EDUCATION
A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 2018
Stanfield grads urged to address world’s woes
Hermiston Head Start
opens, another planned
By JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
STAFF WRITER
By JAYATI
RAMAKRISHNAN
STAFF WRITER
The 29 graduates of Stan-
field’s Class of 2018 were
ready to head out into the
world, but not without some
final words of wisdom from
their peers and parents.
At Stanfield Second-
ary School’s graduation
ceremony Saturday morn-
ing, students heard from
Rev. John Hurty, who asked
students to consider one
question.
“What’s wrong with the
world?” he asked.
Citing quotes from phi-
losophers
and
leaders
throughout history, he told
students that the idea that
something is wrong in the
world only makes sense
if there is a standard of
rightness.
He told students that the
problem, and solution, is
with everyone.
“You might never be
famous, but all of you will
exercise influence,” he said.
“I hope you will exercise
that influence for good.”
Students also heard from
valedictorian Caleb Walker,
and salutatorian Lydia
STAFF PHOTO BY JAYATI RAMAKRISHNAN
Stanfield seniors wait to receive their diplomas at graduation on Saturday.
Hurty.
Walker asked students
to keep their background in
mind as they consider where
they want to go.
“It’s only by learning
from the past that we can
hope to improve the future,”
he said.
Students enjoyed a slide-
show, featuring each gradu-
ate’s baby and senior pho-
tos. Each graduate was also
given a rose, which they
then presented to a family
member or friend who had
supported and encouraged
them.
After receiving their
diplomas, graduates filed
out of the gym, where eager
families and friends received
them on the school’s front
lawn.
Umatilla Seniors announce their post-high school plans
By JAYATI
RAMAKRISHNAN
and JADE MCDOWELL
STAFF WRITERS
Amid cheers and fan-
fare often reserved for stu-
dent athletes, all Umatilla
High School seniors who
are pursuing post-second-
ary education signed letters
of intent during the school’s
third annual Signing Day.
“This is a big step,” Prin-
cipal Bob Lorence said,
congratulating the students.
“As you sign your name,
just make a commitment to
further your education.”
Umatilla High School
Dean of Students April
Dirksen said this year, 72
students will be signing
to post-secondary educa-
tion of some kind, whether
a four-year college, a two-
year college, the military or
trade school. That’s a jump
of nearly 20 students from
the previous year — some-
thing Superintendent Heidi
Sipe noted when she chal-
lenged the underclassmen
in the stands to “beat their
record” when it was their
turn to graduate.
Sipe said this year’s
senior class has 96 students,
and 75 percent of them have
committed to a college,
trade school or the military.
She said the district’s
graduation rate last year was
82 percent, and she expects
this year’s class to hit at
least 86 percent.
Before the ceremony,
five students discussed their
path to graduation and some
of the obstacles they’ve
encountered along the way.
Some students said their
biggest obstacle was the
lack of financial support
they’ll have, and having to
navigate the world of higher
education alone.
STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY
Trey Dorman, of Umatilla High School, announces his plans
after graduation to the rest of the student body as part of
signing day.
“They’re really conquering things,”
Heidi Sipe,
superintendent, Umatilla School District
“I’ve always known
I was going to go to col-
lege,” said Maria Moreno,
who will attend the Uni-
versity of Oregon to study
biology. She said while she
has always been self-moti-
vated, it was a little difficult
because her parents had no
experience with the system.
“It would have been a lit-
tle easier if they’d been to
school, and understood how
things work,” she said.
For others, the challenges
included the loss of a family
member. Ayana Reyes, who
will attend Blue Mountain
Community College, lost
her mother when she was a
freshman.
“That’s been the biggest
thing,” she said. Reyes lives
with her two siblings.
She said while it has
been a challenge, she has
received support from the
community.
“My mom was a teacher
in the district, so the whole
district feels like family,”
she said. “I have McNary
moms always on me about
my grades. It’s basically a
second family for me.”
Some students made
their decision with the long-
term picture in mind.
Trey Dohman, who is
joining the Navy, said being
raised in a military family
informed his decision.
“I definitely figured it was
something that would help
me in my future,” he said.
“That job security made me
feel more comfortable.”
Mayra Ortiz will play
soccer and study physical
therapy at Columbia Basin
College in Pasco. She said
she picked CBC because
she had the opportunity to
keep playing a sport she
loves, but has also keep the
future in mind.
“I knew that after CBC
I would transfer,” she said.
“If I don’t keep playing soc-
cer after CBC, I can still
look for a place I like for
education.”
These students, and
others, were honored at
the schoolwide assem-
bly Wednesday afternoon,
which took place after a tal-
ent show.
