Sweet Home High School has named four valedictorians and one salutatorian.
The valedictorians are Amanda Hubbard, Emily Marchbanks, Michael Tolle and Katie Virtue, each finishing high school with a 4.0 GPA. Stephen Bishop is salutatorian with a 3.98 GPA.
Stephen Bishop
Bishop is the son of Cheryl Funk and Paul Bishop.
“The key to success is a good attitude,” Bishop said. “Your attitude controls how productive you are and how well you learn new information.”
That was key to his success, he said. “I achieved success through keeping a good attitude and always striving for success. I will continue working hard and striving for success.”
He is involved in golf, cross country, choir and band.
“I love golf,” he said. “I can never get enough of it. In my spare time, I like to work out, spend time with friends and family, golf, hang out with my girlfriend and play computer games.”
By far, his favorite subject is math, he said. “In math there is no worry about a biased judge on the work you put out. There is only right or wrong.”
After graduation, he plans to find a full-time summer job and then attend Linn-Benton Community College for two years through the Access College Today program before he transfers to Oregon State university to major in computer engineering.
Bishop credits his mother as his biggest influence.
“My mother has always encouraged me to succeed academically,” Bishop said. “Although she often got on my nerves, I might not have done as well without her constant reminders to do my work.”
Bishop said he will miss the teachers, students and high school atmosphere next year.
“I think Sweet Home has one of the best school systems for the size of town,” he said. “I liked the feeling that the faculty truly cared about your success. Sweet Home High School helped me figure out my career area.”
Amanda Hubbard
Hubbard is the daughter of Dean and Marilyn Nicholson and Mike and Niki Hubbard.
“During high school, I learned the importance of time management and hard work,” Hubbard said. “Being involved in athletic and other extra-curricular activities left me with minimal time to study. As a result, I had to make good use of my time and prioritize homework, chores, activities and yes, fun.
“Often times I sacrificed fun or activities to maintain my academic standards. Making these difficult choices required discipline and self-control which I developed over time.”
To younger students, she suggests avoiding social networking sites, video games and television.
“Don’t procrastinate,” she said. “Get involved in athletic and other extra-curricular activities. Hang out with peers who will help you be successful.”
To continue her success, she plans to “stay involved and volunteer to help others as well as continue to make good use of my time and prioritize homework, chores and activities.”
Hubbard is involved in volleyball, basketball, softball, track and field, her church youth group, GEAR UP and MAC club, class board, student government and the National Honor Society.
She enjoys watching movies with her friends, snow skiing and riding quads on the beach. Most of her spare time is spent in athletic activities.
“Science is my favorite subject because there are so many diverse aspects, and I had exceptional teachers who passed their passion for the subject matter to their students,” Hubbard said.
She plans to focus on physical therapy and major in biology at George Fox University after graduating from high school.
“I had a positive experience while undergoing physical therapy following my ACL reconstructive surgery and desire to help others in similar circumstances,” Hubbard said. “A career in physical therapy will also provide me opportunities to stay involved with athletics as a trainer or support staff.”
Hubbard’s mother has been her biggest influence, with her endless encouragement to be academically successful, she said. “She has consistently supported me during athletic and other extra-curricular activities, late night study sessions and yes, even took time to engage in fun recreation.”
Hubbard also appreciates the approachable, helpful staff at SHHS, which has prepared her for her next academic endeavor, she said. “I will miss participating in competitive sports.”
Emily Marchbanks
Emily Marchbanks
Marchbanks is the daughter of Todd and Karen Marchbanks.
“My advice to achieve academic success is to keep up on your homework and don’t procrastinate,” Marchbanks said. “I achieved success by studying and keeping up with the material. To continue my success, I will keep good study habits and work hard to get good grades.”
After graduation, Marchbanks plans to attend Clackamas Community College, where she will play softball.
She enjoys playing softball and volleyball, she said, and in her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Her favorite subject is Spanish because it’s always fun in class, but the students still work hard and learn a lot, she said.
“My parents have been the biggest influence on me academically by always support me and helping me study,” Marchbanks said.
“Sweet Home High School is a great school,” she said. “I will miss all of the friends I have made there. I like that all of my teachers cared about my education and were invested in it. It helped me by having an atmosphere that not only pushes me to be a good academic student but also a good person morally.”
Michael Tolle
Michael Tolle
Tolle is the son of Joan and Dave Tolle.
“I set high standards for myself and work diligently in order to achieve success,” Tolle said. “I would advise younger students to create a goal and keep that goal in mind as they progress through their academic careers.
“My family has provided good role models for me to look up to. I strive to do as well in school as my sister did, and so far I have achieved in doing so.”
To keep things going after graduation, “I will involve myself in activities and opportunities that I won’t lose interest in,” he said.
Tolle is involved in 4-H, Josai Club, soccer and golf.
He enjoys golf, hunting, fishing, playing badminton and volleyball.
His favorite subjects are math and writing.
After graduation, he plans to attend the University of Idaho and major in business and PGA golf management.
Tolle said the high school staff has helped each student by caring about and having a vested interest in his or her success.
“I will miss the camaraderie between classmates that fuels competition and friendship,” Tolle said. “My favorite aspect of SHHS was the small-town atmosphere that allows for close connections with nearly everyone on campus.”
Katie Virtue
Katie Virtue
Katie Virtue is the daughter of Jim Hagle, Abby Virtue-Hagle and the late Jon Virtue.
She credits her church, family and community for teaching her habits and shaping her into somebody who succeeds, she said. “I advise younger students to work hard. Be involved in school like it’s a job because grades do matter for scholarships and college. I achieved my success by doing my homework and listening in class.”
She plans to continue working hard in college and in sports, carrying a strong work ethic into her career, she said.
“I think Sweet Home High School is an important step in transitioning from a teenager to an adult,” Virtue said. “I will miss my friends and the easy classes as I start college next year.”
She plans to attend the Oregon Institute of Technology and obtain a degree in medical imaging while playing softball.
She is involved in soccer, basketball, softball, National Honor Society, class board, leadership, summer softball and 4-H.
Her favorite subject is chemistry because it challenges her, and she learns a lot from it, she said.