Our journey of obtaining knowledge is not over, for our lives have now been opened to great opportunities for years to come.”
Taft High Class of 2019 valedictorian Mad Scott
A sea of 94 students clad in black caps and gowns and orange-and-white stoles representing the Taft High 7-12 Class of 2019 marched triumphantly into the future Saturday at the school’s annual commencement ceremony.
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Cheers were shared and tears were shed as Taft Principal Nick Lupo, teacher and coach Jake Tolan and valedictorian Mad Scott addressed the graduates in the 2:19 p.m. ceremony to represent the year 2019.
Taft High seniors received the equivalent of more than $1 million in scholarships from colleges, the ‘Gear Up’ program, and local and foundation-based offerings.
At least eight students plan to enlist in the military, including salutatorian David Jin, who will attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Jin and fellow senior class President Maleah Smith also addressed those assembled in the crowded Taft gym.
Honored Taft High Seniors
Mikayla Allen
*Gear Up
Indian Ed Cord
Ivy Anderson
*Gear Up
CNA Program Recognition
4 yr music participation cord
Sam Anderson
*Gear Up
Eriq Aquino
*Gear Up
US Marine Corp Enlistment
Olivia Baker
*Gear Up
*Kiwanis
*Rotary
*Dave Bice Memorial
*Linfield College
*Oregon Promise
Autumn Barela
*Gear Up
Shaa Bayya
*Gear Up
*Siletz Studio
*Oregon Promise
Indian Ed Cord
Outstanding Math Achievement
Superintendent’s Award
CTE Cord
Honors Diploma
Steven Bellemore
*Gear Up
Principal’s Award
Jayden Ben
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Indian Ed Cord
Katia Betanzo-Ortiz
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
AVID Recognition
Earl Brockett
*Gear Up
*Charles Elroy, Jr Memorial
*Oregon Promise
William Brooks
*Gear Up
US Army Nat’l Guard Enlistment
AVID Recognition
Most Improved Math Student
Kayla Brown
*Gear Up
Outstanding Choreography in Drama
4 year music participation cord
Jared Bryan
*Gear Up
Christopher Byrum
*Gear Up
Principal’s Award
Mars Callihan
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Haley Callin
*Gear Up
*AAUW
*North Lincoln Eagles
*Sodexo Food Service
*Siletz Studio
*Oregon Promise
Emeli Canales-Martinez
*Gear Up
Victor Carrasco
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
US Army Nat’l Guard Enlistment
AVID Recognition
Outstanding Math Achievement
Kailee Christensen
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Heidi Cruz
*Gear up
Ray Darrington
4 year music participation cord
Melody Diggs
*Gear Up
*Siletz Studio
*Oregon Promise
Perseverance in Math
CTE Cord
Darian Drennan
*Gear Up
*AAUW
*Gleneden Beach Community Club
*Kiwanis
*Gene Bateman Memorial
*North Lincoln Eagles
*Rotary
*Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Auxiliary
*Marcy Taylor Memorial
*OSEA
*Oregon Promise
Heather Farris
*Gear Up
Tyee Fisher
*Gear Up
Indian Ed Cord
Senior Class Representative
Genaro Flores
US Air Force Enlistment
Tania Fuentes
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
AVID Recognition
Oswaldo Garcia
*Gear Up
*Sodexo Janitorial
*Oregon Promise
AVID Recognition
Outstanding Math Student
Perla Garcia Madrigal
*Gear Up
Karla Gonzalez Moreno
*Gear Up
Cicily Harrington
*Gear Up
Erika Haun
*Gear Up
Commitment to Drama
Joram Hoff
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Social Studies Academic Excellence
Outstanding Math Achievement
Alyssa Horobin
*Gear Up
*College Cash
Charlotte Huppert
*Gear Up
* Oregon Promise
Senior Class Representative
4 year music participation cord
David Jin
*Gear Up
*Kiwanis
*ELKS Most Valuable Student
*US Naval Academy
*University of Oregon
*George Fox
*Wheaton College
*Vanderbilt University
*Oregon Promise
Outstanding Math Student
National Honor Society
Al Barzee Citizenship Award
Senior Co-Class President
Superintendent’s Award
Honors Diploma
Salutatorian
Justice Kane
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Outstanding Math Achievement
Superintendent’s Award
Izaha Karn
*Gear Up
*Siletz Studio
CTE Cord
Sofia Kavadas
*Gear Up
*Calvin J Ritchey Inspirational Basketball Player
Nathaniel Kay
*Gear Up
Cora Kehr
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Outstanding Math Achievement
Superintendent’s Award
Honors Diploma
Kameron Kessler
*Gear Up
Oregon Air National Guard Enlistment
Clayton Kimberling
*Gear Up
*Bill & Jean Biggs Academic Athlete
*Oregon Promise
Kayci Klaar
*Gear Up
Cody Knott
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
*Corbin Athletic Scholarship
Bill & Jean Biggs Service to School
Tanner Landry
*Gear Up
Ehychka Logan
Indian Ed Cord
Miguel Lomeli
*Oregon Promise
Christopher Lopez-Ortiz
*Gear Up
*Portland State Ganas
Outstanding Math Achievement
Jacob Mayoral
*Gear Up
Angela Mazzari
Drama Rookie of the Year
Commitment to Excellence in Social Studies
4 year music participation cord
Superintendent’s Award
Sydney McCabe
*Gear Up
Grace McGowan
*Gear Up
Micah McLeish
*Gear Up
*Rotary
*Sodexo Food Service
*Zak A Kromer Memorial
*Edith A Modlin Memorial
*Oregon Promise
*Western Oregon University
Culinary Achievement CTE Cord
Outstanding Math Achievement
National Honor Society
Superintendent’s Award
Honors Diploma
Logan McLendon
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Oregon Opportunity & Pell Grants
Senior Class Representative
Spencer Miller
*Gear Up
*Siletz Studio
CTE Cord
Clay Nelson
US Marine Corp Enlistment
Lexy Neves
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Ana Ortiz-Reyes
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Violet Palermini
*Gear Up
*Calvin J Ritchey Memorial Music
4 year music participation cord
Benjamin Petersen
*Gear Up
*Mid Columbia Bus Company
Outstanding Math Achievement
National Honor Society
Key Club
Josslyn Powell
*Gear Up
Keith Pratt
*Gear Up
*North Lincoln Ministerial Assoc.
