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 1^st in Dramatic Interpretation at the national qualifying event.
• Amy Ojeaburu: State champion in Oratory. 2^nd in Oratory at the national qualifying event.
• Zoe Wall: 1^st in World Teams at the national qualifying event.
• Margaret Steward: 1^st in World Teams at the national qualifying event.

Decatur High School

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

Federal Way High School

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

 

 

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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!

 

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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!

 

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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! 

FWPS scholars place well at Thomas Jefferson Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament

Congrats to our scholars who placed at the Thomas Jefferson Invitational Speech and Debate tournament against 200 students from 14 schools across 2 states! For the first time, this year’s event went live in a virtual way. Federal Way Public Schools was represented by students from Decatur, Thomas Jefferson, and Federal Way high schools. 

These engaged, empowered, critical thinkers placed in the following categories.

From Thomas Jefferson High School:

• Allen Benjamin Tugade, 1st in dramatic interpretation, 1st in humorous interpretation
• Zoe Wall, 1st in public forum debate
• Margaret Steward, 1st in public forum debate
• Lisette Octaviano, 2nd in humorous interpretation, 3rd in dramatic interpretation

From Federal Way High School:

• Nick Oberst, 3rd in congressional debate
• Graciela Knudsen, 3rd in oratory

We would also like to commend Thomas Jefferson Head Speech and Debate Coach Isaiah Parker and Federal Way Head Speech and Debate Coach Paul Sealey.

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

 

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Decatur scholar awarded Pacific Lutheran University President’s Scholarship

Congratulations to Decatur High School’s Maddy Rue who was awarded the Pacific Lutheran University President’s Scholarship! This is one of the top academic and leadership scholarships offered by PLU.

Over 400 qualified applicants applied for this scholarship, and the standards were high. This year, the 123 President’s Scholarship recipients have a 3.99 average GPA. The prestigious President’s Scholarship is worth $30,000 per school year.

Maddy was selected based on academic achievement, co-curricular involvement, service and leadership, as well as potential to affect positive change and leadership in both the academic and co-curricular life of PLU. She has the opportunity to interview with PLU faculty and staff to receive one of five full-tuition Regents’ Scholarships. 

Maddy, we’re so proud of you for persisting to graduation and beyond!

FWPS Schools Recognized For King County Green Schools Program

Two schools have been recognized by the King County Green Schools Program for participation during the 2019-20 school year!

Camelot Elementary School is a Sustaining Green School, and TAF@Saghalie is a Level One Green School. These schools have reduced waste, increased recycling, conserved natural resources, and engaged both students and staff in learning about and practicing resource conservation. This supports our scholars to become thriving, confident, responsible individuals — Goal 2 of our strategic plan.

We’re proud of the following representatives who helped lead this effort:

• Andre Koch, Camelot principal
• Gina Cory, Camelot green school lead
• Darcy Borg, Camelot green school lead
• Danielle Harrington, Camelot green school lead
• Christina Spencer, TAF@Saghalie principal
• Tenea Jones, TAF@Saghalie assistant principal
• Margarita Jacobson, TAF@Saghalie green school lead
• Kimberly Foster, TAF@Saghalie green school lead

Keep up the great work!

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Jerry Peterson, Director of Equity and Athletics Achieves Two Distinguished Recognitions

Congratulations to Jerry Peterson, Federal Way Public Schools’ Director of Equity and Athletics, for achieving two distinguished recognitions!

Jerry was chosen as the 2020-21 North Puget Sound League Athletic Director of the Year for demonstrating leadership such as West Central District Executive Board President, Commissioner for Girls Bowling, and Baseball Commissioner for the West Central District.

Jerry has also been recognized by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator — the highest level of certification an athletic director can receive. To earn this distinction, Jerry demonstrated exemplary knowledge, contributions and on-going professional development in the field of interscholastic athletic administration.

Jerry, your dedication to the athletic director profession supports our scholar-athletes to be active learners, engaged, empowered critical thinkers - Goal 3 of our strategic plan.

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Sacajawea Middle School and Community Support Families Over the Holiday Season

Thanks to Sacajawea Middle School and our community partners who supported families this holiday season!

In November, Christ's Church Federal Way, Sacajawea Middle School staff and National Junior Honor Society students provided Thanksgiving holiday food for families! Almost 1,000 items were donated including turkey, pie, and all the fixings for Sacajawea families in need, with the remaining items donated to the
Multi-Service Center to help our greater community.

In December, the National Junior Honor Society students organized the annual Giving Tree Toy Drive, and the Sacajawea community donated 127 unwrapped toys, socks, hats, and gloves which were distributed by South King Fire and Rescue.

We’re so proud of the following Sacajawea scholars who planned, organized, and advertised these events:

•Lauren Marsh
•Lillian Morlan 
•Lizbeth Santana 
•Ava Synder 
•Alix Trujillo 
•Mya Lynn Tran 
•Alicia Acosta 

These efforts support our students in being thriving, confident, responsible individuals!

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Annual Federal Way Cares For Kids Holiday Giving Event

Thanks to the volunteers and community partners who put on the annual Federal Way Cares for Kids holiday giving event!

Volunteers assisted over 200 families and over 700 children with toys and gift cards. This community support helps our students be thriving, confident, responsible individuals.

We would like to recognize the following Federal Way Cares for Kids community partners:

•Tracy Oster, formerly with Communities in Schools
•Jennifer Rojas Youngblood, Communities in Schools
•Assistant Chief Kevin Crossen, South King Fire andRescue
•Gina Duckett, Qualstar Credit Union
•Chief Andy Hwang, Federal Way Police Department
•Shelley Pauls, We Love Our City
•Linda Persha, Soroptimist International of Federal Way
•Misty Lara, Grace Church
•Eric Black, Grace Church
•Stephanie Jacobs, Grace Church
•Sue Cross, Grace Church
•Ron Steele, Grace Church
•Phil Landes, Grace Church

Schools can’t do it alone — we appreciate your support!

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Illahee Middle School Scholar Kahea Sharpe Chosen for Mariners Hometown Nine

Congratulations to Illahee Middle School scholar Kahea Sharpe for being chosen as part of the inaugural class of the Mariners Hometown Nine!

Kahea is a multi-sport athlete who has excelled in wresting, rowing, and softball. Kahea volunteers with Challenger Little League, the adaptive baseball program for children of all abilities. She is also an anti-bullying advocate.

The Hometown Nine is a 5-year fellowship that aims to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in youth baseball and softball. The program provides access to an elite-level of training and competition. Mentors from the Mariners organization prepare young people for academic success and a future as community leaders.

Kahea, you are an engaged, empowered, critical thinker — we are so proud of you!

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Teachers earn National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification

Congratulations to our teachers who have become National Board-Certified Teachers!

We would like to recognize:

•Cally Lindenmier, Enterprise Elementary, Early and Middle Childhood: Music
•Cinda Rousseau, WildwoodElementary, Early and Middle Childhood: Literacy Reading –Language Arts

This certification is considered the “gold standard” in teacher certification and advances the quality of teaching and learning by maintaining high and rigorous standards.

Thank you for your dedication to continued professional development to positively impact our scholars’ bright futures!