By Kat Bryant
Grays Harbor News Group
Aberdeen High School is recognizing 16 Top Scholars in this year’s graduating class.
To be honored as an AHS Top Scholar, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or better at the end of the first trimester of their senior year — or, if they’re in the Running Start program, at the end of that fall quarter.
Principal Sherri Northington says AHS students must commit early in their high school tenure to achieve this honor.
“In order to be a Top Scholar, there are specific criteria in their academic coursework,” she says. “Students that want that as an honor prescribe to those expectations.”
Top Scholars must earn four credits each of English and math; three credits each of lab science and social studies; and two credits of a single world language.
“They have all worked very hard to earn that honor,” says Northington.
Here are this year’s Top Scholars, starting with three of the school’s co-valedictorians (each with a 4.0 GPA):
1. Annika Eisele
Co-valedictorian
Annika, 18, is the daughter of Chris and Anne Eisele of Cosmopolis. She is the 2019-20 yearbook editor, a six-time World Class Scholar and a National Honor Society inductee. She’s also been a Rotary Business Week CEO.
The four-year Scholar Athlete was 2019 captain of the varsity swim and dive team. She has won three individual state championships and was voted the team’s Most Inspirational twice. She also conducts swimming classes as a volunteer.
Annika also has done volunteer work at Riverside Assisted Living. She is entering Pacific Lutheran University to swim and study for a Bachelor of Nursing in Science.
1. Eric Eng
Co-valedictorian
Eric, 18, is the son of Mary and Abel Eng.
The four-year Scholar Athlete earned three varsity letters in tennis and was voted Most Inspirational on that team. He also is a member of the soccer team, marching band, jazz band, pep band and concert band.
Eric, a National Honor Society inductee, is active with the Renaissance Action Team, Future Farmers of America Forestry, SkillsUSA robotics and SkillsUSA entrepreneurship, where he placed 14th nationwide. He’s a member of Mathletes and Chess Club and has earned a black belt in tae kwon do. He also served as an Outdoor School volunteer for three years.
In addition to his AHS diploma, Eric is receiving an Associate of Arts degree this month from Grays Harbor College through the Running Start program. He plans to enter the University of Washington’s College of Engineering this fall to pursue a career in “something hands-on engineering.”
1. Melissa May
Co-valedictorian
Melissa, 18, is the daughter of Gregory May and Anne Marie Wong May.
The World Class Scholar holds four varsity letters each in swim and dive and track and field, and serves as drum major in the marching band. She’s also captain of the swim team and a winner of the Randy McDougall Outstanding Swimmer Award.
She volunteers with Mini Marchers and offers tutoring. At her church, she is an Extraordinary Minister.
Melissa plans to major in mechanical engineering and mathematics at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, with an eye toward working in aerospace engineering at NASA.
4. Sara Allmaras
Salutatorian
Sara, 19, is the daughter of Charlene and Michael Allmaras.
She has participated in marching band and pep band for four years, playing tenor saxophone. She also competed on the bowling team for two years. She has kept up a GPA of 3.985 while holding a part-time job this academic year, and is graduating as salutatorian.
Sara plans to attend St. Martin’s University and then become a child welfare social worker.
5. Alexis Sherman
Alexis is the daughter of Gary Sherman and Melanie Beer. She is graduating with a 3.959 GPA. No further information was available by press time.
6. Molly Scroggs
Molly, 18, is the daughter of Kristin and Pete Scroggs. She is a Top Scholar who is serving as ASB class treasurer and a student representative on the Aberdeen school board. She’s also the girls tennis team co-captain, with three varsity letters in that sport. The National Honor Society member also is a four-year scholar athlete and competes in Mathletes. In addition, she served as Food Ball chairperson for two years and volunteers with Feed the Hungry. Molly plans to attend the University of Washington to study business administration, with an eye toward a career in finance.
7. Katelynn Elaine Kindle
Katelynn is the daughter of Jason Kindle and Marcy Miles. She has been on the tennis team for the past three years, and a Scholar Athlete for two of them.
She also participated for a year each on the Mathletes team and in the dance club. She has helped decorate businesses for Winterfest and volunteered at several St. Mary School events.
The Running Start student has been on the Grays Harbor College president’s list multiple times and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She plans to continue at GHC for a degree in nursing.
8. Maddie Montoure
Maddie, 18, is the daughter of Keri Elliott of Montesano. She completed an internship through Grays Harbor Youth Works at the Montesano Timberland Library and has been volunteering at the Aberdeen Driftwood Players for the past three years.
