Senior Awards Night: MVHS Grads Awarded For Achievements

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

It was a time to celebrate the outstanding students in the class of 2021 on Thursday, May 20. Students, parents, families, administrators and faculty gathered for the annual Moapa Valley High School Senior Awards Night.

MVHS Acting College and Career Specialist Donna Swanson acknowledged that the past year had been taxing academically, physically and emotionally for this graduating class. But she was proud to see these students, at the end, being recognized for their achievements.

Swanson also gave kudos to the generous local businesses, organizations and families who had offered the scholarship awards to support the young graduates.

“Without your support, we would not be here this evening to hold such a momentous event and award these students scholarship monies totalling over $70,900!” Swanson said. “Most of that is donated from our local scholarship donors. And considering the hardships this pandemic has caused so many, that is phenomenal and so very generous.”

The scholarship awards began with the Grant M. Bowler Pursuit of Excellence Award, established by the family of the former MVHS principal to honor the students with the highest combined total of extracurricular activity points and grade point average. The winner of the award was Emilie Lyon, with a runner-up award going to Anson Call.

The Southwest Benefits Scholarship, formerly known as the Tiffany’s Pies and Subs scholarship, was presented by Robin Tuitama. Tuitama is daughter to Scott Carson whose presentation of this award has been done with flair for many years. Tuitama said that she had been sent to present the awards because her father was away in Hawaii at the time.

The scholarship money; along with the Hawaiian-style lei and the graduation cap with Mickey Mouse ears that are customary to this award, went to each of the following: Kyla Bradshaw, Madilyn Fairchild, Ashlee James, Kyra Larsen and Emma Peay.

The Southern Nevada Symphony award went to Sydney Landini.

The Project “Get Smart” scholarship, funded by Mesquite philanthropist Ann Rice, was awarded to Kayli Thompson, Madalynn Frederick, Elizabeth Williams, Brittnee Leavitt and Hanna Watson.

The Lysha Marshall Memorial scholarship was presented to Jessi Frei.

The Boyd Applegate Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Chaz Burt and Makenzie Staheli.

Receiving the America First Credit Union Scholarship were Sydney Landini, Kayla Lyon, Ashlee James and Isabella Bustillos.

Moapa Valley Family Dental awarded scholarships to Sydney Landini, Elizabeth Williams and Kayla Lyon.

The John and Mary Louise Christian Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Emilie Lyon and Kayla Lyon.

The Farmers Insurance/Karen Alsum Agency Future Business Person award was presented to Maximus Shambaugh.

The Mesquite Elks Lodge presented a vocational scholarship to MVHS senior Josue Ochoa.

The Vitalant High School Blood Drive Scholarship went to the National Honors Society ‘El Pirata’ chapter blood drive coordinators Annabel Lounsbury and Ashlee James.

The Moapa Valley Rotary Club presented scholarships to Kyla Bradshaw, Ashlee James, Anson Call, Maximus Shambaugh, James Walker and Angela Werner.

The Anderson Family Trust Scholarship was awarded to Josue Ochoa.

The Moapa Valley Television District Communications Scholarship was awarded to Kyra Larsen and Brittnee Leavitt.

The Moapa Valley Booster Club presented scholarships to five students including Kyla Bradshaw, Alissa Wolfley, Angela Werner, Sydney Landini and Makenzie Staheli.

In addition, the Booster Club held a drawing for the fundraising raffle winner of a beautiful quilt created by Gail Begay for a true Pirate fan. The winner of the raffle drawing was Heather Humes.

The Overton Power District awarded eight scholarships which were awarded to Ashlee James, Annabel Lounsbury, Trevor Nelson, Maximus Shambaugh, Makenzie Staheli, Kayli Thompson, Angela Werner and Alissa Wolfley.

The Lance K. and Connie B. Robertson Leadership award went to Angela Werner.

The Clark County Farm Bureau scholarship was awarded to Angela Werner, Hannah Mayo and Abigail Robison.

The Primex Plastics of Mesquite Scholarship was presented to Josue Ochoa and Elizabeth Jorgensen.

The Calvin and Tonia Payne Vocational Scholarship was awarded to Bailee Andrew.

The Lin’s Marketplace Scholarship went to Isabella Bustillos.

The Moapa Valley Art Guild Scholarship was awarded to Abigail Robison and Brittnee Leavitt.

The George Turner Memorial Scholarship was given to Kyra Larsen and Samantha Thompson.

Fusion Performance Scholarship was awarded to Elizabeth Williams.

The MVHS Ag Education Scholarship went to Maggie Martin.

The Wes Adams Western States Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Elayna Sosa and Hannah Mayo.

The Kasen Kolhoss Community Awareness Scholarship went to Shanaya Romero and Cecilia Byers.

In some final remarks, MVHS principal Hal Mortensen introduced the 2021 Valedictorian Kayli Thompson and Salutatorian Angela Warner.

Mortensen expressed appreciation to the donors who had provided the local scholarships to the students.

Finally, he encouraged the seniors to find their objective and stick to it.
“I grew up working on a farm for many years,” Mortensen said. “Whenever I got on a tractor to work on a fresh, brand new, field I would pick a spot straight out ahead to focus on. That would ensure that I would keep my row straight. It could be a tree or a fence post. But you have to be careful that you don’t pick a cow because, even though they don’t look like they move, they do move very slowly and pretty soon you have a crooked row. So anyway, I encourage you all to pick your spot and keep your eye on it. Stick with your goal.”