OAKHURST — The theater at Yosemite High School was filled with excited students, proud guardians, and kind-hearted representatives of organizations and families who were giving generously as Community Awards were handed out to members of YHS Class of 2016 on Monday, May 9.
“The sole purpose of some of those organizations is to raise funds for Community Awards,” explains Jeanne Ratchford, Community Awards Coordinator for the school. “The generosity shown by our community truly is astonishing! Our total this year was $114,050.”
While the evening is one of abundance and joy — all about celebrating nonprofit organizations, education and excellence — some of the awards are given in rememberance of those who’ve passed away.
“The memorial awards are so touching. This is the chance to remember their loved ones in a positive way and help their legacy live on in these young people.”
Local educator and counselor Barry Bartlett founded the Yosemite High School Scholarship Foundation in 1977.
“We solicit donors at the end of fall,” adds Ms. Ratchford. “It seems that every year there are a few that drop off, and we always gain a few new awards. Some organizations, individuals or businesses go through the Foundation — a tax exempt non-profit 501c3 corporation — and others just give checks to the students on award night. Those that go through the foundation are claimed once at the beginning of the student’s first semester of college and the second half at the beginning of their second semester.”
The awards represent hard work and community support. They’re a big vote of confidence for the young people in their transition to the next stage of life — whatever that may be — for which they will always be grateful.
“I tell the students to always remember where they came from: a small town that cares about you and your future. We hope they remember how that makes them feel and that they will do it for someone else some day.”
Yosemite High School Community Awards 2016
49 Ears: Mia Bullock
ACSA Madera County Office of Education: Helena Johnson Lusk
Adrian Buca DDS Academic Achievement Award: Maung Nay Lwin, Tanner Meeks, Quentin Lawrence
American Legion Post 110: Hailey Sumrall
American Legion Auxiliary Post 110: Quentin Lawrence
Barbara Banich Memorial: Rose Curley
Barry Bartlet Service Award: Paul Esposito
Bass Lake Lions Club: Helena Johnson Lusk, Erik Johnson
Billy Vukovich III Memorial: Michael Stamets, Clara Briley, Mariah Avellana, Tracy Robesky; Billy Vukovich III Memorial Auto Award: Erik Johnson
Buddy Cudd Memorial: Wade Taylor, Ethan Solomon, Jordan Berg
Camarena Health: Quentin Lawrence
Caring on Higher Ground: Keirsten Baker, Clara Briley, Quentin Lawrence, Kevin Kirk
Chowchilla Western Stampede: Hailey Sumrall
Coarsegold Chamber of Commerce: Mia Bullock
Dalton Mayn Memorial: Keirsten Baker
Eakin Peirsol Memorial Award: Kaitlynn Lemos, Kade Cross
El Capitan Education Foundation: Rosemary Michel, Tapenga Holte, Audrey White, Rebecca Dolzadelli, Russell Warmerdam, Kaylyn Kappitz, Kyle Cole, Hailey Sumrall, Mackayla Romero, Sterling Starner
Emadco Disposal Grant for Excellence: Rebekka Nileson, Quentin Lawrence
Eric and Virginia Seger Memorial: Jon VanNoy
Fresno County Deputy Probation Officers Association: William Boyer
Frank Logar Memorial Music Award: Allie Donnell
Future Veterinarian Award: Hailey Sumrall
Gerald A. Smith Memorial: Matthew Horton, Michaela Gray, Taylor Burtle
Golden Chain Theatre: Gianna DeFelice
Golden Hills Dental: Katie Whitcomb
Grant Mercantile: Balanna Ramos, Gianna DeFelice, William Boyer
