Graduating seniors with the Gilpin County RE-1 District received scholarships and participated in a Capping Ceremony at the school on May 11, 2022. The graduation class consisted of 25 students, and about 150 people including friends and family attended the event.

The event started with a dinner of mostaccioli, meatballs and red sauce, salad and cheesecake. Guests went to the gymnasium, where tables were set with blue paper and signs for the Class of 2022.

The Gilpin County Schools Booster Club hosted the event and with the help of school juniors prepared the dinner. Booster Club member Kathy Whitincomb said the Boosters took over the annual event ten years ago. They also run the concession stand in the school, and all of the funds go back to the school.

Other Booster Club members helping with the dinner included Vice President Melissa Sternlicht, Secretary Gayle Rust. Michelle Hernandez serves as the president. The Booster Club will also be preparing for the all-school awards presentation on Wednesday, May 18, at 6 p.m.

After dinner, the awards presentation took place in the auditorium. Counselor Kim Cobb congregated the graduates and their parents and guardians. They will present local scholarships tonight. They have new ones every year.

Secondary Principal Alexis Donaldson presented the honor roll for seniors. For the Eagle, with a grade-point average of 3.0 to 3.99, she recognized Destiny Garcia, James Immordino, Tristan Michtner. Katelyne O’Sullivan, Lance Prewitt and Alexander Rodriguez- Jimenez.

Donaldson announced the Principal’s Honor Roll with a GPA of 3.5 to 3.99 and the recipient was Ashton Turkaly. Honor Roll recipients with a 4.0 GPA are William Hunt, Esmeralda Jacqueline Montoya Petricciolli and Halle Yocom.

Donaldson then recognized achievements in individual classes. “We have a wonderful staff,” she said.

Kim Cobb introduced the Central City Lady Elks Club Scholarship and the recipient was Ashton Turkaly for a $600 scholarship.

Mary McGhee introduced the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizen Award. She said DAR is 100 years old and has given $300,000 in scholarships. She presented Halle Yocom with a $500 scholarship.

Gilpin County Clerk and Recorder Sahari McCormick said the Colorado Clerk’s Association awards scholarships to students in each region based on academic excellence and community volunteering. Colorado County Clerks Association presented Ashton Turkaly with $1,000.

Corey Colombin with the City of Black Hawk presented scholarships to 23 graduating seniors.

Ryan and Hannah Raynes presented the Gilpin County Theater Scholarship. Ryan said this is the fourth annual scholarship, and they are happy to be back after COVID-19.

The department has had eight seniors participate since middle school, and they have a special place in their hearts.

Tobias Tonelli and Jessica Kays presented the Teyrx Scholarship. Tonelli said he has an IT company, and during COVID they decided to develop a scholarship and formed a scholarship board and four students really stood out, so they will award $1,000 to two students and $500 for two more students.

Michelle Hernandez, president of the Gilpin Schools Booster Club, said in addition to scholarships, the Booster Club sponsors the After Prom program and the dinner tonight. They provided four scholarships tonight.

Aubray McLain and Ann Cox presented the Shelby Allen Memorial Foundation Scholarship. They lost Shelby Allen on September 11, 2000, so they created a scholarship for athletics that would go to a deserving high school student.

John Scarffe with The Mountain- Ear introduced the Barbara Lawlor Memorial Scholarship. The Barbara Lawlor Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 2018. The mission of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to individuals that are enrolled in courses in community college, a college or university. Preference will be given to students that participated in contributing stories and/or photo essays to The Mountain-Ear newspaper, during their high school career.

Heather Zeckser with the Central City Elks Lodge Scholarship said they have four values: charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. She said the Elk is a peaceful animal and its horns spread out to encompass everyone.

Sarah Swanson, president of the Gilpin Schools Education Foundation, presented the Thielemann Family Teacher Scholarship. Barbara Thielemann is a retired teacher from Gilpin County and the award is for those attending college.

Swanson introduced the Gilpin County Education Foundation Scholarship. She said the Foundation hosted a scholarship fund-raising dinner on April 23.2022, and raised more than $10,000. The award for the scholarship is based on volunteering, work experience and a short essay. Any students who live in Gilpin County, regardless of the school they attend, are eligible for the scholarship.

Mary Lorenz presented the Peak to Peak Rotary Scholarship and the Allen Green Foundation Scholarships. The Allen Green Foundation was established in 1983 after a plane crash and has provided $300,000 in scholarships since then.

The Foundation provided nine scholarships to Gilpin County Seniors.

The IZ Bar Leadership Scholarship for a student who turned in an essay on what makes a leader.

Following the scholarship presentation, graduates participated in a Capping ceremony. Each senior came to the stage with a friend or family member, who presented the cap on the senior.

After all seniors received their caps, the ceremony ended with a slide show about the seniors. The graduation ceremony was on Saturday, May 14.

