Humility, grit, grace describe Everett High’s Maggie Kermoade

This is one of a series of profiles of exceptional high school graduates from Snohomish County. They are among the thousands of students graduating this spring, each with their own story of academic achievement, creativity, leadership and determination.

EVERETT — Maggie Kermoade remembers that back at North Middle School, a boy told her she wasn’t a wrestler — couldn’t be — because she’s a girl.

“I just had to do it,” she said.

Kermoade, who’ll graduate Saturday from Everett High School, did wrestle at North, on a coed team. At Everett High, with the sport’s legendary Rick Iversen as coach, she wrestled her sophomore, junior and senior years, and was a two-year captain of the girls varsity wrestling team.

Last month, Kermoade was given the $10,000 Loren Baker Scholarship at the Rotary Club of Everett’s annual scholarship celebration.

“Maggie Kermoade is a powerhouse, but one whose humility, grit and grace is so prominent that, while she never demands the spotlight and generally tries to avoid it, it can’t help but find her,” said Megan Adams, Everett High’s English department head and AP literature teacher.

In her letter cited at the scholarship event, Adams said Kermoade is influential because of her sincerity and consistency in “treating all those around her with respect.”

The 18-year-old will use that scholarship at the University of Washington. She plans to study political science, but that could change. New experiences have defined her high school career.

In her senior year, Kermoade joined Everett High’s Navy JROTC program. “Everyone thought I was a freshman,” she said.

Her mother and grandparents have been teachers. Her older sister just graduated from college, and a brother attends UW. Her GPA is 3.86 and she’s president of Everett High’s Torch Honor Society. A scholar, she considered a military career.

For now, she’s choosing college over a uniform. Still, joining JROTC for a year “was absolutely the best decision,” she said. “I learned so much about respect.”

Her list of achievements goes on. Despite her insistence that she’s “very slow,” Kermoade ran cross country and became team captain. A Department Scholar in science, PE and choir, she was chosen by teachers for a CHAMPS award, based on character, attitude and mindset.

In an anonymous show of school spirit, she even donned Everett High’s Sammy Seagull mascot outfit at presentations for eighth-graders.

Kermoade has bold advice for other students: “Be fearless and try everything.”

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com.