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Philomath High School’s Class of 2025 will gather Saturday morning on Clemens Field to listen to speeches, pose for family photos, celebrate with friends and receive their diplomas.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and the latest weather forecast indicates that it will be a nice day with clear skies and temperatures in the low 70s as the event begins.
Gallery: PHS Class of 2025 Walk of Graduates (June 6, 2025)
A collection of photos from the Philomath High School Class of 2025’s graduate walk on Friday.
A collection of photos from the Philomath High School Class of 2025’s graduate walk on Friday.
On Friday morning, seniors took the annual graduation walk, which begins at Philomath High School and includes stops at Philomath Elementary School, Clemens Primary School and Philomath Middle School.
This year’s class includes 115 students, each setting out on their own path — whether that means attending college, going into a vocational program, entering the workforce, joining the military, going on a church mission or even taking a gap year.
According to a list provided by Philomath High School, 74 scholarships and awards are going to several students who are furthering their education.
One of the awards that received a little extra attention this spring was the Philomath Forward Scholarship, which was established this year by Anton Grube through a partnership with the Philomath Community Foundation.
Grube, who graduated with Philomath High’s Class of 1996, took to the stage during an assembly early this week to provide some background on the new award.
“The intent of the scholarship is to be open to as many students as possible,” Grube said. “The requirements are intended to be relatively simple so the largest number of students can be eligible — similar to when I received my scholarship when I was here.”
To be eligible, Grube said students must have attended Philomath School District schools for four academic years and need to use the scholarship’s funds at an accredited institution of higher learning, a trade school or post-secondary occupational training. While in school, students must maintain a 2.0 grade-point average.
“The hope for the scholarship really is that former graduates, family members and community members can participate in small dollar donations,” Grube said. “I know that many of us give to a variety of charities in $10 increments, $15 increments, as opposed to large dollar donations. So that’s the goal.”
Grube said the scholarship pays out $1,500 per year for up to four years.
“Right now there’s only one scholarship available but the hope is that over time, if it builds, there will be more scholarships that will become available.”
Among this year’s PHS class, 24 seniors applied for the award. The names of the students were put on a digital “spinning wheel” and the winner chosen at random. This year’s scholarship went to Mitchell Berklund.
The Philomath Forward Scholarship is just one of 10 distributed through the Philomath Community Foundation. The Benton County Foundation awarded seven scholarships and the Philomath Booster Club awarded two.
Following is a full list of scholarships and recipients as reported by PHS:
Benton Community Foundation
- Masonic Lodge Scholarship: Mitchell Berklund, Hanna McDaniel
- Louis Locke Athletic Scholarship Fund: Colton Hruska
- Scott Minter Memorial Cross-Country Scholarship: Hallie Morrison
- Harry and Lorraine Lagestee Scholarship Endowment: Ethan Aynes, Kynlee Albin
- Blodgett Summit Community Club Bill Ayers Memorial Scholarship: Ahren Harris
- Dale and Thomasina Trout Scholarship Fund: Savannah Adams
- Edward J. Ray Scholarship Fund: Ahren Harris
Philomath Community Foundation
- Adjust Your Sails Scholarship: Olivia Rice, JJ Lewis
