Ella Graduates High School

On Thursday, June 1st, Ella graduated from Riverton High School. Their graduation was held at the Utah Valley University UCCU Center on campus. 

Because I'm still recovering from my knee surgery, Alan and I were unable to attend the graduation. Considering how many steps and flights of stairs I would have had to traverse in order to attend, I felt it was best not to gamble on my knee swelling up again due to over-exertion.

Ella is an amazing student and over-achiever. She was one of 25 Valedictorians in her graduating class of 680 students. She has maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout all of her years of schooling. She got a bilingual literacy certification, was a National Merit Scholar finalist, and was a Sterling Scholar finalist in English for Utah. She has a full-ride scholarship to attend her school of choice - Utah State University.

 While taking an EMT course during her senior year, Ella won three 1st place and one 2nd place award at the state HOSA competition. This is more than anyone else won. She also qualified for nationals, which she will compete in this summer. She passed the EMT exam and is a certified EMT now. She accomplished this while finishing High School, working part time, and being the president of the "Wolf Buddies" at Riverton High, where students do peer tutoring of special needs students. She considered this her greatest high school honor. (Silver Wolves is the school mascot)

Ella also helped raise $262,230 through Silver Rush (school fundraiser) for the Children's Justice Center. This organization helps many children, and the families of those children, who have been abused in some way. Having been abused herself and reaped the benefits of the support of the Children's Justice Center, Ella was thrilled to be a keynote speaker and help spearhead the fundraiser for that organization.

Ella is also a gifted dancer and pianist. Her list of awesome qualities and accomplishments go on and on.

We couldn't be more proud of the many accomplishments of our wonderful granddaughter. It has been such a pleasure to watch her grow from a little girl into the woman she has become. 

We certainly wish Ella well as she leaves home and goes off to college this fall. She has the whole world ahead of her and we know that she will attack it head-on and will continue to grow and accomplish many more great things.