Local News

TGU TOWNER HIGH SCHOOL

May 21 at 4 p.m.

Graduation: TGU Towner High School gymnasium

Valedictorian: Ana Mohagen

Salutatorian: Iliana Arias

Graduates: Iliana Arias, Emily Bryn, Nevaeh Espinoza, Lucas Hamel, Robert Holmes, Jr., Samantha Holmes, Stevenie Holmes, Braden Kongslie, Ana Mohagen, Ethan Schmitt.

Ana Mohagen

Ana Mohagen is the valedictorian of the graduating class at TGU Towner High School. This fall she plans on attending Minot State University to pursue a degree in nursing.

Her mother, Kasey, is a high school business/technology teacher and her father is a mechanic. She has one older brother, Reese, and two younger sisters, Emree and Ellaree, who are in sixth and third grade, respectively.

"Don't forget to live a little and have some fun," said Mohagen when asked if she could go back in time and say something to her five-year-old self.

Her favorite memories from high school are those of time spent with her close friends during practices, on bus rides and outside of school. She is involved in LEAD, Student Council, Honor Society, FFA, multiple sports teams and Student Aid.

Samantha Holmes

Samantha Holmes is a top student of the graduating class at TGU Towner High School. This fall she plans to attend North Dakota State University to pursue a degree in animal science, with hopes to enter a pre-veterinarian program.

She is the daughter of Shawnette and Robert Holmes. Her mother is a Jamaican immigrant who came to the United States in search of opportunities for her children. Her father is an Afghanistan veteran who now works as a Border Patrol agent. She is a triplet; her siblings are Robert and Stevenie.

Her favorite memory from high school was her first time volunteering for a program for people with special needs. "Going there expanded my understanding of people and exposed me to different walks of life that I had rarely seen before going there. Being able to help them and make them smile was the best," she said.

When asked what she would say to her five-year-old self, Holmes said, "I would tell myself there is nothing terrible about having an active imagination and that no matter how hard the situation may seem, never give up."

Iliana Arias

Iliana Arias is the salutatorian of the graduating class at TGU Towner High School. This fall she plans on attending Minot State University to become a radiologic technologist. She has two sisters, Alicia and Brynn, who are 19 and 6 years old.

"If I could go back in time and tell myself one thing, it would probably be to not let anyone define who you are. Be yourself!" said Arias.

Arias' favorite memories of high school are from field trips she would take with her peers. "I always had fun when our class would just spend some time together," she said.