EVERETT — Every once in awhile the fortune cookie just nails it.
“You have an ability for accomplishment,” said the treat that made it’s way to the desk of Tom Lane, the CEO of sponsor Dwayne Lane’s Family of Auto Centers, who found the fortune in his lunch Thursday afternoon.
Never did it seem more appropriate than in the company of 12 of the Everett School District’s top scholar-athletes at the 49th annual Walsh-Platt scholarship ceremony Thursday night at Everett Civic Auditorium.
Four students, two male and two female representatives from each Everett School District high school, are nominated with one of each taking home awards and a $2,500 scholarship.
Lane, a Walsh-Platt scholarship winner himself in 1988, was Thursday’s award presenter.
Juliette Becker, a four-year runner in cross country and track at Jackson High School, was the girls winner. Becker, who has always excelled in the classroom, was overjoyed to be honored for her athletic abilites as well.
“That’s how I identify myself now, as an athlete,” Becker said.
“It really means a lot to me,” she said at the podium after her name was announced as the winner. “Sports is the most important part of my life.”
That’s impressive for a person who’s headed to the California Institute of Technology to study astrophysics. The 4.0 student who used to aspire to be an astronuat, has “loved space ever since I was a kid.”
Everett High School’s Malaki Seanoa took the boys prize, thanks to an impressive track resume. Seanoa played baseball, football and basketball his freshman year and then had a meeting with his freshman football coach, who was also an assistant coach on the track team, that changed his life.
“He said ‘with your Samoan heritage, you should be chucking a spear,’” Seanoa recalled.
So that’s exactly what he did.
Seanoa set a school record his junior year which he proceeded to break twice his senior season. He is the only Seagull to ever record a throw more than 200 feet.
“Just keep trying, never give up,” Seanoa advised younger athletes. It’s good advice from a guy who will be participating in track and field at Washington State University next year.
The other nominees for the award, which began in 1962, were: Kaitie Brush, Dylan Hopper, Danielle Love and Chris McGrath from Cascade; Alec Bird, Molly Burton and Sele Vance of Everett; and Jackson’s Mitchell Briggs, Emily Girard and Mike Wishko.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
