| EARLENE
WARD - YOSEMITE HIGH SCHOOL
The
Yosemite High School Class of 2003 Valedictorians are (front row left
to right): Elizabeth Hixson, Elizabeth Luca, Kahlin Wolf, Christine Harrison
and Ivy Kramer. (Second row left to right): Brook Bullock, Katharine Napier,
Leigh Carter, Elizabeth Tucker, Nicole Koczanowicz and Kelsey Snider.
(Back row left to right): Micaela Young, Grace Reeve, Grant Fonda, Brandon
Johnson, former California Secretary of State Bill Jones, Amy Johnson,
Jonathan Oulton and Luke Millar.
The
18 Yosemite High School Valedictorians for the Class of 2003 are different
in many respects and they are similar in just as many. They share some
common goals and experiences but they also have diverse backgrounds and
interests. One thing they all share is a record of academic excellence
that earned them at least a 4.0 grade point average.
The students and their parents were guests of honor at the annual Paul
and Martha Pitman Awards Banquet last week. The banquet is held to honor
the top Yosemite High School graduating seniors.
Former California Secretary of State Bill Jones was the guest speaker.
Mr. Jones represented Eastern Madera County in the California Assembly
from 1982 into the 1990s when district boundaries were redrawn and EMC
was moved into another Assembly district.
After serving in the Assembly, Mr. Jones was elected California Secretary
of State and served in that office for two terms. When his second term
ended, he could not seek reelection because of term limits. He has returned
to the family ranch in Fresno where his wife, Maureen, is a teacher.
After being a public figure for more than 20 years, Mr. Jones told the
students that as a private citizen, “I’m now Maureen’s husband.” Instead
of being recognized in restaurants as Bill Jones, he says he now listens
as people approach his wife to tell them she was their best teacher or
their favorite teacher. He says his wife’s greatest joy in life is her
students.
Mr. Jones has great respect for the public education system. “It is public
education, the right to learn, that separates us from so many countries,”
he said. He recalled that while he was Secretary of State he went to Nicaragua
to oversee an election. It was an interesting experience and it made him
realize that “the hallmarks that make us special are free elections and
free education.”
Mr. Jones had praise for the students’ parents, saying “these 18 wouldn’t
be here without the efforts of their parents.”
He noted that while he was honored to be invited to the Pitman Awards
Dinner, “sometimes I wasn’t pleased to be at Yosemite High.” He said those
were the times his daughter’s volleyball team from Bullard High faced
some “tough games” against the Badgers.
Also honored during the evening were Marsh Pitman and Jean Gibson. Mr.
Pitman is the son of Paul and Martha Pitman who were instrumental in the
formation of the Yosemite High School District, and in whose memory the
dinner is held. Paul Pitman was the interim superintendent of the new
district when it was first formed.
Jean Gibson was on the committee that worked so hard to make Yosemite
High a reality. She worked closely with the Pitmans and recalled their
many kindnesses and their dedication to building the school.
Dr. Bill Atwood served as master of ceremonies for the dinner. Yosemite
High Principal Steve Raupp introduced guests and assisted with the presentation
of awards.
The YHS Valedictorians are: Brook Bullock, Leigh Carter, Grant Fonda,
Christine Harrison, Elizabeth Hixson, Amy Johnson, Brandon Johnson, Nicole
Koczanowicz, Ivy Kramer, Elizabeth Luca, Luke Millar, Katharine Napier,
Jonathan Oulton, Grace Reeve, Kelsey Snider, Elizabeth Tucker, Kahlin
Wolf and Micaela Young.
The valedictorians were invited to write their reflections of high school
for the program for the award dinner. They recalled the past four years
and looked forward to the future.
They mentioned the importance of parents, friends, teachers, counselors,
brothers and sisters and pastors. They wrote about the importance of extra
curricular activities and spending time with family and friends.
Some spoke of the importance of religion in their lives and how their
faith had sustained them. They feel they are ready for the next step in
their lives, well prepared for the future by their four years at Yosemite
High.
Brook Bullock likened high school to a giant roller coaster and said it
was “the biggest thrill ride of my life. Teachers taught her to “pursue
what I truly love and follow my heart, even if it means giving up certain
luxuries” and “how to express myself and stand up for what I believe in.”
She learned from her teachers that “anything can be achieved if you set
your mind to it” and she was shown the various rewards one may receive
from helping others. She also learned to “stress individuality and the
importance of refraining from conformity.”
Leigh Carter attends YHS on an inter-district transfer from the Golden
Valley School District in Madera Ranchos. “I am here at my own will and
by privilege,” she wrote. “I would just like to impress on everyone what
a privilege it has been.” She praised the YHS staff: “As a whole, the
Yosemite High School staff is unrivaled in their enthusiasm and talents.”
Leigh says the “most memorable experience I will take from high school
is the laughter.” She says these years “marked the first chance I had
to really laugh at myself; and after all, that is what growing up is all
about.”
Grant Fonda does not believe that life begins after high school, but that
real life began in high school. “High school has not prepared me for ‘real
life’ but allowed me to experience it,” he wrote. He learned important
life lessons at YHS. “I have learned (and by no means have mastered) that
patience truly is a virtue, not only with others, but with myself as well
as I continue to allow God to shape me into who He wants me to be.”
Grant says he learned a lot from his Senior Project. He composed, directed
and organized a wind ensemble and its music. “It is amazing how much one
can learn from others,” he said, “joy, righteous anger and jealousy, encouragement
and true friendship.”
Christine Harrison believes the relationships one forms in high school
are lasting and meaningful. She also says the experiences she had in high
school have helped shape her into the person she has become.
