| Summit's
first graduation
Summit Academy’s first graduation celebration began at 5:00 pm on Friday, June 3, the Feast of the Sacred Heart, at St Mary's Church. Five Summit seniors came together with families and friends, donned in their navy blue graduation gowns and joyous smiles to begin their last Summit exercise as students. 
This final occasion began with a baccalaureate Mass at St. Mary's Church in Cottonwood. The celebrant was Fr. Camillus Temba, Music was provided by a large Summit student group and additional parents and friends. Servers were siblings of the graduates. Each of the seniors played a part as readers, intention speaker, or gift bearers. The special Mass began with a procession including candlelight and music. It continued with the graduates each contributing their part and Fr. Camillus speaking on the challenge to be great Catholics in our daily lives, colleges, universities or wherever the Lord is calling them. The Mass concluded and all were invited to head up to Summit Academy where commencement exercises would take place.  At
6:30 pm, the Summit auditorium changed into a graduation hall. Christ's
portrait was center stage with navy, burgundy and white decorations and
many flowers helping to accentuate the event. Chairs lined the auditorium
surrounding the stage and all became quiet. Graduation began with the High
School faculty, Annette Wemhoff, Fr. Meinrad and Barry Sugarman all filing
in. Once seated, the graduates marched in to "Pomp and Circumstance." Fr.
Meinrad gave an Invocation and Summit's own Katie Struble who amazed the
audience with her solo of "The Star Spangled Banner” followed it. Annette
Wemhoff continued on with the welcome and a short introduction of the Salutatorian,
Shane Wemhoff, and the Valedictorian, Mark Uhlenkott. Before beginning
his actual speech, on behalf of the Seniors, Shane and Dylan Greene brought
Percy and Edna Roeper on stage and gave them a long overdue thank you for
their instrumental part of helping Summit to begin eight years ago with
the generous giving of their basement until something further could be
found. That reminiscent time of appreciation and Shane and Mark's talks
followed. Both thanked the Lord for his blessings and classmates and many
of the individuals involved in making their education a superb one.
The night continued on with a presentation of awards. Then Barry Sugarman, Executive Vice-President for the University of Sacramento gave the keynote address. He challenged the students to always search for the truth, remain in Christ and to serve others. It was a message for the graduates and all Christian adults. The presentation of the diplomas occurred next. The exercise then concluded with the Benediction by Fr. Meinrad and the recession by the graduated Class of 2005! Smiles, congratulations, and the shaking of hands commenced. The evening had not yet ended! With many hands and in just a short amount of time, tables were brought in and the auditorium was transformed into a magnificent dining hall. Dinner was brought out and people began eating and visiting. Entertainment during the dinner included skits from the Student Government of each graduate in a game show format and a slide show also of this group. The evening ended then for most of the adults. The packed auditorium was slowly vacated and all involved were well pleased with this first ever graduation ceremony!!! A big thank you to all of those who helped make this event a success: Senior parents, decoration crew, Fr. Temba, Fr. Meinrad, Mr. Barry Sugarman, choir, faculty, babysitters, cooks, and the many friends of families who were enlisted to help. With all of these hands working together, the night ended with many proud, happy memories of the Summit Seniors of 2005!!! Awards and Scholarships for Summit Academy Seniors Dylan Greene: Carroll College Presidential Scholarship - $7500 renewable Bishop Carroll Grant - $350 University of Dallas Presidential Merit Scholarship - $7000 renewable Aspiring Scholar Achievement Program - $5000 renewable Creighton University Creighton Academic Merit Scholarship - $7000 renewable Creighton Service and Leadership Merit Scholarship - $2000 renewable Selected Freshman Leadership Program Target All Around Student - $1000 Elks Most Valuable Student - $25 Shane Wemhoff: University of Idaho Achievement - $750 Alumni Association - $100 Leadership - $1000 C.W. Moore - $2000/year Robert Lee Promise - $500/year IBW/Charles Ambrose Adams - $500 Carroll College Presidential Scholarship - $7,500 renewable Bishop Carroll Grant - $2,000 Benedictine College Academic Scholarship - $8,000 St. Martin’s College Chancellor’s Scholarship - $9,500 State Farm - $100 Elks Teenager of the Month - $25 Mark Uhlenkott: Franciscan University of Steubenville Academic University Grant - $5000 renewable Book Scholarship $500 Institutional Grant $3500 Navy ROTC $100,000 Farm Bureau $500 Elaine Rehder: Lewis Clark State College Presidential - $500 Idaho Promise - $500 renewable University of Idaho Presidential - $1000 Elks Teenager of the Month - $25
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