- Cody James Patterson Memorial Scholarship: Warwick Bushnell, Aspen Russell, Janice Hellesto, Logan Matthews
- Philomath Forward: Mitchell Berklund
- Philomath Public Schools Scholarship: Mitchell Berklund, Natalie Dunn, Brooke McDaniel, Hanna McDaniel
- Russ Hunt Memorial Scholarship: Hallie Morrison, Kyah Weeber
- Philomath Community Foundation Youth Recognition Award: Colton Hruska, Madison Provance
- McRae-Dickey STEM + Scholarship: Raegan Mckinney, Reagan Chisholm
- McRae-Dickey STEM Scholarship: Melea Lattin, Savannah Adams
- Terry Selby Memorial Scholarship: Hayden Fishe
- Vo-Tech Scholarship: Thatcher Noel, Zoee Howard
Philomath Booster Club
- Gary Cox Memorial Scholarship: Colton Hruska, Adele Beckstead
- Brian and Jackie Thorness PBC Warrior Scholarship: Averie Wilson, JJ Lewis, Colton Hruska, Mitchell Berklund
Other Local Scholarships
- Karl Corbin Memorial Scholarship (Philomath Fire and Rescue): Madison Provance
- Mid-Columbia Bus Company Scholarship: Natalie Dunn, Baylee Stewart
- Society of Women’s Engineers Award: Highest Honor: Averie Wilson. High Honor: Melea Lattin. Honor: Lillian Hansen, Michi Araki
- Service Above Self Scholarship: Averie Wilson, Janice Hellesto, Reagan McKinney
- Kathy Wells Memorial Scholarship — Philomath High School: Natalie Dunn, Baylee Stewart
- Bateman Scholarship: Kyah Weeber
- Decker Scholarship: Kyah Weeber
- The Virginia Welch Scholarship: Janice Hellesto
- OSU Folk Club Thrift Shop Scholarship: Logan Matthews, Brooke McDaniel, Hanna McDaniel, Raegan McKinney, Silas Pitman
- Bruce Moos and Steven Moos Memorial Scholarship: Aspen Russell , Lucas Bourgeois
- Philomath Lions Club: Colton Hruska, Natilee Clancy
- Rotary Club of Benton County: Kyah Weeber
- Oregon Music Hall of Fame Scholarship: Emmet Murch
- Philomath High School’s Oregon Goes To College Scholarship: Ahren Harris
- Oregon State Credit Union Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Scholarship: Janice Hellesto
- Oregon School Employees Association: Laighla Hockema
- Pioneer Connect Scholarship: Hallie Morrison, Madison Provance, Hanna McDaniel, Savannah Adams / Aspen Russell, Brooke McDaniel, Colton Hruska
Other Scholarships
- Athletic Scholarships: Joe Barnes, Zoe Ringwald
- Bridge to Cascades Scholarship – OSU: Raegan McKinney
- CBYX Vocational (Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program): Averie Wilson
- Citizens Bank Community Banking Scholarships: Alyssa Kvidt
- Clemens Foundation: Chloe Gurski
- E.E. Wilson Award Scholarship: Colton Hruska, Baylee Stewart
- Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship: Hanna McDaniel, Brooke McDaniel
- Finley Academic Excellence Scholarship (OSU): Michi Araki, Savannah Adams, Katie Choi, Colton Hruska, Mitchell Berklund, Elijah Bush, Lillian Hansen, Raegan McKinney, Mica Boynton, Cali Cannon, Baylee Stewart, Savannah Adams, Finlay Moore, Logan Matthews, Hanna McDaniel, Brooke McDaniel, Klara Houchin, Hudson Raab
- Forestry Legacy Scholarship – OSU: Raegan McKinney
- Frances R. Linfield Scholarship: Sophia Bauer
- Full Ride to LBCC (Basketball): Anneka Steen
- Full Ride Tuition (LBCC SLC Leadership): Ava Foesenek
- Georgie Harris Memorial Scholarship: Janice Hellesto
- Gleaner Life Insurance Scholarship: Melea Lattin
- James Girard Memorial Scholarship – OSU: Raegan McKinney
- Jean Spencer Endowed Scholarship: Adele Beckstead
- OCCA All-State Cheer Scholarship: Zoe Ringwald
- Pathway Oregon (Scholarship + Aid Package): Cedric Petrovich
- Presidential Scholarship (University of North Dakota): Madison Provance
- Summit Scholarship (University of Oregon): Averie Wilson
- The Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling Scholarship: Thatcher Noel
- Timothy Scott Wirth Memorial Scholarship: Savannah Adams
- WOU Cross Country/Track Scholarship: Adele Beckstead
- WOU GEO Paths Stipend: Adele Beckstead
