Carey High School drama teacher Ken Mecham, retir-ing after 40 years as a Carey teacher, presented his fi-nal drama awards to students Tuesday at the school’s Citizenship & Awards program. Mecham usually di-rected two plays each school year. From left are Mecham, Kendrick Villavicencio, Zach Olsen, Emily Wittemann, Arrianna Neilson, Glen Andrews, Lilly Rivera and Gunner Thompson.
Courtesy photo by John Peck |
Blaine County School District Superintendent Lonnie Barber said it best about local philanthropists Theresa Castellano-Wood and Benjamin Wood during Tuesday night’s 2012-13 Carey School Citizenship & Awards program.
“They have been amazing patrons to Blaine County schools,” Barber said. “They are philanthropists who are now moving on to their next venture. This year will be the last Works of Grace scholarships given out.”
Castellano-Wood and Wood developed the Works of Grace Foundation scholarships in 2002. Since that time, nearly $1 million in grants have been given to the children of teachers in the Blaine County public schools system.
Never one to seek the spotlight or address local audiences in similar award presentations over the past 11 years, Castellano-Wood chose Carey School to speak Tuesday.
“I’m honored to be doing this at Carey School,” she said. “I respect this community so much, the way you support each other and your children, and the way you support the environment. You can see the passion and concern for their neighbors in the applications these students submit.”
Castellano-Wood announced graduating senior McKayla Mecham, daughter of Carey teachers Jeff and Jennifer Mecham, as the recipient of a $2,500 Works of Grace scholarship for Carey.
Many honors and scholarships went to the 14 members of Carey’s senior class who will graduate Thursday, May 30:
- Jordan Dilworth, Jaide Parke and Morgan Parke each received $200 Austin Hennefer Memorial scholarships.
- Hailey Rotary Club $1,000 grants were presented by club President Dean Rutherford to Jaide Parke (the Dick Jones Scholarship), Eric Adamson, Kendrick Villavicencio and McKayla Mecham.
- Jaide Parke collected the Ketchum-Sun Valley Rotary Club and Sun Valley Board of Realtors scholarships presented by Janine Bear.
- Kendrick Villavicencio earned a scholarship from the Wood River Valley Chapter of Dollars for Scholars, giving grants in Blaine County for 18 years. The chapter has given nearly $380,000 in scholarship grants locally since being founded by Audrey Bashaw in 1995.
- Glen Andrews and Jaide Parke won the U.S. Army Reserve Scholar/Athlete award, given at Carey for the third time.
- Patrick Baird earned the DL Evans Bank grant, announced by Kelli Young.
- Jaide Parke received an Idaho School Board Association scholarship.
- Student of Hispanic Origin scholarships through the Cimino Foundation were presented to Angelica Zarate and Kendrick Villavicencio. Zarate also received a $500 Promise “B” Scholarship from Boise State University.
- Kendrick Villavicencio accepted the Blaine County Farm Bureau scholarship and also received the Blaine County 4-H Leadership Council $500 scholarship.
Another highlight was the presentation of Citizenship Awards to male and female members of the four upper classes. Faculty members nominated the recipients.
Citizenship Award winners in the senior class and winners of $100 scholarships derived from student body fundraisers were Jaide Parke and Kendrick Villavicencio.
Junior class winners were Arrianna Neilson and Tori Alvarez. Sophomore honorees were Kylie Castle and Alex Durtschi. Top freshmen citizens were Emily Squires and Kenny Reay.
Other class awards, honors
Principal John Peck gave chocolate bars and certificates to two students who achieved perfect attendance in 2012-13. They were third-grader Colton Pettit and sophomore Adolfo Andazola.
Student body officers for the 2013-14 year were revealed at Tuesday’s program. Advisor Chandra Luke presented thank-you plaques to outgoing officers. Incoming president is Lilly Rivera, succeeding Glen Andrews. New vice president is Kylie Castle, replacing Lilly Rivera. New secretary is Jaicee Parke, replacing Kylie Castle. New treasurer is Tyson Mecham, replacing Ashley Durtschi.
McKayla Mecham received the Cecil B. Smith Art Award as the outstanding art student for 2012-13. It was given for the 24th time for art excellence.
Valerie Olsen earned a Sun Valley Center for the Arts grant for art study at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. Shane Mecham received a Sun Valley Center printmaking scholarship.
KTVB Distinguished Student Awards went to Glen Andrews, Morgan Parke, Jaide Parke and McKayla Mecham. Jaide Parke also earned the KMVT Academic All-Star Award.
Students selected for the drama awards were: Best actor/actress—Gunner Thompson and Lilly Rivera. Best supporting actor/actresses—Glen Andrews and Arrianna Neilson. Rookie awards—Emily Wittemann and Zach Olsen. Technician— Kendrick Villavicencio.
Next year’s Drama Club president is Arrianna Neilson, replacing Morgan Parke.
The dedication for this year’s yearbook was made to retiring 40-year Carey teacher Ken Mecham.
He teaches history, speech and English, and is Carey’s drama coach, orchestrating two plays each school year. For several years he also staged three plays a year. Mecham has directed between 85 and 90 plays in his Carey tenure.
Next year’s yearbook editor is Ashley Durtschi, replacing Jaide Parke and Morgan Parke.
