Over $42,000 in scholarships went to deserving Carey High School seniors during the school's 2010-11 Citizenship Awards program June 2, according to principal John Peck.
A highlight was the presentation of Works of Grace Foundation scholarships that local philanthropists Theresa Castellano-Wood and Benjamin Wood have developed for the children of local teachers.
Since 2002, Works of Grace has granted 75 scholarships worth over $790,000 to children of local teachers with over 1,300 years of teaching experience, according to presenter Vicki Browne.
This year's graduates earning the grants were Shane Bingham ($8,000) and Lynn Mecham ($8,000).
Another emotional part of the program was Dennis and Mary Ann Hennefer giving the Austin Hennefer Memorial Scholarship to Dani Hennefer, Shane Bingham, Andres Garcia and Blair Peck. "There is so much goodness in our school and our youth," said Mary Ann. The couple's son Austin, a Carey sophomore, died in an auto accident last October.
Besides the awarding of scholarships from 14 Blaine County organizations and individuals, a highlight of the 90-minute program was the presentation of Citizenship Awards to male and female members of the four upper classes. Faculty members voted on the awards.
Citizenship Award winners in the senior class and winners of $100 scholarships derived from Student Body fundraisers were Dani Hennefer and Andres Garcia.
Junior class winners were Chance Chavez and Darby Northcott. Sophomore honorees were Gunner Thompson and Morgan Parke. Top freshmen citizens at Carey were Tori Alvarez and Daphne Kirkland.
Last Thursday's other scholarship winners:
- Hailey Rotary Club $1,000 scholarships went to Andres Garcia and Fidel Ruiz, as well as Shane Bingham (the Dick Jones Scholarship) and Dani Hennefer (Craig Adamson Memorial grant).
- Dani Hennefer and Andres Garcia received $500 Idaho Mountain Express grants that have been provided in Blaine County for 23 years.
- Given for the first time at Carey High School was the Wende Lee Thornton Memorial. The $1,000 grant went to Dani Hennefer.
- The Wood River Valley chapter of Dollars for Scholars, giving grants in Blaine County for 16 years, announced five $1,000 scholarships at Carey. The winners were Jaret Koudelka, Fidel Ruiz, Andres Garcia and Dani Hennefer. Also, Fidel Ruiz won the $1,000 Bud Purdy grant.
- Winners of the U.S. Army Reserve Scholar/Athlete awards, given at Carey for the first time, were Blair Peck and Dani Hennefer.
- Jaret Koudelka won the DL Evans Bank grant.
- The $1,000 Ketchum/Sun Valley Rotary Club scholarship was presented to Fidel Ruiz, and the $2,000 Dean Donaldson Memorial Scholarship from the Rotary went to Andres Garcia.
- Dani Hennefer accepted Blaine County Farm Bureau grant. The Blaine County 4-H Leadership Council gave its $500 scholarship to Dani Hennefer.
- Fidel Ruiz collected the Building Contractors Association's Gregg Stowe scholarship. And Caleb Cenarrusa won the Wilson-Woodyard Scholarship.
- Jane Lucero-Espinosa earned the Sun Valley Center's $2,000 grant.
- Blaine County Soil Conservation District scholarships were given to Jaret Koudelka ($550) and Dani Hennefer ($450).
- Fidel Ruiz accepted the Hailey Medical Society scholarship.
Other class awards, honors
The new National Honor Society inductees were sophomores Glen Andrews, McKayla Mecham, Jaide Parke and Morgan Parke.
Principal Peck gave chocolate bars to five students who achieved perfect attendance in 2010-11. They were Calvin Andrews for a second straight year, Bryan Vargas, Roy Peck and Zina Hatch.
The fifth was junior Darby Northcott, who hasn't missed a day of school since she was a first grader in 2001—11 years of showing up to school each day.
New Student Body officers for the 2011-12 year were revealed at Thursday's program. Advisor Liz Young presented thank-you plaques to the outgoing officers.