A few student ath-
letes were also recognized,
including Nestor Chaves,
who signed an official let-
ter of intent to run track
and field for Warner Pacific
University.
For the big finale, each
senior grabbed a handmade
poster displaying the name
and logo of their school and
took a turn at the micro-
phone, announcing their
name and post-graduation
plans. Those plans covered
military service, private and
public universities, com-
munity colleges and trade
schools.
Afterward the students
sat down at rows of tables
and signed their own, unof-
ficial “letters of intent” to
further their education.
“They’re really conquer-
ing things,” Sipe said, con-
gratulating the senior class.
As older students get
ready to close their text-
books for the year, some
of Hermiston’s youngest
learners have new a place
to begin their education.
Umatilla-Morrow Head
Start has two new loca-
tions, one that opened two
weeks ago and one sched-
uled to open in the near
future.
The Downtown Cen-
ter, at 372 East Main St.,
opened in mid-May, and
houses 40 preschool-age
students for extended day
classes. Those classes are
6.5 hours long.
Another
classroom
space is planned on Airport
Road, but no date has been
announced for the project.
Associate Operations
Director Dan Daltoso
said UMCHS had been
working to find a place to
expand for several months,
and wanted to move two of
the classes previously held
WORSHIP
COMMUNITY
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
Join Us On Our Journey With Jesus.
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
Family service 9am Sunday
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church who welcomes all.
First Christian
Church
“Proclaiming the Message of
Hope, Living the Gospel of Love”
Sunday School 9:15am
Worship Gathering 10:30 am
Children’s Church 10:30 am
567-3013
775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston
235 SW 3rd
Phone 567-7678
Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker
Sunday:
Sunday School........10:00 am
Worship...................11:00 am
Evening Service........7:00 pm
Wednesday Service..7:00 pm
“Casting all your care upon him;
for he careth for you.”
1 Pet. 5:7
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Worship Service 10:30 AM
Sunday School 9:00 AM
Pastor J.C. Barnett
Children’s Church &
Nursery Available
700 West Orchard Avenue
P.O. Box 933
Hermiston, Oregon
541-567-8441
Seventh-day
Adventist Church
Saturdays
Sabbath School........9:30 a.m.
Worship Service......11:00 a.m.
English & Spanish Services
567-8241
855 W. Highland • Hermiston
555 SW 11th, Hermiston
567-9497
Pays $1.00 into an open Youth Savings Account for every
top grade that our 1st-12th grade students receive on
their end-of-the-year report cards. Up to $50.00 annually.
Learn all the details online or stop by your local branch.
The Full Gospel
Home Church
NEW BEGINNINGS
Grace Baptist Church
Our Earn While You Learn Program
Is Available in June & July Only!
at the Victory Square office
into a new location.
“Parents really wanted
extended-day services,” he
said.
Daltoso said they got
a great price on the build-
ing, which more recently
housed the Gems and
Gents preschool, but it
needed a lot of work.
“We had to put in new
bathrooms, and we had to
work with the licensing
and building offices,” he
said.
Daltoso said the build-
ing was originally an auto
parts store, and they had to
make siginficant remodels
to the building. They also
redid the kitchen and cre-
ated office space.
Daltoso said renovating
the Downtown Center cost
a little over $100,000.
He said the classes in
Victory Square were part-
day — morning or after-
noon classes — and with
the expansion to extend-
ed-day
classes,
they
needed some more space
and staff support.
Nursery provided for all services
Sunday School - 9:30 AM
Worship - 10:45 AM
6:00 PM
Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM
“Proclaiming God’s word,
growing in God’s grace”
1520 W ORCHARD AVE
Sunday Worship Service
10:30 am Classes for Kids @ 9:15 am
SEEKING JESUS, SHARING LIFE,
SERVING PEOPLE
www.hermistonnazarene.org
LANDMARK BAPTIST
CHURCH
125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232
Pastor David Dever
Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am
Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am
Sun. Evening Worship..............6:00pm
Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......6:00pm
www.hermistonlmbc.com
First United
Methodist
Church
Hermiston
191 E. Gladys Ave , Hermiston OR
Sunday Worship 11am • 541-567-3002
Nursery available Check us out on Face Book
Worship Livestream at herfumc.com
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor
Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday
...............................English 7:00 am
Thursday...............Spanish 6:00 pm
SATURDAY:.........English 5:00 pm
...............................Spanish 7:00 pm
SUNDAY:..............English 9:00 am
..........................Bilingual 11:00 am
..............................Spanish 1:00 pm
Offi ce..............................567-5812
To share your
worship times call
www.communitybanknet.com
Member FDIC
541-278-2678