Congratulations Class of 2022!
Umatilla High School's 98th commencement ceremony took place on Saturday, June 4th, 2022. Out of the total 88 seniors, the Umatilla Class of 2022, had 86 graduates in attendance.
The commencement exercise began with the playing of, “Pomp and Circumstance” by Edward Elgar, performed by the Umatilla High School Band and Choir. It was then followed by the singing of the National Anthem by senior, Nancy Jaimes.
Leadership Representative, Neida Espain Aceves, then welcomed friends and family to the ceremony and reminisced on her time with her classmates at UHS. She left a few parting words for her fellow classmates. She said, “class of 2022 remember, no dream is ever too big or impossible to reach. You all will be met with difficult challenges but have the courage to persevere and keep moving forward. Meet those challenges straight on with your head held high, and your heart wide open.”
Bob Lorence, Principal of UHS, continued next. Mr. Lorence has been the principal for some of the graduates for 10 of their 13 years in school. 42 of the graduates started school at McNary Heights and have grown up in the Umatilla School District. Mr. Lorence says, “there have been many changes over the last 13 years and it’s fun to look back at how each of you have grown into young adults on the cuffs of heading into the real world.” Mr. Lorence continued with a few achievements from the class of 2022.
The class of 2022 earned a total of 1,219 college credits through Blue Mountain Community College and Eastern Oregon University. Of the 59 seniors who earned these credits, two seniors also earned their Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree (AAOT). The two seniors, Marisol Santa Cruz and Thalia Trujillo will be receiving their AAOT on June 9, 2022, from BMCC.
Mr. Lorence and Superintendent, Mrs. Heidi Sipe next presented the awards for salutatorian and valedictorian of the class of 2022. This year's salutatorian was Marisol Santa Cruz, graduating with a GPA of 4.06. This year's class valedictorian was Guy Parke, graduating with a GPA of 4.18.
Guest speaker, Mrs. Deborah Tesch ended with a few final remarks. “I want to remind you to never settle less than your best. Try to be happy. Say please and thank you. Enjoy your life and most of all, be safe, because I love you guys.”
After looking back at the senior class video, seniors were presented with their diplomas and the class of 2022, took their final steps at Umatilla high school.
Students who were awarded scholarships and their amounts are listed down below.
Crystal Garcia: OSEA Scholarship $500
Kaden Jacobs: UHSAA Promise Scholarship $500
Ulises Armenta: UHS Male Athlete Scholarship $500
Katie Lara: UHSAA Senior Scholarship $500
Bryson Morris: UHSAA Promise Scholarship $500
Ashley Nava: Swire Coca-Cola of Pendleton Scholarship $500
Kyleigh Wheeler: UHSAA Promise Scholarship $500
Guy Parke: UEA Scholarship $500 and Mid-Columbia Bus Company Scholarship
$500 for a total of $1,000.
Yaneli Jaime-Navarrete: BMCC Foundation Scholarship $1,000
Ashley Nygard: OSAA Cheerleading Scholarship $500 and CSN Scholarship for
$500, for a total of $1,000
Kevin Meza: Oregon Grants and Scholarships $4,000 over 2 years.
Yadira Lopez: Oregon Grants and Scholarships $4,000 over 2 years.
Neida Espain: UHSAA Promise Scholarship $500, UEA Scholarship $500, BMCC
Foundation Whittaker Family Endowed Scholarship $1,500, Oregon Grants and
Scholarships totaling $4,000 over 2 years for a total of $6,500.
Madeline Cisneros: Oregon Grants totaling $7,200 over 2 years.
Marisol Santa Cruz: UEA Scholarship $500, Swire Coca-Cola of Pendleton
Scholarship $500, Portland State University Grants and Scholarships for $7,268 over 4 years, for a total
of $8,268.
Lynkin McLeod: Umatilla Booster Club Scholarship $500, Oregon Grants and
Scholarships to attend CCC totaling $11,200 over 2 years for a total of $11,700.
Alejandro Escovedo: UEA Scholarship $500, Belrose Robotics Scholarship $1,000,
and Oregon Tech Scholarships totaling $13,000 over 4 years for a total of $14,500.
Armando Arroyo: Oregon Grants to attend BMCC up to $15,000 over 2 years.
Thalia Trujillo: PSU Grants and Scholarships totaling $11,940 over 4 years and
Oregon Grants totaling $15,504 over 4 years. For a 4 year total of $27,444.
Madison Sparhawk: U of O Scholarships totaling $28,000 over 4 years and Oregon
Grants totaling $18,767 over 4 years. $46,767 is Madison’s 4 year total.
Luis Ibarra: UHSAA Senior Scholarship $500, Umatilla Booster Club Scholarship
$500, UVFA Scholarship $1,000, WSU Grants and Scholarships $48,000 over 4
years, for a 4 year total of $50,000.
Quinn Funderburk: Corban University and Oregon Grants and Scholarships
totaling $86,520 over 4 years.
Taylor Durfey: UHSAA Senior Scholarship $500, UHSAA Promise Scholarship $500,
Umatilla Booster Club Scholarship $500, UHS Female Athlete Scholarship $500,
UVFA Scholarship $1,000, C of I Grants and Scholarships totaling $97,180 over 4
years, for a grand total of $100,180.
Isaac Armenta: Isaac has enlisted with the National Guard which qualifies him for
up to $180,000 through the GI bill.
Emilia Rivera: UEA Scholarship $500, U of P and Oregon Grants and Scholarships
totaling $199,168 over 4 years.
To watch a recording of the commencement ceremony, please visit the link below.
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/umatilla-high-school-umatilla-or/evtd0a8082f36
To view more photos of the commencement ceremony, please visit the link below.
https://sites.google.com/umatillasd.org/uhs2022graduation-photogallery/home