2022 Scholarships and Plans

Rachel Arrington. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. She is still exploring the options for next year and considering attending Red Rocks Community College for the Cosmetology Program.

Jessee Felty. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. He will be joining the workforce and participating in an electrician apprenticeship.

Destaney Garcia. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Alan Green Memorial Foundation $2000. Total: $8000. She will be working part-time, attending Front Range Community College with a plan of transferring to CSU and pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine.

Seth Gordon. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Plans to continue working in the construction and building trades industry.

Chester Grapes. He will continue working in the Construction and Building Trades Industry.

Robert Grapes. He will continue working in the Construction and Building Trades Industry.

William Hunt. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Mines Medal in Math and Science $1000. Mines Scholarship $1600. Total: $8600. Attending: Colorado School of Mines to pursue his degree in Space Resources.

James Immordino. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Booster Athletic Scholarship $500. Total: $6500. Attending: Red Rocks Community College then would like to go to film school.

Andal Innis. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Attending: Warren Tech through Red Rocks Community College in the Automotive Customization Program.

Andrew Jewell. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Plans to join the workforce in the automotive industry.

Logan Lovingier. Scholarship: City of Black Hawk $6000. Alan Green Memorial Foundation $2000. Total: $8000. He will be attending Front Range Community College and will be majoring in Business.

Matt Marr. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Join the workforce in Construction and Building Trade Industry.

Tristan Michtner. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. CU Boulder Scholarship$13,595x4years. Total: $60,380. Attending: CU Boulder. Major: Engineering.

Esmeralda Montoya Petricciolli. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Esmeraldo will continue working in the Hospitality Industry, then transfer to a University in the near future.

Caleb Murphy. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Central City Elks Lodge $750. Gilpin County Theater Scholarship $100. Gilpin County Education Foundation $1500. Alan Green Memorial Foundation $2000. Total: $10,350. He will be attending CU Boulder to pursue a degree in engineering.

Katelyne O’Sullivan. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Teryx Scholarship $500. Central City Elks Lodge $500. Thielemann Family Teacher Scholarship $1000. Gilpin County Education Foundation $2000. Peak to Peak Rotary Scholarship $1000. Alan Green Memorial Scholarship $2000. Ft. Lewis College GPA Scholarship $24,000 over 4 years. Total: $37,000. She will be attending Ft. Lewis College to pursue her degree in elementary education.

Chris Pence. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Chris plans on taking a Gap Semester to work in the Restaurant Industry. He then plans on attending community college with the intention of transferring to a University to study in the medical field to become a surgeon.

Emily Pleier. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Emily will continue to work in the Hospitality Industry and may take classes at Red Rocks Community College.

Lance Prewett. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Gilpin County Theater Scholarship $100. Total: $6100. Lance plans on taking courses at Red Rocks Community College to study film and work in a plumbing apprenticeship this summer.

Alexander Rodriguez Jimenez. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Alan Green Memorial Scholarship $2000. Total: $8000. Alex will be attending Red Rocks Community College, then transferring to Metro State University to pursue a degree in Structural Engineering.

Aubrey Tubbs. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Aubrey will be attending Red Rocks Community College to study business management.

Ashton Turkaly. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk: $6000. CO County Clerks Asso. $1000. PFLAG of Denver $2000. Gilpin County Education Foundation $2500. Barbara Lawlor Memorial Foundation $1000. Gilpin County Theater Scholarship $100. Booster Club Academic Scholarship $500. Teryx Scholarship $1000. Lady Elks Central City Scholarship $600. Central City Elks Lodge $1000. Alan Green Memorial IZ Bar Leadership Award $60,000. Total: $75,700. Ashton will be attending Metropolitan State University of Denver where she will minor in psychology and pursue her degree in social work.

Hale Warren. Scholarship: City of Black Hawk $6000. He will be doing an internship with Audi Automotive who will be sponsoring him to complete his education at Red Rocks Community College in Automotive Customization.

Cassidy Wood. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Gilpin Theater Scholarship $100. Teryx Scholarship $1000. Booster Club Arts Scholarship $500. Alan Green Memorial Scholarship $2000. Total: $9,600. She will be working part-time and attending Front Range Community College to study child development and psychology.

Halle Yocom. Scholarships: City of Black Hawk $6000. Central City Elks Lodge $750. DAR Good Citizen Award $450. United Power Scholarship $1000. Gilpin County Theater Scholarship $100. Teryx Scholarship $500. Booster Club Good Citizen Scholarship $500. Gilpin County Education Foundation $2500. Alan Green Memorial Foundation $2000. Colorado High School Coaches Association Scholarship $1000. CU Boulder Regent Scholarship $1000. CU Outstanding Student $4000. President Horace Hale Scholarship $16,000. Total: $35,800. Halle will be attending CU Boulder and will be studying integrative physiology. She would like to attend medical school in the future.

Overall Total of Scholarships the next 4 Years: $340,030