“High school has taught me a lot about life and how to become a mature
responsible person. It has developed more than my mind, but also my character,
and integrity. I have learned how to deal with tough situations and be
resilient to the negative influences in my life,” Christine wrote.
Elizabeth Hixson attended three high schools, YHS being the last. “Moving
during high school has not been easy,” she says, “but I learned many things
from it. I have learned to never compromise my values or change who I
am just to ‘fit in.’ The most important thing that high school has taught
me is to always be yourself.”
Amy Johnson believes the high school experience is more than what one
learns in the classroom. “Through volleyball and softball, I have experienced
that accomplishments made as a team are deeply greater than those made
by one’s self.” She learned about friendship and came to realize that
“true friends will last forever.” Amy also found that “things and people
change. I have changed. In four short years I have suddenly developed
into a responsible adult, ready and capable to be on my own.”
Brandon Johnson learned about priorities in high school. “By my senior
year, I realized that being the perfect student is not everything.” He
learned, however, that he still had to work hard to maintain his grades.
“I have learned the importance of relationships, but also the necessity
of sacrifice for achievement. The greatest use of this knowledge is the
application of balance so that my relationships can flourish and my academics
and/or work do not suffer. Here is where success is found.”
Nicole Koczanowicz says senior year has been a year of trepidation and
anticipation and a year of waiting. “I wait impatiently for my future
to arrive with a little 37-cent stamp on it. One letter will change everything.
I have only to wait for it to come.. wait. It seems in a way, that waiting
is what senior year is all about.”
However, she says, “Senior year is worth the wait. But now that I am here,
I wait for things more overwhelming and colossal than I ever anticipated
or conceived.” As she waits for that letter of college acceptance, she
also ponders such things as “How does one conclude a childhood?” and “What
is it that I will contribute to the world? Something great, I hope.”
Ivy Kramer says that music became a passion for her in high school. Through
her band teacher, she learned to “always try harder and never just say
that something is ‘good enough.’ This is something that I have been able
to apply to many aspects of my life, from music to school to my relationships
with those around me. No matter how much effort I may think I put towards
a goal, I know that I can always add a little more that will make me do
even better.”
Elizabeth Luca learned many things during her high school career. “I learned
that everything is not just about getting straight A’s. There are sports,
clubs, friends, and other things that shaped me to be the person I am
today.” She learned the importance of extra-curricular activities, not
just for college applications but for herself.
“Basketball had taught me determination and also to try my best. When
you are given the chance to do something, try your best and you will succeed,”
she learned.
Luke Millar appreciated high school because “There is so much to learn
while in high school and so many people there to help you learn those
things.” He also learned that he had to prioritize his life. “Working
hard, I found a good balance between my school work and my friends.” He
also learned to “appreciate my friends and what they do for me.”
Luke was influenced a lot by his teachers. “They have been there to teach
me not only what’s in the lesson manual but also basic living skills.
I have learned more from them about life in general than I have learned
in the classes I have taken.”
Katharine Napier learned to organize and plan, to take responsibility,
and to work well with others. These are all assets she needed to help
with her most meaningful experience — helping build the art gallery at
YHS.
She also appreciated the International Baccalaureate classes she took,
for they strengthened her academic skills. “These classes have helped
me to become a well-rounded person.” She lost her fear of public speaking
and she learned to work as a member of a team and to take responsibility
for her part of the team’s effort.
Jonathan Oulton says he is “proud to have attended the one high school
where every student is a cross-country runner. Every student who wants
to get to class on time, at least,” referring to the 95-acre YHS campus.
He says one of his most memorable experiences in high school is the Theory
of Knowledge (TOK) class. “The best part of TOK class is that, instead
of just focusing on specific information or skills, it helped us learn
to think.” The class broadened his interests, increased his critical thinking
skills and helped him learn to evaluate sources.
“It has taught me to see more layers and possibilities in many situations.
I feel that, as a result of this experience, I am better prepared for
college — and for life.”
Grace Reeve learned how much she loves science at YHS. She also learned
“there are numerous ways to go about solving a problem, and that sometimes
one has to look to more unorthodox ways to come across a solution.” She
learned to “think outside the box.”
“High school has taught me many lessons that I could not have learned
anywhere else. It has pushed me to learn who I am and where I want to
go. It has also provided the tools and skill to get me there,” Grace says.
Kelsey Snider says the “greatest thing that I’ve gotten out of my high
school experience is learning to prioritize the aspects of my life and
be successful in managing them.” She says what has made the difference
in the past four years for her is her family and friends.
Elizabeth Tucker says when she entered high school, she wanted it all:
the grades, the friends, the activities, the world. “Hard work, along
with a lot of support from God, my family, my friends, and the school
staff was my plan for my success,” she said.
She also found that laughter is important. “My greatest stress relief
is laughter and all it takes is a friend to brighten up even the cloudiest
days.” While God, family and friends helped her outside high school, she
says the teachers and counselors guided her through school. As she looks
to the future, she says “Life will be much different; but I know that
I will be able to make it through with everything that I have learned
in high school.”
Kahlin Wolf says the most important lesson she learned in high school
“is that every experience is an adventure and something to learn from,
both academically and personally.”
Micaela Young entered YHS as a freshman “intimidated, scared and unsure.”
She was forced to find a new group of friends. She was faced with a much
larger load of school work and that, along with playing volleyball, left
her no free time. “I was essentially forced to mature,” she said.
“Playing volleyball all four years of high school has helped me develop
diligence and independence, and has provided me with great opportunities,”
Micaela said.
The dinner was dedicated to Paul and Martha Pitman. Jean Gibson said they
would have been proud of the students: “They are doing just what they
knew they would do.”
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