Heppner student buzzes into Civics Bee finals

SALEM — Eva Worden, of Heppner, is among the 20 middle school students selected to participate in the final round of the inaugural Oregon Civics Bee.

Beginning in November 2023, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students were invited to submit essays about how they would use civics principles to address problems they identified in their communities. According to a press release, Worden and the other finalists will gather May 30 in Hudson Hall at Salem’s Willamette University to compete in a quiz-style contest moderated by Oregon Treasurer Tobias Read.

The top five students will then discuss their essays before a panel of judges. The top three participants will receive cash prizes. The winner will be invited to compete in the National Civics Bee on Nov. 12 in Washington, D.C.

Oregon Business and Industry organized the event in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. For more information, search civics.uschamberfoundation.org/national-civics-bee.

BMCC announces winter honor roll

PENDLETON — Blue Mountain Community College recently celebrated the academic achievements of full-time students for winter term 2023-24. Those included on the honor roll are:

President’s List: 3.75-4.0 GPA: Zane Acock, Cindy Agripino, Sara Airoldi, Valeria Alaniz-Benitez, Mackenzie Aldrich, Alicia Anderson, Tyrel Arant, Jose Arellano, Jose Armenta, Amanda Arroyo Cortez, Chelsea Baird, Gavin Bakker, Jadyn Baldwin, Alexia Ballard, Jose Barahona Funes, Robert Bartman, Andrew Beachy, Nathan Beath, Laney Beckstead, Meliza Beltran Molina, Nyla Bennett, Easton Berry, Maycielyn Bill, Jonathan Bishop, Elle Blakely, Tulley Bloom, Melanie Boatman, Dean Boland, Trey Boston, Kaleigh Bowen, Kaden Boyle, Eryn Britton, Gracie Broadfoot, Addyson Brown, Noah Brunette, Taylor Bull, Robby Bullock, Keighlee Bunker, Saxon Byers, Johanna Cambell, Liam Campbell, Saralen Campbell, Nadalie Cannell, Mariela Carrillo, Wenxia Carson, Robert Casteel, Marissa Cecil, Joshua Childress, Samantha Choate, Jarren Cikanek, Giovanni Cisneros, Luke Clinchy, Mackenzie Coggin, Samuel Cole, Josiah Coleman, Baylee Combs, Yahir Conejo-Garcia, Sandra Coria-Cardenas, Kaylah Crawford, Kaitlyn Crowther, Tallulah Cubbage-Thorp, Acacia Dallman, Addyson Davis, Carter Davis, Keira Denny, Amelia Durning, Eliaz Duropan, Isela Echols, Kaitlyn Edmonds, Sydnee Enright, Gabriela Enriquez, Taylor Estes, Christopher Estrada, Isabelle Estrada, Victoria Estrada, Rylee Etchamendy, Sanyana Felipe, Cristine Figueras, Whitney Finley, Ashley Fiore, Joseph Fish, Megann Fleming, Kyra Ford, Sofie Francis, Sydney Franks, Karla Frasser-Parrish, Evan Gant, Alexander Garcia, Amanda Gay, Spencer Gerst, Cheyenne Gleim, Rebecca Godoy, Diovion Gomez, Ayerim Gonzalez, Owen Gorham, Noe Grajeola, Chloe Gray, Tabitha Greene, Hunter Greenup, Hayden Grote, Jaxon Grover, Tyler Hall, Gracie Hamilton, Jasper