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Incoming president is Micaela Adamson, succeeding Blair Peck. New vice president is Jaide Parke, replacing Charlie Rivera. New secretary is Taylor Castle, replacing Jaide Parke. New treasurer is Dusty Dickerson, replacing Shane Bingham.
Amy Mares received the Cecil B. Smith Art Award as the outstanding art student for 2010-11. It was given for the 22nd time for art excellence. Science Student of the Year award winner was Mason Dickerson.
Fidel Ruiz and Amy Mares attended the Hispanic Youth Symposium in Sun Valley. Blair Peck, Shane Bingham and Dani Hennefer were recognized by KMVT and KTVB television as Distinguished Students.
Drama awards voted by the students were given in the traditional categories: Best actor/actress—Lynn Mecham and Charmaine Kirkland. Best supporting actors/actress—Shane Bingham and Micaela Adamson. Rookie awards—Andres Garcia and Morgan Parke. Best stage technician—Antonio Gamino.
Next year's Drama Club president is Charlie Rivera, replacing Lynn Mecham. The dedication for this year's yearbook was made to retiring elementary school teacher Barbara Tingey, Austin Hennefer, music teacher Hollis Pincock and guidance counselor Jeff Ford.
Carey School's 10th-year Residential Construction Academy started building houses in 2001—and this year, for the third time, presented its award of a stiletto hammer. The recipient was Caleb Cenarrusa.
Athletic awards
Carey School also announced recipients of its track and field awards and other sports honors for 2010-11.
Track coaches Lane Kirkland, Lee Cook and Liz Young gave out certificates of participation and letters to members of their teams.
Receiving plaques as the top four point-getters on the girls' track team were Micaela Adamson (for the third year), Jaide Parke, McKayla Mecham and Angelica Zarate (second year). Earning the high-point boys' awards for 2011 were Joe Laidlaw, Jacy Baird, Jack Cenarrusa and Charlie Rivera.
Among track distinctions: Micaela Adamson setting the school triple jump record of 33-8.25; seven Panther girls qualifying for state track and all bringing home medals; and a state championship in the 4x200-meter boys' relay from Lynn Mecham, Jack Cenarrusa, Jacy Baird and Joe Laidlaw.
Early in the season members of the girls' track team had challenged Laidlaw to win the State 1A 300-meter intermediate hurdles event and if he did, they would chip in and buy him a new I-Pod. They give him the I-Pod at the awards program and then surrounded the lanky Laidlaw for a photo.
"It doesn't get any better than that," said boys' coach Cook with a laugh, adding that he could only remember a few Carey School athletes who, like Laidlaw, had ever brought home four medals from state track.
Five athletes were named as 2011 Carey Wall of Fame athletes for doing three different sports for four straight years. They were Blair Peck, Joe Laidlaw, Jacy Baird, Shane Bingham and Caleb Cenarrusa. They'll have their names on a perpetual plaque at the school.
All-Idaho "Players of the Year" named by the Idaho Statesman newspaper were Blair Peck (basketball) and Tim Hoopes (football). Micaela Adamson was second runner-up in the prestigious Interscholastic Star contest.
Named "Coaches of the Year" for Carey's two state championship teams in 2010-11 were Lane Kirkland (football) and Dick Simpson (basketball).
Next year's Panther cheerleaders are Erika Zarate, Darby Northcott, Sarah Purdy, Bryson VanEvery, Morgan Parke, Kylie Castle and Paige Koudelka.
Dick and Marie Russell were honored by the Carey Athletic Association as the Panther Boosters of the Year. They receive free admission to next year's home games for the Carey Panthers. In return, the couple gave a $1,000 check to the Carey athletic department for general use.
New CAA president is Charlie Rivera, replacing Caleb Cenarrusa.
Recipients of the Austin Hennefer Memorial Scholarship given Thursday at Carey High School pose with presenters Mary Ann Hennefer (second from right) and Dennis Hennefer (right). They are, from left, Andres Garcia, Dani Hennefer, Shane Bingham and Blair Peck.
Courtesy photo by John Peck
