Students accept many local scholarships

Parents packed Boulder City High School’s auditorium May 18 to watch its seniors accept scholarships as their high school careers ended.

Scholarships from 31 Boulder City donors were awarded to the hard-working seniors who applied for them. About $67,000 in scholarships were awarded, high school counselor Sharon DeWees said.

“These students are the reason we enjoy coming to school every day,” she said.

Amy Wagner, who was named principal of the high school in September after serving as assistant principal for three years, spoke highly of the seniors who were freshmen when she came to Boulder City.

“The seniors here tonight are the first set of seniors that I started with,” she said. “It’s cool to get to see them grow up, and I can’t wait to see all the great things they’re going to do.”

After the scholarships were handed out and embarrassing stories were shared, the seniors stepped up to the microphone and told the audience what they planned to pursue after graduation. Myriad colleges and majors were represented throughout the bunch, signifying another diverse group of Boulder City High School seniors.

Samantha Hanson, who led the way with six scholarships along with Steven Davis and Mariah Rea, plans to attend Grand Canyon University where she’ll major in nursing. Hanson said she hopes to eventually become an anesthesiologist.

“It’s exciting, and I’m ready to just move on for my future,” she said. “It’s been a long four years, but I wouldn’t have wanted to spend it anywhere else.”

Amanda Mraz, who took home five scholarships, will study prelaw at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the fall. She reflected on her time in Boulder City, saying it passed way too fast.

“It’s a whirlwind. You blink and it’s gone. It’s so exhilarating, yet kind of scary at the same time,” she said. “To have this put upon me, I just feel so blessed. I’m just so thankful for everything.”

Mraz said she’s looking most forward to hitting the books in college. She eventually wants to become a judge.

“I’m most excited for the studies,” she said. “I’m so passionate about the law, and I’m so excited to finally get into it and study it.”

As the ceremony ended and the seniors took photos with friends and family, Wagner took in the moment, watching her students take the next difficult step into life after high school.

She said she’s confident her students will enjoy nothing but success in the future.

“There are great leaders within several of them,” she said. “Several of the seniors in our senior class have overcome so many obstacles to make it to graduation. I’m so excited to see their dreams start.”

Contact reporter Steven Slivka at sslivka@bouldercityreview.com or 702-586-9401. Follow him on Twitter @StevenSlivka.