*Oregon Promise
Indian Ed Cord
Lydia Prins
*Gear Up
*Kiwanis
*North Lincoln Eagles
*Rotary
*Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Auxiliary
*California Baptist University Presidential Merit
National Honor Society
Don Morris Service to Community Award
ASB Secretary
Senior Class Representative
Community Service Green Cord
Superintendent’s Award
CTE Cord
Key Club
Jazmyn Reyes-Cornejo
*Gear Up
*Sodexo Janitorial
*Oregon Promise
AVID Recognition
Sydney Riddle
*Gear Up
*Mid Columbia Bus
*BillyAnn Stempel
*Dr Bethany Grace Howe LGBTQ Empowerment
*Oregon Promise
Outstanding 4 year Commitment and Excellence in Drama
AVID Recognition
Franc Schaffer Most Inspirational Award
Cristian Rodriguez
*Gear Up
Caitlyn Rundstrom
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Savannah Russo
*Gear Up
*Siletz Studio
*Bill & Jean Biggs Academic Athlete
*Oregon Promise
National Honor Society
Senior Class Representative
Superintendent’s Award
Giovanni Salazar
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Lilly Salsbery
*Gear Up
Senior Class Representative
Noah Sanders
Superintendent’s Award
Mad Scott
*Gear Up
*Kiwanis
*Rotary
*JoAnn Hamilton Memorial
*Oregon State University
*Linfield College
National Honor Society
Superintendent’s Award
Honors Diploma
Valedictorian
Daenan Sellers
*Gear Up
US Army Enlistment
Maleah Smith
*Gear Up
CNA Program Recognition
Senior Co-Class President
Chandler Thomas
*Gear Up
*Kiwanis
*Oregon Promise
Outstanding Math Achievement
Superintendent’s Award
Amelia Valentine
*Gear Up
*ECMC
*Minna Lee Beene Memorial
*Oregon Opportunity
*Oregon Promise
Outstanding Math Achievement
Superintendent’s Award
Kyle VanDamme
*Gear Up
Isy Vick
*Gear Up
*Phyllis Cary Chessman Merit in the Arts
*Oregon Promise
Social Studies Academic Excellence
Superintendent’s Award
Adrianna Wagoner
*Gear Up
*Oregon Promise
Culinary Achievement CTE Cord
Commitment to Excellence in Social Studies
Superintendent’s Award
Jon Weaver
*Gear Up
US Marine Corp Enlistment
Brigido Zacarias
Indian Ed Cord
Logan Merry
*Gear Up
- denotes scholarship
Valedictorian Mad Scott’s commencement speech:
“Good afternoon everyone! On behalf of the Class of 2019, I would like to welcome all of the families, faculty, alumni, friends and guests to this special ceremony. Today, I have the honor to stand here as valedictorian beside my fellow classmates in a time of celebration. We have made it through the past 13 years of schooling with a lot of us having many more to come.
“The senior class of 2019 is now embarking on a new chapter in our lives with possibilities of future career paths and interests that we desire. The decisions we make from this point on will steer the direction of what our future will be one day. The relationships that this class has acquired with its fellow classmates and teachers is something that will always be remembered, and will be influential to our lives.
“Though a small town can have its flaws, Lincoln city possesses a community that shares relationships with our students and has the ability to make a positive difference in our students’ lives. The relationships that I have built at Taft High School with the passionate and hard-working teachers have helped me acquire the knowledge I wish to apply in my future career path of business. The teachers at our school are individuals who have expressive teaching styles and are willing to find what a student has an affinity to do when they get older. We are truly blessed to be able to go to a school where new innovations and technologies are at our fingertips every couple of years.
