EDUCATION
Saturday, June 11, 2022
East Oregonian
A7
BMCC sends off the Class of 2022
Blue Mountain Community College students Thursday,
June 9, 2022, wear caps they decorated for BMCC’s grad-
uation at the Pendleton Convention Center.
Photos by Yasser Marte/East Oregonian
The Blue Mountain Community College Class of 2022 stands and turns tassels to the left Thursday, June 9, 2022, to com-
memorate graduation.
STUDENTS
Helix announces fourth
quarter honor roll
HELIX — The Helix School District
announced the fourth quarter 2021-22 honor
roll for middle school and high school students:
Griswold High School, 4. 0 GPA: Dean
Boland, Blake Harper, Vicky Morris, Eliza-
beth Reeder, Ethan Reeder, MayaBella Texidor;
3.25-3.74: Kolby Ash, Caiden Boatright, Ryan
Chalmers, Ainsley Curtiss, Ellery Flerchinger,
Brandon Hoff man, Darla Holden, Kerry Jensen,
Victoria Keene, Cody Kinnaman, Sasah Kova-
lak, Sam Kubishta, Brianna Makin, Anitohi
Mercer, Sydney Moore, Sean Phillips.
Helix Middle School, 4.0: Kennady
Alvarado, Natalie Boland, Brinley Curtiss,
Sophia Estrada, Andrew Kubishta, Ellie Morris,
Evan Reeder, Marissa Smith; 3.75-3.99 GPA:
Kallie Joe Campbell, Kayleigh Coiner, Larman
Coiner, Emilee Dean, Avery Hayes, Lane Levy,
Lillianne Madden, Elizabeth Ottosen, Sophia
Villanueva-Rock, Emma Ware; 3.25-3.74 GPA:
Sophia Anderson, Andrew Carmichael, Jace
Hales, Ethan Harlow, Katherine Hill, Campbell
Kinnaman, Makayla Makin, Malaeloa Malum-
aleumu, Nola Miller, Emmy Nava, Cara Phil-
lips, Kaylee Rand, Paxton Rasmussen, Callahan
Sovince, Kyara Thomas.
Pendleton Rotary club awards
scholarships
PENDLETON — A handful of 2022 Pend-
leton High School graduates have been awarded
scholarships from the Rotary Club of Pendleton.
Each of the recipients received $2,000.
Those receiving the Don Fossatti Schol-
arship are Ashtyn Brown, Keri Kunz,
Kendall Moore, Anahi Ponce Palomera
and Andrew Williams. And the Gordon
George Memorial Scholarship was awarded
to Anders Edward Oja.
The scholarship recipients were chosen
based on academic qualifi cations and a demon-
strated ability to achieve success in their chosen
fi eld of study, fi nancial need and a refl ection of
the Rotary motto of service before self in the
students’ lives.
Pendleton Foundation Trust
awards scholarships
PENDLETON — A trio of 2022 Pendleton
High School graduates received scholarships
from the Pendleton Foundation Trust.
According to a press release, the amounts
were increased this year, and for the fi rst time,
the total award will be disbursed in two equal
awards for each student’s fi rst two academic
years. The scholarship awards and the recipi-
ents are:
The Jiggs and Maxine Fisk Memorial Schol-
arship totaling $6,000 was awarded to Anders
Oja. He plans to attend Princeton University to
study environmental engineering or an affi li-
ated fi eld.
Keri Kunz and Alara Campbell both
received a Pendleton Foundation Trust —
Dudek Scholarship, totaling $4,800 each. Kunz
will attend Central Washington State University
to study STEM courses and prepare to teach in
a secondary school. Campbell plans to attend
Washington State University’s Honors College,
to study zoology.
Founded in 1928, Pendleton Foundation
Trust was the fi rst permanent trust fund of its
type in Oregon. In addition to funding scholar-
ships, grants from interest earned on estate gifts
and donations to the trust are awarded through
twice-yearly grant cycles to Pendleton’s civic,
educational and charitable organizations. For
more information, visit www.pendletonfoun-
dationtrust.com.
