Best Friends Graduate From Sumner High, Speak About Enjoying Life

Lots of best friends get to go through high school graduation together. But few have celebrated it like Alex Landes and Gabrielle Phelps of Sumner High School did Wednesday night.

Of the 300 graduates, they were the two students chosen to speak to the thousands in attendance at the White River Amphitheater.

Their messages were simple, yet wise beyond their years.

“I’m challenging them to enjoy the moment and not worry so much about the future,” Landes said.

“Do what makes you happy, and everything else will fall into place,” was Phelps’ message.

Phelps and Landes have been best friends since kindergarten at Crestwood Elementary. They then went to Sumner Middle and now Sumner High. They both plan to attend Western Washington University next year, he majoring in business and she in kinesiology.

They only dated for a little while, in the eighth grade. “We found out we were better as friends,” Phelps said.

Practicing their speeches before the event, they seemed a little nervous. They said they hadn’t taken speech classes, but had talked in front of people in leadership positions: He was the Associated Student Body Vice President this year, and she was the Activities Coordinator.

In her speech, Phelps talked about how when people are young they have dreams about living in a huge mansion and marrying a celebrity. But when life gets hard people change plans because it’s easier. She encouraged everyone to keep trying to find the magic – not just in a career, but in all of life

“When we do what we love we can recapture the joy we had in youth,” she said. “When we’re happy the world is a better place.” When we grow up it seems like we no longer dream, but that’s when we “have the ability to make our dreams a reality,” she said.

Landes came up with the idea for his speech by watching how driven students are, worried about their grade point average and not “enjoying their time in high school.”

During his speech, he said while the end goal is important, we miss out on a lot of great experiences by not living in the present. He gave the example of everyone being so excited about seeing the movie “Twilight” that they missed out on enjoying fun times with friends, even waiting in line.

“The real world will come and knock you down,” so don’t miss out on the simple things,” he said. “Enjoy the short amount of time you have here on earth.”

Melissa McDaniel, the first-year Spartan Social Studies teacher selected by students to speak at graduation, echoed Landes’ comments.

“Do not rush through life,” she said, adding life’s a series of moments. Everyone is dying to be done. But instead of rushing through life, savor each moment.

Her second piece of advice was told through a fish story. She talked about an old man who threw big fish away because they didn’t fit in his frying pan.

“Don’t limit yourself,” she said. “The best way to prepare for life is to start to live.”

Sumner High School Scholarships

James R. Usher Scholarship: Michael Smith

Hewitt Slater Scholarship: Meredith Brown, Chloe Thomsen

Edward F. McCoy Scholarship: Tyler Salisbury

Judith G. McCoy Scholarship: Kyla Anderson

Kiwanis Club of Puyallup: Ashley Moore

Daffodil Valley Kiwanis: Kyla Anderson

East Pierce Volunteer Firefighters Association’s Scholarship for Excellence - FF/EMT:  Carly Lange

Gig Harbor Puget Sound Anglers Scholarship: Daniel Green

P.E.O. Chapter IG Scholarship: Savannah Rogers

Smiles By Sutherland Scholarship: Heidi Buyak

Pierce College/Pierce First Scholarship: Tessa Ott

Sumner Education Association Scholarship: Mikaela Raffle

Molen Orthodontics Scholarship: Meredith Brown

Sumner Band Parents Association Scholarship Award: Caitlin Karr, Dylan Russell

The John Philip Sousa Award: August Mendoza

The Louis Armstrong Award: Richard Moczygemba

The Director’s Award: Caitlin Karr, Hannah Nguyen

Cracked Cymbal Award for Precision Excellence: Jacob Kleeman

Color Guard Most Valuable Award: Sarah Mintz

Sumner Rotary Vocational Scholarship: Samantha Shea

Sumner Rotary Daffodil Princess Scholarship: Carly Lange

Sumner/Bonney Lake Education Foundation: Haley Bauer, Kevin Cavender, Megan Cihak, Ashley Foster, Alexander Landes, Carrie Miller, Tyler Salisbury, Reid Selmer, Michael Smith, Jordyn Thompson

Sweeney Family Scholarship: Natasha Moffitt

Michael McGowen Memorial Scholarship: Matt Campbell

Luke Voiles Memorial Scholarship: Jarron Petcovic

Norma Boushey Memorial Scholarship: Mikaela Raffle

Sumner High School Alumni Association Scholarship: Andrew Egbert

Sumner High School Alumni Association Don Opseth Memorial: Mariah Brown

Sumner High School Alumni Association Joe Hanni Memorial: Katie Bateman

Sumner High School Alumni Association Class of 1971 Award: Summer Gilman

Hope Overfield Scholarship: Rachel Heckroth

Beverly Froehling Scholarship: Samantha Hendricks

Pave Community Inclusion Program recognizing numerous volunteer hours contributed to the Youth Program: Elizabeth Kressler, Kaylene Kuykendall, Michael Raffle, Joshua Adam Thrall,

The Fred O. and Anona Weber Scholarship: Audra Lewis, Sarah Mintz, Isabella Schwartz, Mason Storrar

