As Maddy and Hunter Hutchins stood at the podium during Lebanon High School graduation on the evening of June 4, it was the realization of a goal the siblings had had, well, pretty much for most of their lives.
Both finished high school with perfect 4.00 grade point average and both were among LHS’s seven valedictorians.
“It’s been our goal since we started school,” said Hunter, 18. “(Finishing with straight A’s) was just something that interested me. It was challenging, so I did it.”
Maddy, 17, got her diploma with her brother after skipping a grade in elementary school.
“Our mom (Sally Hutchins) was a salutatorian at Sweet Home High School,” she said. “We were always motivated to do the best we could. We were raised to earn what we want.
Even in elementary school we were planning and had goals to be valedictorians.”
Hunter said he got serious after his freshman year.
“I had taken really hard classes,” he said. “AP classes. I got A’s in all of them. That encouraged me to keep going. I’d worked so hard in them, why let it all go to waste?”
She said they started taking more advanced classes as middle-schoolers at Seven Oak.
“We took classes in the high school, so we were doing that stuff in middle school and being prepared. Seven Oak really taught us how to be one step ahead and get all that stuff taken care of and go into high school and do our best.”
The two said they worked together, even when they weren’t in the same classroom.
“We had a lot of classes together, but at different times,” Hunter said.
“It was nice to have a built-in study partner,” Maddy added. “If we got home, if there was something we didn’t understand, we could talk through it and then we’d always go in the mornings before school or stay after school and ask questions and stuff.”
They agreed that the hardest classes they took were math and Human Geography.
“Human Geography was a freshman class. The tests were really hard, and we had to keep up while studying for the AP test,” Hunter recalled. “And the teacher was out on maternity leave for the first semester.
“Then we had packets we had to do with the book, come into class and take quizzes and do more. That was just a lot of work,” Maddy said.
They ended up taking the hardest classes they could, they said – AP or Honors English Composition and Literature, college algebra and trigonometry, two years of College Spanish and AP Chemistry.
“We both already have credits at Linn-Benton,” Maddy said, counting up eight classes they’ve gotten college units for.
They liked school, she said – especially hands-on classes. She personally enjoyed the Land Lab and the chance to learn about agriculture and veterinary science, the latter a new class introduced last year.
“Those classes that were career-related were the best for us, but we still enjoyed going to our core classes,” Maddy said.
“For me, I’ve really enjoyed ag. It’s career-related and it’s exactly what I wanted to do.”
Having completed the veterinary technology program at the high school, she said, she has been able to apply “what I was learning to the animals. In the cattle barn I was the feeding representative. It was applying that in the same area I was learning.”
Although they said they got a lot of encouragement from school staff to move on to higher education, the two have decided to pursue “hands-on” careers. Both have worked during high school, Maddy at Faithful Friends Veterinary Clinic and Hunter at Complete Ag Resolutions in Shedd.
“I’ve loved trucks and everything mechanical, ever since I could walk,” he said, noting that his father is local gunsmith Jeff Hutchins and his grandfather runs H&H Machine in Sweet Home.
“My dad got me into it. When I mentioned that I was going to be a diesel mechanic to my teachers, they tried to get me to do something at, like, a four-year university.
“If you enjoy your job, you never work a day in your life. I just like how complicated (an engine is), how you can modify it, how everything works together, efficiency, stuff like that.”
He plans to work there full-time after completing the Heavy Equipment/Diesel Technology program at LBCC. “It’s a great place to work, so I don’t plan on leaving any time soon.”
Maddy is focused on a career with animals, but not as a veterinarian.
“My whole life, I’ve absolutely loved animals. I knew I wanted to do something in the veterinary field. My whole life I’ve kind of been exploring that.”
Working at Faithful Friends after training as a veterinary technician in the high school program, she said she’s gotten a front-seat perspective on what’s involved in animal medicine.
“I decided that I wanted to be a veterinary technician. I’m absolutely positive that that would be the best fit for me.
“A lot of the (high school) staff and administrators say, ‘Why don’t you become a veterinarian?’
“Because I want to raise a family and I want to have time for my hobbies and because I love cattle and horses and I want to have a ranch. I think that veterinary technician suits me.
“Also, I’m a realist. I know that I don’t want to do eight years of college. I’m already in the work force and I want to be working as long as I can and not have debts that I have to pay off in the future.”
