13-05-2025
Outstanding Grit
May 13—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.
