The Peninsula Gateway, Umpqua Bank, Olympic Property Group, the Franciscan Health System and the community celebrated the achievements of the 2010 Students of Distinction — 36 graduating high school seniors from the Peninsula School District — on May 26 at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church. The program also was sponsored by Cutters Point Coffee and the Peninsula Light Company.

ALUMNI OF DISTINCTION: Wise family becomes first to be honored as a group for their years of service in education.

PHOTO GALLERY: View a slideshow or purchase reprints from the event.

SHARE YOUR PHOTOS: Did you attend the banquet? Share them with the community at our Facebook page or send them in .jpg format by e-mail to gatewayeditor@gateline.com.

MAY 19: Shanice Hrouda | Katie Jung | Michael Lee | Shenowah Purser

MAY 12: Jared Fanning-Lytle | Erin Hull | Lindsay Langford | Eric Spring

MAY 5: Alyanna Castillo | Caleb McDaniels | Zadka Mikelson | Conner Peloquin

APRIL 28: Jens Luebeck | Kody Liberty | Mackenzie Knapp | David Bigelow

APRIL 21: Ian McKnight | Seth Johnson | Daye Lee | Lauren Biggs

APRIL 14: Rachel Toone | Alexis Krug | Mik Moore | Taylor Indahl

APRIL 7: Jordan Stewart | Karissa Mallett | Joel Fandel | Allyson Falconer

MARCH 31: Arianna Shorey | Michael Junge | Cara Saxon | Geoffrey Grant

MARCH 24: Chris Borg | Michael Bouterse | Haley Erickson | Hailey Stewart

Some students point to their grade-point average as a barometer for their high-school success. Others nod to extra-curricular activities, volunteer work or athletics. But for 36 graduating seniors from the Peninsula School District, one accomplishment is just the beginning of a plethora of feats and accolades that help tell the stories of what students have been able to achieve and overcome during their high school careers, and what they plan to achieve as they move forward.

PHOTO GALLERY: View a slideshow or purchase reprints from the community banquet.

Shenowah Purser is a leader at Henderson Bay High School, and she has been involved in many activities that have benefited the school and the community at large. She is the Associated Student Body president, although she said she never envisioned herself being in such a role.

Michael Lee is a scholar athlete who has numerous achievements in both sports and academics. Described as a highly competitive person with an easy demeanor, Lee has a well-rounded schedule which includes music, clubs and volunteer work.

Katie Jung is a well-rounded student who has been involved in athletics and community service activities. She has maintained a 3.9 grade-point average while she’s been involved with groups such as the Gig Harbor High School speech and debate team, the AIDS Peer Education Exchange and the Tides’ girls tennis team.

Shanice Hrouda, who moved from England about six years ago, said the change helped her be more culturally aware and more interested in other people’s lives. That shift compelled her to become involved with several culturally diverse clubs at Peninsula High School, including the Chinese Club.

Eric Spring has accumulated hundreds of hours with various bands. A drum major and section leader for Peninsula High School’s marching band, he has mastered several instruments and has taught others.

Many teachers describe Lindsay Langford as a remarkable young woman and a gifted leader. A scholar athlete, Langford shines at Peninsula High School in the classroom, on the athletic field and in the community.

Erin Hull is determined to not allow adversity to get in the way of her goals. A talented long-distance runner, she plans to continue running at Seattle Pacific University, which she will attend next fall on a scholarship.

Jared Fanning-Lytle has explored many talents while he’s attended Gig Harbor High School, from music and entrepreneurship, to athletics and academics. Teacher Ken Brown said he’s “the type of kid who doesn’t come along very often.”

Conner Peloquin is a multi-talented student who has conquered athletics, music and academics equally well at Gig Harbor High School. A scholar athlete with a 3.96 grade-point average, he’s also one of the top long-distance runners in the country.

Zadka Mikelson is a leader, athlete, volunteer and scholar. She has a list of diverse activities and commitments that range from volunteering for various organizations and events, to competing for the Peninsula High School’s swimming and water polo teams.

Caleb McDaniels plans to study computer science and business management to become an information technology technician. His dream is to run his own small business, and he already has a head start on that dream.

Alyanna Castillo is skilled in both the sciences and graphic arts, and she’s pursued both while she’s been a student at Gig Harbor High School.

