"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Sequoyah Schools Announces Top Ten Seniors

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – Sequoyah Schools announces the top ten graduating seniors for the class of 2007. They are Kellen Quinton, Kellie Brown, Dena Squyres, Bryan Allen, Kace Hogner, Diana Onco, Rhiannon Tafoya, Hannah Cornell, Zach Goodrich, Jon Teehee and Robyn Wilson.

Quinton, of Tahlequah, is the son of Gina Olaya. He is the 2007 Valedictorian. He is a member of AISES, the Math Club, gifted and talented and is the president of the senior class. He has been a Muskogee Phoenix Academic All-Star and participated in College Horizons at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.

Brown, of Ethete, Wyoming, is the daughter of Daniel and Carmelita Brown. She is a co-salutatorian. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Oklahoma Indian Honor Society, H.O.P.E. Club, and the Cherokee Heritage Service Club. She was voted Ms. SHS 2007.

Squyres, of Hulbert, is the daughter of David Squyres and Denise and John Walls. She is a co-salutatorian and a Gates Millennium Scholar, a United States Achievement Academy Math Award winner and the Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Youth Advocate of the Year for the state of Oklahoma for the 2006-07 school year.

Allen, of Hulbert, is the son of Maggie Nolan and Anthony Allen. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the football team, the wrestling team, and the Oklahoma Indian Honor Society. He has won awards for most improved wrestler and All-American Scholar.

Hogner, of Tahlequah, is the daughter of Kathryn Roastingear. She is a member of the Sequoyah Cherokee choir and has earned a superior rating for flute playing at state competition. Hogner is a member of the Cherokee challenge bowl and Cherokee language bowl teams and Drug Free Youth.

Onco, of Norman, is the daughter of David and Corita Onco. She is a member of the H.O.P.E. Club and the Cherokee Heritage Service Club. She is concurrently enrolled at Northeastern State University and plans to attend Oklahoma State University after graduation.

Tafoya, of Espanola, New Mexico, is the daughter of Phillip and Velma Tafoya. She is a member of H.O.P.E. Club, AISES, the National Honor Society and the academic team. Tafoya has served as a member of the Sequoyah yearbook staff.

Cornell, of Tahlequah, is the daughter of Dwight and Cindy Cornell. She is a member of student council, gifted and talented, and the Boys and Girls Club. Cornell has served as a volunteer at the Cherokee National Holiday and at Park Hill Baptist Church.

Goodrich, of Tahlequah, is the son of Fayth and Jonathan Lewis. He is a member of the varsity basketball team and the chess club. He has earned academic awards in Art I and Art II and was recently voted Mr. SHS.

Teehee, of Tahlequah, is the son of Lana and Trent Teehee. He plays football and baseball and is a member of the Sequoyah yearbook staff. He is in gifted and talented and talent search. Teehee was named Linebacker of the Year and Student of the Month.

Wilson, of Tahlequah, is the daughter of Angela and Nathan Handle. She is a member of the H.O.P.E. Club, Upward Bound program, speech team and the academic team. She participates in concurrent enrollment at Northeastern State University and was recently named a Gates Millennium Scholar.

The Sequoyah Schools class of 2007 graduation ceremony will held May 18 at 6:30 p.m. in The Place Where They Play. The Baccalaureate will be held May 16 at 6:30 in the Sequoyah chapel.

Sequoyah Schools, a boarding school for Native American students, originated in 1871 as an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans who came out of the Civil War. It has since served as the Sequoyah Orphan Training School and the Sequoyah Vocational School. Now known as Sequoyah Schools, it is named for Sequoyah, the scholar who developed the Cherokee syllabary. In November 1985, the Cherokee Nation resumed the operation of Sequoyah. It is regionally and state accredited for grades 7-12 and has become the school of choice for more than 400 students every year.

For more information about Sequoyah call 918-453-5400 and visit the Sequoyah School web site.