High School

Seniors plan for bright futures

By Logan Pegram

May 11, 2008

Kali Arney
Next year I plan on attending Washburn University for my general education. Eventually I will attend Baker School of Nursing. I will most definitely miss the 2007 - 2008 pommers. I became so close to all of them, and they are such great girls. My best memory of high school would have to be the lunch room conversations. Mrs. Larson has inspired me the most because she taught me to be who I am and not to worry what other people think. You are your own person with your own style. I wish I would have put a lot more effort into school work and extracurricular activities because, at this point in my life, I realize how important my education is.

Eddie Avila
My plans are to get a job and make money. I’m going to miss a lot of people because everyone has left a mark some way or another. There are a lot of important people in my life that I’m probably not going to see after high school, so I hope we keep in touch. My best memory would have to be winning state football my junior year. The adrenaline rush I felt was so amazing. There isn’t really a specific memory that I think was the “best.” All the time I spent with friends and family , and getting to know everyone better, was really the best memories. My grandpa has inspired me the most. He has always had my back. Whenever I needed anything, he would try his hardest to make sure I had what I needed. He’s the hardest worker I know. That’s why I want to grow up to be like him. I wish I would’ve played football all four years. Besides that, I think everything I’ve done has made me who I am, so I wouldn’t change anything else.

Justin Backman
My plan for next year is go to an intelligence field in the United States Marine Core. I am going to miss everything about this school. My best memory would have to be being a part of the state football team my junior year. My parents were the ones who inspired me the most. They always had that no-quit attitude which I hope I have gotten. I wish I would have focused less on the women aspect of high school and realized sooner that friends will always be there for you.

Josh Baden
I will be attending the University of Kansas and majoring in genetics. I won’t miss a single person as much as all of the friends who I have built strong friendships with for four years. My best memory would have to be being able to play in the state football championship for all four years of high school. That is a tremendous accomplishment and memory. Going on a cruise this past spring break was also memorable. While I have gone to Silver Lake, I have been able to come home every day and see my brother strive so hard to get his degree at Washburn University despite his disability. Zach inspired me the most. The only two things that I wish I would have done differently are that I would have a little more fun instead of being so serious about school, and I wish I would have taken a debate or forensics class because I think I would have excelled.

Bradley Bahret
I will miss Mrs. Manhart because I always had fun in her class. My best memory in high school was winning state football my junior year. I wouldn’t change anything I have done.

Thomas Blake
I plan to go to Camp Penalton and finish USMC Training after high school then earn my way up ranks to a master sergeant. I will miss my friends and Mrs. Naylor because I won’t be able to see them. I wish I would have been friends with more people.

Joey Boaldin
I will be in the Air Force as an E-3. I ship out to Lackland Air Force Base in June and will probably be attending Kecsler AFB in MS. I will miss Jared Wilcox because he is my best friend and he has a great personality, and Cortney Immenschuh because she is a good friend and a sweetheart. My best memory is my sophomore year because it was Joey Littel’s graduation and he went to the Air Force. He and my sister Jessica inspired me to go to the Air Force. Mrs. Naylor inspired me to strive for nothing less than greatness with her stories and threats.

Dustin Bogart
I’ll probably work for awhile and then go to trade school to train to be a machinist or a manager. I will miss a lot of the teachers because they’re really great and most of them were there for me when I needed their help. Most of all, I will miss all of my friends who are in younger classes because I won’t get to see them as much. My best memory of high school would have to be the fact that I’ve only had one or two detentions yet I’ve been suspended for a whole semester. The people who inspire me most would have to be my friends because even after all we’ve been through, we all managed to stay in school and get our diplomas. I really wish I would have participated in more sports and, most of all, I wish I would have tried harder to get better grades.

Steph Bolen
I would like to get a job and be more responsible. I will miss Dan the custodian because he has been a great, tremendous asset in my life. He is the world’s best buddy. He is mostly funny. He is a lot of fun to mess with. He is the greatest person out there. He is number one in my book. My best memories are getting to know and hang out with Dan the custodian and Mrs. Angela and anybody else because they are like family to me. Mrs. Hockett and I are like twins - almost - but she is a cool lady. I have never met anyone like her. She is the greatest person out there. Mrs. Hockett inspired me the most because I am so close to her and she makes me better in school. Dan the custodian also inspired me because I look up to him and he has changed my life since I have been here.

Josh Cairns
I plan on moving to Arizona. I will miss my very few friends that don’t blame me for ignorant stuff. Mrs. Backman inspired me the most.

