Daily Sitka Sentinel

Tonight: Drive-Thru Pomp & Circumstance

By Sentinel Staff

Sitka High School class of 2020 will march to ‘‘Pomp and Circumstance’’ tonight, keeping in step with mandates put in place by COVID-19 pandemic worries and moving to a virtual platform. 

Graduating is something students think about even before starting high school, but for the 69 members of the Sitka High class of 2020 it will be no ordinary graduation. Despite uncertainties, school staff members said they plan to make this graduation unforgettable.

The 90th annual commencement exercises will start in front of Sitka High School at 6 p.m. with a procession of vehicles, each containing a senior and members of the family. The diploma ceremony is private and limited to one car per graduate.

Each students will step from the vehicle, go to the podium and receive their disinfected diploma, the school said. The student’s name, scholarships, awards, and plans for the future will be announced.

The commencement will be combined with the awards ceremony, and livestreamed on Facebook with live commentary as well at https://www.facebook.com/SitkaHighSchool and through Raven Radio.

It will begin with a senior class drone photo taken by Scott McArthur.

Prerecorded music and speeches will be introduced with ‘‘Pomp and Circumstance’’ followed by the welcoming by Sitka High Principal Laura Rogers. A greeting in Tlingit will be given by graduating seniors Sheridan Bacon and Monique Lysons.

Speeches, also prerecorded, are to be given by Most Representative Boy Maximus Johnson and Most Representative Girl Tiffany Elefante. Senior Class Representative Chloe Cagle’s talk will follow.

Cora Dow is valedictorian and Chloe Cagle and Maximus Johnson are co-salutatorians.

Rogers will introduce guest speaker Jody Smothers-Marcello.

Rogers will present the class and be joined by Vice Principal Sondra Lundvick in presenting diplomas.

At about 7:30 p.m., graduates and their families then will parade through town in their vehicles, starting at Sitka High School and going to the UAS-Sitka Campus ramp via Lake Street, down Lincoln Street and to Harbor Way. Chief Robert Baty and the Sitka Police Department will assist.

Intersections will be shut down for the procession, police said.

The public is being asked to abide by social distancing standards.

‘‘The class of 2020 has lost a lot due to COVID-19 – show them they haven’t lost our support,’’ the school said.

Logistics and direction of graduates is being provided by Stacy Golden, Howard Wayne, Ariel Starbuck, Shasta Smith, Jeremy Strong, EJ Treadway, Janine Jorgensen, Keri Gray and Ashley Nessler.

School Services Awards are to be presented to Chloe Cagle, Asa Demmert, Cora Dow, Monique Lysons, Aridiane Lindberg and Rose Pellett.

Receiving Principal’s Awards are Dominic Baciocco, Sheridan Bacon, Caribeth Gundran, Jasmine Molia, Margaret Peterson and Kyle Remington.

Members of the Baranof Chapter of the National Honor Society are Dominic Baciocco, Hahlen Behnken-Barkhau, Anja Brooks-Schmidt, Chloe Cagle, Asa Demmert, Cora Dow, Tiffany Elefante, Max Johnson, Abbey Troup, Pamela Veshti and Allison Winger.

Senior class advisers are Janine Jorgensen, Betty Richter, Shasta Smith, Ariel Starbuck, Jeremy Strong and EJ Treadway.

Associated Student Body officers are President Chloe Cagle, Vice President Aridiane Lindberg and publicity manager Monique Lysons. Senior class officers are President Jasmine Molina, Vice President Caribeth Gundran and secretary/treasurer Nikkia Brazell.

Those receiving local scholarships are listed below. Individual university scholarship awards were not available.

Hahlen Behnken-Barkhau: NSRAA, $2,500.

Chloe Audette: ALPS $1,500, SEA $500, Shee Atika $2,400, Sitka CHARR $5,000 per year times four years, Ocean Wave Quilters $1,000, Sealaska $1,535, Sitka Emblem Club $500, Sitka Golf Association $1,000, Sitka Tribe of Alaska $2,500 times four years.

Dominic Baciocco: Sitka Sportsman’s Association $1,000, Mt. Verstovia Masonic Lodge $1,000 a year for four years.

Sheridan Bacon: SEA $500, Shee Atika $2,400, Sealaska $2,251, Sitka Tribe of Alaska $2,500 a year for four years.