Hardy, Brooke Harley, Shelby Harshman, Adria Harter, Taylor Hatley, Addie Hayes, Morgan Hendrix, Ashley Henry, Yacelia Hernandez-Matuzak, Jose Herrera Cisneros, Kayda Herrera, Payton Hoffert, Taylor-Jo Hoffman, Lillie Holman, Michael Hood, Samantha Howard, Promise Hughes, Kailey Ince, Luis Indriago Gotopo, Emily Jemmett, Michael Jenks, Amanda Jeppeson, Bryson Jeppeson, Annastasia Johnson, Julianne Jones, Roy Jones, Sukhprit Kaur, Neela Kelly, Jesse Kirkpatrick, Dayne Knifong, Bethany Koehler, Brooke Kopp, Zachary Lamb, Miriam Landeros, Mazon Langford, Hayden Larson, Alejandro Leon Mendoza, Colby Lerten, Kelby Liebman, Evalena Lieuallen, Madelyn Lieuallen, Rocco Loftis, Juliet Lopez De Loera, Daniela Lopez, Emma Lowe, Benjamin Lucas, Stephanie Lynch, Damon Maddox, Landon Maddox, Hailey Magallanes, Sean Maier, Lisa Manning, Soren Marchetti, Hayden Marks, Erika Martinez, Evelyn Martinez, Savanna Matott, Jonas McKee, Shayna Medrano, Maggie Meenderinck, Juan Mendoza Avila Jr, Abraham Mendoza, Valarie Mendoza, Joshua Mendoza-Lemus, Dylan Merrel, Jonathan Metcalf, Jayel Meyer, Aimee Meyers, Kenneth Michaels, Avyree Miethe, Alyssia Miller, Paige Moffit, Kaden Moore, Alexis Morales, Rigoberto Moreno Torres, Reyna Moschkau, Kira Moses, Chelsea Moutray, Irwyn Murguia Ortega, Kendall Murphy, Morgyn Murray, Emylia Myer, Cooper Nave, Tate Neddo, Jacob Neistadt, Lucie Nguyen, Kassandra Nuno Estrada, Sara Obrist, Benen Oleen, Karina Olvera, Vanessa Olvera, Richard Orna, Monserrat Pacheco, Halle Parker, Jessica Parks, William Parrish, Candice Patrick, Michael Pedrick, Sydney Penning, Andrea Perez Mendoza, Matias Perez, Ashley Perger, Taija Petersen, Haylie Peterson, Travis Power, Trinity Price, Caelyn Pullen, Angel Quiroga Vazquez, Cody Ray, Brooklyn Rayl, Mazie Reeser, Zachary Reynolds, Kenna Rhodes, Glenn Ricker, Maddisyn Rico, Katelyn Rigby, Sofia Rivera, Maria Rodriguez Honesto, Linnae Roeder, Angelica Roldan-Lamas, Kira Rome, Bianca Romero, Caden Rugg, Naomi Ruiz-Hernandez, Caitlin Russell, Brisa Salas, Carol Salas, Candelaria Salvador Carrera, Jaden Samp, Karla Sanchez Escalante, Crystal Sanchez, Aubrey Sandoval, Olivia Sappe, James Sauer, Jace Schow, Paul Schulz, Hannah Sheehy, Dazon Sigo, Alisa Silva, Cameron Smith, Michael Snyder, Bryanna Solorio, Violet Steele, Troy Stever, Kelsie Stewart, Shiloh Taillon, Johnathan Taylor, Adam Thorne, Kylie Thornton, Melila Tricker, Katrina Umtuch, Anika Urbina, Jerad Uzzell, Yuri Valencia Birrueta, Mason VanTine, Ruth Vander Stelt, Cynthia Vazquez Gomez, Geovanny Vega, Avianna Velasco, Ericka Victorio, Felicia Virgen, Kennedy Vogl, Katelyn Wadkins, Brittany Wagner, Mackenzie Walker, Quinn Warner, Nathanael Warwick, Hailey Watson, Ivie Watterson, Samantha Weiss, Madison Whatley, Angelica White, Cassidy Wiedeman, Mayra Wightman, Logan Williams, Danner Willis, Sara Wilson, Olivia Wolf, Sabine Wong-Boulanger, Bria Word, Brianna Young, Jasmine Zamudio.

