Megan Stewart
Sweet Home High School has announced six valedictorians and one salutatorian to lead the Class of 2020 graduation ceremonies, which will be held June 4 and 5.
The valedictorians, Megan Hager, Victoria (Torree) Hawken, Nicholaus James, Pippi Somatis, Casey Tow, and Brook Womack, are all graduating high school with 4.0 GPAs.
Salutatorian Tristian Saultz is graduating with a 3.99 GPA.
Valedictorian Megan Hager
Hager, 18, is the daughter of Sunhee and Michael Hager. She has one sibling, Nathan Hager, who is three years older and currently attending Oregon State University.
During high school, she participated in varsity track and swimming all four years. She is a four-time individual state champion in swimming, breaking the state record in the 200-yard freestyle as a senior. Hager has also been a member of the Class Board, National Honor Society, Key Club, and the Youth Watershed Council.
Hager plans to attend Colorado State University, where she will study biomedical sciences to pursue pre-medicine and swim for the Rams, an NCAA Division I program.
Hager initially said her favorite memory in high school was “taking classes with friends and goofing around,” but eventually settled on winning state with her swimming teammates her junior year. Despite only having five girls on the team, Sweet Home defeated the other schools, some of which had more than 10 swimmers on the roster.
“The sheer triumph in that moment is probably greater than any other high school memory,” Hager said.
Asked what advice she would give to incoming freshmen, Hager emphasized time management, but encouraged future students most of all to participate in school activities, which she said is “a lot more fun than just watching.”
“Don’t get caught on the sidelines of your own life. Just try your hardest and have fun,” she said.
Valedictorian Victoria ‘Torree’ Hawken
Hawken, 18, is the daughter of Cathy Brands-Hawken and stepdad Brian Brands. She has two older siblings, Maddee and Kate Hawken, and one younger brother, Bill Hawken.
During high school, she participated in varsity soccer and swimming all four years, in softball as a freshman and sophomore, in track as a junior and senior, and in National Honor Society. This year, she was both the student body president and the president of Key Club. Outside of high school, Hawken also participated in the Community Chapel Youth Group, volunteered in the Community Chapel childcare, and worked as a lifeguard at the Sweet Home pool.
Hawken plans to attend Oregon State University and study sports medicine, with an emphasis in kinesiology. She also hopes to join the rowing team as a walk-on.
She said she has so many great memories from high school but remembers looking forward to May Week every year. She particularly enjoyed the May Day track meets. She said it’s “sad” she couldn’t compete during her senior year, but that she has “three other years I can remember and think about.”
Asked what advice she would give incoming freshmen, Hawken said to “enjoy [high school] and be involved as much as you can,” adding that “showing up and being excited for things is a lot better than acting like you don’t care.”
Participating in school activities and events “makes everything so much better,” she said.
Hawken added she is thankful for all the great teachers and faculty who didn’t just teach but tried to “be influential in our [students’] lives.”
Valedictorian Nicholaus James
James, 18, is the son of Cara Solomon and Gregg James. He has many siblings, but currently lives with five: Ryan, Audrey, Kailey, Phoebe and Isaac.
In high school, he participated in varsity boys wrestling all four years and varsity boys soccer his senior year. He also played golf his freshman year, cross country his junior year, and was about to try out track his senior year before COVID-19 canceled the season. Additionally, James was involved in Key Club, Health Occupation Club, Youth Watershed Council, National Honor Society, and the Class Board. Outside of school, James coached little kids at the Sweet Home Mat Club and attended the Community Chapel youth group, as well as a senior bible study group.
James plans to attend Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he will study pre-medicine. Eventually, he hopes to become an anesthesiologist.
He said his favorite memory in high school is winning the May Week sumo wrestling competition against Jake Porter and Bryce Coulter during his freshmen and sophomore years, respectively. James said no expected him to beat either of the older, stronger opponents.
