Polk County News
14A Polk County itemizer-Observer • may 31, 2017
Guiger finds special place at Falls City
By Jolene Guzman
the itemizer-Observer
FALLS CITY — Madeline Guiger was anxious to make a good impression in her new school
when she enrolled at Falls City High School as a junior.
Previously home-schooled, she didn’t want to stand out too much.
“I was trying so hard because I didn’t want to be the weird home-school kid. But I was,
though. That was who I was, and people accepted me anyway,” Guiger said. “That’s another rea-
son why I knew Falls City was the right choice for me.”
Guiger will graduate from Falls City High School Friday, ending a short, but key part of her ed-
ucation thus far.
“I transferred in because one of our teachers, Mr. Ellingson, he actually was a member of my
church,” she said. “He’s the one who told me about Falls City and convinced me that I should
transfer out here.”
She’s glad she took his advice.
“Education-wise and community-wise, it was just a great place,” she said. “I’m really grateful
for all the opportunities I’ve gotten to have here.”
Guiger joined music classes, helped to put on school concerts, and took the leadership class
while at Falls City High. A ukulele, guitar, and piano player, as well as a singer, music classes de-
veloped her interest in music, something she will pursue further in college.
She said she will take another lesson with her from Falls City: The value of hard work.
“We talk about a lot about the quality of grit here at Falls City, that perseverance for long-term
goals,” she said. “There are going to be days that you don’t want to do things and you are just
tired and feel worn out. You just have to be keep going, and it will pay off in the future.”
Guiger said her time in Falls City made her into someone who wants to keep learning.
“You going to have to do things that don’t make sense, like learn things in algebra that you
think you are never going to use later in life — and a lot of it you probably won’t — but you have
to get that skill of how to learn. To be teachable, that’s a really valuable skill in life,” she said. “It
doesn’t stop after high school. It doesn’t stop after college.”
Guiger is enrolled in Northwest Christian University in Eugene, where she will major in com-
munications and be part of the choir. She said she wanted to attend a Christian school, and
NCU rose to the top of those colleges she explored in Oregon.
She wants to work for a nonprofit organization once she graduates and thought a communi-
cation degree would give her an array of skills and the flexibility to adapt to what a nonprofit
might need, such as fundraising and applying for grants.
With only a few days before graduation, Guiger said she’s beginning to realize how much she’s
going to miss Falls City.
“That’s the hardest thing for me because I’ve never had the type of friends I’ve had here at any
other school or place I’ve been,” she said. “I’m also just terrified of having normal teachers. I love
just how out-there the teachers are and how personal their relationships are to every student. I
think that is what I will miss the most.”
Guiger said she attended public school for part of elementary school, briefly at a private
school, and was home-schooled, but it’s her experience at Falls City that has made the most im-
pact. She said she’s grateful to her parents, friends and teachers and staff at the school for that.
“Nothing has been the same as Falls City,” she said. “I want to thank everybody in my little
bubble who has helped me get where I am today.”
JOlEnE GUzmAn/itemizer-Observer
Madeline Guiger transferred to Falls City thanks to a teacher, Mr. Ellingson, who convinced her to come while at church.
AOL Awards Scholarships
ACADEMIC HONORS
POlK COUnty — the Associated Oregon loggers Scholarship Committee met during the Spring
Board meeting on may 12. the committee awarded a $1500 scholarship to lindsay Golly, of Dallas.
She will attend Oregon State University and study the field of forestry or a forest resource production
curriculum.
Golly was one of three recipients. Justin Fasana, of Willamina, and Austin Clevenger, of mcmin-
nville, also received scholarships.
Both will attend Oregon State University.
Costa honored for leadership
FrOnt rOyAl, VA — lucas Costa, of monmouth, a senior at randolph-macon Academy, has been
honored for his leadership and performance within the Virginia 91st Air Force JrOtC unit at the
school. Costa received the American Veterans (AmVEtS) Award.
this award recognizes a cadet who has a positive attitude toward AFJrOtC, displays exceptional
personal appearance, integrity, honor, consideration for others, and moral courage.
the award was presented on April 13 in Boggs Chapel, as part of the Spring Family Days Celebra-
tion.