(Photos by Rick McGann)

Those are some of the 16 students from our area’s two largest high schools who were honored this past Monday night at Alki Masonic Lodge‘s 44th annual School Awards Night. Every year the lodge works with school counselors to choose juniors as honorees, as part of their mission “to recognize and thus encourage participation in public-school education,” as its parent organization “has long supported the public-school system as one of the basic necessities in maintaining the American ideal of democracy.” In addition to presentation of plaques – and, later, pizza – all in attendance listened to some observations and advice from their hosts. Martin Monk, who emceed, noted that he was a recipient of one of the awards in the 44-year-old program’s very first year. He offered a little more history: The lodge, at 40th/Edmunds in The Junction, has been there since 1906; they have 100 members now, though membership in the past has been as high as 500.

Chaplain Alan Sawyer suggested the student recipients consider the awards “a launching pad” for their future efforts.

(Ron Creel standing, Tom Christie seated)

Sporting a top hat, the lodge’s leader, Worshipful Master Ron Creel, mentioned he had spent time as a high-school teacher, and offered six points of advice to the students:

-Stay curious through your lifetime and never stop learning new things.

-Find something to be passionate about.

-Develop creative outlets, like art and/or music.

-Be kind to all people.

-Volunteer your time and skills.

-Learn another language – it will open you up to multiple possibilities in life.

The ceremony traditionally includes a presentation to faculty representatives of both schools; (corrected) school counselor Daniel Rosen took the stage representing CSIHS; WSHS faculty representatives included assistant principal Nancy Carroll.

(Daniel Rosen with Martin Monk)

Tom Christie preceded that part of the presentation with a speech reinforcing the Masons’ commitment to public education, noting that “freethinking is a tenet of Freemasonry” and expressing hope that the recipients will be inspired to “search for truth.” Rosen thanked the Masons for recognizing juniors, as senior year becomes such a blur by the time students get to the end of their high-school years.

The students’ achievements were briefly noted as they came forward to accept their awards, with hopes of future studies in areas of focus ranging from business to science. Here are the lists from both schools, in the order featured in the event program:

Chief Sealth International High School

Caitlin Boyer
Dayami Angulo Lopez
Tara Kankesh
Hamdi Elmi
Ann Nguyen
Elena Latterell
Azhar Samatar
Addison Whited

West Seattle High School

Lilly DuPuis
Adelyn Martin
Keegan Chapman
Ioannis Athanasiadis
Nina Nakajima
Jim Guevara
Anhelina Hutsu
Justice Jenkins

The recipients also received monetary gifts, described by Monk as “not a lot of money, but every little bit helps” when it comes time to cover college costs.