KPBSD inspiration: Elena Basargin, Voznesenka School #ClassOf2019
Voznesenka School Elena Basargin, Class of 2019 “Elena Basargin is definitely a student to be recognized,” said Principal Wojciak. “Her list of accomplishments is extensive, which exemplifies her perseverance and dedication. Elena is not a person who tends to stick out of the crowd with loud actions or reactions, yet, she does shine when it comes to persistence, responsibility, and accountability. Elena can be counted on to finish what she starts, completing every task with devotion and an innate desire to do it precisely.” Elena actively involved herself with each opportunity offered. She was a member of the school soccer team, a two-time ...
KPBSD inspiration: Mykenna Foster, Soldotna High School, #ClassOf2019
Soldotna High School Mykenna Foster, Class of 2019 Mykenna Foster is an industrious, driven, focused, and accomplished young person. She has excellent personal characteristics including honesty, commitment, and intuition. “Academically, Mykenna is conscientious and motivated,” said Principal Tony Graham. “She has studied in our most challenging courses including Honors Language Arts in ninth through eleventh grade, and taken five Advanced Placement courses including AP World History, AP U.S. History, AP Literature & Composition, AP Biology, and AP United States Government & Politics. Mykenna is a very involved student. She was involved in extra-curricular activities including Cross-Country Running, Nordic Skiing, Soccer, and Student Council. ...
KPBSD inspiration: Meghan Mullaly, Seward High School #ClassOf2019
Seward High School Meghan Mullaly, Class of 2019 A four-year member of both the swim and soccer teams, Ms. Meghan Mullaly also represented her class and school in student council. She won significant recognition and awards in every juried art show in which she contributed, supports her school and classmates through all of her volunteerism and leading by example. Within this level of athletic, artistic, and civil engagement, Meghan still maintained a 4.023 grade point average. Nearing the end of the school year, Principal Walker had an epiphany when he realized that, “No matter what, Ms. Meghan Mullaly is going to make sure ...
KPBSD inspiration: Monique Cook, Port Graham School #ClassOf2019
Port Graham School Monique Cook, Class of 2019 Monique Cook represents the Port Graham School Class of 2019. Miss Cook is a life-long resident of Port Graham, and attended Port Graham School from kindergarten through graduation. “Monique is often recognized for her patience and caring demeanor when interacting and working with other students, especially younger students, when she volunteered to work with teachers and students in the elementary classrooms,” said Principal Hinds. “Monique is a talented and hard-working athlete who competed as a member of the Port Graham Native Youth Olympics Team where she demonstrated a strong mental attitude and commitment to ...
KPBSD inspiration: Garrett Koch, Ninilchik School #ClassOf2019
Ninilchik School Garrett Koch, Class of 2019 Garrett Koch came to Ninilchik in the sixth grade. “He immediately fell into the routine that a lot of Wolverines fall into, and that was spending all of his time in the gym,” said Principal Ambrosier. “He ended up playing for three different varsity coaches in Ninilchik and during that span, and was part of two 1A state championships. Garrett continues to spend a lot of time practicing his game as he has dreams to eventually play professional basketball. However, in the meantime, he will be moving to Oregon to pursue a degree in business. ...
KPBSD inspiration: Michael Trail, Nikolaevsk School #ClassOf2019
Nikolaevsk School Michael Trail, Class of 2019 “Nikolaevsk School is one of the best things that ever happened to me,” said Michael Trail, Nikolaevsk School Class of 2019. “The students and faculty are all extended family. There is no one that feels out of place, and that is one of the most important elements in a child's life at school. In my case, it was the home of the warriors; Nikolaevsk. I was fortunate to have so many people to help me with my development as a student, and as a member of society. I plan to attend AVTEC in the fall, where ...
KPBSD inspiration: Uriah Joseph Huntsman, Nanwalek School, #ClassOf2019
Nanwalek School Uriah Joseph Huntsman, Class of 2019 “Uriah Joselh Huntsman is an exceptional young man; well respected by his classmates, teachers, administrators, and community,” said Principal Crain. He attended grades K-12 at Nanwalek School and ended his last quarter with a 4.0 GPA, and cumulative 3.11. He was the class president for student council and in hi sjunior year, the student council treasurer. In the fall of 2019 he will be attending the University of Alaska-Anchorage, College of Arts & Sciences, Bachelor of Arts Program vis-a-vis various academic scholarships. Besides Uriah’s academic abilities, he lettered in varsity basketball for five years ...
