2010 Lakeside Honored Graduates - Part Two
"I was pretty much destined for running I guess,' said Kenna Middleton. "Both of my parents run marathons.' This year, the senior at Lakeside High School received an academic and athletic scholarship to run track and field and Cross Country at The College of Idaho.
Kenna's college selection criteria was easy. She wanted to be able to run there, she wanted a small, pretty campus and she preferred to be further away from home, rather than closer. After visiting multiple schools, teams and coaches Kenna decided the little school (it's about twice the size of Lakeside High School) in Caldwell, Idaho was the perfect fit.
Although Kenna leaves for school in August, she's already begun a summer training program. While at school, Kenna has the option to run shorter or longer distances, but is unsure of her running career. "I guess I'll do the longer distances when my coach tells me I'm ready for it,' she said.
Kenna was born in Denver, Colorado and moved to Suncrest when she was three. She split her formative years between the Lakeside School District and the Westgate Christain School in Nine Mile Falls. She spent all four years at Lakeside High School.
While there, she not only participated in track and field and Cross Country, but soccer. "Math was by far my favorite subject,' she said. "I was always good at it. Plus with math there is always a right and a wrong answer, not like all the mixed answers you get with English.' Kenna took all the Advanced Prep courses she could to prepare her for college, but is still undecided with her studies.
For the time being, Kenna said she is interested in engineering or being a professor of mathematics at a university. According to Kenna, she still has plenty of time to discover and find her dream job. "My parents have always told me you have the rest of your life to work, don't worry about it now,' she said.
Kenna said she will miss all the fun she had at Lakeside, the arts that brought so much warmth to the school, and people she's grown to rely on. "In a small school, everyone knows everyone,' she said. This summer she plans to spend time with her family before heading off to school. "My family is very close, it's going to be so hard to leave them,' she said.
Kenna has worked at several venues for her dad's company. She is unsure of her employment plans this summer. She is the daughter of Scott and Barbara Middleton. Kenna is one of four Valedictorian's for the 2010 Graduating Class of Lakeside High School.
Jenny Reeder's family takes an annual trip to Yellowstone National Park. Each time the family passes through Missoula, Montana, her father talks about the university. He hints, sometimes obviously, that someone should go to school there. "From there, I guess my interest just grew,' Jenny said. "It's a really pretty campus surrounded by an outdoorsy community that is really supportive of the college.'
Upon graduation from Lakeside High School, Jenny will make her father's subtleties come true. When the time came, Jenny applied to the University of Montana, the University of Idaho, University of Washington and Western Washington University.
Ultimately, she decided upon the University of Montana because she liked how close it was to nature versus how close it was to the city. Two of her fellow classmates will also attend the university.
"There's a lot of outdoor recreation to do,' she said. "As a family we always go hiking, camping, fishing and crabbing. I just like being outdoors.'
Jenny was born in Spokane and moved to Suncrest when she was in the 3rd grade, and has since attended the Nine Mile School District. While at Lakeside High School she participated in gymnastics, soccer, Cross Country and track and field.
She was the boys soccer manager for several years (her father is the coach), and also participated in National Honors Society and the Washington Drug- Free Youth (WDFY) program.
"I liked math, science and physical education best,' Jenny said. "I think I like these subjects best because with math and science you get a definite answer as opposed to English.' In the end, Jenny ended up taking every single science class that Lakeside had to offer. She even took first place in a state math competition just two months ago.
Jenny said she used to want to be a marine biologist or an elementary school teacher, but these days she's thinking of studying something to do with engineering or the environment.
When she is done and gone Jenny said she will miss the friendly teachers, the sports and her teammates, but she looks forward to a fresh new start. "I'm looking forward to no one knowing me,' she said. In school here, I have a quite reputation so I never really stand out. Hopefully that will change in college.
Last summer Jenny worked at Other Mothers. She is unsure of her employment plans this summer. She is the daughter of Mike and Judy Reeder. Amanda is one of four Valedictorian's for the 2010 Graduating Class of Lakeside High School.