Kalama HS Department Awards

*Tarrell Lockridge- Fine Arts Senior Department Winner

Tarrell has been an integral member of the Kalama music department since his 5th grade year. He has demonstrated citizenship, kindness, honesty and hard work throughout his time here in Kalama. It has been an honor to explore music with him over the years.

Mr. Groff

*Annelise Hamilton- Choir Award

Annelise is a great singer who does an outstanding job in the soprano section, but she is also an excellent student leader. Reliable students like Annelise are the foundation of a great choir and I really appreciate her efforts in making the KHS choir top notch!

Mr. Pollock

*Sam Kalimanis– Band Award

Sam is an outstanding musician with a strong passion for his craft. He sets a firm example and holds himself to a high standard.

Mr. Groff

*Audrey Norton- Fine Arts Award

Audrey- Works incredibly hard and pushes herself to try new techniques, and her creativity seems to know no bounds.

Ms. MacLeod

*Zak McClellan- Vocational Senior Department Award Winner

This year's Vocational Award goes to a student who attends class every day, prepared, and ready to roll his sleeves up and work. The student is incredibly talented and has helped build our manufacturing program over the last few years. What really sets this year's winner apart is his leadership. He is willing to help any of his classmates become a better welder. He helps prepare materials for his peers and helps set up and shut down the metal shop every day. This student placed in the top 10 in the SkillsUSA Regional welding competition. He was also a part of the Kalama High School welding team that placed 2nd in a local high school welding competition.

Mr. Torppa

*Nathaniel Warren- Construction Award

Nathaniel has been a leader, construction manager of a group throughout this year’s storage shed project. He has worked hard all year, is able to follow through with instructions, and is a great team player and huge asset in our construction program.

Mr. Torppa

*Joel Hale- Woodworking Award

Joel is a hard worker who asks good questions and has a good eye for detail. Joel is in his second year of Woodworking Design and continues to produce really great work. Joel is organized, helpful, and really on top of everything in shop class. Keep up the good work!

Mr. Pollock

*Solomon Paso- Manufacturing Award

Solomon has worked hard every day to become a very skilled young man. He is a great shielded metal arc and gas metal arc welder. He is highly capable of reading technical drawing sheets and machining parts to .001” using a milling machine or lathe. Solomon has been working with me in the development of new sheet metal projects as well. Solomon is highly deserving of the Manufacturing Award.

Mr. Torppa

*Destiny Parsons – Spanish Award

Destiny has earned this award for her outstanding effort in class. She is an eager learner, willing to take risks to increase her knowledge. She has a positive attitude in class and willingly participates in all activities! She has also reached out to support other students in their learning as well! Congratulations, Destiny.

Mrs. Stuhlsatz "Maestra"

*Tony Peonio- Leadership Award

Tony is everything you want in a leaderder. He displays quiet confidence and is willing to help his peers in any way possible. Is willing to compromise in decisions when appropriate but will stand his ground when he needs to as well. He does an amazing job of listening to all sides of a situation and gather facts before making decisions. He also does a great job advocating for his opinions and helping in making sure there are open discussions on topics in class.

Mr. Wright

Annie was instrumental in the success of our Spring Musical. Through diligence and hard work she made our Audrey II puppets come to life! Without her our show would have surely been less alive!

Mr. Ready

*Rilyn Schinzing and Annamarie Abbott- Computer Applications

Rilyn and Annamarie are two exceptional students! Not only do they take pride in their work they are willing to help others. It is not uncommon to watch either of them assist other students during class. They display great character to their peers and teachers. There is no doubt that they will continue to be successful in high school and in life.

Mr. Martin

*Elijah Gould- English Senior Department Award Winner

Elijah has been awarded the English Department Award because Elijah understands the power of the written word, and knows how to wield his language with a purpose. Congratulations Elijah!

Ms. Sonn

*Zoporah Jones- AP/CHS English 101 Award

Scholars such as Zoporah are few and far between. She has incredible command over the English language and uses those skills to not just earn high marks but also to improve her community. Her academic skills are commensurate to those of a current university student and her empathy is seemingly endless. I feel honored to have been her teacher and I look forward to seeing her succeed in life.

Mr. Reed

*Esther Hunt- Creative Writing Award

Esther is a commendable writer. She works very hard during class time and has a passion for writing that fuels her to write independently at home. Esther hopes to be a published author one day, and this goal is not far from her reach. Everything she writes is highly entertaining and unique. She has embraced many different styles of writing and has sought to embrace and practice all of them. She is highly deserving of this award.

Ms. Sonn

*Zak McClellan- Natural Resources English Award

I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Zak for several years. In those years, he has grown as an academic and as a human. He is a great leader in class and in the forest. He grasps the essence and form of technical writing and has a keen awareness of writing concepts. Also, and most importantly, he is a wonderfully kind human. I couldn't be prouder of Zak.