“The hard work of Noah Lambie does not go unrecognized by myself or many others. He has sparked the flame in many young gifted individuals to chase their ambitions, expand their creativity and thoughts by introducing new opportunities in graphic designing, art, robotics and physics. During my first year of high school, I took robotics and I had no previous knowledge about the design process or how to work the various softwares used in the class, such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
“Over the past three years with the Lambie’s help, I have accomplished projects that involved the use of many advanced software programs and have been designing my own shirts, stickers, laser engraved pieces, skateboards and 3-D printed designs. From learning different techniques on how to become a graphic designer, physicist and even artist, Lambie has sparked the flame in many young lives, including myself, to challenge one’s efforts in obtaining relevant knowledge that is beneficial to their future.
“Mr. Bass is another teacher I would like to address for being the first teacher that has made a large impact on the way our students at our school view the business world. Bass has helped myself and many others learn to overcome their fear of public speaking and advised them on how to effectively and efficiently communicate to capture the audience’s interests.
“There are many other teachers at this school that have been positive figures in my life and the Class of 2019 that I have not listed, but I want to acknowledge these individuals for their excellence at our school, as well as inspiring the young minds of our generation. The teachers of our school are not credited as much as they should be for the extra hours they have worked and the readiness they express everyday in order to deal with hundreds of provocative and some so-called savage kids (especially some of our middle-schoolers).
“I would next like to give praise to the parents and guardians of the Class of 2019, for you guys are the devoted support system to our students and are attentive to our needs when we need a helping hand to understand something better. The bond that we share with our parents or our guardians is one that shows appreciation and friendship with one another.
“My parents are truly an inspiration to me by being some of the most hardworking individuals I have ever met. Their encouragement for me to excel in school and participate in sports is what has made me the person that I am today. Their acknowledgement towards what I’m passionate about is shown in many ways — one of them being my parents’ attendance at my every game and track meet. With the highest level of appreciation this is the devotion and care I respect and I wish to portray to my children one day.
“It is important that we recognize our parents today and we thank them for all that they have done for us. Our parents will always be there for us as we continue our journeys, whether it is close to home or far away. The bond of love will never be separated by distance and will always kept by one another.
“Our journey of obtaining knowledge is not over, for our lives have now been opened to great opportunities for years to come after graduating today. We are now just on the cusp of possibilities that are given to us in today’s ever-changing society. In front of us are years of life we have yet to live; years of experience and knowledge that we have yet to know. The years up until this one our path has been laid out for us, and, for the most part, ordered. Our schooling is chosen for us and our purpose and way of life is defined by those in charge and around us. Now, today, we stand here where we get to decide our own futures and our own paths. We have an endless amount of potential and freedom to go off and to make our own lives.
“From this day on I ask that my fellow classmates strive for their goals. To achieve success in any measure or fashion depending on a person’s goals, one must strive everyday to move forward. Success is something that is not always obtained right away. But this does not matter because not obtaining success is only fatal when you let it get in the way of perceiving your goals. Our goals are constantly changing and it is important that we learn from our mistakes and use the knowledge from failing to do better the next time.
“Within our generation our society comes up with many stereotypes about people that aren’t true for the sole reason that they like to dwell on these negative ideas. These stereotypes include allegations about what one likes to do, their race, hobbies, and even religion. And, today I stand proudly here on the stage breaking stereotypes by representing our Class of 2019 as a skateboarder who attends school regularly and excels in his classes. All of our backgrounds vary greatly from one another in our occupations, religions and hobbies. But in hindsight this difference has no hindrance of what we can achieve when we put our minds towards obtaining our goals.
“To expand on this idea, I would like to share a piece of advice from one of my favorite motivational speakers and the true Prince of Bel Air, Will Smith: “Greatness is not this wonderful, esoteric, exclusive, God-like feature that only the special among us will ever taste. It’s something that truly exists in all of us. This is what I believe, and, I’m willing to die for it. Period. It’s that simple.”
“One way to achieve greatness and success is to look back on life with no regrets. It’s the mindset of not dwelling on the things you could’ve done differently, but rather learning from your mistakes and moving on to achieve your future goals. The importance of not living with regret is also tied into the idea of not taking the hours, months or even days of life for granted. You should always live in the moment and enjoy your experiences for a certain time can only happen once.
“Ahead of us stand new relationships we shall build and places we shall go. We may make our dreams come true and even create new families. During these times we must do the things we love and participate in what makes us the individuals we are. High school is usually a one-round go of four years of experience that has impacted many of our lives in positive ways.
“For this reason, today should be a celebration of the Class of 2019, with our family and peers, for our students to start a new chapter in our lives. I wish each and everyone one of my fellow students strive to be the best versions of themselves in order to achieve success. Congratulations Class of 2019!”
