Moasons honor top students, award scholarships

Published 12:12 am Sunday, May 10, 2015

The 48th Annual Masonic Outstanding Student Awards event was held May 1 in the Renee Henderson Auditorium at Kenai Central High School. Students representing 33 schools from across the Kenai Peninsula and one from Nome were honored for their achievements.

The most important goal of this event is giving each student public acknowledgment, recognition, and reinforcement that dedication to learning, being an active and positive participant in school and school activities, and helping other students is noticed, encouraged, and rewarded. Masons hope this positive reinforcement leads students to becoming beneficial and productive members in their communities.

Outstanding students were each introduced by their school teacher or administrator who gave a two minute introduction honoring the student. Student awards included a personalized certificate signed by Alaska Governor Bill Walker, a one ounce solid silver eagle coin, a book published by the Scottish Rite called “Dynamic Freedoms” (yet to be delivered), and an embossed certificate from Masonic Lodges of the Kenai Peninsula. An engraved name tag was given to the presenting teachers for their school’s large Masonic name plaque.

Master of Ceremonies was Marcus Ashkenasy, Worshipful Master of Kenai Lodge No. 11, who gave the invocation and introduced students. Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Sean Dusek welcomed everyone and described the positive incentive this program provides for students in becoming good and productive community citizens.

Awards were presented by Rite Worshipful Karl Lindstrom of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Alaska, school award Chairman John Strother, and Past Master Les Little.

Scholarship checks of $1,000 each were given to ten graduating high school seniors. Funding for these came from Masonic members of Kenai Lodge No. 11, Sterling Lodge No. 22, and Seward Lodge No. 6.

The “Heroes of ’76 of Alaska” with the National Sojourners put on a history demonstration with flags used for our country from 1775 to present day. Masonic Shriners and Masons worked as ushers escorting students and their presenters. Refreshments were provided by the Star of the North chapter of Easter Star No. 17.

School participation is voluntary and each school chooses their student. The Lodge provides the awards and outstanding student selection is carried out by KPBSD staff and others. Scholarship applications are submitted to the Committee by student seniors, who are selected by the Scholarship Review Committee based on the Lodge’s established criteria.

— Submitted by Peter O. Hansen, M.D., PM

Hope Elementry / High School — Benjamin Peck

Hope Elementry / High School — Andrew Bishop

Seward High School — Griffin Plush

Kenai Central High School — Alexandria Bergholtz

River City Academy — Sterling Stasak

Nikiski Middle / High School — Bryce Jensen

Nikiski Middle / High School — Bethany Castens

Soldotna High School — Justin Dahlgren

Aurora Borealis Charter School — Quinn Lucas

Kachemak Selo — Evgeny Konev

Razdolna — Hina Basargin

Voznesenka — Ekaterina Reutov

Homer High School — Patrick Rainwater

Ninilchik School — Ajiel Basmayor

Nikolaevsk School — Kilina Klaich

Skyview Middle School — Hannah Rose Delker

Redoubt Elementry School — Chaz Bird

Kenai Alternative High School — Raven Willoya-Williams

Sterling Elementry School — Sarah Rice

Homer Flex High School — Kaylynn Bunnell

Homer Middle School — Isabel Kulhanek

West Homer Elementry — Sylvester Gaona

Soldotna Prep — Kellie Arthur

Nikiski North Star Elementry — Rylee Ellis

Mountain View Elementry — Taylor Huett

Tustumena Elementry School — Grace McElroy

Soldotna Elementry School — Abby Radeck

Kenai Middle School — Damien Redder

Champan School — Finn Heimbold

Cooper Landing School — Cooper Gossard

K-Beach Elementary School — Grace Wahl

Susan B. English School — Seth O’Leary

Tebughna School — Serenity Standifer

Soldotna High School — Ali Dusek

Nikiski Middle/High School — Jenna Hansen

Soldotna High School — Nicholas L. Truesdell

Soldotna High School — Hailey Ames

River City Academy — Micah Sterling

Nikiski Middle/High School — Bryce Ole Jensen

Soldotna High School — Justin Dahlgren

Ninilchik School — Melissa Clark

Ninilchik School — Ajiel Mae Fabula Basmayor

Nome – Beltz High School — Isaiah Klay Baker