Ellie Barker: Ken Osbakken $500, Shee Atika $2,400, NSRAA $2,500, Sealaska $1,535, Sitka Tribe of Alaska $2,500 a year for four years.

Kiana Belcher: Sitka Emblem Club $1,500.

Anja Brooks-Schmidt: SEA $500, ALP Scholarship $5,000 a year for four years.

Chloe Cagle: Sitka Tribe of Alaska, $2,500 a year for four years.

Asa Demmert: SEA $500, Sealaska $3,038, Delta Western $10,000 over 4 years, Sitka Tribe of Alaska $2,500 a year for four years.

Cora Dow: SEA $500, National Merit Bowdoin College Scholarship $1,000.

Tiffany Elefante: Ron Rhodes $500, ALP Scholarship $5,000 per year for four years, Sitka Golf Association $1,000,

Caribeth Gundran: ALPS $1,500, Sealaska $1,535, Sitka Golf Association $1,000, Sitka Tribe of Alaska $2,500 a year for four years.

Maximus Johnson: ALP Scholarship $5,000 per year for four years, Sitka Sportsman’s Association $1,000.

Monique Lysons: Sitka Sportsman’s Association $1,000.

Michael Parsly: Sealaska $1,535.

Ariana Strickland: Sealaska $1,535.

Abbey Troup: Sitka Golf Association $1,000.

Allison Winger: ALPS Credit Union $1,500, SEA $500, Sitka Golf Association $1,000.

Sitka High expressed appreciation to: KCAW/Katherine Rose, radio broadcast and speeches; City of Sitka and the Sitka Police and Fire Departments for parade planning and support; Mikolas Bekeris, livestream/tech support; Betty Richter, podium photography; Beau Hedrick, candid photography; Michael Vieira, banner photography; Carrie Spackman, green screen photos; Scott McArthur, drone photography; and Rich Krupa, PSAs and parking management.

Members of the Sitka High School graduating class of 2020 are:

Joel Arce, Chloe Audette, Dominic Baciocco, Sheridan Bacon, Ellie Barker, Derek Bartlett, Alex Bayne, Hahlen Behnken Barkhau, Kiana Belcher, Nikkia Brazell, Kyler Brenton, Anja Brooks-Schmidt, Chloe Cagle, Asa Demmert, Autumn Dinsmore, Cora Dow, Daria Drobzheva Olegovna, Tiffany Elefante, Katarina Erickson, Frederic Esparza, Julianna Evenson, Sidney Fleming, Gavin Flores, Kai Frawley, Haley Gallant, Joseph Gray, Caribeth Gundran.

Also, Trenton Hammock, Hunter Hatmaker. Rheece Heim, Tyler Jackson, Darrell John, Maximus Johnson, Daryl Jay Jose, Dillon Kaylor-Esser, Justus Kowchee, Aridiane Lindberg, Monique Lysons, Myles Magie, Mason Martin-Eubanks, Jaelyn McLeod-Lewis, Liam Miller, Jasmine Molina.

Also, Nellie Onalik, Michael Parsly, Baylee Pearson, Rose Pellett, Margaret Peterson, Jayde Peterson-Pizarro, Kyle Remington, Niccole Richards, Steven Ricketts, Sheehan Rivera, Jay Roy, Abigail Saiz, Jacob Serka, McKayla Sheakley, Hail-Mart Sibayan, Phelonie Silk, Ariana Strickland-Neal, Gavriella Stroemer, Keenan Sturm, Carter Swedeen, Abbey Troup, Destiny Twitchell-Davis, Pamela Veshti, Kessie VonScheerschmidt, John Welsh, Branden Widdison and Allison Winger.

 

Cora Dow

Valedictorian

School Service Award

Cora Dow is Valedictorian of the class of 2020. She received a National Merit Scholarship, the June Nelson Memorial Scholarship and a scholarship from the Sitka Education Association. She was president of the Baranof Chapter of the National Honor Society and is receiving a School Service Award. Cora will be attending Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.

Chloe Cagle

Co-Salutatorian

School Service Award

Senior Class Representative

Chloe Cagle is co-salutatorian of her class. She received a four-year scholarship from the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, a WUE award and an STA graduation gift. Chloe received a School Service Award. She was president of the Associated Student Body, a member of National Honor Society and was chosen by her classmates to deliver the senior address. Chloe will be attending Boise State Honors College in the fall.

