A total of 54 eighth-graders walked across the gym floor at James Martin Court to receive their diplomas for promotion to high school at Rogue River Junior Senior High School on Tues., June 9.
The soon-to-be-freshmen were the first eighth-grade class at RRJSHS’s new junior high building, completed in time for this school year. Next year’s eighth graders get one more year in the building, as the school’s other first-timer class in the new building.
The class was also the first junior high for RRJSHS assistant principal Emily Figueroa-Wolfe, or “Ms. Fig,” who began at the school when the Class of 2030 were seventh graders.
“You are my very first class at Rogue River Junior Senior High School,” she said. “We’ve come together over these last two years, and I look forward to seeing you grow even more in the years to come. This promotion marks the end of one chapter and the exciting beginning of another.”
The recipient of the 14th James Martin Soaring Eagle Award, the highest middle school award, for students who are successful students and citizens at the school who stand out, is Ellie Willis.
The student’s name is affixed to a permanent trophy, with the student receiving their own plaque.
She is the fourth straight female student to earn the Soaring Eagle Award, the sixth in the last eight years, the 12th out of 14 since Zoey Boisen won the first in 2013. Five of 10 have been Valedictorians or co-Valedictorians of their class four years later, and 2022 winner Bernard Helms was the class of 2026’s Salutatorian.
Three students won the President’s Award: Yoselin Siordia Ramirez, Dominic Wells, and Trenton Whiteman.
Five students won the Solid As A Rock Award: Daisy Chapman-Dickison, Kaylee Hambley, Siordia-Ramirez, Clover Aman, and Wells.
The top students in each academic subject, as named by teachers, included Jon Su (Science), Siordia-Ramirez (Math), Willis (Social Studies), Aman (Language Arts), and Brody Casey (PE/Health).
Four students achieved 4.0 grade-point averages throughout the year, including Marley James, Zachary Forbuss, and William Fath.
Students with GPAs of 3.75 included Aman, Chapman-Dickison, Gwendolyn Colangelo, Kaylee Hambley, Adele Ivison, Siordia-Ramirez, Casey, and Zaelyn White.
Students with GPAs of 3.50 include Jacqueline Beadel, River Patterson, Whiteman, Jameson Burcher, Wesson McClure, Jon Su, and Joe Su.
Reach reporter Brian Mortensen at [email protected] or 541-582-1707.