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April 17, 2007

Grant County students honored for straight A's

Moses Lake, Warden students recognized

The Columbian Basin Herald
By Chrystal Doucette - Herald staff writer

GRANT COUNTY -- A small group of high school seniors is being honored for maintaining perfect or near-perfect report cards throughout their high school careers.

The state Higher Education Coordinating Board is recognizing 147 students in the state for their exceptional grade point averages, including two from Grant County.

Moses Lake High School senior Cameron Frederick and Warden High School senior Kimberly Yamamoto are among students receiving a Washington Scholars Award. They were chosen by a committee to receive a full-ride scholarship covering tuition and fees.

"(Cameron) is an outstanding student with an academic activity resume that's most deserving," said Moses Lake High School Principal Dave Balcom.

"Kim is definitely a leader in our student body," said Warden School District Superintendent Sandra Sheldon.

Balcom noted the students are in the top 1 percent of their graduating class.

Two other county students were named as alternates, including Wahluke High School student Elena Murdoch and Wilson Creek High School student Daniel Ottis.

Frederick maintained a 4.0 grade point average all four years of high school. He is lieutenant governor of the regional Key Club, in addition to being involved with Honors Society, math team and Washington State Knowledge Bowl.

"It took work," he said.

After graduation, Frederick plans to study engineering at Washington State University.

Yamamoto said maintaining a 4.0 grade point average during her high school career took hard work and dedication, especially because she is involved with school activities as Associated Student Body president and yearbook editor.

After high school, Yamamoto plans to study biology or another science at Washington State University or the University of Washington. She hopes to go into medicine.

"I'm really excited to get (the scholarship)," she said.

The students are honored at a recognition ceremony in Olympia April 25. Balcom is presiding over the ceremony as president of the Washington Association of Secondary School Principals.

"The 2007 Washington Scholars are part of a remarkable pool of young talent in our state," said coordinating board Executive Director Ann Daley. "The program encourages those students to stay in Washington, graduate from one of our world-class colleges or universities and go on to enrich our workforce."

Association of Washington School Principals Director Gary Kipp said he feels honored to celebrate the Washington Scholars.

"If this year's group of Scholars is any indication of what lies ahead, Washington state's future looks very bright," Kipp said. "Academically, these students are well prepared to meet the challenges of the collegiate world ... They have taken steps throughout their high school career to understand the greater community and world around them."

Murdoch and Yamamoto were nominated in 2006 for the Wendy's High School Heisman award.