 Maximus Johnson

Co-Salutatorian

Most Representative Boy

Maximus Johnson is co-salutatorian. He received a four-year ALP Scholarship, the Sitka Sportsman’s Association Scholarship, Nanook Pledge Scholarship and the Alaska Performance Scholarship. Maximus is a member of the National Honor Society and was recognized by the faculty of Sitka High as its Most Representative Boy. Maximus will be attending the University of Alaska in Fairbanks in the fall to study engineering or ocean sciences.

Tiffany Elefante

Most Representative Girl

Tiffany Elefante, who was chosen by the faculty of Sitka High School as the Most Representative Girl of her class, was a member of the Baranof Chapter of the National Society. She is receiving the Ron Rhodes scholarship, Sitka Golf Association Scholarship, and four-year ALP Scholarship. Tiffany will attend Bellevue College in the fall to pursue a degree in diagnostic medical ultrasound.

Asa Demmert

School Service Award

Asa Demmert, who is receiving a School Service Award, was vice-president of the Baranof Chapter of the National Honor Society. He is receiving scholarships from the Sitka Education Association, Sealaska, and four-year scholarships from Delta Western and Sitka Tribe of Alaska, as well as an STA graduation gift. Asa plans to attend Fort Lewis College in Colorado to study exercise physiology.

Aridiane Lindberg

School Service Award

Aridiane is Vice President of the Associated Student Body and the student representative to the Sitka School Board. Aridiane is being awarded a School Service Award, as well as a graduation gift from STA. Aridiane plans to pursue a career in baking or culinary arts after graduation.

Monique Lysons

School Service Award

Monique Lysons, who will receive a School Service Award, is the publicity manager of the Associated Student Body. Monique, who is also receiving a scholarship from the Sitka Sportsman’s Association and an STA graduation gift, plans to attend Spokane Falls Community College this fall, where she will pursue a degree in interior design.

Rose Pellett

School Service Award

Rose Pellett is receiving a Service Award from the faculty of Sitka High School. Rose will be moving to Kona, Hawaii, after graduation to attend BIBA and receive her license in cosmetology.

Dominic Baciocco

Principal’s Award

Dominic Baciocco is a member of the Baranof Chapter of the National Honor Society and is receiving a Sitka High School Principal’s Award. He is receiving scholarships from Mt. Verstovia Masonic Lodge, Sitka Sportsman’s Association, and a Division I athletic scholarship from Santa Clara University, which he will attend in the fall. 

Sheridan Bacon

Principal’s Award

Sheridan Bacon is receiving a Principal’s Award from Sitka High School, as well as a variety of scholarships including awards from the Sitka Education Association, Sealaska, Shee Atika and a four-year scholarship from the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, in addition to a STA graduation gift. This fall, Sheridan will continue the studies she has already begun at the University of Alaska Southeast where she plans to pursue a degree in elementary education. 

Caribeth Gundran

Principal’s Award

Caribeth Gundran, who is the vice president of her class, is being awarded a Sitka High School Principal’s Award. She received an ALPS scholarship, Sealaska Scholarship, Sitka Golf Association Scholarship, and a four-year scholarship from the Sitka Tribe of Alaska as well as an STA graduation gift. Caribeth will be attending Fort Lewis College in Colorado in the fall.

Jasmine Molina

Principal’s Award

Jasmine is receiving a Principal’s Award from Sitka High School. Jasmine was the president of her class and will be attending the University of Alaska Anchorage this fall, where she plans to pursue a degree in business administration. 

Margaret Peterson

Principal’s Award

Margaret Peterson is receiving a Principal’s Award. Margaret received a four-year BLaST scholarship from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Through the BLaSt program students can do undergraduate research in the sciences. Margaret plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in fisheries and ocean sciences and move on to a doctoral program in marine biology.

Kyle Remington

Principal’s Award

Kyle Remington is receiving a Principal’s Award. Kyle will be continuing his work at the Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport this summer, and then will be joining the United States Air Force in the fall. 

 

Cora Dow

Chloe Cagle

Maximus Johnson

Tiffany Elefante

Asa Demmert

Aridiane Lindberg

Monique Lysons

Rose Pellett

Dominic Baciocco

Sheridan Bacon

Caribeth Gundran

Jasmine Molina

Margaret Peterson

Kyle Remington