KPBSD inspiration: Maria Salzetti, Kenai Central High School, #ClassOf2019
Kenai Central High School Maria Salzetti, Class of 2019 Maria Salzetti set herself apart from the beginning of her high school career. She worked hard to prepare for college by taking all of the Advanced Placement (AP) classes available at Kenai Central High School (KCHS) and an additional AP Biology class on her own. She set high standards for herself in all academic areas and has taken a wide variety of classes. She does not take classes to simply satisfy a requirement; she takes classes with the intent of learning as much as possible from the teacher and using that knowledge to ...
KPBSD inspiration: Michael Metz, Kenai Alternative School, #ClassOf2019
Kenai Alternative School Michael Metz, Class of 2019 Michael Metz has been with the Kenai Alternative School since he was a sophomore. Principal Loren Reese said, “From the time he entered the Kenai Alternative program, Michael excelled as a student, both in his academics and his school leadership. Michael has earned the UAA regents scholarship, which pays for a good portion of tuition over a four-year period. He plans to attend Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) this coming year and then will head to Anchorage where he will complete his studies. Michael has shown great leadership within our building. He often speaks during ...
KPBSD inspiration: Felesata Fefelov, Kachemak-Selo School #ClassOf2019
Kachemak-Selo School Felesata Fefelov, Class of 2019 Felesata Fefelov was deemed the senior most deserving of the Class of 2019 Kachemak Selo School spotlight recognition. “My first remembered encounter with this student is when she peeked her head onto a bus to say, ‘Hi, you probably don’t know me, but I’m a senior at Kachemak Selo,’” said Principal Wojciak. “She was right, her face was new to me and I don’t recall seeing her again until the day of graduation. She was well ahead of where she needed to be with credits and not very visible in school. Her introduction was to ...
Voznesenka School
Elena Basargin, Class of 2019
“Elena Basargin is definitely a student to be recognized,” said Principal Wojciak. “Her list of accomplishments is extensive, which exemplifies her perseverance and dedication. Elena is not a person who tends to stick out of the crowd with loud actions or reactions, yet, she does shine when it comes to persistence, responsibility, and accountability. Elena can be counted on to finish what she starts, completing every task with devotion and an innate desire to do it precisely.”
Elena actively involved herself with each opportunity offered. She was a member of the school soccer team, a two-time Project Grad summer institute participant, valued Battle of the Books team member, and Youth Court judge. She was accepted into the Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and accepted multiple scholarships. In addition to her steadfast dedication to school, Elena’s personality is a quintessential match. She is delightful, humorous, and witty. She may not always be the first to catch a joke, but with a deeper understanding, she has the biggest laugh. “Her contagious smile is one that will be missed around our school,” said Principal Wojciak. “With grateful hearts for all she has offered, we wish her the best in her continued success.”
- Connect with the Voznesenka School website
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District KPBSD.org
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Soldotna High School
Mykenna Foster, Class of 2019
Mykenna Foster is an industrious, driven, focused, and accomplished young person. She has excellent personal characteristics including honesty, commitment, and intuition. “Academically, Mykenna is conscientious and motivated,” said Principal Tony Graham. “She has studied in our most challenging courses including Honors Language Arts in ninth through eleventh grade, and taken five Advanced Placement courses including AP World History, AP U.S. History, AP Literature & Composition, AP Biology, and AP United States Government & Politics.
Mykenna is a very involved student. She was involved in extra-curricular activities including Cross-Country Running, Nordic Skiing, Soccer, and Student Council. She was senior class president and a member of the National Honor Society.
Outside of school, Mykenna is an equally involved young person. She is the Public Relations Director for the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Student Ambassador Program and is the Student Representative for the City of Soldotna City Council. She has volunteered at the Food Bank of Alaska, the Soldotna Public Library, and at Central Peninsula Hospital. Mykenna has been involved in pageants and became Miss Alaska Pre-Teen and Miss Alaska Hostess. In addition to all of her many involvements, Mykenna has held a part time job throughout her high school career.
After high school, Mykenna plans to study Sports Medicine and Kinesthesiology at Boise State University. “Mykenna is a young person of great quality,” said Principal Graham. “We are confident that she will attain any goals she sets her mind to and we look forward to hearing about her future accomplishments.”
