LIHU‘E — Everything the Kaua‘i High School Class of 2009 did was big, from the day four years ago when they walked onto the Lihu‘e campus as the largest freshman class ever, until Friday night at Vidinha Stadium, when they walked as the largest graduating class ever.
They had a big homecoming queen, Cheryl Arizabal.
They had the most valedictorians (12) in school history.
They made big noise when their class, 285 strong, was introduced by Principal Linda Smith.
The 68 graduates who received college scholarships totaled over $2 million in awards, including Kelsey Gaetjens, who received $373,200 to attend Williams College in Massachusetts.
Gaetjens is one of the valedictorians.
The senior Raiders were large on the athletic fields, helping to win Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation titles in several sports, and taking a state championship in girls softball and state runner-up trophy in boys baseball.
“Very few students (less than 10) didn’t make it this year,” said Charles Fulks Jr., senior counselor, but he wouldn’t provide an exact number.
“It’s been an exceptionally good year as far as that (graduation rate) goes. It’s encouraging,” he said.
Fulks also noted Nerissa Hoglen as a National Merit Scholar. She was home sick and unable to attend the commencement exercises.
Meleho‘ala Ng is salutatorian. The other valedictorians include Chantell Joy Balaan, Joey Gano, Molly Hasegawa, George Kato, Micah Mizukami, Dreana Valenciano, Dawn Vess, Kaylen Wakumoto, Elliot Yamamoto and Elisabeth Young.
Smith handed out the Na Lima Kokua (Helping Hands) awards to the seniors who throughout their four years at Kaua‘i High amassed points for their extracurricular and community-service involvement, while remaining in the top 10 percent of their class academically.
Valenciano won the gold medal, Young the silver and Kato the bronze. Ng, headed to the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa to study accounting and meteorology, had a 3.98 grade point average. The valedictorians all had grade point averages above 4.00.
The valedictorians each took a letter of the word “valedictions,” meaning speeches or statements made before departure.
Hoglen, off to the California Institute of Technology, had the letter V as her letter, for “vibrant,” meaning moving quickly, pulsating with vigor, smiling, lively.
Mizukami, off to Willamette University in Oregon to study Japanese, had the letter A, for “arigato,” Japanese for “thank you,” and delivered the first part of his address in Japanese, translating to English for a majority of the packed west side of the stadium bleachers.
Hasegawa, off to college in Claremont, Calif. to study math education, had the letter L, for “laughter.” “Live a life surrounded by people we love and, most importantly, do it with people we love,” the valedictorian said.
Gaetjens, to study biology and anthropology, was assigned the letter E, for “evil.” That is, “plan to fight evil with knowledge,” and be a superhero by helping others. As valedictorians, “all we really did was get good grades.”
Yamamoto, going to the University of California at Los Angeles to study chemistry and material science, had the letter D, for “discretion,” and advised classmates that wherever your journey leads you, it’s up to you.
Valenciano, off to Creighton University to study pre-pharmacy or biology, had the letter I, and was using it to describe her likes of strawberry shakes and one-piece bathing suits, before switching to encouraging children to pursue their dreams. The I also stands for “indomitable,” meaning nothing can stop you, she said.
Kato, off to Montana State University to study nursing, had the letter C, for “curiosity.” He thanked his teachers, friends, parents, “for being who you are, all the time.” He said “curiosity killed the cat,” but humans are nothing like cats. We don’t chase mice (we use traps), and we never cough up hairballs. Discover your dreams and aspirations, he told classmates. Curiosity allowed them to excel at Kaua‘i High School, and curiosity will lead them to excel beyond high school, said Kato, declaring himself “curious George.”
Young, off to the University of Puget Sound to study biochemistry and pre-medicine, said her T is for “today,” “tomorrow,” “truth.” “This speech is about today,” with each member of the class preparing to take a short walk across the stage that will change their lives. “This speech is about tomorrow. Tomorrow, high school is a memory,” she said, imploring classmates to reach far, because you can be whatever you want. “Dance through every storm. T is to live for today, staying true to yourself.”
Balaan, to study business and health at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, said her I is for “intelligence,” “impressive,” “inspirational,” and that her quest to be valedictorian was not for the fame or the medal, nor for the right to give a speech before thousands of people, because “it greatly terrifies me.” Dreams are achievable, anything is possible with endurance and determination. “If I inspired any one of you even a little bit, I accomplished my goal.”
Wakumoto, to attend the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa to study civil engineering, said O is for “odyssey,” pausing to thank Smith, faculty, teachers and staff at Kaua‘i High, and his elementary teachers as well. His parents got a special nod, for putting up with him through the highs and lows. “I’ll always have you to fall back on.”
Gano, to study architecture at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, said the N he was assigned is for “new.” He thanked God, faculty, staff, teachers, for their patience and opportunities, and thanked also his family and friends. “Thank you for being just who you are.”
Vess, off to the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa to study pre-medicine, said Smith’s commitment and dedication to students did not go unnoticed, and that her letter is S, for “short,” which describes her height and the length of her speech, since she was the last of 12.