The Elva Austin Scholarship: Navkiranjit Bassi

National Merit Scholarship: Alexandra Bryant

Puyallup Fair Foundation Four-Year Academic Scholarship: Gabrielle Phelps

Puyallup Fair Foundation Fred Oldfield Scholarship for the Arts: Konrad Stenger

Puyallup Fair Foundation Bill Stoner Scholarship: Jordyn Thompson

Ben Cheney Foundation Scholarship: Gabrielle DeGoede

Ed Lynch Choral Scholarship: Laurissa Baer Reid, Selmer Derek Vang

Tacoma Propeller/Lelli Memorial Scholarship: Jordyn Thompson

Letter of Intent to further their academic and athletic career at the collegiate level or have received athletic related scholarships: Brandon Barlow – Green River Community College – Golf; Cory Brandt – Highline Community College – Cross Country/Track & Field; Aaron Clark – Eastern Washington University – Football; Megan Fenton – Eastern– Soccer; Zebulun Glissmeyer – Highline– Basketball; Rachel Heckroth – Temple University – Gymnastics; Samantha Hendricks – University of Idaho – Swimming; Tayler Holtman – Highline– Soccer; Joseph Kendall – Highline– Basketball; Austin Spanier – Green River– Golf.

Valedictorian:  accumulated Grade Point Average of 4.00 and first in class, Isabella Schwartz

Salutatorian: accumulated gpa of 3.983 and second in class, Elizabeth Kressler

Highest Honors / Double Gold Cords–presented to those graduating seniors who have achieved highest academic honors with an accumulated Grade Point Average of 3.760 to 4.000: Laurissa Baer, Megan Cihak, Gabrielle DeGoede, Summer Gilman, Kayla Hansen, Jessika Iverson, Emily Johnson, Elizabeth Kressler, Audra Lewis, August Mendoza, Jarron Petcovic, Gabrielle Phelps, Alyssa Pierce, Mikaela Raffle, Samuel Rigsby, Isabella Schwartz, Michael Smith, Jonathan Taylor

High Honors / Purple and Gold Cord - presented to those graduating seniors who have achieved high academic honors with an accumulated Grade Point Average of 3.500 to 3.759: Chiara Anderson, Katie Bateman, Owen Boney, Alexandra Bryant, Nichole Clifford, Leah DeDominces, MaKinzie Endicott, Abbie Erickson, Bryce Gallegos, Sarah Grant, Rachel Heckroth, Samantha Hendricks, Brady Hislar, Stephanie Kjelland, Kaylene Kuykendall, Alexander Landes, Carly Lange, Hayley Larson, Amanda Lee, Dylan Liebhauser, Jodee McAllister, Natasha Moffitt, William Mortell, William Nicewonger, Katrina Pollen, Savannah Rogers, Aja Ruswick, Mason Storrar, Steven Sword, Brendan Taylor, McKenzie Treviño

Washington State Honors–  given to top 10 percent of Washington State’s graduating seniors. Index score gives equal weight to gpa and the SAT or ACT scores: Katie Bateman, Alexandra Bryant, Megan Cihak, Gabrielle DeGoede, Summer Gilman, Kayla Hansen, Rachel Heckroth, Samantha Hendricks, Jessika Iverson, Emily Johnson, Elizabeth Kressler, Alexander Landes, Carly Lange, Amanda Lee, Audra Lewis, Dylan Liebhauser, August Mendoza, Natahsa Moffitt, William Mortell, Gabrielle Phelps, Alyssa Pierce, Mikaela Raffle, Samuel Rigsby, Savannah Rogers, Isabella Schwartz, Michael Smith, McKenzie Treviño

International Baccalaureate– Each has taken at least three higher level courses and three standard level courses over the last two years and submitted an extended researched project and exams: Katie Bateman, Mariah Brown, Alexandra Bryant, Megan Cihak, Rachel Heckroth, Jessika Iverson, Elizabeth Kressler, Audra Lewis, Kurtis Milliren, Mikaela Raffle, Samuel Rigsby, Isabella Schwartz, Michael Smith, Joshua Adam, Thrall McKenzie Treviño

Academic Achievement: This award, given through an application process, is for those students with a 3.00 cumulative gpa meeting specific Math, Science, World Language, and advanced career path courses requirements. In addition, 20 hours annually of CAS and completion of Senior Project/Culminating Portfolio: Chiara Anderson, Kyla Anderson, Laurissa Baer, Haley Bauer, Meagan Bodus, Mariah Brown, Heidi Buyak, Kevin Cavender, Derek Corn, Leah DeDominces, Andrew Egbert, Megan Fenton, Amy Flippin, Kayla Hansen, Hannah Kelleher, Mariah Matula, Jodee McAllister, Carrie Miller, Kurtis Milliren, Christine Nefzger, Hannah Nguyen, Chloe Thomsen, Joshua Adam, Thrall Michaela Trulson, Skylar Williams

Distinguished Scholar:This award, given through an application process, is for those students with a 3.50 cumulative gpa meeting specific requirements in Math, Science, World Language, advanced career path courses and a total of five credits in other specific areas. In addition, 25 hours annually of CAS and completion of Senior Project/Culminating Portfolio: Katie Bateman, Alexandra Bryant, Megan Cihak, Nichole Clifford, Gabrielle DeGoede, MaKinzie Endicott, Summer Gilman, Rachel Heckroth, Samantha Hendricks, Jessika Iverson, Stephanie Josten, Stephanie Kjelland, Kaylene Kuykendall, Alexander Landes, Carly Lange, Amanda Lee, Audra Lewis, August Mendoza, Natasha Moffitt, William Mortell, Gabrielle Phelps, Alyssa Pierce, Mikaela Raffle, Samuel Rigsby, Savannah Rogers, Isabella Schwartz, Michael Smith, Jonathan Taylor, McKenzie Treviño, Aja Ruswick, Elizabeth Kressler