- Connect with the Soldotna High School website
- Connect with Soldotna High School on Facebook
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District KPBSD.org
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Seward High School
Meghan Mullaly, Class of 2019
A four-year member of both the swim and soccer teams, Ms. Meghan Mullaly also represented her class and school in student council. She won significant recognition and awards in every juried art show in which she contributed, supports her school and classmates through all of her volunteerism and leading by example. Within this level of athletic, artistic, and civil engagement, Meghan still maintained a 4.023 grade point average.
Nearing the end of the school year, Principal Walker had an epiphany when he realized that, “No matter what, Ms. Meghan Mullaly is going to make sure that things get done correctly!” He recognized that Meghan worked on every dance since she began her first year—even though she was not always a formal a member of the group hosting the dance. He made a final observation during graduation set-up when a paper was slightly misaligned and she asked him to correct it. This final act of service to her class and the school created a graduation of which she and the entire community were proud.
Meghan will put her artistic and academic prowess to work at Lindfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. “We at Seward High are quite confident that everyone at Lindfield will quickly recognize that they will also be as proud as we are to claim her as one of their own,” said Principal Walker.
- Read the student newspaper, SHS Today: The Student News Site of Seward High School
- Connect with the Seward High School website
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District KPBSD.org
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
Read the SHS Today story: The Meghan Mullaly You Don’t Know
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Port Graham School
Monique Cook, Class of 2019
Monique Cook represents the Port Graham School Class of 2019. Miss Cook is a life-long resident of Port Graham, and attended Port Graham School from kindergarten through graduation. “Monique is often recognized for her patience and caring demeanor when interacting and working with other students, especially younger students, when she volunteered to work with teachers and students in the elementary classrooms,” said Principal Hinds. “Monique is a talented and hard-working athlete who competed as a member of the Port Graham Native Youth Olympics Team where she demonstrated a strong mental attitude and commitment to the sport, as well as being an encouraging and supportive team-member for others.
She demonstrates a sincere and profound sense of introspection and reflective qualities, and uses these traits to make wise choices and intentionally chart her future course. Monique looks to the future and will be pursuing positions through the Job Core Program. She has expressed interest in pursuing multiple career paths, including careers in the education or health services sectors. Monique’s warm-smile and quiet, caring demeanor will be missed, but Port Graham School is proud of Miss Cook and eager to see where her future takes her!
- Connect with Port Graham School on Facebook
- Connect with the Port Graham School website
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District KPBSD.org
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Ninilchik School
Garrett Koch, Class of 2019
Garrett Koch came to Ninilchik in the sixth grade. “He immediately fell into the routine that a lot of Wolverines fall into, and that was spending all of his time in the gym,” said Principal Ambrosier. “He ended up playing for three different varsity coaches in Ninilchik and during that span, and was part of two 1A state championships. Garrett continues to spend a lot of time practicing his game as he has dreams to eventually play professional basketball. However, in the meantime, he will be moving to Oregon to pursue a degree in business. He already has a jump on college due to his hard work here at Ninilchik participating in jumpstart classes through Kenai Peninsula College (KPC). During his salutatorian speech, he commended his coach, Nick Finley, for assisting him to develop into the person and player that he is. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
- Connect with Ninilchik School on Facebook
- Connect with the Ninilchik School website
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District KPBSD.org
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Nikolaevsk School
Michael Trail, Class of 2019
“Nikolaevsk School is one of the best things that ever happened to me,” said Michael Trail, Nikolaevsk School Class of 2019. “The students and faculty are all extended family. There is no one that feels out of place, and that is one of the most important elements in a child’s life at school. In my case, it was the home of the warriors; Nikolaevsk. I was fortunate to have so many people to help me with my development as a student, and as a member of society.
I plan to attend AVTEC in the fall, where I will be learning plumbing and refrigeration. Since I got a full tuition scholarship for AVTEC, I can pursue this goal comfortably. Once I am done in learning my trade I plan on coming back to the peninsula. There is such a high demand for tradesmen nowadays, and no one is taking advantage of it. There is also the fact that there is only a handful of refrigeration experts on the peninsula. If I can come back and establish myself, and a business, then I will be able to make a difference here.
If I were to be asked what school I would recommend, I would not hesitate to say that parents should send their kids to Nikolaevsk.”
