The following students were named to the Washington State University honor roll for the 2015 summer semester:

Newcastle: Stacey Quach

Renton: Jordan Beck, Harrison Diemert, Evan Fiore, Jenna Hamilton and Jennifer Harmon

Did you or your child make the dean’s list, graduate or receive a special collegiate honor? Email your college news to newcastle@isspress.com and we’ll publish it in an upcoming issue.

Local students graduate 

• Alanah Bell, of Newcastle, graduated June 13, with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and a minor in chemistry from the University of Washington. She will attend the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy in the fall to obtain her doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences.
• Julie-Elisa S. Acosta, of Newcastle, graduated July 13 with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering from Wichita State University, in Wichita, Kansas.
• Madison Dinger, of Newcastle, Bachelor of Science, nursing, Linfield College, Oregon
• The following Newcastle students graduated in the spring semester at Washington State University:
  • Alexis Garvin, Bachelor of Arts, hospitality business management; Chelsea Gillies, Bachelor of Arts, communication; Shannon Heric, Bachelor of Arts, digital technology and culture; Ocean Skyrud, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; Nicole Smith, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; and Scott Turner, Bachelor of Arts, business administration

Honor roll

• James Hill, of Newcastle, was named to the Oregon State University spring semester honor roll.
• Markell Sanders, of Newcastle, was named to the University of Montana’s spring 2015 dean’s list
• Katherine Kerstetter, a 2014 Liberty High School graduate, made Southern Methodist University’s Honor Roll with High Distinction for spring semester 2015.
• Ryan Brubaker, of Newcastle, was named to the spring 2015 Laureate Society at Whitworth University.
• The following Newcastle students made the University of Washington winter quarter 2015 dean’s list:
  • Neil Chakravarty, Jacky Cheung, Timothy Davis, Roland Deex, Daniel Elworth, Parisa Emam, Jasmine Giles, Chris Han, Memie Huang, Cade Hubbard, Sarah Idemoto, Nathanael Jones, Min Kim, Jason Lee, Stephanie Lee, Katelyn Mellinger, Jordan Metz, Jacob Morrison, Logan Nishioku, Anna Pendleton, Jonathan Pendleton, Lisa Pesin, Tia Riley, Kayla Shaffron, Simerjot Singh, Justin Takeuchi, Diem To, Nicholas Turner, Hannah Won and Stephanie Yea.                      

Did you or your child make the dean’s list, graduate or receive a special collegiate honor? Email your college news to newcastle@isspress.com and we’ll publish it in an upcoming issue.

• Lindsey Kranz, of Newcastle, was recently named to the Gonzaga University president’s list for the spring 2015 semester.
• The following Newcastle students were named to the Washington State University president’s honor roll for the spring 2015 semester: Carolyn Aibinder, Nicole Aibinder, Rachel Atwood, Shannon Heric, Ryan Maio, Stacey Quach, Alexandra Stuj and Brandon Yan.
• Molly Gallagher, of Newcastle, was named to the spring 2015 semester dean’s list at Northwest Nazarene University, in Nampa, Idaho.
• Emily Franceschina, of Newcastle, was named to the 2015 spring semester dean’s list, Carroll College, in Helena, Montana.

Did you or your child make the dean’s list, graduate or receive a special collegiate honor? Email your college news to newcastle@isspress.com and we’ll publish it in an upcoming issue.

Less than two years after she took office, Superintendent Merri Rieger announced her resignation, and the Renton School Board accepted it at its May 13 meeting.

Merri Rieger

Rieger’s resignation is effective June 30. In order to ensure a smooth transition for the interim superintendent, Rieger will step aside from the daily superintendent duties immediately, according to a statement from the district.

“I enjoyed my time in Renton and felt honored to work alongside so many talented and dedicated educators, community members, students and families,” Rieger said in a statement.

Renton School Board directors thanked Rieger for her service to the district and wished her well.

“As part of our responsibility to staff and our community, the board has reached an amicable separation agreement with Dr. Rieger,” Board President Pam Teal said in a statement. “We all work very hard toward the same goal: to provide every student with a meaningful education.

“The School Board and the superintendent simply had differing viewpoints on achieving their shared goals. There was absolutely no impropriety. We wish Merri all the best in her pursuit of other professional opportunities and thank her for her contributions.”

Sheryl Moore, the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources, will serve as acting superintendent through June 30. Dr. Art Jarvis, formerly a superintendent in the Tacoma and Enumclaw school district, will assume the interim position July 1 and serve through the 2015-2016 school year.

The board will seek input from staff, students, parents and the community to conduct a thorough search for a permanent superintendent during next school year.

The Renton School Board chose Rieger from a pool of 12 applicants who applied for the position to fill the vacancy left by Mary Alice Heuschel in 2013. Heuschel joined Gov. Jay Inslee’s administration as chief of staff, but left that post after about a year.

Rieger was the chief student achievement officer with the Kent School District before coming to Renton. Prior to that, she spent time as a high school principal in the Bremerton School District and as the dean of students and a high school teacher in the Auburn School District. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees at Washington State University.

By Greg Farrar
Hazen senior Dominic Green goes for the score in the Highlanders win over Liberty. Green recently switched his pledge from ASU to UW.

Once Dominic Green secured his release from the scholarship he signed last November with Arizona State University, the record-breaking Hazen High School star knew he wanted to continue his basketball career close to home.

After an informal visit to the University of Washington at the end of April, the 6-foot-7 small forward became intrigued about joining its stellar 2015 incoming freshman class that’s ranked second in the Pac-12 and ninth nationally by Scout.com.

On April 26, Green committed to the Huskies over Washington State University and promised to help restore them to prominence.

“We’re going to have a really good freshman squad,” Green said. “We already do have a good class, and I just want to help rebuild the program to back to how it was when they were really winning games and getting to the NCAA tournament.”

Green bolsters what is arguably the most talented freshman class in UW history that includes shooting guard Dejounte Murray, small forward Matisse Thybulle, combo guard David Crisp, power forward Marquese Chriss, and centers Malik Dime and Devenir Duruisseau.

At the end of April, Washington signed Auburn University redshirt freshman center Matthew Atewe, who has to sit out next season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Green is particularly enamored about playing with Crisp, his former teammate with the Northwest Panthers, an AAU summer team.

“He’s a guy that if your point guard had a guy all over him and he couldn’t get the ball up, Dominic Green could bring the ball up and get you into your offense real easily,” Panthers coach Garry Ward said. “If you want him to play some 4 (power forward), he’ll rebound tougher than what his frame says he will.

“And he’ll stretch your 4 with his ability to knock down threes and his ability to put the ball on the floor and get in the lane.”

Green, who weighs 182 pounds and has a 6-foot-11 wingspan, is also billed as an above-average defender. He should compete for a spot in the rotation and possibly the starting lineup, considering UW has just four returning players and two starters from a team that was 16-15 and finished 11th in the Pac-12 at 5-13.

Admittedly, Green is a late bloomer. During his senior season at Hazen, he averaged 23 points and passed former UW standout Jason Hamilton to become the school’s all-time scorer.

“I’ve just been really working on my jumpers,” Green said. “I really improved my handles. I’ve gotten quicker. I’ve gotten a little stronger since last summer.”

Western Washington University — fall 2014

Newcastle: Carolyn Aibinder, Nicole Aibinder, Paige Lane, Ryan Maio, Alexandra Stuj and Brandon Yan

Seattle Pacific University — fall 2014

Renton: Claire Moore, Christian Roy and Haley Vincent

University of Washington — fall 2014

Newcastle: Tyler Bauer, Joseph Becker, Stephanie Carl, Taylor Cates, Neil Chakravarty, Roland Deex, Daniel Elworth, Jasmine Giles, Chris Han, Cade Hubbard, Stacey Hurwitz, Sarah Idemoto, Nathanael Jones, Jason Lee, Stephanie Lee, Katelyn Mellinger, Jordan Metz, Jacob Morrison, Nickolas Nagel, Jonathan Pendleton, Lisa Pesin, Tia Riley, Nathanael Rollins, Kayla Shaffron, Simerjot Singh, Diem To, Nicholas Turner, Shayna Waldbaum, Hannah Won and Stephanie Yea

Arizona State University — fall 2014

Newcastle: Austin Turnidge and Jacqueline Welsh

Newcastle students graduate from WSU

The following Washington State University students have earned undergraduate degrees for the fall 2014 semester.

Newcastle: Benjamin Bartell, Bachelor of Science, kinesiology; Tyler Blakley, Bachelor of Arts, communication; David Dehrkoop, Bachelor of Arts, business administration; and Paige Lane, Bachelor of Science, nursing, Cum Laude

Did you or your child make the dean’s list, graduate or receive a special collegiate honor? Email your college news to newcastle@isspress.com and we’ll publish it in an upcoming issue.

Hazen drillers make it three in a row

Contributed
The Hazen High School drill team and coaches show off their third consecutive first-place trophy after the Dance and Drill State Championships March 29 at the Yakima SunDome.

If Kristin Sargent’s career as the head coach of the Hazen drill team was written as a book, it would have the perfect fairy tale ending.

The preface would note that her Hazen roots run deep. She was a member of the Liberty High School drill team before coming to Hazen, where she was the drill team captain in 1999.

The body of the story would detail her seven years as the Hazen drill coach, a golden era of sorts, as she led the Highlanders to several state titles.

The best part would be the ending, though, when Sargent’s team captured its third consecutive state title, in the same year she announced it would be her last.

That’s what happened March 29 as the Hazen drill team added to its overflowing trophy case with another great showing at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s Dance and Drill State Championships in the Yakima SunDome.

The Highlanders took first in 3A pom with a score of 252.3.

Liberty goes from 3A to 2A

Liberty High School sports teams went from 3A to 2A beginning in the 2014-2015 school year.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association released enrollment numbers showing Liberty, at 891.8, is the size of a 2A school. Schools with less than 990.8 students, but more than 472, are considered 2A.

In the recent past, the Patriots had opted up to the 3A level, despite its stature as one of the state’s smallest 3A schools, but this time around, administrators decided to test the 2A waters.

Former Liberty Athletic Director Stark Porter said he looked at the move as a two-year experiment, after which the school would re-evaluate things.

Hazen’s basketball star signs with ASU

With the swift stroke of a pen, Hazen High School senior Dominic Green made a permanent decision about the setting of his life’s next chapter Nov. 12.

The Hazen basketball star signed his national letter of intent to play at Arizona State University next year, officially making him a Sun Devil.

Green, a small forward, chose Arizona State over offers from schools such as Washington State University, Portland State University and the University of Montana.

Green is the first Hazen boys basketball player to sign with a Division I school since 1992, when Jason Hamilton began his career at San Diego State University before transferring to the University of Washington. Hamilton now serves as a radio analyst for the Huskies’ basketball team.

Patriots win first swim title

By Greg Farrar
The Liberty High School swim team cheers Nov. 15 as the 400-yard freestyle relay team wins the final event and the Patriots run away with their first-ever team state swimming championship.

The 2014 Liberty girls swim team won the program’s first state championship in a devastatingly dominant fashion. The Patriots won seven of the meet’s 12 events and left the King County Aquatic Center with a 2A record final score of 348 points.

To put that score in perspective, second-place finisher Sehome, coincidentally Liberty coach Kris Daughters’ alma mater, had 188 points.

“That was one of the most fun nights of my existence,” a beaming Daughters said at the end of the meet.

Senior Mackenna Briggs led Liberty swimmers with two individual wins, capturing the 100-yard butterfly with a 2A meet record time of 55.65 seconds, and cruising to victory in the 50-yard freestyle in 23.78. Briggs, a University of San Diego commit, also won the Swimmer of the Meet Award.

Hazen, Liberty wrestlers shine at Mat Classic

Malik Haythorne’s senior season of wrestling was emblematic of his entire Hazen High School team — growth was evident.

A year after failing to win a match at the state championships, Haythorne nearly wound up capturing a 3A state title. He settled for second place at 152 pounds as the Mat Classic XXVI wrapped up Feb. 22 at the Tacoma Dome.

Haythorne’s runner-up finish topped the Highlanders’ six-athlete contingent at the Mat Classic. Raven Svenson, a freshman who took seventh in the 155-pound girls division, was Hazen’s only other medalist.

On the Liberty side, three Patriots reached the medal podium.

Conner Small took third at 160 pounds, Romney Noel was sixth at 170 and Joanna Moreira took sixth in the 137-pound girls division.

Patriots put together big fall at 2A

In its first sports season at 2A, the Liberty Athletic Department put together an impressive 2014 fall postseason.

In addition to the swim team’s 2A state title, other teams took home hardware, too.

The Liberty boys and girls cross-country teams each earned third place at the state championships in Pasco Nov. 8, taking home the first state trophies in program history.

The Patriots’ volleyball team also made history, making its first state appearance and earning an eighth-place trophy.

Hazen senior named a Sea Gal

Hazen High School 2014 graduate Errin Mekel was selected as a member of the Seattle Seahawks dance team, the Sea Gals, for the 2014-2015 season.

Mekel, also a member of the state-champion Hazen drill team in 2014, competed in a marathon of workshops, tryouts and auditions to be selected as a Sea Gal.

