Here are our 2021 Students of Distinction: 36 graduating seniors who excelled
Each year at graduation time, the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation and The Gateway present “Students of Distinction,” profiling 36 graduating seniors who have excelled in scholarship, athletics, the arts or public service. Here are the first four in a series that will continue weekly through June. This feature is made possible by a generous grant from the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation.
Gig Harbor High senior excels in sports, music and helping others
Allison (Allie) Hagen has made service to others an integral part of her high school career while excelling academically, playing sports and making music.
“My faith has really led me to serve whenever I have time,” Hagen said. I feel I’ve been called to serve and I think of it as a privilege”
In fact, she received varsity letters in Community Service twice and has accumulated more than 500 volunteer hours during her years at PHS — all while maintaining a 3.98 GPA.
The list of organizations she’s volunteered with is long and varied: Northwest Furniture Bank; Harbor Covenant Church; a mission trip to Ensenada, Mexico; Camp of the Cascades; Special Olympics; the Basket Brigade; Tacoma Rescue Mission and several local elementary schools.
She’s also participated in a number of sports including tennis, track and cross country, in which she received a varsity letter. She has also received numerous academic awards.
In addition, Hagen works part time for a local dentist where she’s responsible for sterilizing instruments, processing x-rays, editing photos, cleaning the office and occasionally running the front desk.
Of all her activities, Hagen’s favorite thing has been leading worship services at her church, she said – especially performing with the worship band.
It’s not surprising that her secret to academic success is managing her time well. “It’s definitely challenging to managing your time in high school,” she said. “I make lists and set aside certain times to do certain things.”
That’s her advice to younger students, too — learn to manage your time. “And also don’t be afraid to try new things — to join a new club or try a new sport. You’re never going to regret it when you get out of your comfort zone.”
Hagen has obviously made a good impression on her teachers. Phyllis Payne, her AP Calculus AB teacher said, “Allie brought a passion for the joy in life every day to class. She is bright, diligent, persistent and willing to learn new ideas. She’s a trusted independent learner who honors others and gives a positive outlook that one can look to for help and guidance. She is a student of distinction; the kind that represents goodness well.”
In the fall, Hagen will enter George Fox University where she plans to major in Exercise Science, with hopes of becoming a physical therapist.
Category: Community Service
Education: Senior, Gig Harbor High School
Parents: Stephanie and Mike Hagen
GPA: 3.98
Activities/ Achievements: Multiple sports including cross country, tennis and track; varsity letter in cross country; National Honor Society; Ambassadors Club; Teen Talk Alliance Club; band
Favorite teacher at GHHS: Mrs. Payne, her AP Calculus AB teacher. “Math has always been one of my favorite subjects and Mrs. Payne added to my love for it. She a great teacher but she also modeled leadership through her character and how she treats people. She pushed us hard in her class, but she was always encouraging and supportive.”
Best thing about GHHS: “The dedication to volunteering and serving the community. It’s evident in the clubs and opportunities the school provides. I love being part of a school that encourages students to serve and volunteer out of the goodness of our hearts.”
Henderson Bay senior is a leader, thrives on serving others
Ashley Phillips is a natural leader with a remarkable ability to engage others in making a difference in the world. So says Robin Malich, Henderson Bay site coordinator for Communities in Schools Peninsula.
In her freshman year Phillips attended Peninsula High School but, even though she was a freshman class senator, she “didn’t feel like I fit in.”
So, in her sophomore year, she transferred to Henderson Bay, where she learned about Rotary’s Interact Club and became very involved in school and volunteer activities.
“Interact Club has actually been my favorite thing in my high school career,” she said. “I learned about leadership and about how we can change the world. Being able to help others really gives me joy.”
“Ashley’s enthusiasm and passion for service, along with her ability to engage others, is what helped to make the HBBS Interact Club so successful,” Malich said. “She’s motivated, hardworking and committed to making a difference in the world.“
In addition to her involvement in Interact, Phillips has also been an ASB representative every year and an ASB officer the past two years. She also has been a student representative to the Peninsula School District’s Board of Directors.
A highlight of her high school career was a trip to Guatemala to volunteer at a Montessori school. “It was the best trip of my life,” she said. “It was a life-changing experience. When you go to another country, it’s a completely different world. You’re sort of taken aback by the differences and I really could see how one person can impact so many lives in a positive way,”
As it was for many of her fellow students, a dramatic change came in 2020 when schools were shut down by COVID19 restrictions. “When COVID hit I had this feeling that real life is really starting,” she said. “It was really an opportunity to find myself. I still wanted to be a leader and be myself, and it was very eye-opening.”
During her years at HBHS, Phillips also developed an interest in hobby faming and plans to become a farrier after graduation. “During the pandemic I realized that I need to figure out what I want to do in my life — perhaps be a teacher or a social worker? I know I want to have a good-paying job that I’d truly love.
“I thought about what’s my passion. We have horses and when our farrier would come over, I watched him closely and asked questions and decided that could be a really interesting thing to do. It’s hard to find good farriers in this area, and there are very few women in that industry. So I plan to do an eight-week course at Wyoming School of Horseshoeing and get certified as a farrier.”
Category: Community Service
Education: Senior, Henderson Bay High School
Parent: Rebecca Poundstone
Activities/Achievements: Henderson Bay Interact Club; Adopt-a-Road; CHEW Dog Rescue; Tacoma Rescue Mission; Giving Tree; Thanksgiving Basket Brigade; HBBS Giving Tree; FoodBackpacks4Kids; CISP highlighted student, summer student intern and volunteer; Easter Basket assembly and donation; Internship at Miracle Ranch; ABS President, Executive Student Council; PSD School Board student representative; Midday Rotary Student of the Month; National Society of Honor Student; water polo; swimming
Favorite teacher: Jessica Olinger. “She’s someone I can relate to who’s inspired me to pursue my passions. Her mentorship has made a deep impact on my life that I will be forever grateful. She’s taken time to really help me understand hobby farming and that’s provided me with a clear vision for my future.”
Best thing about HBHS: “I love lots of things about Henderson Bay. The endless opportunities — each student has the opportunity to grow within their personality, life skills and education.”
Peninsula High senior is top scholar, athlete committed to inclusiveness
Audrey Krishnadasan is graduating at the top of her class at Peninsula High. She has a 4.0 GPA, has taken nine AP/Honors courses and earned recognition on the school’s softball team and as an all-around student leader.
“Audrey possesses an incredible leadership skill in developing positive relationships with staff and students alike,” said Science Department Chair David Stitt. “Her academic skills and relational skills are widely known, but Audrey also actively looks for ways to bring people together.”
This has been true even in the remote learning environment that has challenged students this year.
Krishnadasan has taken on major roles as a member of the ASB leadership team and, even with all the COVID19 restrictions, she and her team have worked to provide ways for their fellow students to find connections to the school and school spirit by creating outside-the-box events around the community, according to Jennifer Nichols, PHS computer science teacher.
This year Krishnadasan was elected captain of the PHS fastpitch team. She also plays on the Seattle Sundogers, an elite travel fastpitch team. “Audrey is the poster child of what it means to be a good leader and teammate,” said Sundogers coach Carli Rasmussen. “She leads by example with her energy, work ethic, dedication and much more. She’s always willing to take younger players and newcomers under her wing and helps them understand and meet team expectations.”
Another of Krishnadasan’s strengths is her willingness to try new things. At the suggestion of her older brother, she “took a risk” and signed up for an AP computer science class at the end of her sophomore year. “I never really knew what I wanted to do after graduation, but I like math and science and I thought maybe computer science might be interesting.”
She immediately established herself as a leader in the class, Nichols recalled. “She showed excitement for building her own programs and was constantly working to be creative while fulfilling project requirements.”
As it turned out, the computer class put her on her career path, and this fall Krishnadasan will pursue a major in computer science at Occidental College and hopes to focus on cyber security.
Category: Academic Achievement
Education: Senior, Peninsula High School
GPA: 4.0 — Class rating: 1
Parents: Deborah and Baiya Krishnadasan
Activities/Achievements: Honor Role; National Honor Society (President, grade 12); Student of the Quarter; SSC 3A Honor Roll, All-conference Teams; Fastpitch – Heart of Champion Award, Personal Hype Man Award; ABS Senator, Officer; Interact Club Vice President
Favorite Teacher: Ms. Nichols, “She ignited a spark in me that led to my knowing what I want to do for my career.”
Best thing about PHS: “The community that has been cultivated by the student body. Our school has a diverse group of students with different interests. We excel in football, but also have an amazing drama department. While we have any differences, students are able to relate to each other because of their willingness to be kind to one another. Students and teachers work well together and the administration is so supportive and wants to connect with the students. And students have opportunities to pursue so any different paths.”
Gig Harbor High senior earns academic honors, excels in music
According to several of his teachers, Evan Hoang is the type of student that teachers dream about.
For starters, Hoang has led the GHHS Knowledge Bowl team to local, regional and state trophies and has garnered awards in speech and debate and photography.
He was also one of four students chosen to sit on a panel of GHHS students to interview the candidates for school principal. In addition, he’s held leadership positions in the school’s STEAM Club, the concert choir and Meistersingers. Musical activities are “great respite from al the rigorous academic things,” he said.
It’s also worth noting that Hoang is a First Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo.
“Some students shine in writing, others on traditional tests and others on creative media projects or other formats. Evan excelled in all of them, partly through natural talent and partly through his high commitment to excellence in every detail,” said Jim Greetham, head of the Social Studies department. “And of course, he got the top score possible on the national AP exam.”
Hoang has taken eight AP/Honors courses and his scholastic achievements put him at the top of his graduating class — first in a class of 374.
School counselor Tammy Walter-Brooks said that Hoang “…is one of the most gifted and accomplished students that I have worked with in my years as a high school counselor,” adding that he is well-liked and highly respected as a school leader.
“He embodies a warm sense of humor and genuine kindness that serves him well. What impressed me was his willingness to step outside his comfort zone,” she said.
Hoang credits much of his success to his parents, both of whom are doctors. As he came to realize that “they can make such a difference in people’s lives,” he decided to pursue medicine as a career. This fall he’ll attend University of Washington–Tacoma to study biochemistry or biological sciences, with the goal of earning an MD degree with an emphasis on research and an MD-PhD program in immunology.
Hoang’s advice to younger students is to try new things, and especially to consider joining a few clubs. “The clubs are a good way to hone your skills and you really get a sense of community,” he said. “There are so many clubs available, but if there’s not something geared to your specific interest, start your own.”
Category: Academic Achievement
Education: Senior, Gig Harbor High School
GPA: 4.0 (Class ranking 1/374)
Parents: Truang and M. Richard Hoang
Activities/Achievements: Knowledge Bowl — First Place – Tacoma Invitational; Mount Tahoma Regional. Second Place Washington State; Speech and Debate: First Place – Novice Informative Speaking – Seattle and Riverside Invitationals; Second Place – Gig Harbor Invitational; Knowledge Bowl — Secretary, President/Captain; STEAM Club: Treasurer, Vice President; Concert Choir: Vice President; Meistersingers: treasurer, Vice President; First Degree Black Belt in Taekwando; Peer tutor and tutor for Middle School Homework Club; National Honor Society; 45-plus hours of volunteering.
Favorite teacher: Jim Greetham, AP United States History, “because, in spite of having so much information to cover in such a short period of time, Mr. Greetham still found innovative and effective ways to foster an environment where learning and understanding the causation, audience, purpose and point of view was key.”
Best thing about GHHS: “The welcoming community the students and faculty exude.”