Mr. Reed

*Chayton Rodman- English 11 Award

Chayton has done an amazing job this semester with a great deal of empathy for his classmates and the topic at hand. Learning about the Holocaust and Genocide is never easy but Chayton made excellent connections and showed a great deal of growth in all we worked on.

Mr. Ready

*Gage Trevino- English 10 Award

Gage is an outstanding English student. He engages with our readings and starts critical discussions in class. He engages in the content and attempts to engage all of his peers in the content too. He always asks questions and seeks improvement. He possesses a genuine love of learning. He worked hard this year to develop his writing skills too. He cares deeply about his work and wants to be successful. He also brings joy and laughter to our class with his humor. Gage has definitely earned this award.

Ms. Sonn

*Marin Ripp- Honors English 10 Award

Marin works extremely hard and has demonstrated a level of sophistication in her thinking and writing that is commendable. Marin goes above and beyond on her assignments, always doing more than what is asked. Marin asks questions and looks for criticism to improve her work. Though Marin is quiet, her thoughts are mighty and well-articulated. She is definitely deserving of this award.

Ms. Sonn

*Kevin Lardizabal-Orea- Honors English 9 Award

Kevin enters the classroom ready and willing to learn. He consistently demonstrates command over higher level English concepts and is quick to help struggling learners. His composition skills are above grade level as are his inferential reading skills. Congratulations Kevin!

Mr. Reed

*Sam Leigh – English 9 Award

Throughout this academic year, Sam has shown great growth in English. He submits quality assignments on time, enters the class with a positive and empathic demeanor, and takes time to help out fellow students. He has a bright future ahead of him. Job well done, Sam!

Mr. Reed

*Alyssa Gilliam - US History Award

Alyssa shows up every day with a desire to learn and a positive attitude. She has the ability to look at events in history with a deeper understanding than many, while still seeing the humor in some of the strange events that have shaped our nation. I appreciate the effort and her willingness to work with any student in the classroom and pull the best out of everyone around her.

Mr. White

*Ellie Little - AP/CHS World History Award

Ellie is an excellent and hard worker. Her aptitude for historical thinking is second to none! It is a testament that she came into the class skeptical about what history is and means, and came away with a strong passion for history. Whenever Ellie goes it will be with the mind of a historical scholar!

Mr. Ready

*Katrina Rick-Mertens- World History Award

Katrina shows up every day with a positive attitude and a desire to learn. She spreads kindness to her peers through her willingness to help and collaborate with them. Her contributions to classroom discussions challenge and further the understanding of her peers. Katrina's work consistently shows her ability to critically think and draw connections about how history shapes our world today.

Mrs. Atkins

*Ryan Newman- Independent Learner Award

Ryan is an exemplary ALE student. He manages his time efficiently and seems to breeze through the material. When he finishes the required assignments, (at a lightning fast pace!) he generally starts working on extra assignments to stay busy until the end of the day. He is polite in class, shows confidence, honesty and dedication. Knowing that Ryan overcame a massive medical trauma this year has no bearing in the fact that he has been chosen for this award. However, knowing that he missed an entire semester of his senior year and came back so strong only further bolsters the character and resolve of this student. Magnificent Job!

Ms. Geiger

*Ayden Armeni - Independent Learner Award

Students like Ayden make me honored to teach ALE. He worked from home throughout the year and did a truly outstanding job. He is a fabulous independent worker, professional in his communication style and never once even attempted to cut corners. I can hardly even say I was Ayden's teacher--as he truly was his own teacher. Keep up the hard work Ayden-- you have a very bright future ahead!

Ms. Geiger

*Preston Armstrong- Math Department Award

Preston is a leader in the classroom. He senior has earned 10 college level math credits through our College in the High School program through Central Washington University. Though math doesn't always come easy to him, he works hard and puts in extra time and effort to ensure heare successful.

Mrs. Hedden

*Amelia Jacobs- CHS Pre-Calculus Award

Amelia is a star Pre-Calculus student. Amelia is highly organized and when faced with a difficult problem, she perseveres and sticks with it until solved. Amelia enjoys helping others, she is quick to offer a helping hand and tutors others in math.

Mrs. Hedden

*Gavin Kalimanis- Algebra 2/Trigonometry Award

Gavin has been incredibly successful in Algebra 2/ Trigonometry this year. Gavin is motivated, efficient, and consistently turns in work on time. Gavin contributes daily to class discussions, providing explanations or thoughtful questions that benefit the class.

Mrs. Hedden

*Solar McClellan- Geometry Award

Solar is an exceptional Geometry student. They are hardworking and motivated to do their best. Solar has consistently earned top marks on all assessments throughout the year. Solar is one of the few students to complete the entire Geometry MATHia curriculum!