“There was no reason for me to best these guys, so we all went crazy,” James said of the competition, which pits the four classes against each other, with the team generating the most points winning a prize trip.
When first asked what advice he would give incoming freshmen, James said “wrestling” in jest. In actuality, he recommended being “really committed to something” and striving to “be the best” in whatever the activity is. He also said to participate in as many activities as possible.
“There are more hours in the day than people realize,” James said.
He said is “very thankful” for parents, friends, coaches teachers, and anyone “who set him up for success.”
Valedictorian Pippi Somatis
Somatis, 18, is the daughter of Brenda Murphy and Aris Somatis. She has four older siblings: Joseph Rosa, Tomas Rosa, Sarah Rosa, and Aris Somatis II.
During high school, her activities included the Class Board, Competition Cheer, Sideline Cheer, Equestrian Club, and National Honor Society. Outside of school, she also participated in 4H.
Somatis plans to dual-enroll at Linn-Benton Community College and OSU, where she will study animal science, with a focus in equestrian science. Eventually, she wants to become an equestrian coach and work with “youth and horses.”
She said her favorite memory was qualifying for regionals her junior year with the equestrian team. They were the first Sweet Home equestrian team to ever make it to the regional competition.
“It was amazing to be able to represent my school at something we’d never been to,” said Somatis.
As for advice she would give incoming freshmen, Somatis said “keep your keep head up and work hard for what you want to do and don’t let anyone else how you down.”
Somatis herself lost her father when she was 13 years old. She believes he would have been very “proud” of her accomplishments in high school.
Valedictorian Casey Tow
Tow, 18, is the son of Dan and Michele Tow. He has two older siblings, Ally and Justin.
In high school, Tow participated in varsity track, basketball, and baseball for four years, as well as varsity football his sophomore and junior years and baseball his freshman year. He also participated in Key Club, National Honor Society, and leadership.
Tow plans to attend the Naval Academy, where he will study Nuclear Engineering and compete in track.
His favorite memory from high school is the entire state track competition experience his junior year. Despite being a small team, Sweet Home’s boys team placed fourth overall. He enjoyed staying overnight in a hotel and bonding with his teammates and coaches, he said.
“It’s hard not to get a senior track season,” said Tow, who went on to place third in the nation last year in the decathlon.
Asked what advice he would give incoming freshmen, Tow said, “don’t take people around you for granted. It’s time you’ll never get back.”
Valedictorian Brook Womack
Womack, 18, is the daughter of Steve and Katrina Womack. He has one younger sister, Bailey.
During high school, she participated in varsity girls golf and swimming, Josai Club, Health Occupations Club, and the National Honor Society. She was also on the Class Board her junior and senior years.
Womack plans to attend the Oregon Institute of Technology, where she will study diagnostic medical sonography.
Womack’s favorite memory in high school was when she, her sister Bailey, Lexi Schilling, and Maren Weld qualified for state in girls golf. They were the first Sweet Home girls golf team ever to reach state.
She described the experience as “fun” but also “nerve-wracking.”
Before COVID-19, Womack hoped to return to state for her senior year, but unfortunately the team didn’t even make it to their first tournament.
Asked what advice she would give incoming freshmen, Womack emphasized “hard work and determination” and said, “anything is possible if you put your mind to it.” She also recommended finding “someone in every class to compare your work to and see if you’re doing it right.”
Salutatorian Tristan Saultz
Saultz, 17, is the son of Lisa Shields and Steve Saultz. He has a younger sister, Stephanie Saultz.
In high school, he participated in varsity cross country, track, and wrestling.
He plans to attend OSU and study mechanical engineering.
Saultz said his favorite memory from high school was qualifying for state in track during his junior year and performing “really well.” His 4×400 relay team was state runner-up.
Asked what advice he would give incoming freshmen, Saultz recommended students “try to focus on present and things you can change and not on the past and what you can’t change.” He said this advice extends to “just everything, inside and outside of school.”