Aberdeen High School’s graduating class is led by three valedictorians (4.0 GPA) and four salutatorians (3.99 GPA).
Here are the school’s 18 top scholars for the Class of 2019:
VALEDICTORIANS
Jared Erwin
The son of Carrie and Mike Erwin of Aberdeen is a valedictorian and will graduate with a 4.0 GPA. He will complete his AA degree at Grays Harbor College before transferring to Embry Riddle University to study aerospace engineering. He plans a career in the aerospace industry.
Jared is an Eagle Scout, a member of the National Honor Society and was selected as the Aberdeen Rotary Student of the Month for April. He is a member of FFA, Amazing Grace Lutheran Youth Group, AHS tennis and band. He would like to thank his parents and grandparents for their advice and his older sister for bossing him until he got his work done.
Nolan Palmer
The son of Tina and Troy Palmer of Cosmopolis will graduate with a 4.0 and as a valedictorian. He will attend Montana State University to study mechanical engineering. He plans a career in the field. Nolan is a Running Start student and will graduate from high school with his AA degree from Grays Harbor College. He has been involved in band, Engineering Club and Club Mud. As a member of SkillsUSA he placed fifth in state in the carpentry competition.
Nolan is an Eagle Scout and received a Silver and Gold Award this spring. He attends Sunday school at Immanuel Baptist Church. He wants to thank his parents for all their love and support over the years. “I couldn’t have done this without them.”
Zoe Templeton
The daughter of Lisa and Ian Templeton of Aberdeen will graduate with a 4.0 GPA and a valedictorian. She will attend the University of Washington to study psychology. She is a Running Start student and will graduate from high school with her AA degree.
Zoe has performed in many community, college and high school musical theater productions and music has been an important part of her life. She has taken voice lessons from Christine Hill for the past few years. One of her favorite activities in high school was being a student leader at the AHS Outdoor School.
SALUTATORIANS
Kelsey Bielec
The daughter of Kelly and Darek Bielec will graduate with a 3.99 GPA and is a salutatorian. She is considering attending Saint Martin’s University to major in elementary education and plans to write a fantasy novel. She has been in band throughout high school including four years in Jazz Band and three years in Wind Ensemble.
Kelsey is a member of the AVID program and has served as sentinel and vice-president of FFA. She is a member of the National Honor Society. Kelsey won a Silver and Gold Award her senior year.
Lauren Boyle
The daughter of Genevieve and Robert Boyle of Cosmopolis will graduate with a 3.99 GPA and as a salutatorian. She will spend one more year at Grays Harbor College to complete her AA degree and then transfer to a four-year university to study biology. She plans to have a career in the medical field, possibly in pharmacy.
Lauren has been a member of the Aberdeen High School band program and was a Marching Band Field Marshal for the past two years. She has been an FFA officer for three years and was on the GHC President’s Honor Roll for five quarters. She received the Teresa Koeniger Memorial Award for music.
Katelynn Lewis
The daughter of Maureen and Arnie Lewis of Aberdeen will graduate with a 3.99 GPA. She is a salutatorian and will attend Gonzaga University in the fall to study special education with an emphasis on behavior analysis. She plans to become a board-certified behavioral analyst with a background in special education.
Katelynn was a four-time district champion in swimming and was team captain. She was a member of the girls golf team and the Renaissance Action team. Katelynn was an Aberdeen Rotary Student of the Month and received the Jud Graham Award as the outstanding junior girl. She is the student representative to the Aberdeen School Board and the president of the Aberdeen chapter of the National Honor Society. She is a member of the AHS Leadership class and a parishioner at St. Mary’s. Katelynn would like to thank her parents, teachers, coaches and friends, whose support helped make her achievements possible.
Parker Timmons
The son of Stacey and Eric Timmons of Elma will graduate with a 3.99 GPA. He is a salutatorian. Parker will attend Grays Harbor College and plans to transfer to the University of Washington. He will study engineering, planning a career as an engineer/physicist. He is a member of Mathletes and the AVID program. He is a member of the golf team and has been a Scholar Athlete each year. Parker is a World Class Scholar and received the Neil Clooney Award. He has a special interest in astronomy.
OTHER TOP SCHOLARS
Mickey Lizarraga
The son of Wendy Lizarraga and Jorge Topete of Aberdeen will graduate with a 3.98 GPA and attend Pacific Lutheran University to study business administration with an emphasis on management. He would like eventually to manage a department for a major company and one day open his own business.
Mickey has been involved in the band and AVID programs. He is a Mathlete and a member of FFA and the National Honor Society. He has donated more than 110 volunteer hours to the A.J. West After School Program. He is the first in his family to go to college ,and has earned a full ride to PLU.
Trace Erwin
The son of Carrie and Mike Erwin will graduate with a 3.98 GPA and attend Central Washington University to study aviation to become a professional pilot. He plans to fly commercially and for the military.
Trace is an Eagle Scout, a member of FFA, the National Honor Society and the Amazing Grace Lutheran Youth Group. He was selected Aberdeen Rotary Student of the Month for April. Trace is a four-year member of the AHS Marching and Pep bands and was section leader in both.
Camryn Cook
The daughter of Tina and Derek Cook of Aberdeen will graduate with a 3.98 GPA and attend Washington State University and plans to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in nursing. She wants to work as a travelling nurse and help people throughout the nation. She would also like to be part of an organization like Doctors Without Borders.