Mrs. Hedden

Belle is fantastic at mathematics, but it is her ability to work without giving up that gained her this award. Belle has been working hard all year, and she is an exceptional student.

Mr. Phillips

*Ashton Johnson- Physical Education Senior Department Winner

Ashton was the recipient for the Senior Physical Education award. Ashton was in my Weight Training class and was a tireless worker. Ashton brought a unique sense of humor and a strong work ethic to class each day and was a great role model for the younger students in class.

Mr. Stemkoski

Mr. Stemkoski

*Tony Peonio- Physical Education Award

Tony was the recipient of the High School PE award because of his exceptional work ethic, leadership, and attention to detail. Tony shows up each day ready to work and improve on his skills. He is very respectful of his peers and helps those around to get better in their skills. Tony is a great leader and was a pleasure to have in class.

Mr. Stemkoski

Riley was the recipient of the Health award because of her work ethic and attention to detail. Riley always had a positive attitude and was a willing participant in class discussions and projects. Riley is very self driven and isn’t afraid to ask questions when needed. Riley is a great example of our future leaders.

Mr. Stemkoski

*Cole Lutgen- Senior Science Department Award

Cole is an amazing student, with a passion and aptitude for science. I was lucky enough to have taught Cole for 3 separate science classes and I will miss his energy, empathy, and inquisitive mind. However, I'm excited to see what great things he will accomplish in the future.

Mr. Stone

Jack Burnell- Integrated Science

Jack was always a leader in class. Whether it be challenging calculations or navigating through virtual labs, Jack always showed enthusiasm and wanted to help others understand concepts after he learned them. Jack excelled at performing experiments, always taking the initiative to get materials and keep his group on track.

Mr. Chapman

*Mathew Castle - AP Environmental Science

Mathew is a friendly, caring, and inquisitive student. Mathew has a passion for environmental science and understands the connections between science and society. Mathew is looking forward to becoming a social studies teacher, but I hope he will consider adding a science endorsement. He will be a great educator in the future.

Mr. Stone

Elliana Norton- Advanced Chemistry

Elliana was the unquestioned leader in class. She was always the first to master a new type of calculation or concept. She led her group during science investigations and they were almost always the first to finish their experiments and always had excellent data. Elliana had the top test scores often getting a perfect score and getting the challenging extra credit problem correct too!

Mr. Chapman

*Hudson Shadduck – Robotics and Engineering Award

Hudson has worked hard to become a very skilled parametric modeler with an engineering design software called Onshape. He has been using his skills to 3D printing parts for his robot project, reverse engineer parts for his car, and much more. He can create 3D models and a complete set of working drawings for his projects. Hudson earned 2nd place in this year’s regional, SkillsUSA “Technical Drafting” competition.is one of the most mechanically inclined students I have ever seen. If someone were to tell him that he couldn't build something into a robot, he would prove them wrong.

Mr. Philips & Mr. Torppa

Ava Ripp- Honors Biology

Ava excels in every aspect of biology. From conducting experiments, to modeling the factors that may lead to a cell to become cancerous, she is always asking questions to help her better understand complex concepts. This was always evident in her very thorough answers to analysis questions and her mastery on assessments.

Mr. Chapman

CJ Gray- Biology

CJ achieved excellent scores on tests, always asking questions to better understand concepts. CJ always seemed to enjoy learning about science and helping others too. Great job!

Mr. Chapman

*Chloe Johnston– Earth Science Award

Chole is an amazing science student and I am so proud of the progress she has made this year. Chloe asks amazing questions in class and has a desire to understand the science concepts covered in class. I look forward to seeing the amazing work that Chloe will accomplish in the future

Mr. Stone

*Sam Kalimanis- Earth Science Honors Award

Sam is an amazing student and I have been impressed to see his quick understanding of science concepts. While Sam comes to 9th grade honors with knowledge of science, his determination and grit to continue working until he understands something completely is something we can all learn from.

Mr. Stone

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Kalama School District #402 complies with all federal rules and regulations and does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation (gender expression or identity), marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, participation in the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. District programs shall be free from sexual harassment. This holds true for all district employment and opportunities. Compliance procedures regarding employees should be directed to Eric Nerison, Director of Human Resources, the School District's Title VII Officer and ADA Coordinator. People of disability may request reasonable accommodation in the hiring process by contacting, Eric Nerison, Director of Human Resources, 548 China Garden Rd 98625 or (360) 673-5282. Inquiries regarding compliance procedures regarding students may be directed to Eric Nerison, Director of Student Services, the School District’s Title IX Coordinator or Eric Nerson, Director of Special Programs, and the School District’s Section 504 Coordinator, 548 China Garden Rd. Kalama WA, 98625 (360) 673-5282