Jens Luebeck is a talented musician who has been playing the cello since he was 6 and has been taking private lessons for the past 12 years. Luebeck has performed with several groups, including the Tacoma Youth Symphony, and he’s toured the East Coast as a concert soloist.

Kody Liberty went from a struggling student to a young adult with big dreams. He turned his life around academically, caught up on his credits and is looking forward to graduating and attending college.

Mackenzie Knapp volunteers an average of six hours a week, and she’s involved in Gig Harbor High School activities as well as many community events. Through the years, she’s given time to numerous organizations and events, from her school’s TideFest to St. Anthony Hospital.

David Bigelow has been playing baseball since he joined a peewee team when he was 5 years old. He’s played ever since, and he will continue to play next spring as he attends Gonzaga University in Spokane on an athletic scholarship.

Ian McKnight got a taste for the theater stage when he was 5, as a munchkin in a community theater production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Since then, he’s played in many roles, including alongside his father and brother.

Seth Johnson is on his way to a career in civil engineering, and he hopes to work with structures or to develop new forms of environmentally friendly mass transportation. Johnson will follow in the footsteps of his father, a structural engineer.

Daye Lee is a top scholar and an athletic leader who hopes to become a diplomat in her future. Lee, a senior at Peninsula High School, plans to study international economics and attend law school.

Lauren Biggs started swimming when she was 6 years old, and she hasn’t looked back. A member of Gig Harbor High School’s water polo and swimming teams, she has many athletic achievements, including an 11th-place finish at the Class 4A state swim meet in the 100-yard butterfly when she was a sophomore. In her sophomore and junior years, her team broke school records.

Rachel Toone has spent about 260 hours on community service since last April alone, having been involved with numerous groups and projects. She said once a person gets a taste for volunteering, it’s easy to get hooked.

Alexis Krug has done many typical things that outstanding high-schoolers do: She’s played tennis and was captain of her team, she volunteered for numerous activities at school and in the community, and she maintained a high grade-point average.

Mik Moore is a scholar athlete who wants to work in the environmental sciences field. One of his ideas is to become a weatherman at a prominent news network after he studies meteorology or oceanography. Moore has taken several Advanced Placement science courses, and he’s excelled in his studies.

Taylor Indahl first swam laps when she was in a community pool at age 6, and the rest was history. Indahl enjoyed it so much that her parents encouraged her join a swim team. The Indahls lived in Colorado at the time, and Taylor was a member of three different clubs there.

Jordan Stewart got involved with sports when she was 5, and she hasn’t stopped since. She’s played basketball, volleyball, softball and soccer, and she’s participated in track and field.

Karissa Mallett has changed her life, from skipping school on a daily basis, to being a confident person who strives for success. Mallett said it took a great amount of determination to graduate on time from Henderson Bay High School, and now, she said, the sky is the limit.

Joel Fandel will graduate from high school with enough credits to nearly have an associate of arts degree. He’s been attending Olympic College part-time through the Running Start program, and he’s taken several advanced-placement classes — and he’s still maintaining a 3.8 grade-point average.

Allyson Falconer already has left an impression on her community through numerous hours of volunteer work. She has a list of commitments, both on and off the Gig Harbor High School campus.

Arianna Shorey is fascinated with the Chinese culture and language, which may not be surprising since her grandmother is Chinese. Shorey has been immersed in various activities involving China, and she hopes to become an archaeologist and study the country even more.

Michael Junge may be a familiar face and voice to some people. As a singer/songwriter, he has been playing acoustic guitar for six years and has performed at local events, fundraisers and private parties.

Cara Saxon, who spends nearly 20 hours a week practicing, said her Gig Harbor Tides’ cross country team is both her main activity and her social life. Not only is she surrounded by her best friends, she is an inspirational leader who made a major contribution to her team.

Geoffrey Grant is a top athlete who has been active in sports since he was young. A football player since fifth grade, Grant was a captain for the Peninsula Seahawks for the past two years, and he has a long list of athletic achievements, including the “Most Inspirational” award for two years.

Chris Borg is one of Peninsula High School’s top athletes. A member of both the cross country and track teams for the past four years, he will continue running in college while he works toward a business degree. Borg hopes to be involved with sports management on the business side of athletics.