Good News March 23, 2021

Speech and Debate National Qualifiers and Award Winners

Congratulations to our scholars and administrators who placed at the recent state championship and national qualifying events, and received awards! For the first time, this year’s events went live in a virtual way. 

These engaged, empowered, critical thinkers placed in the following categories and will advance to the national competition:

Thomas Jefferson

• Allen Benjamin Tugade: 2nd in Program Oral Interpretation, 3rd in Dramatic Interpretation at the state championship. Student of the Year, and 1st in Dramatic Interpretation at the national qualifying event.
• Amy Ojeaburu: State champion in Oratory. 2nd in Oratory at the national qualifying event.
• Zoe Wall: 1st in World Teams at the national qualifying event.
• Margaret Steward: 1st in World Teams at the national qualifying event.

Decatur High School

• Heba Qatrani: 1st in World Teams at the national qualifying event.
• Kayla Koo: 1st in World Teams at the national qualifying event.

Federal Way High School

• Graciela Knudsen: 2nd in Oratory at the state championship. 2nd in Informative Speaking at the national qualifying event.
• Nick Oberst: 1st in World Teams at the national qualifying event.

We would also like to commend Decatur’s Christine Pyle who was awarded Western Washington Coach of the Year, Thomas Jefferson Principal Adrienne Chacón who was awarded Western Washington Administrator of the Year, and Thomas Jefferson’s Meykia Smith who was awarded the WIAA Speech and Debate Coach of the Year.

Congratulations speech-scholars and administrators — we are proud of you!

Thomas Jefferson High School Scholar Named Candidate for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

Congratulations to Thomas Jefferson High School’s Alisha Saucedo who has been named one of the 4,500 candidates for the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program!

Selected from nearly 3.6 million seniors in the United States, this program is one of the highest honors awarded to graduating seniors. Alisha was chosen for her strong involvement in academics, social and leadership clubs, and athletics.

Across the nation each year, up to 161 seniors are chosen as Presidential Scholars, representing “excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth,” according to the organization.

Alisha, we’re so proud of you for being an engaged, active learner and persisting to graduation and beyond!

Washington State High School Adviser of the Year by Association of Washington Student Leaders

Congratulations to Thomas Jefferson High School’s Coley Veitenhans who has been named the Washington State High School Adviser of the Year by the Association of Washington Student Leaders!

The Association of Washington Student Leaders recognized Coley for his consistent focus on servant leadership, developing meaningful relationships with students and adults, and his unwavering commitment to helping students prepare for next steps in life. 

He will be formally honored at the annual Washington Activity Coordinators Association conference held virtually during March.

Coley, thank you for your dedication in supporting our scholars to be active learners, engaged, empowered critical thinkers - Goal 3 of our strategic plan. Way to go!

Todd Beamer Seniors Receive Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Flight Academy Scholarship

Congratulations to Todd Beamer High School’s Alexis Lewis and Jack Garfield for receiving the prestigious Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Flight Academy Scholarship! 

Alexis and Jack are two of 230 scholar-cadets from around the world who were selected for the scholarship that will pay for 100% of tuition for an eight-week-long flight training school.

The scholarship is valued at $22,500, and covers transportation, room and board, and flight academy hours. Upon completion, scholars in the flight training school will earn their private pilot’s license. 

Alexis also received the J-100 Air Force Junior ROTC Character-in-Leadership Scholarship, which awards full-ride tuition and room and board for a full four-year ROTC program at select colleges. This scholarship allows Alexis to become a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force after college graduation.

We are so proud of Alexis and Jack for their persistence to graduation and beyond!