, 2003

Contributed Photo

The Orcas elementary “ConnecDId” team added 630 pounds of weight to their structure before it collapsed. This Destination Imagination team took third place for their Instant Challenge at the Global competition. (Left to right) are Lanie Padbury, Terri Vinson, Grace Thompson, Emily Diepenbrock.

The three Washington State champion Destination Imagination teams from Orcas Island competed at the DI Global Finals tournament in Knoxville, TN last week. The competition, which was spread out over four days, included over 800 teams and 200,000 students from around the world.

Having already set a record by being the first school in Washington to send three teams to the finals, all three Orcas teams placed in the top half of their competition levels. The Orcas Elementary team took third place in their Instant Challenge and 10th overall. The Orcas High School team also took tenth place overall in the world in its respective division. The Middle Level team, composed of Forrest Gropp, Challis Stephans, Teresa Lowry, Chloe Scott, Larry March, and Sam Parish finished in twenty-ninth place.

Off to Tennessee
Three Orcas Destination Imagination teams qualify for Global Finals

The Islands' Sounder, April 23, 2003
By Ted Grossman

Ted Grossman Photo

Orcas Destination Imagination winners are first row, from left, members of the elementary school team: Emily Diepenbrock, Lanie Padbury, Terri Vinson and Grace Thompson. Second row, from left, are members of the middle school team: Sam Parish, Forrest Gropp, Teresa Lowry and Larry March. Third row, from left, are members of the high school team: Reid Cooper, Megan Swanland, Chase Cooper, Kelly Baker, Laura Swanland and David Cooper. Not pictured are Chloe Scott and Challis Stephens.

For the first time in the 19-year history of Destination Imagination (DI, formerly Odyssey of the Mind), one school from Washington State will be sending three teams to the Global Finals in Knoxville, Tenn.

That school is Orcas, where elementary, middle and high school teams teams all qualified by winning their respective state competitions April 12 in Richland.

This makes eight DI teams from Orcas that have made it to the Global Finals over the last 13 years, coordinator Lori Oakes said. The Global Finals will take place May 21-24 on the campus of the University of Tennessee.

The well-deserved victories were rewards for youngsters who have been working extremely hard for the past six months developing presentations which demonstrate an ability to do creative and innovative problem solving.

Orcas High School student Chase Cooper estimates that the kids on his team put in 25 hours a week preparing for the regional and state competitions. His teammate, Megan Swanland, said DI pretty much took over her life. “There was not a lot of time left for school work, and no free time,” she explained.

But Chase and Megan insist that every minute of practice was worth it, because it enabled them to realize a goal they set the first day of practice, which was to make it to Tennessee.

Having set their sights so high, the youngsters admitted that things were “real tense,” just prior to their performances in Richland, where they competed against quality DI teams from throughout the state.

Unlike a sports event, where the athletes and fans know the score as the game progresses, in DI, nobody knows where they stand until the end of the competition, when the judges announce the results.

The announcements began with the elementary level competitions and worked their way up to the middle and high school.

Mimi Anderson, manager of the elementary team, remembers her kids being awfully quiet as they awaited the results. “They feared they didn’t do as well as they could,” she said. But it didn’t take long for the good news to come, because the judges began by stating that the winners would be riding home on a Washington State Ferry. The kids’ beaming faces conveyed their elation. “I will never forgot those faces,” Anderson said.

Another reference to the ferry was made when the judges announced the middle school results. “The kids were just floored,” said manager Mary Gropp. “They were totally amazed. They all had tears running down their faces.”

As the high school results were about to be announced, the local kids locked arms and legs. “Everything was crossed, manager Diane Cooper said, noting that the youngsters also worried about letting down the other members of the Orcas contingency. But they too didn’t have to wait long for the good news because, once again, the judges began by stating, “That ferry is going to be very busy.”

NOW COMES THE HUGE TASK OF RAISING $26,000

The DI teams’ work loads are about to get even bigger, which is hard to fathom for kids who are already maxxed out, and for managers who don’t get a dime for their efforts. Not only will the teams spend the next few weeks attempting to improve their presentations, they’ll also be hard at work raising money -- a lot of it. Diane Cooper figures it will take about $26,000 to send all three teams and their managers to the Global Finals.

Below are some of the fundraisers that will be coming up.

Several youngsters are offering to do chores in exchange for money.

The three teams will be offering their creative problem solving presentations to the community this Sunday at 3 and 7 p.m. at Orcas Center. A pasta dinner will be served between the performances, at 5 p.m. Price for the dinner is $8 or a donation.

They will also be doing car washes Saturday, May 3 and May 17, at Key Bank.

Improv masters John Clancy and Todd Cowdery will perform Saturday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the Orcas Senior Center. Rosario Resort will be offering dinner coupons, with a portion of the proceeds going to DI.

DI managers Anderson, Gropp and Cooper will be writing letters and knocking on doors, asking the community to help.

The public school itself will contribute $5,000. It’s money from a three-year grant given to the school by five anonymous local donors, Superintendent Barry Acker said.

Gropp feels the DI teams deserve full support because, she said, “These kids are a reflection of the community.” Anderson agrees. “This is for the whole island to celebrate,” she said.

Those wishing to help the Orcas youngsters go to the Global Finals should send checks to OISD - DI (Orcas Island School District Destination Imagination), Attn: Julia Swanland, 611 School Road, Eastsound, WA 98245.

DI IS OPEN TO EVERYBODY ON ORCAS

Many schools limit participation in Destination Imagination to students who have been classified as “gifted,” Diane Cooper said.

Not Orcas, however.

“Everybody is welcome,” she said, offering the view that this makes the local program special. “It’s important that we offer the program that way, because it allows everybody a chance to realize success,” Cooper said.