Chelsea Campbell
I plan on attending Pratt Community College on a volleyball scholarship and majoring in athletic training. I will miss all my friends because they have always been there for me, and when I go off to college, I will miss seeing them. My best memory of high school would be winning state volleyball my senior year with all my friends. Mrs. Naylor inspired me because she taught me that no matter what you do, it can always be better. I wish that I would have gotten to know more of my classmates, not just the ones that I hang out with.

Keelei Cook
Next year I plan on attending Regency. I’ll miss seeing my friends all the time and just being around all the energetic people. I would have to say all the football games were the most memorable. All the people close to me were the most inspiring. I think there are a lot of things that I should have done differently, but I’m happy with where I am right now, so I wouldn’t change anything.

Ethan Cray
I plan on just getting by after school and possibly joining the military. I will miss C.J. because he has seen something in me since before high school, and whether he knew it or not, he pushes me and his opinion matters to me. C.J. inspired me because I have always wanted to show him my best because he is a good person. My best memories come from all of my junior year because I grew the most. I wish I would have played football my sophomore year.

Garrett Cummings
I’m going to go to Washburn University to play football next year and possibly study education. I will miss Josh the most because he has been my best friend since kindergarten, and I will miss all the friends I’ve made here. My best memory is winning the state championship in football my junior year. My brother Andrew inspired me the most because he is a great role model, and I’ve always wanted to be like him. I wish I would have been more outgoing the first few years of my high school career and would have tried harder at school.

T.G. Gideon
I am going to finish Vo-Tech School in computer repair and networking. I think I will miss most of my cross country friends and especially Josh Pladies for helping me manage the basketball team. My best memory of high school was running at state cross country this year because it was very exciting and fun. Zig inspired me the most because he is an awesome teacher and coach. He makes school really fun. I wish that I could have gotten to know more of the freshmen better.

Whitney Gillman
Next year I will be going to Cloud County Community College to play softball, and I plan on majoring in psychology. I’m going to miss all of my friends that I’ve made here, of course, and also the lunch ladies and secretaries because we’ve been really close over the past couple years. I don’t think I can name just one particular memory, but I would probably have to say winning state volleyball two years in a row or when some of my friends and I spelled out “I POOPED” with cups on the fence in the parking lot. I would have to say my mom inspired me the most because she always believed in me and supported me in everything that I’ve done. I wish I would have realized who my true friends were sooner than I did.

Katie Gorley
After high school, I plan on going out of state and going to school. I will miss my best friends because they are my life! My best memory of high school is the pep rally when the guys came out in the cheerleader outfits. My friends inspired me the most because of how they took each situation as it came at them, and they handled it with grace. I wish I would have taken harder classes and applied myself.

Dylan Gragert
I plan to attend Washburn University to get my associates degree. I will miss all of my true friends. My best memory of high school is the three legs of the tripod. Mr. Karlan inspired me the most because he pushed me to do great things.

Myranda Hanson
My plans are to do a program called Master’s Commission, which is a 10 month intense Bible outreach program, but where at is still undecided. I’m deciding between Oklahoma City or Missouri. I will miss all of my close girl friends because of all the random, funny stuff we do. I will miss Logan because he is always making me laugh really hard, and Whitney because she is the bestest friend anyone could ask for. My best memory of high school is when Whitney found a three wheeled bike with a basket, so we aired up all of the tires and added a horn. We took turns pedaling and riding in the basket around Silver Lake. My parents and my sister Ashley inspired me the most because they all taught me to not be ashamed to serve God and to just be myself. I wish that I would’ve done the play my freshman and sophomore years and become better friends with the people I’m friends with now sooner.

Collin Hase
I plan on attending Labette County Community College an a wrestling scholarship. I can’t pick one person who I will miss the most. But if I had to, it would be my two best friends, Brian Lampe and Kayla Augustine. My best memory of high school was winning my first state championship in wrestling. My father was the biggest inspiration during high school because he always was on my case through my whole high school career. I wish I would have gotten to know the junior girls better because they are really fun and crazy.

Joe Hockett
My plans are receiving a diploma and having a good job in town. I will miss my friends and the school staff. My best memory is my first high school dance. My mom inspired me the most because she is a teacher and having her around to help me meant a lot to me. I would not have done anything differently. It was all fun and enjoyable.

Cody Holthaus
I believe I will be attending Washburn University to receive a dual degree for a type of engineering. I will miss my friends because I always have a good time when I hang out with them. My best memory was when I achieved my goal and maintained a 3.9 GPA. Mrs. Naylor inspired me because while teaching English, she taught us many life lessons as she prepared our class for the future. I wish that I would have stayed in Silver Lake all four years.

Cortney Immenschuh
I plan to go to Washburn University and get an art degree so I can open an art studio. I will miss all my friends because they always know how to cheer me up and they always added that little bit of drama and excitement that made high school fun. My best memory would be watching Codi Spiker almost smash into a hummer and then listening to her scream as I cut off a semi. My parents inspired me the most because they kept pushing me to do my best.