— EO Media Group
Abel Coronado
August 4, 1953 - May 21, 2022
Abel Coronado passed away unexpect-
edly at the age of 68 on May 21, 2022, at
St. Alphonsus Medical Center, Baker City,
Oregon. He was born on Aug. 4, 1953, in
Walla Walla, Washington, to
Lucio H. and Ramona Coro-
nado. He grew up in Walla
Walla with his five siblings
and numerous cousins, shar-
ing many happy times.
He attended Davis Ele-
mentary School, John Sager
Middle School, Garrison Ju-
nior High School and Walla
Walla High School, gradu-
ating in 1972. He enjoyed
track in middle school and
loved baseball. Abel attend-
ed Walla Walla Community College. He
was employed for many years by Hatfield’s
Department Store in Moses Lake, Bend,
Walla Walla and Pendleton before opening
his own store “Abe’s Clothing and Foot-
ware” in Pendleton, Oregon. After closing
his store, Abel worked as a correctional of-
ficer for EOCI in Pendleton, Oregon, and
for Powder River Correctional Facility in
Baker City, Oregon, until his retirement.
Abel married his childhood sweetheart,
Kathy Knopf, later divorcing after years of
marriage. Abel and Kathy had three sons,
Tom, Jason and Justin. Abel was a loving
and supportive father and his love for his
children, grandchildren and great-grand-
children was immeasurable. Abel married
Sandy Perkins, of Baker City, Oregon, and
later divorced.
Abel loved music, dancing and spend-
ing time with his family and friends. He
made connections with everyone he met,
loved all people and loved life. He was
the heart of our family and his smile and
laughter will be greatly missed by all who
knew and loved him.
Abel was predeceased in death by his
parents, Lucio H. and Ramo-
na Coronado. He is survived
by his sons and their spouses,
Tom and Claudia Stephen-
son, Jason and Wendy Coro-
nado, Justin and Daw-
na Coronado; grandchildren,
Jessika (John) Salinas, Kylie
(Dylan) Long, Issac Corona-
do, Issa Stephenson, Roberto
Vela, Alex Coronado, Tayler
Kiesau and Blake Kiesau,
Jaxon (Brooklyn) Coro-
nado and Jordon Corona-
do; great-grandchildren, Jayden Salinas,
Blakely Salinas, Deklyn Salinas, and
Emerson Long; siblings, Genaro Corona-
do, Irma (Frank) Leonetti, Rebecca Cruz,
Ricardo Coronado and Diana (Ron) Coro-
nado Wheeler; aunts, Luz Cabrales and
Ina Coronado; uncle, Luis Coronado, and
numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and
friends.
Burial services will be held on Tuesday,
June 14, 2022, 12:30 p.m. at Mountain
View Cemetery, 2120 S. 2nd Ave, Walla
Walla, Washington, with a celebration of
life gathering immediately following at
College Place Lions Club. Memorial con-
tributions in Abel’s memory may be made
to the Pendleton Little League or the Baker
City Little League through Gray’s West &
Co. Pioneer Chapel at 1500 Dewey Ave.,
Baker City, OR 97814.
To leave an online condolence for the
family of Abel, please visit www.gray-
swestco.com.
Blue Mountain Community College instructors cheer stu-
dents Thursday, June 9, 2022, at the the Pendleton Con-
vention Center during commencement.
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Richard Dale Hopper
August 9, 1945 - November 8, 2020
Richard Dale Hopper, 75, passed away
unexpectedly on the banks of the Snake
River, near Oxbow, Oregon, while on a
camping, fishing weekend trip, on Nov.
8, 2020. He died peacefully
with the sounds of nature all
around him.
Dick was born on Aug.
9, 1945, in Lamar, Colorado.
The youngest of four
children born to John and
Lydia (Steinley) Hopper,
he was raised and attended
school in Greeley, Colorado.
Dick met Shirley Gerton
while she was working
at city hall in 1980. They
married on Dec. 31, 1988,
at the Chapel of the Bells in
Reno and shared almost 32
wonderful years of marriage.
Dick is survived by his
wife, Shirley; daughters,
Kristy (Todd) Crum, Welling
Oklahoma; Cindy Hopper,
Pendleton; and Patricia
(Norv) Landrum, Pendleton;
sisters, Beverly Taylor and
Donna Allbritton, both of
Grand Junction Colorado;
and sister-in-law, Peggy
Hopper, Grove Oklahoma.