- Connect with Nikolaevsk School on Facebook
- Connect with the Nikolaevsk School website
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District KPBSD.org
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Nanwalek School
Uriah Joseph Huntsman, Class of 2019
“Uriah Joselh Huntsman is an exceptional young man; well respected by his classmates, teachers, administrators, and community,” said Principal Crain. He attended grades K-12 at Nanwalek School and ended his last quarter with a 4.0 GPA, and cumulative 3.11. He was the class president for student council and in hi sjunior year, the student council treasurer. In the fall of 2019 he will be attending the University of Alaska-Anchorage, College of Arts & Sciences, Bachelor of Arts Program vis-a-vis various academic scholarships. Besides Uriah’s academic abilities, he lettered in varsity basketball for five years (grades 8-12), and participated in the Senior All State Classic. He also has participated in the Native Youth Olympics for six years (grades 7-12). Uriah Joseph Huntsman exemplifies the meaning of a student-athlete!
- Connect with Nanwalek School on Facebook
- Connect with the Nanwalek School website
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District KPBSD.org
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Kenai Central High School
Maria Salzetti, Class of 2019
Maria Salzetti set herself apart from the beginning of her high school career. She worked hard to prepare for college by taking all of the Advanced Placement (AP) classes available at Kenai Central High School (KCHS) and an additional AP Biology class on her own. She set high standards for herself in all academic areas and has taken a wide variety of classes. She does not take classes to simply satisfy a requirement; she takes classes with the intent of learning as much as possible from the teacher and using that knowledge to do something productive. Maria was part of the school community in Cross Country Running, Choir, and Nordic Skiing. She competed at the varsity level in skiing throughout high school, and was elected team captain in her senior year. She has a passion for mentoring younger athletes, and had a chance to connect with each of her teammates as captain. Maria is a positive role model and is known for her kindness toward others.
Maria will be attending the University of Utah in the fall, and will study mechanical engineering. Her drive for excellence will make her an outstanding engineer. She has practical skills, a kind heart and an exceptional GPA at the top of her class.
Maria has left big shoes for others to fill! She will be missed at KCHS.
- Connect with Kenai Central High School on Facebook
- Connect with the Kenai Central High School website
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District www.KPBSD.org
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Kenai Alternative School
Michael Metz, Class of 2019
Michael Metz has been with the Kenai Alternative School since he was a sophomore. Principal Loren Reese said, “From the time he entered the Kenai Alternative program, Michael excelled as a student, both in his academics and his school leadership. Michael has earned the UAA regents scholarship, which pays for a good portion of tuition over a four-year period. He plans to attend Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) this coming year and then will head to Anchorage where he will complete his studies. Michael has shown great leadership within our building. He often speaks during our school-wide morning meetings and can be heard encouraging his fellow students to do their best as students and citizens.”
Michael also signed up with the Marine Corps Reserves, and he will leave for boot camp in October. He hopes that his experience with the Marine Corps will help him with experiences that will lead to a better future.
- Connect with Kenai Alternative High School on Facebook
- Connect with the Kenai Alternative High School website
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District KPBSD.org
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Kachemak-Selo School
Felesata Fefelov, Class of 2019
Felesata Fefelov was deemed the senior most deserving of the Class of 2019 Kachemak Selo School spotlight recognition. “My first remembered encounter with this student is when she peeked her head onto a bus to say, ‘Hi, you probably don’t know me, but I’m a senior at Kachemak Selo,’” said Principal Wojciak. “She was right, her face was new to me and I don’t recall seeing her again until the day of graduation. She was well ahead of where she needed to be with credits and not very visible in school. Her introduction was to inquire about my contributions to the yearbook.” Her tenacity is what prompted her teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Sorensen, to write, “I would spotlight Felesata for her exceptional work on the yearbook this year. Her desktop publishing skills are fantastic. It is probably the best student-made yearbook I have ever seen. She researched old files of pictures and created something really memorable and special.”
Felesata is one of ten siblings, with only one older than she is. “With the many needs that are an inherent part of a big family, she was never deterred from always completing her assignments and doing an exceptional job,” said Principal Wojciak.
- Kachemak-Selo School website
- Kenai Peninsula Borough School District KPBSD.org
The mission of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is to empower all learners to positively shape their futures.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .