May 17th was a night of honor and recognition for a large number of the Westlake 2017 senior class. The administration staff, seniors, and their families started to stream into the Westlake Thunder auditorium for a program to honor the achievements of the 2017 graduating class. The Westlake High School Senior Evening of Excellence is where the seniors for the class of 2017 receive recognition for their academic excellence. The program included remarks from Gary Twitchell (WHS Principal), Parker Frampton (WHS Senior Class President), Heather Austin (WHS Counselor), Erin Davis (WHS Counselor), and Ashley McKray (WHS Administration). After the pledge of allegiance Michael Ellefson the WHS Sterling Scholar for Vocal Music sang “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. They also recognized the members of the senior class that were enlisting in the US Marines, US Navy, US Army, and the Army Reserve.
The students were then honored for their achievements during their years at Westlake. This year 458 Westlake Seniors received scholarships. Those scholarships have a total award value of $8,000,348.54. Yes, you read that right, this Westlake graduating class earned over eight million dollars in scholarships. That is higher than any previous Westlake graduating class.
Of those 458 students, 82 of them received the honor of being a Thunder Scholar. To become a Thunder Scholar, you have to be in the top 10% of the graduating class. Thunder Scholars are determined by a point system that includes the students grade point average (GPA), ACT score, and any college level courses that were taken. Principal Twitchell had this to say about the graduating class of 2017, “I am honored to be associated with such a great group of students. They have embodied Westlake’s motto “Lux Et Virtus” which means Light and Excellence.”
Students were also recognized for keeping a 4.0 GPA, being a Sterling Scholar, having Perfect Attendance, being a Daniels Fund Recipient, and for being a National Merit Scholar. Besides the above recognition, there were a couple of other awards given at this recognition event. These included, Westlake Hardest Worker Award, Westlake Great Football Water Boy, WHS Best Wrestling Manager Award, Westlake Best Smile Award, and several others. These awards were acknowledged with thunderous applause that I am sure got the attention of Thor.
Even though there were 458 seniors honored at the event, there are a total of 820+ seniors that belong to the Westlake class of 2017. Westlake has helped a lot of others, besides the award recipients, to enter the work force, get ready for college, and prepare them for adulthood. I want to also congratulate those that were not honored during the Evening of Excellence. There are numerous students that were not spotlighted that worked hard and put in the long hours to graduate. A father of one of students and resident of Eagle Mountain, made this comment. “I applaud those that received recognition during the Night of Excellence. They worked hard, and deserve the accolades of the evening. But let us remember that there are students that are graduating that did not receive any recognition that night. I have a daughter that is graduating, worked hard to graduate, and found school to be a struggle. She spent long hours working on projects, crying in frustration at times, and had to deal with the drama that is high school. She joins those on graduation day and will silently walk across the stage to receive her diploma. A diploma that was as hard or maybe even harder for her to earn.” Congrats to all the seniors from Westlake High School class of 2017, you worked hard, and your life is ahead of you, continue with that Light and Excellence.
Mike Kieffer – Editor-in-Chief, Cedar Valley Sentinel
Mike Kieffer is a dynamic leader and community advocate based in Eagle Mountain, Utah. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Cedar Valley Sentinel, a local publication dedicated to informing, inspiring, and elevating the Cedar Valley community through honest and accurate journalism. With a passion for fostering connections, Kieffer has made it his mission to highlight local businesses, provide reliable news, and support community development.
Beyond his editorial role, Kieffer is the owner of Lake Mountain Media, LLC, a company specializing in media and communications, and the co-owner of Quail Run Farms, which focuses on sustainable farming and community engagement. He also actively contributes to the local economy and culture as a member of the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce.
Kieffer’s dedication extends to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Cedar Valley area. He often participates in community-centered events and media, including podcasts that explore the unique aspects of life in the region. Through his varied endeavors, he remains a steadfast advocate for the growth and enrichment of the local community.