She used her athleticism, knowledge of choreography and passion to win over judges in the selection process. Out of the hundreds of women who try out, only between 24 and 32 are selected for the squad.

Liberty tennis star goes out on top

A year after Liberty High School tennis player Jenny Adams teamed up with Kristy Braunston to take second at the 3A state doubles tournament, Adams went solo with almost as much success.

She placed fourth at the 3A state tennis singles tournament May 31.

Adams, who graduated in 2014 as one of Liberty’s best tennis players ever, defeated Shadle Park’s Audra Spargo in three sets to win the fourth-place medal.

Hazen coach steps down to lead alma mater

The Hazen High School football team began spring 2014 practices under new leadership after head coach Drew Oliver stepped down to take over at Newport High School, his alma mater.

Oliver took over the program in 2009, and under his direction, Hazen returned to the state playoffs during the 2011 season, for the first time since 1993.

Oliver, who grew up in the Newport Hills neighborhood, coached at Newport prior to accepting the job at Hazen.

David Kilpatrick-White took over for Oliver. The 2003 Bothell High School graduate came to Hazen via the Bothell program, having coached freshmen wide receivers.

Hazen finished 4-6 under the first-year coach.

Chelsea Aleesha Moorhead and Alexandra Stuj, of Newcastle, made the president’s honor roll for the 2014 summer semester at Washington State University in Pullman.

Azusa Pacific University

Nathan Gibson, of Newcastle, made the academic dean’s list at Azusa Pacific University, in Azusa, Calif. for the 2014 spring term.

Oregon State University

Justyn I. Jacobs, of Newcastle, a sophomore majoring in political science made the scholastic honor roll for the summer term at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, by maintaining a 3.5 or higher grade point average.

By Christina Corrales-Toy
Mark Rigos, outgoing Newcastle Public Works director, with his son Alexander, speaks at the May Creek Trail ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 15.

Newcastle Public Works Director Mark Rigos has only worked with the city for three years, but his impact on the community is so great that when he announced his resignation, at least one resident became emotional at the thought of losing him.

“Honestly, I teared up a little bit,” Newcastle Trails representative Peggy Price said. “He’s been absolutely fabulous to Newcastle Trails. He’s proactive and he backs us up.”

Rigos announced in May that he will leave to become the public works director for the city of North Bend. His last day in Newcastle is June 13.

It wasn’t an easy decision to leave, Rigos said, especially since he has certainly grown to love Newcastle and its residents, but North Bend offers some new opportunities that Newcastle didn’t.

In North Bend, Rigos will manage the city’s water and sewer district, something he couldn’t do in Newcastle, because that falls under the Coal Creek Utility District’s purview. He’ll also get the chance to manage North Bend’s wastewater treatment facility.

“In the private sector, I’ve designed miles and miles of water mains and sewer mains, but I’ve never managed a full facility, a district, a fund, so that will be a new challenge for me that I just haven’t been exposed to yet,” Rigos said.

Rigos wore many different hats during his time in Newcastle. Sometimes, he was a trails manager. Other times, he was like a parks manager. But whatever he did, his constant dedication to customer service touched everyone that came into contact with him.

“He is a very humble leader and I liken him to a modern day Nehemiah, doing his best for others and the city with a sincere purpose and calling,” Newcastle Weed Warriors President Grace Stiller said.

Along with his staff, Rigos managed several sidewalk projects, oversaw a tricky landslide-stabilization project along Newcastle Golf Club Road, worked with Newcastle Trails to develop and acquire new trails, and guided the city through some major pavement rehabilitation projects in his three years.

His proudest accomplishment was the huge strides the city’s stormwater division made under his watch, he said. He credited surface water engineer Laura Frolich and infrastructure manager Brian Smith for making sure the city was dialed in on capital and maintenance needs.

“I’ve had a wonderful staff. There’s certainly no I in team,” Rigos said. “My staff has just been incredible in getting these projects done.”

Rigos is known for going the extra mile, City Manager Rob Wyman said. Whether it was finding a way to give west end residents their Little Rhody Park, even after the grant they applied for was denied, or bringing his son along to an off-hours May Creek Trail ribbon-cutting ceremony, Rigos always put in the extra effort to make something special.

“He was a true member of the community here,” Wyman said. “I’m going to personally miss him quite a bit, and going to miss all he’s done.”

Rigos has a long list of things he will miss about Newcastle, he said, among them, the people, the City Council, his staff and his city manager.

