Editorial:

From Powell to nationals

Local students represent Powell beyond the Cowboy State

Posted 5/21/19

Growing up in a small community in the least populated state, Powell kids may feel limited at times. But local youth have something that many do not: An exceptional education.

For local students …

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Editorial:

From Powell to nationals

Local students represent Powell beyond the Cowboy State

Posted

Growing up in a small community in the least populated state, Powell kids may feel limited at times. But local youth have something that many do not: An exceptional education.

For local students willing to work hard and apply themselves in school, opportunities abound. Just consider the fact that Powell High School’s graduating seniors were offered scholarships valued at $3.4 million. With 115 graduates in the Class of 2019, that number is particularly impressive.

In recent months, we’ve noticed another impressive trend among Powell students: Not only have they succeeded at state tournaments, they’re also advancing to national levels of competition.

This spring, 10 students from Park County School District No. 1 qualified for national competitions and conferences in non-athletic events. That list includes:

• PHS students Lucy Sullivan, Nic Fulton and Aidan Hunt qualified for the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Dallas, Texas. Sullivan is advancing to nationals as a Lincoln-Douglas debater, while Fulton and Hunt earned spots on the national stage with their duo piece titled “I Hate Hamlet.” The trio of Panthers saw success throughout the speech and debate season, and placed in the top three at the district tournament to qualify for nationals.

• PHS junior Rachel Kuntz was selected as Wyoming’s Free Spirit Journalist and will attend the national Freedom Forum Institute at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. in June. Only one student from each state was chosen for the prestigious honor.

• Four SkillsUSA students will represent Powell High School at the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, next month. Powell’s national qualifiers are Maggie Cappiello in commercial baking, Kaitlyn Church in early childhood education, Nelli Lucus in photography and Bailee Moore in restaurant service. They qualified for nationals by placing in the top spots at the state SkillsUSA tournament last month.

• Dane Lauritzen, an eighth-grader at Powell Middle School, recently traveled to Florida for the MATHCOUNTS National Competition, where the top middle school mathletes from around the country faced off. Lauritzen advanced to nationals by winning the state title this spring.

• Powell Middle School eighth-grader Sadie Tillotson will compete at the National History Day contest at the University of Maryland in June. Tillotson placed second at state with her project on the Ludlow Massacre. This is just the second year Powell Middle School has participated in the History Day competitions in recent years, and to have a local student qualify for nationals speaks to the program’s success.

Earlier this year, two PHS musicians also received top honors when Austin Chandler and Kjelden George were selected for the All-Northwest Honor Band and Honor Choir. The pair traveled to Portland, Oregon, for the National Association for Music Education’s Northwest Division conference. With thousands of high school students in six states auditioning for the honor, it’s a highly competitive process.

Across the country — from Oregon to Washington, D.C. — these students represent the Powell community, and make us proud. They’re also setting an example for fellow students.

Powell may be a small town, but its educational opportunities are great.

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