Vice President’s List: 3.5-3.74 GPA: Michael Abney, Dearcie Abraham, Yesenia Aguilar, Austen Alder, Magen Allen, Teah Allphin, Moises Almonte, Delaynee Angell, Zeferino Araiza, Kenneth Arthur, Maddox Baldwin, Briseida Barrera Lozano, Lauren Barth, Isabel Bartley, Connor Batchelor, David Bautista Pulido, Giovanni Bazan-Espain, Kaylyn Bell, Mackenzie Bennett, May Benson, Harley Bier, Robert Blaschke, Kiara Breckenridge, Nichole Brewer, Devon Brittner, Jessica Burns, Paige Burns, Alina Buts, Kieran Byers, Kathy Cardenas, Addison Carey, Grace Carothers, Rolando Castillo, Blaine Causey, Danielle Chamberlain, Camila Chavez Lopez, Whitney Chen, Rose Christensen, Anthony Cisneros, Griffen Coiner, Jessica Collins, Makayla Collins, Randy Conejo, Ayrion Covington, Abigail Cox, Tell Cox, Brittney Cramer, Nevaeh Cubbage-Thorp, Isaac Daffer, Cooper Dalton, Samantha Davenport, Jade Davidson, Laura Dewey, Steven Diaz Magana, Hayden Dodge, Shae Doree, Anson Dressler, Angela Dunaway, Amaya Eekoopew, Emma Eggert, Korey Elias, Elaina Ellis, Matthew Ellis, Marco Estrada Gutierrez, Gabrielle Fertello, Madelyn Fullingim, Juan Garcia Diaz, Jennifer Garcia-Martin, Maricarmen Garcilazo, Aisling Giguiere, John Glidewell, Annie Glover, Akira Gomez, Diovion Gomez, Chanel Gonzales, Ezequiel Gonzales-Sepulveda, Cole Goracke, Kelsey Graham, Aiden Gunter, Avery Gutierrez, Veronica Gutierrez, Shelbie Hall-Wright, Megan Hatley, Jeannine Heredia, Yesenia Hernandez, Jillian Herres, Mazie Hill, Darla Holden, Hunter Hollifield, David Jensen, Madison Jensen, Isaac Johnston, Sage Joseph, Edgar Juarez, Tyler Knapp, Channelle Knight, Marijane Koenig, Riley Kuhl, Miranda Landeros, Marcos Landin, Maira Lara Urueta, Zoey Leavitt, Evalena Lieuallen, Jada Longoria, Jonathan Lopez, Valeria Lopez, Hailey Luna-Romero, Juliana Magana, Joseph Markwith, Viviana Martinez, Hailee Marty, Davis Mauzy, Aleia May, Hunter McDonald, Kevin Mendez Guardado, Briseida Mendoza Rodriquez, Makenzie Misner, Austin Molloy, Juliet Montes, Jubilee Morrison, Zackary Morton, Xitlaly Moya-Morales, William Mulick, Mariela Munoz, Jose Nava, Josephine Nelson, Chelsea Newdiger, Brianna Nicholson, Kaden Nielson, Isabella Orr, Edwin Pacheco, Ryder Parliment, Esmeralda Perez, Addie Perkins, Cassandra Powell, Pepita Powell, Colson Primus, Mackenzie Purkerson, Nico Quade, Rytta Quaempts-Snively, Emily Ramirez, Jacqueline Rivera, Jessica Roark, Garrett Roberts, Lyla Rogers, Araceli Rubio, Katherinie Ruiz, Clarissa Salamanca, Alondra Sanchez Madrigal, Crystal Sanchez, Humberto Sanchez, Montserrat Sanchez-Garavito, Jesus Sandoval, Victoria Schenk, Wenona Scott, Novalee Shoemaker, Rajdeep Singh, Wyatt Skovgard, Adam Smith, Ambrosia Snapp, Reagan Sokoloski, Pedro Sotelo, Alison Spratling, Matthew Stansbury, Lakotah Steel, Payton Tippet, Esmeralda Tlahuel, Aleydis Torres, Lillyan Towers, Julien Trujillo, Ketcher Vanburen, Juliana Vargas-Pacheco, Carina Vasquez, Caleb Velasco, Naomi Watrud, David Welch, Hannah Weyand, Ronald White, Rosalynn White, Jocelyn Williams, Tia Willman, Josie Wilson, Grace Winebarger, Paige Wolfe, Luke Yutzie, Jhonny Zhang, John Zimmerman-Bailey.

EOU announces winter dean’s list

LA GRANDE — Eastern Oregon University recently announced that its 2024 winter term dean’s list includes 610 students. To receive the recognition, a grade point average of 3.5 or higher must be earned while completing a minimum of 12 hours of graded coursework. Local students receiving the academic honor and their field of study:

PENDLETON: Alara Campbell, biology, chemistry/biochemistry; Gabrielle Fitzmorris, business administration; Megan George, business administration; Jack Hess, art; Simon Johnson, English/writing; Kyndra Nelson, English/writing; Cooper Roberts, fire services administration; Haley Sanders, business administration; Natalie Sieders, exploratory studies; Rebecca Tesch, business; Abigail Thorne, general studies-exploratory; Sara Waldrop, psychology; Alexandra Williams, education/multidisciplinary studies; Anna Williams, business administration; Noelle Zacharias, psychology.

