PROGRAM: Student Presentations in Humanities and Theatre (7 students 3 min each plus introduction 1 min) Introduced by Kim Perry
- Humanities
A: Bellingham – Soleina Robinson Host: Kim Perry
Soleina is the student of the month in Humanities from Bellingham High School. She has a 4.0 GPA and has taken a number of Advanced Placement courses. She has a variety of interest including art, climate change and researching how women and girls view their bodies. Soleina told us that she loves to read and thanked her sophomore teacher for inspiring her love of reading. Her goal is to write a book. She plans to attend Lewis and Clark College where she also hopes to be an exchange student and go to Africa and study female empowerment.
B: Options: Ray Lewis Host: Katherine Deets Ray was introduced by Mauri Ingram. Ray is 17 and loves English and the language arts, wants to be an author, has done some writing (and posting) of short stories. Ray has an interest in being graphic artist – perhaps doing video games.
C: Sehome: Claire Alarid – Host: Chuck Snyder
Claire enjoys swimming and is a diving instructor. Among other activities, she has been involved in teen court and worked as a volunteer for Lydia Place. She plans to attend college and hopes to be an exchange student and go to France. Her goal is to get a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and become and ambassador to a foreign country.
D: Squalicum: Elizabeth (Lizzy) Schermerhorn – Host: James Pyles
Lizzy is our Student of the Month in Humanities from Squalicum. She has a 3.994 GPA. She volunteers at Shucksan Middle School and helps with the volleyball team. She also helps with Squalicum’s athletic department and attends the away games to help with injuries. She has an avid interest in the culinary arts including the experience of preparing a Bolivian Dinner for 8 only to find that 16 showed up to eat. She is interested in attending Bellingham Technical College and obtaining a certificate in pastries. Her long term goal is to own and operate a café.
- Theatre
A: Bellingham: Khanh-Quang Ton (Alvin)- Host: Kathie Hiyane-Brown
Alvin offered a thoughtful and prepared statement on what it means to participate in the theater. Inspired by his two sisters who became involved in the theater, he found a passion as a theater technician. He noted that a theater production shouldn’t really work as all the actors and techs have a different idea of how the show should look. But it is the sense of community among all the participants that the puts the show first. He noted that shows are not just about the actors but also are the product of the behind the curtain team members. A musician who plays the viola, he plans to to attend WWU where he hopes to remain in theater – perhaps as a stage manager.
B. Options: Ariston Jensen Host: Mauri Ingram
Ariston is the Options Student of the Month in Theater who loves the theater and was grateful that Options just added Drama 3 – expanding the Options theater programs for students interested in theater. Ariston also noted an appreciation for the sense of community in the theater and a sense of being liked and belonging at Options High School. Ariston plans to attend Whatcom Community College and has not decided on a major.
C: Sehome: Jonathan Snavely Host: Tom Grinstad
Our student of the month was enviously introduced by Tom Grinstad who wondered aloud what kind of “fertilizer” he used to grow his full head of hair. (The answer was mulch and bat guano.) He went on to report how theater was a valuable part of his life.
D: Squalicum: Jacob Bowen, Host: Paul Grey
Jake Bowen is the student of the month from Squalicum High School. He is President of the Drama and Thespian Club, has been involved in student directed plays and is a section leader in the school orchestra. He described himself as “terrified of public speaking” but proceeded to offer articulate and thoughtful remarks about his interests and future. Jake described himself as a “hard thinker” who plans to attend WWU and earn a degree in Music. He hopes to remain in acting – perhaps as part of the Bellingham Theater Guild.
