Spotlight on Youth

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP

Josh Hoesly, a senior at Seton Catholic College Preparatory High School, has been named a National Merit Scholarship finalist. At Seton, Hoesly participates in drama, football, and track and field. He placed second in materials science at the Camas Invitational Science Olympiad.

SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON REGIONAL HISTORY DAY COMPETITION

Students from Battle Ground schools competed with others from 15 regional schools on Feb. 22 at Pleasant Valley Middle School. Chief Umtuch and Pleasant Valley middle school students took top-place finishes, advancing them to the state competition on May 3 at Green River Community College.

Chief Umtuch Middle School state qualifiers:

2nd place: Quentin Carver, Kyle Oehler, Andrew Pham, Joseph Vaugh.

3rd place: Mark Forstrom, Maxton Greener, Killian Griffin, Kolton Opdahl, David Tormanen, Zach Walters.

4th place: Malia Meyer, Kylie Sahota, Jordyn Shaw, Hannah Stuchlik.

6th place: Devan Feb, Zachary Wannamaker.

Pleasant Valley Middle School state qualifiers:

1st place: Jethro Abatayo, Simon Benko, Logan Gibert, Bailey McCormick, Mary Lynn McLeod.

2nd place: Donovan Benko, Lauren Blechschmidt, Ally Orr, Lilly Perrin, Emily Scott and Sarah Shirley.

4th place: Alec Thornburg.

CLARK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE EXPLORER POST 893 LEADERS

Honorary sheriff Cole Merle swore in six high school leaders with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office Explorer program, March 18 at the Clark County Skills Center. The 6-year-old honorary sheriff had the students recite an oath before pinning on their rank. They are:

Kelly Tepedino, Prairie High School and a second-year criminal justice student at the Skills Center, was selected as captain of Post 893.

Jamie Pina-Marquez, Mountain View High School student and first-year criminal justice student at the Skills Center, is the administrative sergeant.

Ray Palacio, student at Union High School and first-year criminal justice student at the Skills Center, is the training sergeant.

Emily Laurent, of Mountain View High School, is the finance corporal.

Ryan Erwin, Union High School and first-year criminal justice student at the Skills Center, was selected as activities corporal.

Jacob Sortors, of Vancouver iTech Prepatory, is a member at large.

In December, these students went to the Winter Explorer Academy at the Yakima Firing Center. They were interviewed and ranked by panelists including Sheriff Garry Lucas, Vancouver City Councilor Anne McEnerny-Ogle and the chairman of the Leadership Clark County Board of Directors, Dominique Merriweather.

Merle was selected for Clark County’s Chief for a Day program in September. The program allows the sheriff’s office to honor children who have faced adversity.

Items for Spotlight on Youth should be brought to The Columbian, News Department, 701 W. Eighth St.; mailed to P.O. Box 180, Vancouver, WA 98666;emailed to pauline.sipponen@columbian.com or phoned to 360-735-4524.