Colby Killinger
I will be attending Graceland for a year or two then I will transfer somewhere based on my major. I can’t single out one person who I’ll miss the most, but probably Mrs. Naylor, Marshall, Jordan, Lamp, or Backman.I really enjoy Benedictine every year, with jumping into the pool, climbing a rock wall, and going down the “wrong” street. I’ll also miss late nights at Lamps. Naylor inspired me the most because she is an inspirational person. I wish I would’ve done more school work and less goofing around and not going long distance. I feel like I missed on the weekends I wasn’t here.

Andy Knudsen
I plan on going to college and hopefully passing all of my classes. I’m going to miss all of my friends because after high school, I’m not going to get to see them nearly as much. My best memory was winning a state football championship. My dad inspired me the most because he was always there to give me that extra kick if I needed it. I wish I would have had more fun with all my friends.

Jordan Lambert
I will be attending college in Greenville, Illinois. I will miss Gail Naylor because she’s my life. My best memories are state forensics 2007 and Benedictine College Choir every year. Gail inspired me the most because she killed me and gave me a reason to live at the same time. I wish I would’ve tried harder and not slacked on my grades.

Jordan Lockwood
I plan to go to Johnson County and play volleyball. I will miss the underclassmen and Naylor because I didn’t get to know the underclassmen as well as I should have and Naylor tries to prepare everybody for the real world. My best memory is winning volleyball state titles back to back. Naylor probably inspired me the most because she actually cares about what she does. I should have gotten to know some people at school a little better, and some others a little less.

Jason Mellies
I plan to go to college on a scholarship for sports. I’ll miss all my friends because we have gotten so close these last years. My best memories are winning state football my junior year and having a good wrestling season. My coaches inspired me because they are the ones who told me to never give up, and you can do anything if you set your mind to it. I wish that I would have been smarter in sports and done the right thing when I should have.

Logan Pegram
I plan on attending Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois. I will be majoring in either elementary education or sports management. Besides all my friends. I think there’s two people I will probably miss the most. Mrs. Naylor because she is here to further students' education. The other person that I will miss the most would have to be C.J. because he has always been someone that I have looked up to throughout my high school career because of the way he conducts himself with people and just the way he presents himself. I’d say my best memory from high school would have to be meeting all the people from all different backgrounds and creating relationships with all the people that I have while I’ve been here. If I could go back and redo my days here, I would definitely let people get to know me more and not be so consumed with things that don’t matter once you’re out of here. Well that, and do a little more academically. I think the person who inspired me the most while attending Silver Lake would have to be Mrs. Naylor. Even with her recent struggles in life, she still came to school every day with that “Don’t mess with me, I’m here to ruin your life” attitude. So Naylor definitely has to be one of the most inspiring people not only at Silver Lake, but in my life.

Amanda Pfannenstiel
I plan on attending the University of Kansas, majoring in pre- medicine and minoring in foreign language. I will miss all of the teachers because they’ve become my second parents. They’ve seen me grow up and know my tendencies second best. They’ve provided me with warmth and protection away from home. My best memories are winning state volleyball championships, roller blading with friends, and falling flat on my face in front of Lampe’s old house. Mrs. Naylor and Angie Bittner inspired me because no matter what obstacles they were facing in life, they always came into the classroom or on the court with a smile, a positive attitude, and always had endless passion. I wouldn’t have done anything differently. Everything happens for a reason.

Heather Rakestraw
I am going to Washburn University and majoring in nursing. I will miss all of my friends that I have made here because we have shared some awesome memories together. My best memory was in Mr. Beikman’s class when all of us brought our own cans of pop and we went down the rows opening them one at a time or when we all put our heads down at exactly the same time. My grandparents inspired me the most because they always wanted me to get a good education so I could grow up and be successful. I wish I would have gotten to know more people.

Megan Richards
I plan to attend Emporia State and major in elementary education. I will miss Lexi and Taylor because they are great girls and have become my best friends. My best memory is when Katana went up to get seconds at lunch and slipped on gravy and fell on her butt. My mom inspired me because she is always there for me, and she always encourages me to do well. I wish I would have put more effort in my school work and in cheerleading because I realize how important they are.

Austin Roberson
I plan on either attending Emporia or KU and participate in musicals and plays. I also plan on getting a degree in broadcast journalism. I will miss each of my classmates the most because I have built some sort of relationship with them at some time throughout high school My best memory of high school would be when I was choreographing a new dance and ripped my jeans in front of the whole musical. Mrs. Larson has inspired me through her guidance and charisma. I wish I would have started enjoying school and high school in general.

