This week, we’re showing our #CPSDPride by giving a #SuperSchoolShoutOut to high school graduates! Congratulations to Gravelly Lake K-12 Academy (GLA) graduate Nathaly Lopez, Harrison Preparatory School (HP) graduate Alli Laska, Lakes High School graduate Nemiyah Aragon-Scott and Clover Park High School (CPHS) graduate Abram Sterling.
Nathaly was originally born in the U.S. and moved to Mexico with her family when she was very young. She grew up speaking Spanish and came to the U.S. with little knowledge of English. The support system and self-paced nature of the Open Doors Youth Reengagement Program at GLA allowed her to excel despite any language challenges she faced.
“I like that GLA is a school where everybody has their own path and that there is a lot of focus on what the student wants to do rather than what they need to do,” she said. “They make sure every student is ready and oriented with future goals.”
Nathaly has been accepted to the nursing program at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. She wants to be a nurse to give back to other people and provide a needed service to her community.
Alli wants to change the world. She genuinely cares about other people and is working toward her goal of becoming a neurosurgeon so she can help others in difficult situations. “I really want to help people who deserve better than what they’ve gotten in life,” she said.
Alli’s time at HP helped spur her empathy for those around her and inspired her to make a difference. “All of the themes we covered were timeless and important for issues happening right now in the world,” she said. “We had deep conversations that made us think deeper about the meaning of the texts and the state of the world around us.”
Alli is attending the University of Southern California this fall to pursue a degree in biochemistry on a pre-med track.
After moving to CPSD in middle school, Abram found a home at CPHS. He loves the vibes of his fellow students and raves about all his teachers. “They are all so supportive,” he said. “They are happy to help you every step of the way and really give the support you need to be successful.”
Abram is proud of his high GPA and has enjoyed band where he plays percussion, including cymbals, drums and wind chimes. He is thankful for his time at CPHS, which he said allowed him to come out of his shell in a way he hopes will help him flourish in the future.
Abram was accepted to the University of Washington Tacoma where he plans to major in computer science before pursuing a master’s degree in aerospace engineering. He has earned a scholarship and a Mike McGowan Incentive Award from the Lakewood Rotary to help pay for his education.
Nemiyah is hoping his college career will be as successful as the time he has spent at Lakes where he was named valedictorian, was a member of the school’s debate club, Key Club, Black Student Union and ASB, and played as a defensive back on the Lakes football team all four years he spent in high school.
“I’ll always remember working with my teammates,” he said. “We became really close friends. Football definitely had a big impact on my time at Lakes.”
Nemiyah found inspiration for his future career while enrolled in the intro to engineering and aerospace engineering classes at Lakes. “Both of those classes ignited a determination to pursue a career to build things,” he said.
Nemiyah will be attending Washington State University with plans to major in landscape architecture and minor in engineering.
Go 2024 graduates!