He doesn’t expect to stay a stranger, though. Rigos, an Issaquah resident, already has plans to attend the city’s Fourth of July event and maybe make it out for one of the city’s Concerts in the Park series.

“I’ll especially miss folks like Peggy Price, Garry Kampen, Grace Stiller and Lee Strom,” he said. “There are so many people that contribute in so many different ways to Newcastle, and that makes it a neat small town.”

Rigos joined the Newcastle staff in 2011. Prior to that, he spent 12 years as a senior project manager at Concept Engineering. He holds bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and biology from Washington State University, and a master’s in business administration from Seattle University.

Wyman now has the arduous task of finding Rigos’ replacement. Whoever it is, he or she will certainly have some big shoes to fill.

“He’s not been a typical public works director,” Wyman said. “That’s the big challenge I have in trying to replace him.”

Rigos, who will start his new North Bend job June 16, does have some advice for the person that follows him, though.

“Public safety is always No. 1 in my mind, and as a civil engineer, it has to be, but almost equally important is excellent customer service,” he said. “Customer service is often overlooked in a public servant and I think it’s especially important in a small town like Newcastle.”

Malcolm Mitchell, a senior at Hazen High School, was selected as a Renton Rotary Club Youth of the Month for April.

He maintains a 3.81 grade point average, and is involved in DECA, National Honor Society, and the swim and cross-country teams.

Mitchell has received awards for DECA, Letters of Achievement, the Unity Award and the swim team MVP Award.

He works part time at the Newport Hills Swim and Tennis Club, but also finds time to volunteer with the Newcastle Weed Warriors and the girls swim team.

Mitchell plans to attend a four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree in business. He hopes to become a CEO or president of an environmentally responsible company.

Issaquah

Katy Orr (February)

• Liberty High School
• Recognition in music
• Plays Irish drum, sings, arranges music and directs a Celtic ensemble, learning bass drum
•  Theater, screen writing, acting, active volunteer in church
•  Maintains a 3.6 grade point average, taking Advanced Placement psychology, Honors physics, and college calculus
•  Accepted at Northwest, Montana State and Eastern, pursuing degree in business and music or theater

 Natalie Gress (February)

•  Liberty High School
•  Recognition in drama
•  Member of National Honor Society
• Drama Club president, Improv Club captain, Honor Thespian, student chair for Renton Municipal Arts Commission, Select Soccer Team captain four years
•  Holds a wide variety of leadership roles and works untold volunteer hours
•  Goals of four-year college degrees in theater and English

 Jacqueline Anderson (March)

• Liberty High School Recognition in physical education
•  On Liberty’s state championship soccer team, member of Pacific Northwest Soccer Club
•  Has a 3.4 grade point average
• Taking Advanced Placement courses in English lit, calculus and psychology
•  Will attend the University of Puget Sound for a bachelor’s in business and a master’s in sports management

Newcastle student named semifinalist in statewide contest

Newcastle resident and Eastside Catholic Middle School student Eva Hartman was honored as a semifinalist in Washington’s 2014 Letters About Literature contest.

Letters About Literature encourages young readers to read a book and write a letter to the author about how the book changed their view of the world.

Eva wrote her letter to “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” author Rick Riordan.

Liberty student wins video contest

Liberty High School student Ashton Herrild, of Newcastle, took the grand prize in the Issaquah Drug Free Community Coalition’s Influence the Choice student video contest.

Contestants were challenged to influence friends and other teens to resist using alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs by submitting video “commercials” two minutes in length or less.

Herrild’s two-minute video encouraged teens to “live for the nights you won’t forget,” rather than the “nights you won’t remember.”

Watch the video at http://youtu.be/5tQDtsbqYuI.

Laurel Akada graduates from WSU

Newcastle native Laurel Irene Akada recently graduated with honors from Washington State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in business administration.

Newcastle student makes dean’s list

Jeremy Hamann, of Newcastle, was named to Biola University’s fall 2013 dean’s list. Hamann was among 1,594 students to earn the honor at the Southern California university.

Hazen senior is merit finalist 

Hazen High School senior Emma Tuschhoff is a National Merit Scholarship finalist.

She was selected based on her academic record, leadership abilities and her exceptional performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in critical reading, mathematics and writing.

She is among 15,000 finalists who made it to this round of the scholarship competition, representing less than 1 percent of all U.S. high school seniors.

Emma plans to study biology at the University of Kansas, the alma mater of her parents, Stephanie and Jeffrey Tuschhoff. She also plans to continue her studies to obtain a doctorate in biology and eventually work studying wildlife in the Amazon.