Surviving
grandchildren
include Joshua (Karen)
Robarge, Kayla Clark, Osa
(Adam) Lange, Ana (Jarred)
Cope, and Jonathan (Phyllis)
Clark; and great-grandchildren, Mariea,
Sophia, Matthew, Noah, Evan, Savanah,
and Jonathan.
He was preceded in death by his parents,
brother, Stanley Hopper; and brothers-in-
law, Owen Taylor and Tony Allbritton.
Dick was a very caring, giving person
who was extremely proud of his family.
He loved to be outdoors, whether he was
camping, fishing, bow hunting, or just
hiking in the woods. He enjoyed golfing,
playing poker, and working in his garden
Dick served in the Air Force from 1962
to 1966. Following his discharge, he began
his career in the fire service. He joined the
La Grande Fire Department in 1966 and
was assistant chief/fire marshal when he
resigned. In 1977, he moved his family
to Albany, Oregon, where he was acting
chief, resigning in 1980
In February 1980, he became
Pendleton’s fire chief. He was the fifth
paid chief, and the third since 1932. He
continued to attend educational classes,
including an executive development
class at the National Fire Academy. Dick
retired in 2000, ending a 34-year career in
the fire service. He received recognition
for 20 years of service to the Round-Up
Association
A member of the Oregon Fire Chiefs
Association, Dick was installed as president
for 1990-91. He was the first president from
Eastern Oregon since former Pendleton
Fire Chief Blackie Batchelor held that
post in 1940. We enjoyed many travels
throughout Oregon during his years as an
officer on the OFCA Board.
In 1984, Dick joined the Kiwanis
Club of Pendleton. From 1990-91, he
served as president, and in 1998 was
named Pendeton’s Kiwanian of the Year.
He was active in Kiwanis, working on
many service and community projects. He
received a Hixson Fellow award in 2001.
He served Kiwanis and our
community until 2006.
Dick joined the Pendleton
Country Club in 1984. Over
the years he golfed several
days a week. Early in his
golfing career, he could
frequently be found with a
five-gallon bucket of golf
balls practicing at the driving
range. He had six hole-in-
ones. He served a term on
the Board of Directors, and
in early 2005, he volunteered
as interim manager for a few
months
He participated several
times in the Police and Fire
World Games (a sporting
event for police and
firefighters with an Olympics
format held every two years
in various places around the
world). Those travels took
us to many places, including
New York City and Belfast,
Northern Ireland.
Dick was a member of the
Thursday Night Gathering,
Pendleton
Professional
Poker Players. He also
enjoyed playing poker at
Wildhorse Resort & Casino,
advancing to the final table in one spring
and two fall major poker tournaments.
In 2018, he began woodworking and the
art of inlay. He made many pieces, from a
Santa, birds, abstracts, animals and more.
He shared several of his creations with
friends. When encouraged to sell them
he said then it would be a job. He simply
enjoyed sharing.
Dick was proud of his Volga German
history. In 2013, we traveled to Europe and
Russia to see where his family originated.
His sister, Donna Allbritton, joined us on
that adventure.
We enjoyed traveling and visited many
places in the U.S. and especially the trips
to the Oregon coast and throughout the
Pacific Northwest.
Dick led a life full of adventure and
accomplishments. He was a family man
who taught his daughters and others that
you can do anything you want in life if you
choose to invest your time to do it well. As
a role model, he did just that and lived life
on his own terms with few compromises.
He is missed dearly by his family, friends
and the community.
There will be a celebration of life on
June 18, 2022, 1 p.m., at the Golf Course
at Birch Creek. Dick will be buried at
Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western
Colorado, in Grand Junction. The family
requests memorial donations in Dick’s
memory be made to Kiwanis Doernbecher
Children’s Cancer Program, 2870 N.E.
Hogan Drive, Suite E., PMB#155,
Gresham OR 97030 or online at www.
kiwanisdoernbecher.org/give/donate.
Online condolences may be shared at
www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.