MOSES LAKE — While everyone works hard to graduate from high school, some students just have to work harder.

Which is why Moses Lake High School chooses to honor its Outstanding 20 Seniors every year. It’s a way to recognize and honor those students who “are doing great things” and have overcome some tremendous obstacles, according to Moses Lake High School Principal Triscia Hochstatter.

“This is one of my favorite awards,” she said. “I love to recognize these students.”

Hochstatter said that many of these students have persevered “in spite of obstacles” and that all by itself is worth acknowledging because being successful at school is worth encouraging.

“We need to encourage that,” she said.

This year’s Outstanding Seniors are: Gabriella Rios, Maria Anguiano, Joshua Araiza, Leanna Day, Andrew Frey, Issabella Frizzell, Eliud Galeana, Mason Gollihar, Conner Heslop, Guadalupe Huitron Pardo, Kyle Karstetter, Ellie Knox, Karla Lence, Dax Lindgren, Sarah Nelson, Ryan Prentice, Sabrina Rhyne, Andrew Saldana, Braelyn Widdis and Colton McMillin.

Gabriella Rios is a student-athlete who is “not afraid of challenging herself or getting outside her comfort zone,” Hochstatter said. She has played volleyball, basketball and softball over the course of her four years, and she “rallies her teammates whether in victory or defeat.”

Rios volunteers at a day care and with the Humane Society, and intends to go on to Big Bend Community College where she will play volleyball.

Maria Anguiano has worked hard and persevered during her four years of high school, being a “second mom” to her younger brothers and sisters while she completed her high school coursework, earned an associate’s degree at Big Bend Community College and worked part time.

Anguiano will study nursing at the University of Washington.

Josh Araiza was a full-time Running Start student at Big Bend Community College. He also worked full time, including 12-hour shifts on Friday and Saturday, at a local feedlot “in order to financially help his family and save for college,” Hochstatter said.

Araiza will study business at Eastern Washington University this fall.

Leanne Day “has never taken the easy way,” Hochstatter said, and is graduating high school after having a baby and getting married last fall. A “very caring and nurturing person,” Hochstatter said Day plans to eventually attend Big Bend Community College to become a certified nursing assistant and eventually a nurse.

Andrew Frey was nominated because “he has been such a fun and positive part” of the student leadership at MLHS, Hochstatter said. He served as spirit coordinator, and was always “willing to jump in and participate” in school activities and even create a few new traditions along the way, she added.

Frey is planning to attend Washington State University in the fall.

Issabella Frizzell was nominated because she took multiple Advanced Placement courses, volunteered for numerous clubs “and was always willing to help out her peers,” Hochstatter said. She was also a member and an officer in the MLHS Key Club, and plans to attend college next year, though she was not specific about where.

Eliud Galeana was nominated because she “is always willing to push beyond her personal comforts when it comes to reaching her goals,” Hochstatter said. She has shown an ability to ignore both distractions and limits, and plans on attending college in the fall, though she did not specify where.

Mason Gollihar is “brilliant in his own unique way,” and has come a long way in his senior year, Hochstatter said. Gollihar has had to devote a lot of his time to caring for his special needs brother, and that has meant he has not had a lot of time to finish his work.

Gollihar said he hopes to continue his education this fall.

Conner Heslop is a longtime FFA student who could always be counted on to volunteer, Hochstatter said. The MLHS Ag Department could always count on Heslop “to light up the room or a group of people” with a joke or merely his laughter, she added.

Heslop said he hopes to go on a church mission this fall.

Guadalupe Huitron Pardo was nominated because “nothing is impossible” for her and she “can make it happen,” Hochstatter said. Huitron Pardo has always both encouraged classmates and works to hold them accountable “for being the best they can be.”

Huitron Pardo plans to attend college this fall, but did not say where.

Kyle Karstetter has excelled in high school both as an athlete and a graphic artist, having made “countless hall passes, signs and banners” throughout the year, Hochstatter said. He also showed himself to be an able leader in the classroom, she added.

Karstetter plans to attend Idaho State University, where he earned a basketball scholarship.

Ellie Knox “is a hard worker” who has been very involved with campus activities and has been on the MLHS cheer squad for four years, winning Moses Lake Distinguished Young Woman 2020, Hochstatter said. Knox plans to attend UW in the fall.

Karla Lence “has overcome many obstacles in both her educational career and her home life,” struggling for her first two years at MLHS, Hochstatter said. Her junior year, she attended the Washington State Youth Academy “and has not wasted the opportunity she was given,” Hochstatter added, noting Lence has become involved in numerous student activities her senior year.

Lence plans to attend either Big Bend Community College or the police academy.

Dax Lindgren was an athlete and a “quiet leader” who helped the MLHS Chiefs earn the State 4A baseball title in 2019, Hochstatter said. As a junior, he hit over .400 and had seven wins and no losses as a pitcher and was selected to play on two all-state teams.

Lindgren plans to attend Big Bend Community College this fall.

Sarah Nelson is “a naturally gifted singer” who has worked hard during her four years of high school in choirs and musicals, Hochstatter said. She was also selected to perform last year in the Washington Music Educators All-State Honor Choir, and continues to take private voice lessons while working part time.

Nelson plans to study choral music at Washington State University this fall.

Ryan Prentice spent his junior and senior years heavily involved in FFA, and was always willing to help with his “can-do” attitude, Hochstatter said. Eventually, he was elected MLHS FFA chapter treasurer, and plans to attend the University of Idaho and earn a degree in Agriculture Education.

Sabrina Rhyne was president of the MLHS Key Club her senior year and oversaw the club’s blood drive, Hochstatter said. Rhyne helped train new members, imparting her leadership skills to another generation of Key Club students.

Rhyne plans to attend Washington State University this fall.

Andrew Saldana showed leadership at an early age, forming a Builders Club — a junior high school version of the Key Club — at Chief Moses Middle School, Hochstatter said. Saldana plans on attending college next fall, but Hochstatter noted “he is great at culinary also!”

Braelyn Widdis was “an outstanding leader this year” in her AP Literature and Composition course, and “never missed a beat” once the district went to online learning in March, Hochstatter said.

Widdis plans on attending Gonzaga University in the fall where she intends to study nursing.

Finally, Colton McMillin was nominated because of his “overall positive” attitude, his loyalty to his friends and his ability to care for other people, Hochstatter said. When he was elected president of Jobs for America’s Grads — a career education program — he knew another senior who had the qualities to serve in that office as well, so he convinced the other students they should be joint presidents.

McMillin plans on becoming a volunteer firefighter and hopes someday to become a full-time firefighter.

“With his positivity and empathy for people he will be the perfect person to help calm a situation amidst chaos,” Hochstatter said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com.