By VERNON ROBISON
The Progress
Families, friends, teachers, administrators and would-be graduates of Moapa Valley High School Class of 2022 all gathered in the MVHS auditorium on Tuesday May 17 to celebrate the accomplishments of the outgoing class.
MVHS College and Career Specialist Teresa Kruse expressed pride in the students for their achievements and acknowledged the generosity of local businesses, organizations and families who had offered scholarship awards to support the young graduates.
“Without your support we would not be here this evening to award these students scholarship funds totalling more than $80,000,” Kruse said. “We live in a wonderful community where so much is invested in our youth.”
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 Tanner Western, with a runner-up award going to Rebecca Marshall.
The John Z. Robison Memorial Scholarship, given for excellence in citizen journalism, was awarded to Gracie Leavitt.
The Bin Mates Scholarship was awarded to Maria Perez and Tanner Western.
The Project “Get Smart” Scholarships were awarded to Rachel Lyman, Paige Bodily, Weston Munns, Tanner Western and Camryn Fellars.
The Lysha Marshall Memorial Scholarships were presented to Scott Hardy and Ethan Garlick.
The Angela Wallace Family Memorial Scholarship, given in memory of Heather Wallace, was given to Whitney Waite and Rebecca Marshall.
The Boyd Applegate Memorial Scholarships were awarded to Elise Leavitt and Cole Neilson.
America First Credit Union awarded scholarships to Scott Hardy, Brianna Reyes, Brissa Reyes and Savannah Holzer.
The Anderson Family Trust Scholarship was awarded to Justin Olive.
Moapa Valley Family Dental awarded scholarships to Scott Hardy, Rachel Lyman, Chyler Cooper and Brisa Reyes.
This year’s Robison/Sandoval Memorial Baseball Scholarship went to Rylan Evans.
The Farmers Insurance/Karen Alsum Agency Future Business Person award was presented to Shayla Wolfley.
The Mesquite Elks Lodge Academic Scholarship went to Maria Perez and Tanner Western.
Moapa Valley Rotary Club President Suzie Bennett presented scholarships of $2,000 each to Scott Hardy, Craig Anderson, Laurana Bush, Chyler Cooper, Shayla Wolfley, Alee Hillstead, Canyon Andrew, Justin Olive, Savannah Holzer and Maria Perez.
The Math Mutual Fund award was presented to Ana Mota-Hernandez.
The Walter Hess Legacy Scholarship was presented to Justin Olive. Olive also won the Andrue Williams Memorial Scholarship.
The Moapa Valley Television District Communications Scholarships were awarded to Amiah Dominguez and Savannah Holzer.
The Moapa Valley Booster Club presented scholarships to six students including Maci Frei, Rylan Evans, Sam Wheeler, Terra Evans, Paige Bodily and Weston Munns.
The Overton Power District awarded eight scholarships which were presented to Scott Hardy, Rachel Lyman, Craig Anderson, Brissa Reyes, Maria Perez, Tanner Western, Camryn Fellars and Rebecca Marshall.
The Lance K. and Connie B. Robertson Leadership awards went to Maci Frei, Emily Matheson, Savannah Holzer and Gabriela Rubio.
The Clark County Farm Bureau scholarship was awarded to Maci Frei, Sam Wheeler and Victoria Herring.
The Primex Plastics of Mesquite Scholarship was presented to Carlaya Christensen and Yaneli Andrade.
The Calvin and Tonia Payne Vocational Scholarship was awarded to Elise Leavitt.
The Dola Davis Memorial Scholarship in Memory of Jace Davis was presented to Maria Perez.
The Moapa Valley Art Guild Scholarship was awarded to Amiah Dominguez.
The George Turner Memorial Scholarship was given to Maria Perez and Maci Frei.
The HyRock Scholarship was awarded to Sam Wheeler, Kade Taylor and Ben Jolley.
The Wes Adams Western States Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Shayla Wolfley.
The Kasen Kolhoss Community Awareness Scholarship went to Romeo Elenes, Shayla Wolfley and Victoria Herring.
The Custom Fit Scholarship was awarded to Emily Matheson and Sam Wheeler.
The Southwest Benefits Scholarship was presented by the inimitable Scott Carson whose presentation of this award has been done with flair for many years.The scholarship money; along with the Hawaiian-style lei in blue and gold and the graduation cap with Mickey Mouse ears that are customary to this award, went to each of the following: Laurana Bush, Emily Matheson, Ellie Cornwall, Gabtiela Rubio and Shayla Wolfley.
The Vitalant High School Blood Drive Scholarship went to the National Honors Society ‘El Pirata’ chapter blood drive coordinators Scott Hardy and Tanner Western.
In some final remarks, MVHS principal Hal Mortensen introduced the 2022 Valedictorian Tanner Western and Salutatorian Maria Perez.
Mortensen also expressed appreciation to the donors who had provided the local scholarships to the students.
Finally, he beseeched the graduating class to rise to the level of their Pirate legacy.
“You are part of an elite group in the world.” Mortensen said. “You have a long line of tradition behind you. You are Pirates! That means you can set your sites a little higher, try a little harder and be a little more than the average that is out there. Now go out and be Pirates!”