HERMISTON: Taylor Cochell, accounting; Cadence Cooley, education/multidisciplinary studies; Kylie Green, business administration; Isaac Lambert, biology; Hayden Larson, education/multidisciplinary studies; Cynthia Lemmon, business; Laylah Lucas, music/theatre; Kylee McClure, education/multidisciplinary studies; Jose Rosas, psychology; Jordynn Sepulveda, education/multidisciplinary studies; Ashley Treadwell, general studies-exploratory; Emily Wadkin, marketing; Morgan Wilson, elementary education.

ATHENA: Luna Dennett, English/writing; Anastasia Jensen, history; Megan Phillips, English/writing; Cameron Reich, health and human performance.

BOARDMAN: Dominic Epkey, psychology; Ariel Lissman, early childhood education.

ECHO: Zachary Gehrke, business administration.

HEPPNER: Kellen Grant, agriculture entrepreneurship; Trevor Nichols, biology.

IRRIGON: Katelynn Evans, elementary education; Victoria Palmquist, business administration; Bethany Stewart, elementary education.

LEXINGTON: Paul Lindsay, general studies-exploratory.

MILTON-FREEWATER: Wyatt Gilmore, health and human performance; Todd Hoel, anthropology/sociology; Ethan Jones, agriculture entrepreneurship; Richard Lopez De Loera, computer science; Kailee McNall, psychology; Alexis Pio, computer science; Brenda Stringham, education/multidisciplinary studies.

PILOT ROCK: Rindy Watson, elementary education.

UMATILLA: Lesly Anzora, psychology; Kamryn Boston, education/multidisciplinary studies; Arrik Russell, education/multidisciplinary studies; Amara Theros, psychology; Leah Yarbrough, music.

EOU is based in La Grande. For more information, visit www.eou.edu.

Spokane Community College recognizes local students

SPOKANE — Spokane Community College announced 2,137 students were named to its 2024 winter quarter honor roll by achieving a grade point average of 3.0 or greater. Local students receiving the academic recognition are Janelle Almaguer, of Stanfield; Jennifer Flores, of Hermiston; and Carlos Meza, of Irrigon.

SCC is part of the Community Colleges of Spokane. The district also includes Spokane Falls Community College and six rural education sites. For more information, visit www.ccs.spokane.edu.

OIT announces winter term honor rolls

KLAMATH FALLS — The Oregon Institute of Technology recently announced academic honors for its 2023-24 winter term.

Nine local students were named to the president’s list for earning a grade point average of 3.7 or above: Marshal Bixler (mechanical engineering), Isabel Lopez (dental hygiene), Aiden Swope (electrical engineering) and Alexandra Vazquez (biology-health sciences), all of Pendleton; Alyssa Green (radiologic science), of Hermiston; Caleb Adams (accounting) and McKenna Kendrick (diagnostic medical sonography), both of Irrigon; and Alejandro Escovedo (information technology) and Naomie Wyckoff (embedded systems engineering technology), both of Umatilla.

Also, making the dean’s list for earning a GPA of 3.3 to 3.7: Zoe Hester (diagnostic medical sonography) and Marcus Luke (renewable energy/environmental science), both of Pendleton; and Mattelynn Moon (pre-medical imaging/general studies), of Hermiston.

Founded in 1947 in Klamath Falls, OIT was designated by the Oregon Legislature in 2021 as the state’s polytechnic university — specializing in engineering, technology, health care, business, communication and applied sciences. For more information, visit www.oit.edu.

Pilot Rock celebrates student achievements

PILOT ROCK — A dozen students at Pilot Rock High School were inducted into the National Honor Society on March 5 during a ceremony at the school.

Advisor Helen Doherty and Principal David Norton introduced pinned members Lewis Hansen, Lillie Holman and Seth Umpleby. Also, probationary members are Aubrey Corwin, Gabriel Endersby, Coley Gibbs, Issabella Hiatt, Ayden Hoeft, Krister Litfin, Caleb Price, Hailey Thieme and Kaija Warren.

