By JENNA RHUDE
The Progress
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Garlick is the Valedictorian of the Beaver Dam High School Class of 2022. She is the daughter of Darrell and Colleen Garlick.
Lizzie has enjoyed playing volleyball and softball. She is currently the Student Body president at BDHS.
She loves to take naps, travel and go out with friends.
Lizzie said that her family has always been her biggest supporters. They help her keep her priorities straight. Her 4 older siblings have been previous valedictorians of their classes and have been tremendous influences also. They have encouraged her to do her best.
In June Lizzie will be attending BYU Provo. She hopes to earn a degree where she can make enough money to travel to new places.
Her favorite high school memory was prom night when she, and her best friend, sang karaoke to their favorite song Baby by Justin Bieber on the Casablanca dance floor after everyone had already left.
Kate Winslet provides Lizzie’s favorite quote, “Life is short, and it has to be lived.”
Donovan Peterson is the Salutatorian at Beaver Dam High School for the Class of 2022. He is the son of Mike Fairchild and Kelly Peterson.
Donovan’s interests are baseball, gardening, woodworking. He said that he really has an added interest in hot air balloons.
Donovan said that his mother is one of his biggest influences. He also considers himself lucky to have a group of older friends from his local pie shop that he used to go to, and who shared life stories with him.
Donovan said that he also finds that Nikola Tesla, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Muhammad Ali are wonderful influencers; as well as all who are willing to share their wisdom.
Donovan plans on attending Dixie State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in marketing or digital film.
His favorite high school memory was away games with the boys and making memories without even realizing it.
The quote that Donovan wants to share is from John F. Kennedy Jr.: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.”
He said that he chose this quote to remind himself to dream big and accomplish the impossible.
Maya Solis-Stokes has worked hard to earn the title of 2022 Class Valedictorian at Virgin Valley High School. She is the daughter of Becky and Sergio Solis-Sauri.
Maya enjoyed participating in the school’s drill team, serving as its captain during senior year. She has also participated as Yearbook editor, played in the marching band and jazz band, Hope Squad, and has served as senior class representative in the Mesquite Community Education Foundation. She also enjoyed her time on the student council.
Maya’s biggest influence in life has been the motivation to become a good role model to teammates and other members of her community and school.
After school, Maya plans on attending Utah State University in Logan. She is beginning with an undeclared major, but plans to major in engineering/architecture.
Maya’s favorite high school memory was when the drill team placed in all the routines at their competition.
Her favorite quote comes from the movie Mama Mia 2: “Life is short. The world is wide. I want to make some memories.”
Willa St. Germain is a Valedictorian at Virgin Valley High School class of 2022. She has taken efforts to make her high school career well rounded. Her parents are Nicole and Harley St. Germain.
Willa enjoys playing tennis, video games, rollerblading, and writing.
Willa said that her parents and her little brother Noah are her biggest influences in life. “With having an unconventional household, it’s put into perspective how nothing is really ‘normal’,” she said. “That there is no right way to go through life, you simply do what’s best for you. Noah has proven that unconventional is one of the most beautiful characteristics.”
Willa plans on getting her real estate license and start CSN courses to work towards a degree in either business or law.
Her favorite high school memory is performing in school plays including Hello Dolly and Little Shop of Horrors. In these productions she was in the ensemble cast and earned the part of Mrs. Luce in Little Shop of Horrors.
St. Germain wants to share this quote from Kelly Barnhill: “The heart is built of starlight and time. A pinprick of longing lost in the dark. An unbroken chord linking the infinite to the infinite. My heart wishes upon your heart and the wish is granted.”
Leieste Renna Macias is proud to be the Salutatorian of the 2022 VVHS Graduating Class. She is the daughter of Jorge and Rashawn Macias.
Leieste enjoys music, drawing, playing video games, reading webcomics, and watching animated movies and TV shows.
Leieste says her mom is her biggest influence. “She is always there for me when I need her and helped me get through some of my toughest times,” she said.
Leieste plans on attending BYU in Provo, Utah, majoring in mechanical engineering.
Her favorite high school memory was from her freshman year while participating in the marching band. The band was performing at the UNLV Super Show.
“Although we are drastically unprepared and our performance could have been better, the part that made it so special was watching the other bands perform.” Leieste said. “All the performances were so fun and special, and their energy was electrifying. That competition was what solidified my love for marching band and music. It will always holds a special place in my heart.”
Tanner Western is the Valedictorian for the 2022 graduating class at Moapa Valley High School. He is the son of Richard and Kandelyn Western.
Tanner loves to play tennis and volleyball. He also spent time as a coach for the local Parks and Recreation Youth Soccer league.
One of Tanner’s great talents is playing the piano. He has won scholarship awards for his music over the past two years at the local level Dan Stover/ Moapa Valley Rotary Club Music competition.
Tanner has worked with the National Honor Society as a blood drive coordinator. The other activities he enjoyed in high school were the band and jazz band.
Tanner said that he wanted to let his mother know that she is his hero. “She has always supported me and taught me the best she can,” he said.
After high school Tanner plans on working through the summer before serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His plans after serving a mission involve studying civil engineering at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
Sharing his favorite high school memory, he recalls when the football team took state. “That night, everyone and everything just seemed to be perfectly happy!” he said.
Tanner’s favorite quote is by Bernard Varuch: “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
Maria Del Carmen Perez is the Salutatorian for the MVHS graduating class of 2022. She is the daughter of Bruno and Martina Perez.
Maria enjoyed her time on the varsity tennis team during her sophomore and senior years. As a senior she also served as co-captain of the team.
She is also part of NHS, serving as the Vice President. In addition, she served as President of the school’s Spanish Honor Society.
Maria loves to spend time with her family and friends. She enjoys cooking, volunteering her time in service and being outdoors.
Maria said that her biggest life influences have been her parents as well as her great-uncles Raymundo and Jose Perez.
Maria wanted everyone to know that her family is her biggest supporters. She said that they are there every step of the way and always have her back.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have great role models in my life that pride themselves in helping others before helping themselves,” Maria said. “I strive to be similar to my parents and uncles, and hopefully make them proud of the young woman I am becoming,”
Maria has so many great memories of her last 4 years of school with her friends. One of the best is the bus rides home from tennis matches. She recalls that there were times when they won against difficult opponents and they were all “pumped with energy.”
“We’d play music and sing and just have a good time,” she said.
Her favorite quote comes from Maya Angelou. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