- WOU Merit Scholarship: Adele Beckstead, Isabel Morales-Marquez
- Wrestling Scholarship of Oregon: River Sandstrom
- WUE Scholarship (Montana State University): Reagan Chisholm
- Timothy Scott Wirth Memorial Scholarship (OSU Crop and Soil): Savannah Adams
- Summit Community Educational Outreach: Savannah Adams
- Summit Quilter’s/Jean Newman Scholarship: Savannah Adams
- Pioneer Connect Scholarship: Savannah Adams
- “Finish in Four” Scholarship from OSU: Raegan McKinney
- Forestry Legacy Scholarship: Raegan McKinney
- James Girard Memorial Scholarship: Raegan McKinney
- UO Summit Scholarship and the Pathway Oregon Scholarship: Natilee Clancy
- Presidential Scholarship at the University of North Dakota: Madison Provance
- Pioneer Connect Scholarship: Madison Provance
- Youth Recognition Scholarship from the Philomath Community Foundation: Madison Provance
| CLASS OF 2025 |
|---|
| • Savannah Ann Adams, Kynlee Rose Albin, Sean Edèn Anway, Michiko Kalani Araki • Ethan Jackson Aynes, Heidi Lynne Bacho, Jose Daniel Barnes, Natalee Grace Barton • Shyanne Raelynn Barton, Sophia Rose Bauer, Adele Emmaline Beckstead, Alyson Noelle Beckwith • Hannah Jane Bennett, Mitchell James Berklund, Jack Billings, Lucas Edward Bourgeois • Mica Elizabeth Boynton, Ashleigh Nicole Brown, Charis Naomi Bumstead, Elizabeth Claire Burriel • Elijah Ray Bush, Warwick Boone Bushnell, Cali Elizabeth Cannon, Aiden James Carrier • Reagan Ellen Chisholm, Katie Josephine Son Choi, Natilee Madison Clancy, Natalie Qwyen Dunn • Michayla Hope Eck, Shyann Faith Eck, Colton Daniel Faust, Hayden Raelynn Fishe • Ava Lauren Foesenek, Emmitt Kelly Gaskey, Achilles Gaskill, Aria Anne Gassner • Jeshua Matthew Gonzalez-Bush, Cole Alec Greeley, Chloe Marie Gurski, Lillian Jean Hansen • Ahren Granger Harris, Janice Faith Hellesto, Petra Isabella Hernandez, Lynn Elizabeth Hirte • Laighla Ann Hockema, Jackson Porter Holroyd, Klara Sharon Houchin, Zoee Raye Howard • Colton John Gellatly Hruska, Peyton Michael Humphrey, Sean Joseph Jackson, Titus Jefrey Johnson • Seth Charles Jordan, Owen Lawrence Kent, Kaylie Grace Kohler, Alyssa Marie Kvidt • Daniel Jakob Larsen, Melea Rose Lattin, Lilia Huston Leman, Sara Elisabeth Leonard • Jeffrey Max Lewis Jr., Lillian Rachel Lopez, Allister Mahoney, Isac Reyes Marcelo • Elle Kalia Marchesi, Logan Robert Matthews, Cameron Justice McConnell, Brooke Marie McDaniel • Hanna Faye McDaniel, Raegan Amanda McKinney, Daniel Jacob Mendoza, Madyx Jane Mooney • Finlay Stephen Moore, Isabel Morales-Marquez, Karl James Morris, Hallie Breanne Morrison • Kalani Guinness Moss, Emmett Cecil Murch, Grant Ryker Niemann, Thatcher Elliot Noel • Michael Alexander Novak, Kayson James Olsen, Cedric Orion Petrovich, Kateri Rose Pindell • Mark Steven Pittman, Silas Benjamin Pittman, Isabella Sophia Poot Armenta, Tatum Riley Pope • Zackary Michael Powers, Madison Raelyn Provance, Raul Alonso Quiroz Sanchez, Hudson Carter Raab • Peter Lee Reed, Olivia Elaine Marie Rice, Zoe Cai Ringwald, Stephanie Rheanne Elizabeth Rogers • Aspen McKinley Russell, Brady Scott Russell, Caleb Zachary Russell, Bryson River Sandstrom • Dewey Douglas Sexton, Dylan Todd Smith, Anneka Ozara Steen, Baylee Kay Stewart • Brooke Talise Thorson, Logan William Todd, Jenae Danielle Traglia, Peyton Aubrey Vester • Kyah Marie Weeber, Kaden Timothy Wenger, Averie Schadeberg Wilson, Carson John Winder • Seth Aaron Wood, Rachel Elizabeth Zerby, Ryder Kirk Zitlau |
Brad Fuqua has covered the Philomath area since 2014 as the editor of the now-closed Philomath Express and currently as publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He has worked as a professional journalist since 1988 at daily and weekly newspapers in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, Arizona, Montana and Oregon.
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