As a Running Start student, she has been on the Grays Harbor College President’s List five times. She is transferring to the University of Washington this fall with plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. Her goal is to become a forensic scientist for the Washington State Patrol.
9. Isabel Rifenberg
Isabel, 18, is the daughter of Julie Rifenberg.
She is a varsity tennis player, sings in the advanced choir, and is active in ASB and Food Ball. She also has done volunteer work with the Friends of Schafer and Lake Sylvia and held jobs through the Ecology Youth Corps and Washington State Parks.
The Running Start student also is on the President’s List at Grays Harbor College. She plans to transfer to Western Washington University in the fall to study environmental sciences and music.
10. Grace Carossino
Grace, 18, is the daughter of Erin Swint and Will Carossino.
Her activities include marching band, jazz band, the Renaissance Action Team and the tennis team. She is a one-year Scholar Athlete and a three-year Scholar Musician, as well as a field marshal for the marching band. She also has volunteered at Outdoor School.
The Running Start student also is receiving her Associate of Arts this month from Grays Harbor College. She will transfer to the University of Portland next year and would like to become a child psychologist.
11. Daisha Stevens
Daisha, 18, is the daughter of Dustin and Shalina Stevens. She is a World Class Scholar, a Scholar Athlete and an All American cheerleader.
Daisha is active with ASB and the AVID college preparation program. She has done volunteer work with PAWS of Grays Harbor and the Food Ball competition. She has been inducted into both the National Honor Society and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
The Running Start student will finish her Associate of Arts degree this summer at Grays Harbor College, then transfer to Washington State University to pursue a medical degree. She intends one day to open her own pediatric practice.
12. Allison Patterson
Allison, 17, is the daughter of Shannon and Dan Patterson of Hoquiam. She is drum major of both the marching band and pep band, and the lead soprano in choir. She has earned Scholar Musician and Scholar Athlete awards and a varsity letter in golf, and served as a behavioral specialist at Outdoor School.
Allison has played the lead role in an AHS musical and is a Grays Harbor Concerto Competition winner. She plans to study music education at Whitworth University.
13. Joshua Fritts
Joshua, 18, is the son of Paul and Melissa Fritts. He is this year’s yearbook editor and chapter vice president of the National Honor Society, as well as a Rotary Business Week CEO and winner. He also has volunteered as a referee for grade-school basketball games and as a Food Ball chairman for a year.
Joshua is a seven-time Scholar Athlete and has earned six varsity letters combined in football, track and field, and the cheer stunt team. He served for two years as captain of the football team and was twice named Lineman of the Year. In track he earned a Coaches Award, served as captain for a year and made it to sub district competition.
Joshua plans to attend Eastern Washington University to become a teacher and football coach.
14. Gavin Timmons
Gavin, 18, is the son of Eric and Stacey Timmons of Elma. He has achieved multiple varsity letters and Scholar Athlete awards for golf. He also has been involved in baseball, Aberdeen High Arts and the Smash Bros. Club, and has logged many volunteer hours during his high school career canvassing for Food Ball.
He intends to go to Grays Harbor College for two years, then transfer to a university to attain a bachelor’s degree. He would like to become a computer engineer, computer science teacher or high-school math teacher.
15. Lucas Strom
Lucas, 18, is the son of Doug Strom, Angela Disher and stepdad Bob Disher. He is a field marshal in the marching band and active with the jazz band and wind ensemble. He holds a varsity letter in tennis and is an Outdoor School volunteer. He intends to finish his Associate of Arts degree at Grays Harbor College, then transfer to a four-year school in Washington to study music composition.
16. Nick Farrer
Nick, 18, is the son of Ryan and Erin Farrer. He is a National Honor Society inductee, seven-time Scholar Athlete and three-time Top Scholar Athlete. He’s captain of the varsity basketball and golf teams and has been on the lacrosse and track and field teams all four years. Overall, he has earned nine varsity letters.
Nick has served for four years as ASB vice president, a Food Ball chairman and a church youth group leader. He’s also an Eagle Scout and Outdoor School counselor, and he volunteers as a youth sports referee and assistant coach of the junior-high basketball team.
He plans to leave soon for a two-year service mission to Urdaneta, Philippines, then attend Brigham Young University when he returns. He hopes to go on to medical school to become a radiologist.
