Beyond Graduation

Members of the Eatonville High School class of 2024 share their plans and dreams

By Rick Steadman

When the 118 graduating seniors at
Eatonville High School flipped their
tassels from right to left last summer,
they instantly became former high school
students. Half a year later, that seminal
moment in each of their lives served as a
launching pad for their new directions.

Ryan Stammen served as class vice
president for four years and achieved
a host of other accomplishments. Ryan
graduated as salutatorian; was selected as
the 2024 senior athlete of the year; received
the science department’s outstanding
student award; was the 2024 May Day
queen; worked at EHS as a lifeguard and
swim instructor; and was the only student
in her graduating class to graduate with
12 varsity letters and 12 scholar athlete
awards.

With aspirations of becoming a doctor
of sports medicine, Ryan recently began
her studies at Queens University of
Charlotte in North Carolina. She accepted
a combined academic and athletic
scholarship to play rugby and study sports
and exercise science.
Travelling across the country for school
has been a major change.
“I will really miss seeing my friends
every day in the halls,” Ryan says. “Having
us all spread across the country and not
getting to hang out in person is going to be
hard for all of us, I think.”
Not having her family nearby to support
her is also a huge void for Ryan.

Hometown Love
EHS grad Dylan Norman headed across
the state to Pullman and began his studies
at Washington State University.
At EHS, Dylan played on the football
team all four years, track and field for
three years, and basketball for one season.

He was also a member of the Associated
Student Body his junior and senior years.
A member of honor society, he also served
as ASB president his junior year, and class
president his senior year.
“Growing up in the small town of
Eatonville really gave me a sense of home,
and I love that about Eatonville,” Dylan
says. “Having, for the most part, everything
you need in town makes it so perfect; if
you need groceries, we have the Plaza for
that. If you need something to do, we have
the parks, the river and the Roxy. Even
though Eatonville might be small, we still
have things to do, which I love.”
Now enjoying college life, he also misses
the camaraderie in the hallways at EHS.
“The thing I already miss most about
high school life is seeing everyone in the
halls,” Dylan says. “Not seeing my friends
and classmates every day is definitely going
to be something to get used to. We all
had some pretty great memories together
throughout the years, and it’s going to be a
big change.”

Music in the Air
Playing in the school band had a huge
impact for several EHS grads, including
Clara Chabot, who now attends Pacific
Lutheran University.

“My favorite high school activities
were jazz band, concert band, volleyball,
knowledge bowl and track,” she says.

“I will miss being with the band,” she
says. “They were like a second family to
me, and I will cherish those memories
forever.”
After graduating from PLU, Clara’s plans
include working as a pancreatic cancer
researcher and jazz musician.
Another recent EHS graduate, Kjari
Nykreim, was so moved by her high
school music experiences that she plans
to pursue music as a career. She currently
studies at Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg.

“I learned through EHS activities and
clubs that I have a deep passion for music
and the arts, and I hope to someday teach
music or theater,” she says. “Looking back,
I don’t think I would have had that desire
or goal if attending another school or had
other teachers.”
Kjari says her band teacher, Mrs.
Danielson, inspired her to do her best,
and not just in music. Kjari was part of the
band leadership team and worked with
Mrs. Danielson on fundraising activities
and other tasks.
“Although I did a lot of the work, I
couldn’t have done any of it without Mrs.
Danielson by my side,” Kjari says. “She
taught me so much about life.”