LEBANON HIGH SCHOOL, Class of 2019
Jared Logan Althaus
Galina Andreyevna Altuhovs
Robert Corbin Anderson
Natalia Gerai Arroyo
Guneet Kaur Aulakh
Isabella May Ayala
Hannah Mae Baral
Leticia Alejandra Barbosa
Josiah Leslie Barnett
Briana Dawn Barton
Nicole Ashley Bender
Allen Craig Benjamin
Zachary Paul Berg
Elizabeth Kate Blackburn
John William Blair
Tanner Ronald Blair
Reese Burdette Blanshan
Kiana Mahealani Blau
Joseph Lane Blisseck
Trinity Jade Boatsman
Zachariah Hassan Bouferrache
Skie Warren Bowman
Alyssa Nichole Breshears
Ruby Geanne Brewer
Andrew Anthony Bridges
Casey Cutter Brooks
Kaitlyn Nicole Broughton
David-Robert Edohi Brown
Kelton Drey Bruslind
Svea Reed Bruslind
Jazmin Jubilee Buchanan
Fredrick Albert Buresh
Shannyn Lynn Burns
Kayla Natalie Burnstine
Emma Marie Burt
Lionel Caldera-Solis
Destinee Marie Candello
Joel Vincent Carlson
Jules Rain Carr
Nicole Madison Christie
Antonyo James Clemente Tapia
Carrie Marie Cleveland
Paul Ian Copple
Ravyn Alecsandra Cox
Allison Mae Crawford
Jasmine Veronica Crawford-Mahr
Destin Joshua Dahlgren
Chaz Lee Daniels
Kelsey Ann Darby
Grace Ann Davenport
Brody Allen Dennis Davis
Hanna Lynn Davis
Johannah Kathleen Davis
Justice Caelan Deciccio
Logan Anthony DeLooze
Taylor Madison Dirks
Jadon Thomas Dirksen
Titus Allan David Dominy
Robyn Nicole Doughty
Timothy James Dove
Taylor Michael Doyle
Nokio Aretha Duncan
Daniel Christopher Edelman
Kira Ann Edwards
Ariana Cathleen Nicole Egri
Jose Espinoza-Rangel
Braiden Chyane Ranae Evans
Megan Anne Evans
James Matthew Ewing
Latianna Miressa Fa
Rebeca Lynn Fallon
Rowan Marley Finnegan
Oscar Dean Floro
Taryn Jade Foster
Jacob Nathaniel Frasieur
Jacob Allen Frazier
Sterling O. Freasier
Megan Alexis Freitas
Tyler William Gabrielli
Kaelin Faith Gerig
Lacey Jane Gerig
Alexis Rae Glaser
Brady Daniel Goracke
Christian Wallace Graves
Bethany Aleean Grimes
Eleazar Christian Grimes
Fatima Guzman
Conner Edward Haley
Devon Michael Hanni
Kylor Hartman
Natalia Gisela Hartman
Madeline Grace Harvey
Breann Nicole Hemingway
Emily Meghan Henry
Asalia Monique Hernandez-Erevia
Cassidy Marie Haskett
Logan Maxwell Reid Hibbert
Aaron Douglas Hibner
Lilly Rose Hicks
Glenn Manuel Holland
Caden Dale Holler
Morgan Ruthann Hopkins
Jasmine Hope Horn
Dylan Michael Housen
Nicole Kathleen Housworth
Shayla Katherine Noel Hunsaker
Christian Bailey Hurley
Hunter Raymond Hutchins
Maddy Ann Hutchins
Darien Jay Hyder
Trinidy Janean Immel
Makayla Ann Isenhart
Noah Dawn Jacobsen
Cameron Theodore Jarrad
Josue Jimenez
Alexandrea Lee Johnson
Gaige Devon Johnston
Austin James Christopher Jones
Curtis Scott Jones
Jacob Tyler Jones
Michael Salazar Jones
Dylan Dean Jorgensen
Ashley Lynn Kelley
Samantha Taylor Kelly
Sophia Grace Kelly
Erica Ashley Kendall
John Edward Kennedy IV
Carson Scott Killian
Caidenn Matthew-David Klym
Raymond Henry Knuth IV
Elizabeth Nichole Koch
Nellie Elizabeth Kosmala
Joseph Tyler Lehwald
Angelykah Faith Light
Carina Nicole Lindsey
Destiny Danae Logan
Cian Jason Malloy
Teagan William Maloney
Shelby Kaye Martin
Illiana Ann Martinez
Hector Julian Martinez-Maya
Erica Anita Christine McCoy
Paige Ann McGuire
Conner Wayne McIntosh
McKenna Marrie McQueen
Alexander Zane Meads