She plans to return to school eventually to become a nurse practitioner. Camryn has earned 12 varsity letters at Aberdeen High School, including four each in swim, wrestling and fastpitch. She was a team captain in wrestling and swim and was an individual State Academic Champion in her weight class for two years in wrestling. She has been a Scholar Athlete in each sport and has volunteered as an assistant softball coach for Special Olympics.
Camryn has been elected to an ASB position three times and is the current senior class vice-president. She is the winner of a Silver and Gold Award, was a Business Week CEO, was voted by students as this year’s Homecoming Queen. She was selected as Rotary Student of the Month for December. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and won a National Honor Society scholarship. She also has been a Food Ball leader for three years, two as an event chairperson and one as a Food Ball chairperson.
Natalie Hurd
The daughter of Lisa and Donald Hurd of Aberdeen will graduate with a 3.97 GPA and will attend Grays Harbor College, later transferring to Montana State University. She plans to study early childhood development and child services to become a children’s advocate.
Natalie has been the editor-in-chief of the high school yearbook for two years and was selected as the Aberdeen Rotary Student of the Month for March. She was a student representative on the School Board of Directors and has earned a Scholar Musician Award. She received a varsity letter for choir and was a member of the Aberdeen High School Girls bowling team.
Diana Rodriguez
The daughter of Rosa Rodriguez and Antonio Padilla will graduate with a 3.96 GPA and attend St. Martin’s University to study biology. She hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon.
Diana has been a member of the high school band, the Wind Ensemble and played in the Jazz Band. She is in FFA and is the treasurer for National Honor Society. Diana is a World Class Scholar, has held the student position on the advisory board for Grays Harbor YouthWorks, and had perfect attendance throughout all four years of high school.
She worked at the Bobcat Branch of TwinStar Credit Union through the Advanced Banking class at Aberdeen High School and completed a 180-hour internship with Great Northwest Federal Credit Union through Grays Harbor YouthWorks.
She volunteered at the Robert Gray After School Program and at the Timberland Regional Library. She has been employed by the Great Northwest Federal Credit Union since the end of her junior year.
Kylie Knodel
The daughter of Beth and Ryan Knodel of Aberdeen will attend Grays Harbor College to study education and plans to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees to become a teacher. Kylie will graduate from high school with her AA degree from Grays Harbor College.
She has played soccer and tennis and was selected as the Freshman Phenom and a team captain. She was named a Great Northwest Credit Union Athlete of the Week for soccer and served as sentinel for FFA and secretary for the AHS chapter of National Honor Society. Kylie was a layout editor for the high school yearbook.
Kylie volunteers at Feed the Hungry through FFA and at the Central Park Elementary Book Fair.
Meghan Howell
The daughter of Natasha Calica of Cosmopolis and Craig Howell of Aberdeen will graduate with 3.92 GPA and attend Washington State University to major in biology. She plans to become a doctor, possibly a surgeon. Meghan completed the Professional Medical Careers class at Aberdeen High School and has earned her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license.
She has been a cheerleader, a member of the bowling team, National Honor Society and has completed AP classes in biology, language and composition, U.S. history, chemistry and calculus.
Meghan was Aberdeen Rotary Student of the Month and is a Silver and Gold honoree. She has also volunteered at several blood drives at the high school
Sierra Templeton
The daughter of Lisa and Ian Templeton will graduate with a 3.90 GPA and attend Western Washington University to study journalism or English.
She plans to have a career in journalism, specifically in radio or audio journalism. Sierra has been involved in local theater for many years in a variety of ways doing everything from acting to painting sets. She has been the AHS ASB secretary and this past fall, she completed an internship with Grays Harbor Radio. Sierra works part-time and likes to paint, read and write.
Savannah Chandler
The daughter of Gary and Angela Chandler of Aberdeen will graduate with a 3.89 GPA and attend Washington State University. She plans to take pre-medicine courses while being a member of the National Guard. She plans to attend the John A. Burns School of Medicine to become a medical dermatologist.
Savannah was a member of the AHS wrestling team and placed seventh in state during her senior year. She won the Coaches Award and the Most Inspirational Award, and was selected Bobcat of the Week several times. She has been a member of the Marching and Pep bands and used her senior project to work with younger musicians through Mini-Marchers. Savannah is a member of the National Honor Society and World Class Scholars, and was chosen as a CEO for Business Week her junior year. She works at Subway and Tinderbox.
Conner Gates
The son of Candis and Rory Gates of Aberdeen will graduate with a 3.88 GPA and attend Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., to major in business administration and marketing. Conner would like to work for Nike someday, create a fashion/shoe boutique, and give back to the community in every way possible.
Conner is a member of the AHS swim team, was a two-time captain, and two-time MVP. As a swimmer, he was a four-time Scholar Athlete, four-time state participant, and winner of the James Duncan Memorial Award and Coaches Award.
He is a member of the National Honor Society and volunteered at Outdoor School and Hopkins Elementary. Conner was selected Aberdeen Rotary Student of the Month, AHS Student of the Month and was a Silver and Gold honoree.
Mercy Johnson
The daughter of Rachel and Randal Johnson will attend the University of Portland to study medical anthropology and biology. She plans to become a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). Mercy is vice president of the AHS chapter of the National Honor Society and the Phi Theta Kappa Beta Iota National Honor Society for community college students. She participates in cross country and girls golf and is a captain for each. She is treasurer for FFA.
Mercy volunteers at Feed the Hungry and at Cosmopolis Elementary School. She is an assistant soccer referee and is employed by Tinderbox Coffee Roasters.
