WHS graduation set

More than 40 Whitehorse seniors will receive diplomas on May 23 at 9 a.m.

The graduates will participate in a ceremony that will be livestreamed at live.ksl.com. 

Following the livestream, the event can be seen at https://live.ksl.com/#/entity/139?_k=e53s9p.

The keynote speaker for the graduation ceremony is Mitchell Kalauli, Jr., a Whitehorse graduate.

Senior class co-president Kaia Jay will also speak.

School officials who will participate include Superintendent Ron Nielson, Principal Kim Schaefer, School Board member Nelson Yellowman, and JJ Grover.

Others involved include Ryan Stockham, Stanley Nez, LewKatia Hascon, and Navajo Nation Council Delegate Charlaine Tso.

Daan Filfred is graduating with Honors, while Kaia Jay, Tewakeedah Martin, and Téa Scott are graduating with  Highest Honors. 

Téa Scott was named a Gates Millennium Scholar and also received the Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship.

Lanedon Bob is a SENAI Essay Contest winner.

Students receiving CTE Completer certificates are Noah Benally, TyJuandro Benally, Deondre Benn, RaShawn Nocki, Hugh Pelt, and James Vasku, Jr.   

Sterling Scholar candidates are Daan Filfred (who finished as a runner-up), Kaia Jay (who finished as a runner-up), Tewakeedah Martin, and Téa Scott.

Members of the National Honor Society are Daan Filfred, Kaia Jay, Tewakeedah Martin, and Téa Scott.

Thirteen graduates earned scholarships from Utah State University totaling $23,550.  They are Alyzea Benally, Jacqueline Benally, Suraya Benally, Deondre Benn, Kiiyana Clah, Sequoia Eddie, Daan Filfred, LewKatia Hascon, Rhiannon Lansing, Tewakeedah Martin, Melanie Oliver, Soyer Toney, and James Vasku.

Students who applied for the Utah Navajo Trust Fund Outstanding Senior Award include Jacqueline Benally, Irenecia Benn, Daan Filfred, Kaia Jay, Melanie Oliver, and Téa Scott.

Applying for the Elk Petroleum Scholarship are Jacqueline Benally, Irenecia Benn, Kaia Jay, Melanie Oliver, and Téa Scott.

Kaia Jay and Téa Scott are eligible for the Chief Manuelito Scholarship.

Winners of the Making a Difference Scholarship are Daan Filfred, Kaia Jay, and Téa Scott.

Juniors who graduated early include Fernando Morales and Kallen Torivio.

Parents honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards (a long-standing tradition to recognize parents who support all of their children to graduate as Whitehorse Raiders) are Zerhrena and Faron Benally (Nolan, Colin, and Noah), Gilbert Benn and Carol Padilla (Corderro, Cordarelton, Charmaine, Ronnell, Tondra, and Irenecia), Sharon and Keith Jay (Keana and Kaia), Terry and Gail Lee (Crystal, Carlton, Terilyn, and Ashley.)

The class motto is “Our lives are before us, our pasts behind us, our memories are forever within us.”

The Senior Class of 2020 thanks the businesses and community members who supported and financially assisted the school.

Additionally, the students would not have earned diplomas without the help of their parents, family, Whitehorse High School staff, and friends. Thank you for sharing this day with them!

Sponsors include Aneth Chapter, Angel Flight West, Bluff Mutual Aid, EdDirection, Elk Petroleum, Heart of America Foundation, JOM, Millennium Oil Field Services, Milo Fowler, Montezuma Well Service, Navajo Nation Oil & Gas, Navajo Santa, REAL Salt Lake Foundation, Red Mesa Chapter, Rowland Hall, San Juan School District, School Community Council, Swinerton Renewable Energy, Theresa Wilson, Utah Food Bank, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Utah Navajo Health Systems, and the Utah Navajo Trust Fund.