Madysen Ann Meng
Christopher Anthony Meyer
Chase Allen Miller
Megan Jean Miller
Carmen Nicole Millican
Rylie Marie Milligan
Joshua Kenneth Moore
Christian Alexander Morgan
Racheal Reyene Morris
Jacob Brandon Mosley
Blake John Mulligan
Edgar Angelo Murillo-Sorrosa
Deven McNeil Muses
Jazmin Evonne Muses
Austin Lee Mustoe
Domanick Tristen Naumann
Olivia Leanne Nelson
Trevor Jon Nelson
Dallas Jordon Newberry
Anne Elizabeth Nichols
Blake Allen Nichols
Tyler James Nofziger
Michael Eugene Norman
Daniel James Nunn
Johan Andres Orozco-Harmon
Chanel Ray-Jean Ort-Clay
Isaiah Quentin Osborne
Josephine Grace Park
Tyler Jacob Pearce
Tyson Max Perez
Alondra Guadalupe Perez-Gonzalez
Madison Renee Perkins
Conner Michael Pomeroy
Daniel Ray Prestenbach
Madison Elizabeth Price
Eric Fernando Quiroz
Zackary Ross Ragan
Alejandra Ramirez
Izak Gavin Randolph
Kayla Nicole Reagan
Mitchell James Regan
Alli Cheyenne Ricard
Wyatt Brian Richardson
Michael Dominick Rienzo
Damian Conner Riley
Racheal Michelle Rivers
Ryan Lee Roberts
Alejandro Rodriguez
Tristan Michael Rokicki
Madison Lee Romeo
Adriana Leigh Ropp
Joyce Elizabeth Rosene
James Adam Ruddy
Juan Manuel Saldana Jr.
Jayson Raymond Sanchez
Kella Nicole Santana
Melissa Lani Schaefers
Amber Sue Schleve
Eric Braden Seitz
Colton James Shepard
Natasha Jewel Shevel
Daylon Tim Shoyo
Chelsea Hope Marie Sibert
Tyler Ray Simpson
Jake Alton Slingluff
Alexis Emmaline Smallwood
Cody Joe Smith Jr.
Evan Scott Smith
Madison Marie Smith
Morgan Mae Smith
John Brian Sparks
Harlee Anne Spaulding
Emerald Cora Stalford
Chad William Staneart
Mackenzie Marie Stanley
Leevy Dallas Steeg
Bailey Albert Steele
Owen Fredrich Stellbrink
Alea Brianne Stewart
Emma Faith Stiles
Jayden Joshua Stock
Kenadie Lyn Stroup
Dylan Thomas Studer
Kaitlynn Rae Tanselli
Allison McKenzie Tatum
Bradley Allen Teichroeb
Soleil Victoria Thomas
Esther Elizabeth Thornhill
Caleb Thomas Tirrell
Sebastian Torres Mejia
Cessna Marie Trembath
Paula Christine Tucker
Isaac David Tuomi
Timothy Walter Tuomi
Tyrone Bailey Tyler
Aubrey Nicole Vargas
Isabel Jasmin Virrueta Valencia
Alyssa Patricia Vogt
McKenzie Diane Wagner
William Allen Warde
Taelor Marie Ware
Brenden Cassidy Warner
Destiny Rashelle Daniel Waskom
Dillan Luke Weber
Wyatt Clayton Wells
Alex A. D. Wheeler
Cheyenne River Whitebird
Connor Jonathan Lucas Wilcox
Steven Edward Wilson
Amber Lee Witherell
Paige Leann Wombacher
Amy Workman
Elizabeth Carol-Lee Wright
Jonathan Avery Yordy
EAST LINN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, Class of 2019
Brandon Louis Bates
Emma Jayne Bowler
Elexis Michelle Bradley
Loyal Russell Burns IV
Madelyne Rose Elliott
Grayson Wayne Fisher
Peyton Soo Jong Gerig
Preston Soo Chul Gerig
Avery Michele Hartl
Josiah Michael Hatfield
Carlie Danielle Ils
Benjamin Jeffrey Johnson
Kody Walker Jones
Kei Kawai
Carson Jay King
Justin Gabriel McPherson
Cory James Mills
Christopher Graham Morton
Oh Seungrok
Rhett James Osborne
Elijah Harrison Peters
Matthew Andronicus Reardon
Emma Lea Roth
Lilyanne Grace Savage
Natalie Ann Steckley
Wyatt Thomas Swanson
Brianna Faith Train
Jacob Ryan Vandehey
Trent Ray Weller
Olivia Grace Wilson
Shunsuke Yamashina
Bochen Zhang