The celebration also recognized the first semester honor roll:

Seventh grade: 4.0: Adelaide Byrnes, Autumn Severe, Lucas Thieme. 3.9-3.5: Layne Hoffman, Ashton Markle, Rietta VanHouten, Eli Wilson. 3.49-3.0: Layce Bucher, Adam Hoeft, Teagan Prine, Kacen Zeckman.

Eighth grade: 4.0: Abigail Bensel, Audrey Umpleby, Dallie Wilcox. 3.9-3.5: Rylee Bedard, Abbigail Johnson, Landon Norton, Stevee Osborn, Elisha Sanchez, Andrea Schonert, Gage Williams. 3.49-3.0: Tucker Holton, Lydia Henderson, Hailey Severe, Trevor Rhodes.

Ninth grade: 4.0: Jada Deist, Paige Hansen, Gracee Hemphill, Jadian Hiatt, Kessa Litfin. 3.49-3.0: Lauren Bohms, Wyatt Fitzpatrick, Alyssa Turner, Logan Gourlie, Gibson Reynolds.

10th grade: 4.0: Aubrey Corwin, Coley Gibbs, Issabella Hiatt, Hailey Thieme 3.9-3.5: Alexander Anderson, Andrea Black, Karmin Downing, Gabriel Endersby, Ayden Hoeft, Shaiya Larson, Neela Spain, Carter Vanhouten-Chase, Kaija Warren. 3.49-3.0: Jullian Endersby, Almudena Fernandez Nieto, Kashley Golden, Andres Machado Pizarro.

11th grade: 4.0: Maise Bensel, May Benson, Emily Brown, Lewis Hansen, Lillie Holman, Krister Litfin, Nakayla Myrland, Caleb Price, Seth Umpleby, Matthew Wynder. 3.9-3.5: Sophia Helgeson, Eli Hinkle, John McBride, Alison Warner, Lynn Williams. 3.49-3.0: Presley Cartmell, Hunter Fitzpatrick, Carter Ford, Brianna Larson, Shelby Talbot, Emmett Young.

12th grade: 4.0: Bryson Baleztena, Paige Moffet, Ali Smith, Miles Standley. 3.9-3.5: Paedyn Bennett, Chase Corwin, Broc Erickson, Magdalena Taylor. 3.49-3.0: Yolanda Alvarez, Blaze Basye, James Lunzmann, Brock Stelk, Jaxynn Thurmond.

Oregon Wheat Foundation announces 2024 scholarship winners

PENDLETON — A dozen students across Eastern Oregon each received $2,000 through the 2024 Oregon Wheat Foundation scholarship program.

Local recipients include Alison Spratling, of Pendleton High School; Addison Perkins, of Weston-McEwen High School; Grace Claughton, of Arlington High School; Courtney Coelsch, of Sherman County High School; and Morgan Cutsforth and Cameron Proudfoot, both of Heppner High School.

“This year’s cohort of applicants impressed us not only with their academic achievements but also with their passion for the agricultural sector,” Chairman Tom Winn, of the Oregon Wheat Foundation, said. “It is truly an honor for the foundation to invest in these bright minds as they embark on their educational journey.”

Each year, the Oregon Wheat Foundation selects up to 12 graduating high school seniors who are the children of a grower member of the Oregon Wheat Growers League, or whose parents are employed by a grower member. The scholarship program is also open to students who have worked for local growers.

The Oregon Wheat Foundation was formed in 1980 to promote Oregon’s wheat industry. It raises money for specific projects, including its scholarship program. For more information, visit www.owgl.org.

Mahato receives Ph.D. at South Dakota school

BROOKINGS, S.D. — South Dakota State University announced March 7 that Gena Ram Mahato, of Pendleton, graduated following the 2023 summer and fall semesters.

Mahato received a doctorate of philosophy and a graduate certificate from SDSU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering.

Based in Brookings, South Dakota, the school was founded in 1881. For more information, search www.sdstate.edu.

Monkman makes honor roll at Wyoming school

LARAMIE, Wyoming — The University of Wyoming announced that Jack Monkman, a 2022 Pendleton High School graduate, was named to the 2023 fall semester honor roll. To earn the academic recognition, students must earn a grade point average of at least 3.4 while enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Founded in 1886, the school is based in Laramie, Wyoming. For more information, visit www.uwyo.edu.