Enumclaw High seniors are spirited, energetic lot

Published 1:14 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Brenda Sexton

The Courier-Herald

Spirited is the word used most to describe the Enumclaw High School Class of 2004.

Approximately 350 seniors are expected to cross the White River Amphitheatre stage Monday night and receive their diplomas from EHS.

Enumclaw's Class of 2004 was also described as energetic.

"They elected great leaders," class adviser Kevin Smith said. "They were also subject to the most change, but not here long enough to take advantage of it."

This year's seniors are the first class to graduate under Enumclaw High School's completed small schools concept. This year, EHS opened five interest-based schools to its two partner schools in the final step of its reinvention plan. The reinvention plan is a research-based, comprehensive set of recommendations anchored around high academic expectations, personalized student learning, continuous staff development and performance accountability.

This class, said some, is as diverse as the small schools they represent.

EHS Athletic Director Tim Tubbs said, "They are the epitome of the X-generation," with an emphasis on energy.

He also said this group was more artistic than other classes.

Smith said the seniors are a diverse group, very individual.

"Yet they are non-inclusive," he said. "There's a closeness despite its diversity."

EHS Career Center Specialist Kristin Schuver said this class has turned in more scholarship applications than other classes and have garnered some pretty impressive placements for after high school. For example, she said, Justus Hyatt, through the University of Washington school of engineering, has an internship with the NASA jet propulsion lab in Pasadena, Calif. Dan Kauffman has earned an appointment to the Air Force Academy in Colorado.

As of Friday, six seniors were lined up to be valedictorian with their perfect 4.0 grade-point averages.

Schuver said this year she's seeing more seniors eyeing a future in education.

"I guess, more kids were inspired by their teachers to be teachers," Schuver said. "A couple of years ago it was law enforcement."

Schuver said from the of those heading to college, early numbers point to the University of Washington and Western Washington as the favorites.

During these times of war, it was also noted a handful of seniors are headed into the military.

Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald