Benny Westcott
Eight valedictorians and one salutatorian have been named to lead the Sweet Home High School Class of 2022 graduation exercises, scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, June 10, at Husky Field, 1012 22nd Ave.
Valedictorians Chloe Doner, Jacob Ingram, Ashley Morrelli, Olivia Olsen, Zoe Opperman, Jamie Seward, Isabel Sayer and Chloe Tyler earned perfect 4.0 GPAs. (To qualify, students must earn an honors diploma, which requires advanced classes in science, math, English and social sciences.) Maddie Harris will be the sole salutatorian.
Chloe Doner
Doner, 18, is the daughter of Katie Doner and Cameron Devore. She has a 13-year-old brother, Gavin Doner.
She was active in volleyball as a sophomore and was also part of both the Key Club and National Honor Society during her high-school career. She worked for the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Santiam and for the Linn County Expo Center during the annual state fair. She participated in cross-age tutoring, visiting Oak Heights Elementary School to help its students with assignments.
Her favorite memory was hanging out with her friends after lunch in the library during her sophomore year.
“We made so many memories sitting around the table,” she said.
Her favorite subject was math.
“It’s one of my best subjects and I can catch on to the material easily,” she said.
If she could change anything, she’d become more involved with clubs, which informed her advice to incoming freshmen.
“Get involved and start working hard early,” she said. “I know many people whose GPA depends on their grades from freshman year, that regret not trying freshman year. Remember to take much-needed breaks, and don’t overstress yourself. You’ll get through that assignment you’ve been dreading, just breathe.”
Her most important lesson, she said, was that “Being super involved with our small community is really important and super-impactful on yourself and whoever you’ve helped.”
Doner plans to attend the University of Oregon for general studies.
In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her family.
Jacob Ingram
Ingram, 18, is the son of Sherrie and Michael Ingram. He has two sisters, Tori, 22, and Addi, 20.
The football player’s favorite high-school memory involved getting ice cream with his pre-calculus class. His favorite class, however, was AP Government, because he enjoyed learning how it worked.
If he could change one thing about the overall experience, he said, he would have volunteered more.
He advised incoming freshmen to care about their grades, adding that the most important thing he learned was that “you can accomplish a lot with hard work.”
Ingram plans to attend Linn-Benton Community College and Oregon State University.
In his free time, he enjoys listening to music.
Ashley Morrelli
Morrelli, 18, is the daughter of Lauren and Scott Morrelli. She has a 14-year-old sister, Sarah.
Morrelli was active in band, choir and theater during her four-year tenure. She was a section leader in the first two, lettering for three years and bookending her stint with outstanding freshman and senior awards in band. In fact, the latter was her favorite class, “because I love music and it felt like a family to me,” she said. Her best high school memory involved the fun she had with friends at the band retreat.
If she could change one thing about her experience, she said, she would “have done more ‘typical high school things’ earlier on, so I didn’t miss out on most fun things.”
Her advice to incoming freshmen: “Your grades are not more important than your physical or mental health. Prioritize taking care of yourself.” The most important thing she learned was that “more people are there for you than you think.”
Morrelli plans on attending Portland State University.
In her free time, she enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons and video games.
Olivia Olsen
Olsen, 18, is the daughter of Liz and Mac Olsen. She has three siblings: Ole, 27, Finn, 25, and Sarah Dunkley, 24.
She was active in soccer, ski and ride club, art club, the National Honors Society, and “interact” during her school years.
Beekeeping was her favorite class.
“We got to interact with bees and learn a lot about them and how to make soaps, candles and other bee products,” she said.
She advised incoming freshmen to “turn in all work no matter how late, but also have fun. You’re only young once.”
In her free time, Olsen likes to bake, draw and hang out with friends.
Zoe Opperman
Opperman, 18, is the daughter of Robin and Mark Opperman. She has an 11-year-old sister, Noelle.
Among her high school achievements are stints as student body president, the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Good Citizen, Freshman Girl of the Year, a member of the National Honor Society and the Sweet Home representative for Junior First Citizen. She was also involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, volleyball, youth group, church, Key Club and Leadership Class.
Her favorite high school memory was returning to school in-person after distance learning.
“It was like a big family reunion,” she said, “and it made me realize how much I value and appreciate everyone.”
If she could change anything about the overall experience, she would have “made connections with more people and pushed past my fears of rejection and failure. But I have no regrets. The last four years were a blessing, and I will always look at them that way.”
Her favorite class was Leadership because, she said, she grew and developed with the same group of people.
