News - Local News

POSTED: Monday, Nov. 02, 2009

Squalicum High students win recognition

Several Squalicum High School students have won recent recognition:

Lucas Gonzales, a senior, was recently selected a 2009-10 National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar. To be eligible, a student must have a GPA of at least 3.5.

Don Wright, a sophomore, placed ninth in the business procedures written test at the National Future Business Leaders of America conference. About 6,000 high school students competed. Wright was one of 21 winners from Washington.

Loren Bates and Justin VonFeldt, both seniors, recently graduated from the Washington Aerospace Scholars summer residency program at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. To qualify, they spent six months studying a NASA-designed curriculum via the Internet.

Sehome High School student Molly LeCompte was recently named one of the outstanding high school writers in the country by the National Council of Teachers of English. Only 544 students were selected across the country, including four from Washington state.

The council also recognized Sehome’s English Department for “excellence in its instructional program and for creating a climate that encourages student writing.”

U.S. Air Force Airman Samantha Miller. graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. The daughter of Dale White of Custer and Pamela Thompson of Bellingham, she is a 2009 graduate of Ferndale High School.

U.S. Air Force Airman Joshua Sasse graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He is the son of Lori Kirkwood of Deming and Kurt Sasse of Lake Stevens.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Timothy DeJong graduated from the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Technical Training School at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. Graduates serve as ceremonial guardsmen who represent the Air Force at functions in the Washington area and around the world.

Honor guard members render military honors for Air Force members and their families during funeral services and wreath laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Va. They also perform ceremonial activities for visiting and departing dignitaries at the Pentagon, White House and Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and color guard duties for official White House receptions and other state and military protocol.

The son of Bonnie DeJong of Lynden and Marlen DeJong, he is a 2002 graduate of Nooksack Valley High School.

Amber Darland, a singer and songwriter from Bellingham, competed in Carrboro, N.C. to win the 12th Annual North Carolina Songwriting Contest, hosted by North Carolina Songwriter’s Coop. She performed two songs from her recent album “Truce,” and was awarded first place based on lyrics, composition and performance.