Jacqueline Hart Gibson, Gilpin County. Gilpin County High School held their senior awards banquet on May 15, 2019, to honor and reward the achievements and hard work of the graduating class this year.

Principal Alexis Donaldson expressed gratitude to both volunteers in the community and to the scholarship donors before kicking off the awards by recognizing student’s outstanding academic achievements. 

 Shania Gonzales was awarded for National Tech Honors Society president, outstanding leadership at Warren Tech and  most valuable classmate for her emergency medical services program. Anna Yocom was recognized for physics, field ecology, psychology, AP calculus, and science bowl. Chad Holmes was acknowledged in physics, AP calculus, AP english and science bowl. Juan Madrigal-Garcia was identified for achievements in AP calculus, physics and science bowl. Hailey Perryman was honored for physics, pre-calculus, english and psychology. Kristi Schmidt was recognized in physical science, health and statistics.

Courtney Holmes received awards for outstanding achievement in field ecology and statistics, Cooper Lindberg in psychology and science bowl, Will Lorenz in statistics, Angel Gomez in Spanish III, Cheyenne Cowles in financial literacy and Blaizun Diamond was awarded for outstanding achievement in science bowl. 

Gilpin High School acknowledges three levels of honor rolls. The Eagle honor roll, students with a 3.0-3.49 GPA, included; Cheyanne Cowles, Katelynn Waterman, Alexis Lautrup, Alex Wilhelm, Blaizun Diamond and Shania Gonzales. 

The Principal honor roll, students graduating with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.99, included; Hailey Perryman,  Will Lorenz, Courtney Holmes, Cooper Lindberg and Kristi Schmidt. 

Students graduating with a 4.0 or higher GPA, the superintendent honor roll, included; Anna Yocom, Chad Holmes, Juan Madrigal-Garcia and Angel Gomez. 

Mary McGee from the Daughters of the American Revolution, presented a scholarship to Anna Yocom based upon her dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. Anna received this award by submitting a 500 word essay relating current events to history, without using the internet!

The Gilpin Theater Scholarship, awarded for the second year, was presented by Gilpin theater department teachers Ryan and Hannah Raynes. Anna Yocom received the award for her tech work, stage performances in a variety of roles, and by submitting a 500 word essay. 

Mike Schick presented a $500 scholarship to Cheyanne Cowles and Will Lorenz, and $1000 to Chad Holmes and Courtney Holmes from the Central City Elks Club. Mike also presented a $1000 scholarship from Colorado Elks Club to Anna Yocom. 

Shirley Voorhies from the Lady Elks Club awarded a $750 scholarship to Shania Gonzales, and $500 to Alexis Lautrup.

The Gilpin County Sheriff’s Scholarship was awarded by Sheriff Kevin Armstrong. Shania Gonzales was awarded both the $500 and $1000 scholarship from the county sheriffs of Colorado. 

Z Casino’s scholarship award was presented by Volkan Tuzer to Hailey Perryman, who has worked in the casino for a year and a half and has proven herself as a role model.  

Cary Ihme presented a $2500 Service Excellence Scholarship on behalf of herself and husband Thom Ihme, to Alexis Lautrup, for her dedication and service to her community, family, and her employers at Basecamp. 

Sandi Oliver awarded six $500 scholarships on behalf of Gilpin Booster Club to; Shania Gonzales for academics, Cheyanne Cowles for athletics, Will Lorenz for athletics, Courtney Holmes for art, a bonus scholarship to Anna Yocom and a valedictorian scholarship to Chad Holmes. 

The Alan Green Memorial Foundation, who have given over $214,000 in scholarships since 1986, was presented by Sheriff Kevin Armstrong. Shania Gonzales, Cooper Lindberg, Will Lorenz and Chad Holmes were each awarded a $3500 scholarship from the foundation this year. 

The Peak to Peak Rotary Scholarships, presented by Barbara Thielemann, were awarded to Shania Gonzales and Anna Yocom for academic achievement, school activity, work ethic, volunteerism and an essay about truth and fairness. 

The Barbara Lawlor Memorial Scholarship was presented by Barbara Hardt. Lawlor reported her desire for a scholarship to be awarded to a student who had touched the lives of others, in the weeks before she passed. Hardt, with the help of others in the community, organized to manifest Lawlor’s vision. The first Lawlor scholarship was granted this year to Kasen Nelson. 

Craig Holmes presented $500 scholarships from the Gilpin County Education Foundation to; Cooper Lindberg and Alexis Lautrup. Will Lorenz, Kristi Schmidt, Cheyanne Cowles received scholarships of $1000. Courtney Holmes, Chad Holmes and Shania Gonzales were awarded $1500 scholarships, and Anna Yocom was awarded $3000. 

Melissa Greiner and Alderman Armbright, a Gilpin graduate, presented the $6000 City of Black Hawk Scholarships. This year a total $114,000 was awarded to qualified graduates of Gilpin High School. This scholarship can be paid out over six years. The graduates qualified for this years scholarships included; Cheyanne Cowles, Blaizun Diamond, Angel Gomez, Shania Gonzales, Chance Griffin-Williams, Chad Holmes, Courtney Holmes, Daniel Jewel, Alexis Lautrup, Cooper Lindberg, Will Lorenz, Jaidyn Miller, Juan Madrigal-Garcia, Kasen Nelson, Hailey Perryman, Kristi Schmidt, Katelynn Waterman, Alexander Wilhelm and Anna Yocom. 