“It was amazing to see what we could accomplish together in times of hardship and difficulty,” she said.
Her advice to incoming freshmen is to get involved and to understand the importance of teachers and staff members. “They want to see you succeed in every aspect of life,” she said. “Leaning on someone else never means you’re weak.”
The most important thing she learned was that “I don’t have to be perfect. Offering my best effort and my willingness is enough. God will take it from there.”
Opperman plans to attend Northwest University and pursue a degree in ministry leadership.
In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, hiking, game nights and playing the ukulele.
Jamie Seward
Seward, 18, is the daughter of April and James Seward. She has a 21-year-old brother, Dakota.
During high school she was active in swimming, volleyball, Leadership Class and the National Honor Society. She was named the OSAA 4A volleyball player of the year last fall, and helped the Huskies win their first-ever state volleyball championship as a junior. She played an important role in the school’s two team state swimming championships, winning state individually in the 50 freestyle this winter and being named an Academic All-American in swimming.
Among her favorite high-school memories were the home and away volleyball victories over Sisters her freshman year while having the “best student section in the state” and being serenaded by fellow seniors Chloe Tyler and Adaira Sleutel, her “besties,” in their hotel room during their volleyball state tournament trip their sophomore year.
If she could change something about her school experience, she said, she would “just relax a little bit and worry less about what people think,” although she added that the most important lesson she learned was that “hard work can get you very far.”
Her favorite class involved being an office assistant. “Chloe and I are the best-note deliverers to ever grace Sweet Home High School,” she said.
Her advice to incoming freshmen was to surround themselves with good people.
Seward plans to attend Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., where she hopes to play volleyball for the Governors.
Isabel Sayer
Sayer, 18, is the daughter of Tenille and Austin Sayer. She has a 15-year-old brother, Boden.
During high school she was active in soccer, swimming, track, the key/interact club, and National Honors Society. She was a member of the 2019 and 2022 state championship swim teams and served as the student body vice president.
Her favorite high school memory involved the entire student body singing “Sweet Caroline” with math teacher Steve Thorpe.
If she could change one thing about her experience, she said, she would have run track all four years.
Her favorite class was science. “I enjoy learning about how the world around me works,” she said. “Especially medical sciences.”
Her advice to incoming freshmen: “Be confident in your abilities and find a good group of friends to hang out with.” The most important thing she learned was “how to continue to work hard when things don’t always go as planned.”
Sayer plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Oregon Institute of Technology.
In her free time, she enjoys gardening, working out and spending time with friends.
Chloe Tyler
Tyler, 17, is the daughter of Rachel and Nick Tyler. She has a 19-year-old brother, Aiden.
In high school she was involved in swimming, volleyball, Leadership Class, Class Board, and the National Honor Society.
She was a member of the 2019 and 2022 team swimming and 2021 volleyball state championship teams, winning 10 first place titles at the state level in the former. She’s also a state record-holder in the 200-meter freestyle relay and 100 backstroke events. She was named the 2022 OSAA Athlete of the Meet at the swimming state championships, as well as an Academic All-American.
Her favorite high school memory was setting her state swim record as a senior and hearing friends and family scream and cheer from the stands.
She would have preferred a more normal high school experience, but added that she was “very thankful to all of the staff that helped us get back to normal and put in effort even during the shutdown.”
Math was her favorite subject. “It’s a good type of challenging and I enjoy it,” she said.
Her advice to incoming freshmen was to be themselves. “You are going to have people judge you no matter what you do,” she said, “so don’t even pay attention to that.” The most important thing she learned was that “work ethic and a good attitude will get you further than natural talent.”
Tyler plans to attend Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., where she intends to swim for the Redbirds.
In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her “besties,” Jamie Seward and Adaira Sleutel.
Maddie Harris
Harris, 18, the salutatorian, is the daughter of Heather and Eli Harris. She has two sisters: Katriona, 13, and Eveline, 11.
During high school she was active in soccer and softball and played basketball her freshman year. She was in the National Honor Society and Leadership Class. She finished with a 3.96 GPA.
Like Sayer, her favorite high school memory was Steve Thorpe and “Sweet Caroline.”
If she could change anything about her high school experience, she would change the fact that she was in high school during COVID-19.
Her favorite classes were physical education and AP U.S. Government with Mr. Costa.
She advised incoming freshmen to “Stay confident and do whatever you love. Don’t miss out on fun events that you get to experience in high school.” The most important thing she learned was to never take anything for granted.
Harris plans to attend the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls and become an ultrasound technician.
In her free time, she enjoys playing sports and hanging out with her friends.