HOLIDAYS (Hallmark Ornament Collectors): Brandy Di Fiore
Heart of the Mountains Award: Jenny Mills
Impression Award (Ordway) PG&E: Gianna DeFelice
Indian Lakes Ladies Auxiliary: Helena Johnson Lusk
Jeremy Carter Memorial: Amy Whitcomb, Mariah Avellana
Jimmy Philips Memorial: Mia English
Ladies of the Lake: Rose Curley, Katie Whitcomb
Live Oak Associates: Amy Whitcomb
Madera County Farm Bureau: Helena Johnson Lusk
Madera County Office of Education Academic Decathlon: Clara Briley
Madera County Retired Teachers Association: Helena Johnson Lusk
Madera Republican Women Federated: Dainya DeBock
Marine Corps League Griswold Mountain Detachment #1121: Allie Donnell, Elizabeth Savage
MCSBA: Mia Bullock
North Fork Faculty Club: Trevor Boardman, Jessica Fine
North Fork Lions Club: Mia Bullock
Oak Creek Intermediate School: Clara Briley, Gianna DeFelice, Kevin Kirk, Russell Warmerdam
Oakhurst Democratic Club: Gianna DeFelice, Paul Esposito
Oakhurst Elementary School: Gianne DeFelice
Oakhurst Elks Lodge: Conner McMechan
Oakhurst Sierra Noon Rotary Club: Rose Curley, Meagan Montalto, Brendan Rhoan, Gianna DeFelice, Jenny Mills, Tanner Meeks, Jessice Fine
Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary Club: Clara Briley, Allie Donnell, Katie Whitcomb, Conner McMechan; Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary Club INTERACT: Rose Curley
Our Lady of the Sierra Women’s Guild: Russell Warmerdam, Kristen Engstrom
Pines Civic Council – Tom Thomas Memorial: Connor McMechan, Erik Johnson, Helena Johnson Lusk
Positive Living Center: Mackayla Romero
Ray Jones Scholarship Rund: Tracy Robesky, Brendan Rhoan
Recycle Award: Alexandra Stearns
River Creek Golf Course: Tanner Meeks
Rivergold Elementary: Rose Curley
Rodney Peter, DDS and Dennis Jones DDS: Dainya DeBock, Quentin Lawrence
Sierra Ambulance – Cathy Kern Memorial: Mariah Avellana
Sierra Lions Club of Oakhurst: Gianna DeFelice, Brendan Rhoan, Meagan Montalto
Sierra Masonic Lodge #788: Alexandra Stearns
Sierra Meadows Golf Club: Connor McMechan, Tanner Meeks
Sierra Pines Men’s Ministry: Elizabeth Savage
Sierra Tel: Mariah Avellana, Clara Briley, Allie Donnell, Mariah Garcia, Quentin Lawrence, Meagan Montalto, Brendan Rhoan
Sierra-Oakhurst Kiwanis Club: Clara Briley, Connor McMechan
Soroptimist International of the Sierras: Mackayla Romero, Tracy Robesky, Helena Johnson Lusk
Squirrel Cage Theatre Company: Mia Bullock
Swortzel Trust: Rebekka Nielson, Naryan Black, Shelby Veater
Tenaya Lodge Hospitality Award: Ethan Solomon, Gianne DeFelice
Travis Myers Memorial: Hailey Sumrall, Helena Johnson Lusk
Veterans of Foreign Wars: Allie Donnell, Jessica Fine, Elizabeth Savage
Vision Academy of the Arts: Allie Donnell, Clara Briley, Meagan Montalto
Wasuma Elementary School: Taylor Wade
Wilma Ely Memorial: Brianna McCully, Shelby Wright
Yosemite Badger Youth Football and Cheer: Erik Johnson, Dainya DeBock
Yosemite Bank: Brook Lynn Bragdon
Yosemite Baseball Boosters: Tyler Wallace
Yosemite Football Boosters: Tanner Meeks
Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors: Michael Stamets
Yosemite High ASB Leadership: Clara Briley, Summer Bulmer, Rose Curley
Yosemite High FFA Ag Boosters: Alexandra Stearns, Taylor Wade, Helena Johnson Lusk
Yosemite High School Theater Arts: Mackenzie Behrens
Yosemite Lakes Community Church: Elizabeth Savage, Alexandra Stearns
Yosemite Unified CSEA Chapter 698: Shelby Veater, Connor McMechan
Yosemite Youth Basketball Association: Kade Cross, Jessica Fine, Alexandra Stearns, Tracy Robesky
Yosemite High Yearbook: Summer Bulmer