The evening concluded with the traditional capping ceremony. Graduates were given the opportunity to recognize the person who influenced and supported them most in the years leading up to graduation.

Congratulations and good luck, GHS class of 2019!  

Gilpin Graduates: Continuing on the highway of life 

Gilpin County High School celebrated the graduating class of 2019 last Saturday, May 19. The young adults traded in the security of childhood for the independence and autonomy of adulting, with the mixed emotions that come with embarking on one of life’s exciting new chapters. 

Six students from GHS graduated with honors including Valedictorian Chad Holmes and Salutatorian Anna Yocom, who each addressed their classmates and guests with thoughtful, and thought provoking,  words of encouragement.

 Anna Yocom, who was awarded $43,950 in scholarships and will major in chemical engineering at Colorado School of Mines next fall, gave the first speech of the two honor’s graduates. The message in Anna’s speech was simply profound.

 The Salutatorian first explained how  graduating high school has shifted her perspective on the concept of time. Throughout high school she described an urgency, always rushing to get to a finish line; the end of the week, the semester, the year, and finally graduation. She explained she was rushing to say,”I’m done,” but now wonders, “done with what?“ Anna explained, “ We are not done. Where we are is only the beginning; it’s the start of the next chapter, the second verse of the song.”

Anna also described an important lesson she learned from Mr. Waddell’s writing class. The class was assigned the reading, “You are not Special,” a commencement speech given by David McCullough Jr., in 2012. Anna’s takeaway from the speech was “there are approximately 3.6 million students graduating from high school  this year. If we want to be special we have to make ourselves special.” 

Chad Holmes, who was awarded $23,000 in college scholarships and will major in civil engineering at Colorado School of Mines, followed Anna with a similarly inspiring speech.

GHS Valedictorian also explored the concept of time, focusing on the way we spend our time determines who we are. Chad explained, “We give ourselves hypotheticals; when I graduate high school I am going to spend more time with my family, when I get a successful job I am going to find happiness, etc.” Chad continued, “That arbitrary and undefined cusp in the future where we plan to pursue our aspirations and dreams is here. The very act of us sitting here, in this room today, during this ceremony, symbolizes that.”

Chad urged his peers and guests in attendance to not lie victim to fate and to live life as themselves, wishing them success, great accomplishments and happiness. 

Anna and Chad’s speeches were a refreshing contrast from the perception of the generation of entitled youth, society would often seem to have the masses buy into.

 GHS counselor Kim Cobb gave the scholarship announcements. Cheyenne Cowles earned $8000 in scholarships and will attend Red Rocks Community College, then transfer to University of Northern Colorado, to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.  

Blaizun Diamond earned $6000 in scholarship funds and will attend CU Boulder, majoring in mechanical engineering. 

Angel Gomez earned $19,000 in scholarships and enlisted in the Army Reserve. He will be leaving for basic training in August. From there he will attend CU Boulder in the spring, majoring in Astronomy.

Shania Gonzales earned $22,500 in scholarships and will attend Mesa University. SHe will major in nursing and acquire her paramedic license.

Chance Griffin-Williams earned $6000 in scholarship funds. He will join the workforce and wishes to pursue twitch streaming.

Courtney Holmes earned $21,500 in scholarships and will attend Mesa University, majoring in Nursing. 

Daniel Jewell earned $6000 in scholarship funds and will be joining the workforce and pursuing a career in culinary arts. He will be joining the Army in October.

Alexis Lautrup earned $9500 in scholarships and will attend Red Rocks Community College. She will transfer to UCCS to major in nursing. 

Cooper Lindberg earned $6000 in scholarships and will attend the University of South Wales to major in forensic investigation. 

Wilhelm Lorenz earned $13,500 in scholarships and will attend Northeastern Junior College to study fire science. 

Juan Madrigal-Garcia earned $6000 in scholarships and will attend Metro State College to major in science. 

Jaidyn Miller earned $6000 in scholarships and will attend community college to study language interpretation. 

Kasen Nelson earned $7000 in scholarships and will attend community college. She will later transfer to UCLA or Oregon State to study business or accounting. 

Hailey Perlman earned $11,000 in scholarships and will attend CU Boulder. She is still debating about what to major in, but is leaning towards biology. 

Kristi Schmidt earned $12,000 in scholarships and will Mesa University, majoring in nursing. 

Katelynn Waterman earned $6000 in scholarships and will attend job corps to study welding. 

Alex Wilhelm earned $6000 in scholarship funds and will attend University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, to study mass communication and journalism. 

The commencement ceremony concluded with the senior slideshow, and flower recognition ceremony, accompanied by music written to pull heartstrings and create tears, “Don’t Blink,” by Kenny Chesney and “All for You,” by Sister Hazel. After the grads were presented with their diploma’s  they exited to the upbeat, “Life is a Highway,” by Rascal Flatts, closing the ceremony on a joyful note. 

Congratulations class of 2019!

(Originally published in the May 23, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)