June 9, 2009
INTRODUCING YELM HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIAN JENNIFER BANACH-STEIN
Jennifer Banach-Stein is 2009 Yelm High School Valedictorian
Jennifer Lynn Banach-Stein is Yelm High School’s 2009 class Valedictorian, with the highest grade possible over four years, 4.0 - straight A’s. Out of a class of 343, only one other student ascended to her lofty status, Niguel Quiroz. She is now a member of the prestigious National Honor Society. Jennifer is a former Children’s School of Excellence (CSE) student in Rainier.
Following in the tradition of her musical family, she was also a versatile band member all this time, playing alto and tenor sax, and her specialty, the temperamentally demanding French horn.
She also completed the New Market Skills Center Professional Medical Careers class. Here she job-shadowed at St. Pete's hospital and worked as a student at Olympia Manor and the Capital Medical Center. She passed the state test at the end of the year and is now a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
Jennifer plans to continue her studies in pre-medicine this fall at Pacific Lutheran University. For relaxation she enjoys video games and Frisbee.
Her mother, Carol Ann Banach, graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, was the Children’s School of Excellence’s first music director. Her grandparents, Mary and Rev. Dr. Richard Banach, retired United Methodist Minister, are Rainier residents & long time (1983) students at Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment in Yelm.
So since this is a Blog and I can voice my opionion, I shall say that I would not be proud to have been a part and still be a part of the Ramtha School of Enlightment. But congrats to this young lady.
Hi Kathryn,
Yes, I appreciate your voicing your opinion.
Thank you.
And, I am certain Ms. Banach-Stein and her family appreciate your congratulations, as well, even with your expressed differences. To share your acknowledgment amidst your issue with Ramtha's School
shows the caliber person you are - humble & mature.
I find interesting now that you raised the point, that last year's Yelm High Valedictorian was also an RSE student
in his childhood, Akel Hashim. He has just completed his freshman year at UW in Seattle majoring in Physics.
http://yelm.com/blog/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=2&search=akel
Mr. Hashim delivered a very inspirational speech last year, in case you missed it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG0Xf3QOYUs
Steve
I HAVE JUST RECENTLY STARTED TO READ YOUR BLOG. I WAS UNAWARE OF LAST YEARS GRADUATE BEING PART OF RAMTHA AS WELL.I PERSONALLY DO NOT BELIEVE NOR FOLLOW WHAT SHE BELIEVES TRUE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO READING YOUR BLOGS EVERYDAY NOW. I FOR THE MOST PART AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU WRITE. I AM JUST TOO LAZY TO GO AND DO ANYTHING ABOUT THINGS... SUCH AS THE WATER BILL INCREASE.
That's honest, Kathryn.
We, as a community, should not be divided by factions that want to split us apart based on what
each of us as individuals honor as our God. Our differences are what make us unique and great.
Far too long, religious intolerance has caused wars, suffering and untold loss of life. I hope someday we
can be beyond that here.
Unfortunately, property owners within the city got handed a major bill tonight in a Council-imposed Water Rate Increase without
anyone else but me & one other person objecting. That's sad, however must be what is wanted here by the majority by the deafening silence
from the public.
Congratulations to Jennifer and her beautiful family! Having been the Valedictorian of my own high school graduating class, along with being in the honor society, honor band, and honor chorus, and now as a student of Ramtha's School, I have a pretty good idea of the focus and time it takes for a young person to be able to achieve such a high scholastic award.
Jennifer, you should be very proud of yourself and everything it took for this accomplishment. I am exceedingly proud of you and wish you great joy and success in all of your future endeavors.