Braden Schiller

Did school just start or just get out? Excuse the cliche but this year has been a whirlwind. So many things, good things, have happened in Powell and in its schools this year that it has been nearly impossible to keep up. Students, teachers, parents, community members and a million other stakeholders have done things that would catch anyone’s attention.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to cover them all. I hope to make up a little lost ground in today’s column.

Did you know that $50,000 was donated to the school district for the PHS trades programs by Powell grad Trent Smith and his wife Stephanie?

In my three years covering schools, I don’t know that I have ever seen such a generous monetary donation. 

Of course there’s also people who donate their time, who have helped students and those in need for nothing in return. Over Memorial Day weekend you may have spotted the Big Horn Basin Boxing Club helping with the MURPH Challenge (a 1 mile run, 100 pull ups, 200 pushups, 300 squats and another 1 mile run all with a weighted vest) at Freedom Fitness. The MURPH Challenge is quite the program; it honors Lt. Michael Murphy who sacrificed his own life in an attempt to save his fellow soldiers in Operation Red Wings by using a satellite phone to request help. Murphy was killed but he was able to finish the call. You may recognize his name from the movie “Lone Survivor.”

Good work to Freedom Fitness, the young boxers, the American Legion and everyone else who lent a hand.

Powell is busy; there is always something in the works to help the community at every level. At the high school we have the National Honor Society, a prestigious group of community oriented students, who organize annual blood drives and other good works in the community. This May some of those students were awarded letters for their service and new members were welcomed into the fold.

And of course in May 150 students graduated from Powell High School, Shoshone Learning Center and Park 1 Virtual Academy. Together they earned over $8 million in scholarships and some beat incredible odds to earn the diplomas. My hat is off to them.

Others aren’t graduating quite yet, but they’re equally impressive. One student went to New Orleans last month to receive the Billy Michal Student Leadership Award, another former Powell resident played with esteemed collegiate musicians across the nation and others more are hard at work in their own endeavors.

Outside of schools (my primary point of coverage) amazing things are happening in the community. People have been opening businesses, bettering the community, offering new services and overcoming the odds. In particular I want to shout out Pazlee Sheeley and Skylar Peterson who have been dealt tough hands, but have a strength many of us can only dream of. 

Frankly, I wish I could be everywhere at once. There are so many things happening that I wish I could cover thoroughly and deserve to be covered and I’m sure that I am missing quite a few things that should have made this column.

But I have to remind myself there are good problems to have. To have too many incredible stories is a good problem. I don’t get the summers off like the teachers I cover but as things wind down I hope to be able to use this time to highlight all of you in the community. That being said, I am fallible and only one reporter, but you have my word I will try my best.