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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 16, 2016)
Scholarships American Red Cross Quentin Skanes $750 Chance to Become Mahaila Fennell $5,000 Columbia County Dairy Women Quentin Skanes $500 Jocie Roberts $400 Jordan Brickley $300 Community Scholarship Foundation Bryanna Larson $500 Hera Hopkins $500 Holce Logging Sheyanne Pedersen Jocie Roberts Benjamin Skanes Jacob Perry Emily Bergerson Jordan Brickley $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $1,500 $3,000 $3,000 Kaiser Permanente Quentin Skanes $2,000 Kayleigh’s Senior Project Scholarship Breanna Gardner $200 Quentin Skanes $150 Sheyanne Pedersen $75 Erik Kesterson Memorial Jacob Perry $500 Oregon High School Equestrian Sheyanne Pedersen $500 Five Star Trades Benjamin Skanes $1,500 Oregon School Employees Association Kassidy Fetch $1,250 Gene Weller Memorial Emily Bergerson Benjamin Skanes Quentin Skanes Kassidy Fetch Jacob Perry $250 $250 $500 $500 $500 Pacific Lumber & Shipping Jordan Brickley $1,000 Emily Bergerson $1,000 Hancock Forest Management Quentin Skanes $750 Hands on Art Mahaila Fennell $300 PEO Sheyanne Pedersen Jordan Brickley Sisters Memorial Breanna Gardner Nichole Gardner $500 $500 $1,000 $1,000 Vernonia Boosters Nichole Gardner Hera Hopkins Sheyanne Pedersen Jocie Roberts $500 $500 $500 $500 Vernonia Education Association Sheyanne Pedersen $200 Emily Bergerson $600 VHS Alumni Paige Smith $1,000 Vernonia Lions Club Mahaila Fennell Quentin Skanes McKenzie Titus Jocie Roberts $500 $500 $500 $1,000 Virgil & Marjorie Hiatt Memorial Jordan Brickley $1,000 Kassidy Fetch $1,000 Hera Hopkins $1,000 Kayleigh Lillethun $1,000 Sheyanne Pedersen $1,000 Quentin Skanes $1,500 Wauna Federal Credit Union Jocie Roberts $2,000 WOEC, Sam Hearing Jordan Brickley $1,000 Zack Rumbolz Memorial Jordan Brickley Quentin Skanes $1,500 $2,000 Au Revoir & Ela Eleqaa Hola. Marhaba. Bonjour. Ahoy. Hay. Jambo. Prevet. Chao. Hallo. These are the many ways we learned how to say “hello” in different languages this year. But since we are in the United States, I think it would be appropriate to say “Hi guys!” My name is Joud, not Jood, Joid or Jawd. And my name is Justine, not Justin, or Joustine. Those are the many ways Americans tried to pronounce our names. Thank you for trying Mr Underwood. I think that being an exchange student is like a dream. It’s too short to realize what’s going on, but it’s long enough to create a relation with the world around you, and leave a part of you here. Unlike many of you we weren’t in this school since kindergarten or freshmen year, we came here 10 months ago but we definitely lived those 4 years of high school in those 10 months. We started of as freshmen, knowing nobody and thinking that we probably would end up having lunch in the bathroom. Most of us struggled with talking to people and understanding them. Then after homecoming we felt like sophomores, interacting with more people, and realizing how caring this community is, offering us help when we need it. After spring break passed we felt like juniors, talking about all the fun we had , adventures and unbreakable bonds we’ve made. Most of us joined sports, became parts of teams and were treated like family. And now we feel like seniors walking towards our diplomas. Those 10 months have been extraordinary. In this limited time we’ve managed to make friends, memories and different experiences. And I’m sure that every exchange student has their own experience that if they start talking about it they would never finish. We’re not saying that this experience was perfect. We faced some struggles and challenges too. But this experience was one thing, which is irreplaceable. I think that after the time we exchange students spent together, we feel like we are all family now. But we’ve lost 3 already; Andrea, the Italian. Chloe Huot, who moved to Maupin. We wish she could’ve been with us. And Anastasyia Panchenko, she left on June 2nd, 2 days before graduation. And I’m pretty sure that she would have loved to be here. We are so glad we were given this opportunity to talk to you today. And we would like to take this chance to thank our friends, teachers, host families, local coordinators, and everybody who guided us through this amazing experience. Our year has ended and we don’t know what the future holds for any of us. But we know what we have now and that’s what matters. So congratulation to the class of 2016! You’ve made it. And congratulations to all of the exchange students, I know that most of you aren’t ready to go home. I know me and Justine aren’t. But we’ve made it. SO LET’S ENJOY THIS MOMENT ! Justine Larue, France Joud Khalaf, Palestine