Lainey Roberson
I plan on attending Washburn University and majoring in political science and minoring in pre-law. I will miss my friends and all the teachers. My best memory would have to be staying out until early morning on Homecoming. Naylor inspired me the most because she pushed me to do more public speaking and made me realize my potentials. Beikman also influenced me because I love learning about the law and government, and I learned so much in his classes. Now I look forward to majoring in government.

Paulina Rudolph
I plan to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I am still undecided on a major. I will miss my friends and making memories with them, and I will miss my teachers and all the support they gave me. My best memories of high school are the practical jokes we played in Beikman’s senior government class and also Naylor’s threatening remarks. AC, Bledsoe, and Naylor inspired me the most because they were always supportive of me and encouraged me to make my aspirations a reality. I wish I would have put more effort into my school work, especially during my freshman and sophomore years.

Jessica Scarbrough
I plan to work. Ms. Herndon inspired me the most because she was awesome. I would’ve actually gone to class more.

Calvin Smith
I plan to be in the U.S. Army.

Codi Spiker
I plan to go to college at Washburn University and to become a paralegal and have a minor degree in literature. I will miss my friend Paulina Rudolph because she is possibly going to join the Air Force, and I may never see her for quite a long time. My mest memory was when my friends and I stayed up all night for Homecoming and were dead tired the next day for school. Mrs. Naylor has inspired me because she made me a great public speaker and introduced me to my love of debate. She also challenged me to be more than I ever imagined I could be. I wish I would have made more friends with the underclassmen instead of not knowing any of them. I also wish I was involved more with debate other than just two years.

Michelle Taylor
I plan on attending KU and double majoring in pre-law and political science. I am going to live in the dorms and go to EVERY home football and basketball game. Teacher wise, I will miss Mrs. Naylor and Mrs. Hamilton the most. Mrs. Naylor because she keeps my life on track and she is a great friend, and Mrs. Hamilton because she makes fun of me but it makes me laugh. Student wise, I will definitely miss all of the forensics kids, and my friends, and my debate partner Trent Strunk. My best memories were probably every time I hung out with my friends. I would say qualifying for nationals my first year in debate and Homecoming nights were always fun. I would say Mrs. Naylor has inspired me the most because she has overcome a lot of adverse situations, and she is probably one of the strongest people I know. She takes her duty as a teacher above and beyond, and her wisdom and guidance have changed my life. I wish I would have been more committed to my homework, especially my math homework! I also wish that I would have gotten to know more of the underclassmen because, the older I got, the less people I knew.

Jaimie Tosh
I plan to attend Kansas State University and major in interior architecture and product design. I will definitely miss my friends, but I will also miss my teachers and the familiarity they have provided me with for the last four years. My best memory would have to be getting to know my friends better and better every day. I would say my shop teachers, Mr. Karlan and Mr. Blush, inspired me the most. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have found my love for architecture and design. I wish I wouldn’t have worked so much after school. After four years of working, I realized my high school years are supposed to be some of the best years of my life, and I will have the opportunity to work for the rest of my life.

Jessica Wehner
I plan on going to college. I will miss my best friends and Murry. My junior prom is my best memory. Britt and Katie inspired me most through high school, not to mention Brandon who usually helped me out and Mrs. Larson’s big clap.

Marshall Wetta
I will be attending the University of Kansas with a psychiatry major. I will miss my friends and Mrs. Naylor. My best memory of high school would be meeting Emy Ladner. I’d have to say that Mrs. Naylor has inspired me the most because she made me realize what my real strengths are instead of athletics. She taught me if I work for something I wanted, I could get it. I wish that I would’ve not worried about girls so much and that I wouldn’t have been a little kid my freshman and sophomore years.

Sara Wetzel
I’m going to attend Washburn University for two years for pre-pharmacy and then KU for four years, majoring in pharmacy. Honestly, I can’t think of just one person I will miss most. I just know that I’m really going to miss everyone I’ve become friends with over the years and all of the teachers who have helped me to succeed. My best memory was when we won state volleyball during my junior year. This one was more memorable than my senior year because of the great competition we were up against during state of my junior year. My parents inspired me the most because they have always been the ones encouraging me to be the best that I can be. I wish I would’ve been more outgoing/less shy during my first years here, but that’s unfortunately something that I have never been able to control.

Jared Wilcox
I plan on going into the heating and air conditioning field. I will miss Mrs. Naylor because I have learned the most from her.
My best memory is going to state in forensics my freshman year. I wish I would have taken forensics my junior year.

Other Members of the 2008 graduating class include:

Tobias Cowdin

Katana Creger

Brian Lampe

Max Langer

Brittney True