It's graduation time of year

Graduation ceremonies will keep Whidbey Islanders busy over the next week or so.

Coupeville High School seniors will graduate on Saturday, June 8, followed by Oak Harbor High School on Monday, June 10 and Skagit Valley College Whidbey Island Campus on June 15.

Approximately 80 students will graduate from Coupeville High School in a ceremony to take place Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Coupeville High School gymnasium. The guest speaker, selected by students, will be Rod Merrell, an English teacher and yearbook advisor at the school.

Two of Coupeville’s top five graduates credit Merrell with being an important role model in their academic success.

“He’s just a great guy that has really good advice,” said third-ranked senior Sean Kelly.

Senior Brian Roundy, who has earned the number five class ranking, agreed.

“He’s just provided a lot of guidance and really good, strong advice,” Roundy said of Merrell.

Tabitha Roemish is Coupeville’s valedictorian this year. Roemish plans to theme her valedictory address to possibly “focus on saying it’s the journey and not the destination,” she said in a recent interview.

Christine Pocock is CHS Class of 2002 salutatorian.

Five top OHHS class

Oak Harbor High School seniors will graduate in a ceremony on Monday, June 10 at 7 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium.

Oak Harbor’s Class of 2002 has an unusual and extraordinary distinction. Five seniors are tied for the number one class ranking, each having maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point-average.

Theresa Black, Rachel Cichowski, Tiffany Gordon, Kyle Kingma and Kate Waller share the role as valedictorian, and will split the valedictory address so that each speaks, said Susan Waller, mother of Kate Waller.

Skagit Valley College Whidbey Island Campus will hold its graduation ceremony in Oak Harbor on Saturday, June 15 at the Oak Harbor High School gymnasium.

Approximately 400 students will receive certificates and diplomas, ranging from GED completion to associate degrees.

While students did not select a special guest speaker, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Skagit Valley College Jess Del Bosque will address the graduating class and guests.

Students with between 3.9 and 4.0 grade-point averages will receive President’s Medals, while those with a 3.8 or above will graduate with high honors. Graduates who have maintained between 3.5 and 3.79 grade-point-averages will graduate with honors.

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