Prescott Grads Turn Their Tassels

PRESCOTT - The last, but certainly not the least, of the area high school seniors graduated Friday night as 19 Prescott Class of 2014 students walked amid friends and family gathered in the high school gymnasium to accept their high school diplomas. Commencement speakers were Valedictorian Emily Wilson, Salutatorian Erik Sandoval and High School Math Teacher and Senior Class Advisor Mark Grimm.

Wilson, daughter of Jim and Rebecca Wilson of Waitsburg, graduated with a near-perfect G.P.A. of 3.989. Wilson has been highly active in all aspects of school life at PHS. She ended her year as Associated Student Body Secretary and held a student representative seat on the school board. Wilson is a member of the National Honor Society and has been involved in drama club, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), band, and music club. She attended Girl's State as a junior, participated in Knowledge Bowl and was active in 4-H. Wilson played basketball, worked as track manager and was the only female on the soccer team. Wilson plays the flute and enjoys learning and practicing photography. She plans to attend Eastern Washington University to major in accounting.

Sandoval, son of Alberto Sandoval and Norma Villegas, graduates with a 3.57 G.P.A. Sandoval excels in leadership and graduated as Associated Student Body President. He has been Class Sentinel, National Honor Society President, SADD President and holds a seat as student representative on the school board. Sandoval attended Boy's State, the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Youth Leadership Seminar, and has attended both Business Week and Health Care Week at Gonzaga University. Sandoval has given back to the community through participation in canned food drives, blood drives and a math-athon. He has participated in track and cross country during his time at PHS. Sandoval enjoys drumming, running, photography and video editing in his free time. He plans to pursue a degree in business at Washington State University.

The second annual Jack Smiley Memorial Scholarship - awarded to the senior who has shown the most involvement in Prescott High School - went to Emily Wilson. "Jack promoted school involvement to no end," said social studies teacher Jeff Foertsch, who spearheaded the creation of the fund last year in honor of the beloved Prescott coach. The Prescott Education Association teachers' union initiated the fund and hoped to award $250 in 2013. Instead, an outpouring of generosity from the community provided for a $1,000 scholarship to Claudia Soriano. Wilson also received $1,000 and her name will join Soriano's on the wooden memorial plaque that hangs in Prescott's gymnasium.

Prescott graduates include: Enrique Balderas, Selina Benito Isidoro, Corey Brownlee, Kaleb Elliott Young, Yesenia Escalante, Diana Esparza Cardenas, Jackelin Garcia, Aracely Gonzalez, Micheal Hilton, Dalton (LaRue) Janopoulos, Rafael Lopez Perez, Brittany Lute, Mavrick Nelson, Karen Romero, Abraham Sanchez Garcia, Albero Sandoval Villegas, Erik Sandoval Villegas, James Thompkins, and Emily Wilson.