For Auburn’s Justis Tena, the sky is the limit.
The Auburn Mountainview High School graduate soon will be off to Penn State University on a full-option Navy ROTC scholarship to study aerospace engineering.
Tena wants to be a Navy fighter pilot and, perhaps one day head to NASA and become an astronaut. One of his greatest influences has been his grandfather, Les Brown, who served in the Air Force for more than 35 years.
Tena, 18, chose Penn State over the University of Washington, Purdue University, Florida Institute of Technology and Missouri University Science & Technology.
Tena received the TAPCO Credit Union Scholarship ($1,000), Auburn Mountainview Band Director’s Award & Scholarship ($150) and the Masonic Lodge Outstanding Junior Award ($100).
A 3.99 student, Tena earned academic achievement honors for being ranked in the top 10 percent of the statewide class of 2009. He also received the Washington State Principals’ Scholars Program Award for outstanding academic achievement and merit, and won the Mountainview fine arts department’s academic award.
In addition, Tena was honored as the school marching band’s best player for the second consecutive year. He has played the saxphone for seven years.
Tena, son of Russ and Mindi Tena, has two sisters – Angeleah, 17, and Elisabeth, 6.
Elsewhere
Travis Newman, son of Dale and Kathleen Newman of Auburn, will attend Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont. this fall. Newman plans to major in environmental science. He graduated from Auburn High. … Amanda Strong, daughter of Jeffery and Jennifer Strong of Auburn, also will attend Rocky Mountain College this fall. Amanda plans to major in art. She graduated from Auburn High. … Gildo Rey Elementary secured a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide an afternoon snack of fresh fruits and vegetables to all students during the upcoming school year. The nutritious snack also will be available in the school office for staff, parents, siblings and visitors. The program requires that all fruits and vegetables be purchased from Washington state farms only. …
Butch Maples, a school bus driver in the Auburn School District, has been awarded the 2009 Sure-Lok Above and Beyond Award for his extraordinary dedication and devotion to transporting students with special needs. Maples will be honored at the Washington Association for Pupil Transportation (WAPT) Annual Conference and Trade Show in Spokane on Aug. 2. Maples has been transporting students in the school district for 25 years. He has transported students with special needs for the past 19 years. …
Brittne Lunniss, a student at Thomas Jefferson High, received the Alexander Hamilton Citizenship Achievement Award for superior citizenship and achievement in national competition. The honor includes a cash award, an autographed copy of the biography, “Alexander Hamilton”, by its author Ron Chernow, and a celebratory proclamation signed by Doug Hamilton, the fifth great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton and other items. Lunniss was one of 50 students in the country who received cash awards.
