Essency, Tupling and Trump to speak at Dayton High School Graduation June 8

By Loyal Baker

DAYTON–Commencement Exercises for the Dayton High School Class of 2024 are set for 12 noon, Saturday, June 8, in the Dayton Gymnasium, and three honor speakers will give their graduation addresses.

There are co-valedictorians in the Class of 2024: Kameryn Tupling and Ashley Essency, and Salutatorian Grace Trump, and each will speak during the ceremony.

Kameryn Tupling is the daughter of Ashley and Diego Trevino, and has been quite busy as a Dayton High School student. She counts maintaining a G.P.A. of 3.96 along with involvement in athletics, student government, National Honor Society (N.H.S.) and working as a waitress and babysitter in her spare time.

Tupling's future goal is to attend Gonzaga University to obtain a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and, after becoming a Registered Nurse, a master's degree in nursing and become a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in pediatrics. She has received the Gonzaga Pell Grant that covers full tuition, and will received the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship.

While a Dayton Bulldog, Tupling has been on the basketball team three years, softball team four years, participated in club soccer, served on the A.S.B. and was an FFA member.

She accepted leadership roles in A.S.B. as secretary this year, A.S.B. assistant Public Relations Manager as a junior, and N.H.S. president this year. In athletics, she was a captain for the basketball team as a junior and senior, and she served as captain of this year's softball team.

Tupling has been on the Honor Roll since coming to Dayton High in 2021. She was a Student of the Month as a sophomore, junior and senior. Athletically, she was basketball Most Valuable Player as a sophomore and junior, named to the All-League Second Team for softball as a junior and was named Most Dedicated Softball Award that year. She earned varsity letters in softball and basketball.

Dayton High's second valedictorian is Ashley Essency. She is the daughter of Angela Kenney, and during her high school years has been focused on education: in addition to completing studies at D.H.S., she has been a Running Start student and will receive an Associate Degree in Nursing from Walla Walla Community College.

Essency's future plans are to attend the University of Washington to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, with an emphasis in emergency nursing.

 She was a member of the Cheer Squad for two seasons and, because of her academic load, was not able to be involved in activities and clubs. When she finds some free time, Essency likes to go for a run, or go hiking, or ski at Bluewood. A Blue Heeler puppy also keeps her active. Finding new hiking trails or going for a drive are also favorite pastimes.

Salutatorian of the Class of 2024 is Grace Trump. She is the daughter of Jeremy and Jamie Trump of Dayton and a life-long resident who plans to attend the University of Idaho to obtain a degree in Elementary Education and pursue a career as an educator in Dayton. She has completed College in the Classroom courses from Central Washington University and WWCC. She has received the WUE and WUE Scholar awards from the U of I, the P.E.O. Citizenship Award and early FAFSA filer award.

Trump has been busy during her four years in high school while maintaining a 3.88 G.P.A. She has played volleyball and basketball, lettering and being honored as a scholar-athlete. She was ASB treasurer (2022-2024) and the P.R. Manager's Assistant. In N.H.S., Trump has served as secretary-treasurer and parliamentarian. For Youth and Government, she was clerk during the virtual state conference and vice president in 2021-22.

She was named Student of the Month in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Volunteerism is big for Trump: she is on the Youth Worship Team at her church, and helps with Vacation Bible School, Sixth Grade Camp and Chamber of Commerce events.

Members of the graduating class include: Justina Irene Abrahamson, Vanessa Marie Acevedo, Jason Wayne Anderson, Logan Aiden Berg, Solomon John Brenner, Parker Todd Brown, Morgan Charolette Civilla, Mikaylah Shay Crawford, Laney Lavella Marie Crow, Cayle Jacob Davis, Cash Louis Eslick, Ashley Ruth Essency, Opal Morin, Kaelie Kathryn Jonas, Rachel Dova Klein, Nolan Edward Korslund, Elsie Mae Mann, Wyntr Rose McCauley, Kaylub Michael Prather, Adrian Nathanael Ramirez, Joshua James Reser, Madison Joy Richardson, Jose Edwardo Rodriguez, Grace Annabelle Trump, Kameryn Wendy Tupling, Dea Elijah Wanlarbkam, Lukas D. Winkler and Donovan James Zorb-Perkins.