Three Osages among top of class at Woodland
Two valedictorians and one salutatorian are young Osage women who say “Mom” is their greatest motivation for academic success
(Top to bottom) Madeline “Maddie” Pennington, 18, and Julz Brown, 18, andHarleigh Moore, 18. Pennington and Moore are two of Woodland High School’s three Valedictorians and Brown is one of the school's two Salutatorians.
FAIRFAX, Okla. (May 13, 2016) – To be named high school valedictorian or salutatorian means a student or students have attained the highest level of academic achievement and success for their class. Depending on the school, more than one student for each honor can be selected. This year, at Woodland High School in Fairfax, three young Osage women earned these titles for the class of 2016.
Harliegh Moore, 18, and Madeline Pennington, 18, earned the title of class valedictorian and Julz Brownearned the title of class salutatorian. All three young ladies are enrolled Osage citizens. Woodland had three valedictorians in total this year and two salutatorians. The third valedictorian was Shafe Mashburn and the other salutatorian was Presley Tucker. Each student had the opportunity to speak during the commencement program at the high school gym on Friday, May 13.
Woodland Public Schools is made up of the combined student populations from the small towns of Fairfax and Ralston. The school is one of nine public schools situated on the Osage Reservation, or Osage County, with a high number of Osage students.
“My greatest motivation for striving for academic success was my mom. She is a single mother who has instilled in me that, you receive what you strive for in life,” said Moore about her hard work to be class valedictorian.
Moore will be attending Oklahoma State University in the fall to study Bio Systems Engineering. At graduation, Moore wore the cap she beaded in bright colors and three large letters, “OSU.” She is from the Grayhorse District. Her parents are Joyce and Terry Moore and her grandparents are Minnie and Gary Moore. Her great grandparents are Harley and Jessie Moore. She is also the current Woodland Public Schools Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Princess.
Pennington will also be attending OSU this fall. She also has plans to study in Colorado at Fort Lewis College in Durango. She said when she was in elementary and middle school her goal was to not disappoint her mother. So she set her goals even higher and decided she was going to be eighth grade valedictorian. After achieving this goal and making her mother proud she learned that her drive to succeed could carry over to her high school success. That’s when she decided to work hard to be valedictorian of her graduating class.
“I think everybody has potential if they try, and that’s what I did,” she said.
Her parents are Brandy Lemon and Newkirk Pasley, her grandparents are Cecelia TallChief and Wayne Lemon, and her great grandfather is John TallChief. Pennington is from the Grayhorse District.
Brown will be attending Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville this fall. She said she wants to continue her academic success in college and is excited about the new experiences ahead. Brown plans to major in Psychology and Elementary Education and minor in Journalism. Her mother is Jo Dawn Tallchief. Her grandparents are the late Omer Charles Tallchief and the late Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Tallchief. Her great grandfather is John Tallchief. Julz is from the Grayhorse district.
“My motivation comes from my mom. She is a single mother, has raised five kids by herself, and now she is going back to school,” said Brown. About her long-term goals she said, “I simply want to help as many people as I can, and continuing to strive towards my goals will help me to do so.”
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