The Auburn Riverside High School forensic team continued its tradition of excellence at the state individual events speech tournament.

For the 12th consecutive year, the forensics team placed in the top five, capturing fourth overall in the 3A competition.

Individual honors included sophomore Shannon Keith’s first place in 3A expository speaking and second place in 3A oratory speaking, and Telisha Amero and Tara Nix’s fourth place in duo interpretation. Shannon Keith also qualified in oratory for the national speech tournament that will be held in Las Vegas in June.

King honored

Mt. Baker Middle School physical education teacher and wrestling coach Matt King was honored as the South Puget Sound League 3A Middle School Wrestling Coach of the Year.

King recently was recognized at an end-of-the-year high school wrestling tournament at Auburn Riverside High School.

Elsewhere

Taylor Vincent, a senior at West Auburn High School, was honored as Auburn Rotary’s student of the month for March. Taylor is enrolled in the Running Start program at Green River Community College and will continue next fall after he graduates in June. Taylor hopes to pursue a career in software engineering. …

The Auburn School District Board of Directors recognized Noah Freelund, a fifth-grader at Gildo Rey Elementary School, for being an outstanding student. …

The school district honored Jeani Rottle in recognition of her volunteer support. Rottle, a retired teacher, was instrumental in devising an all-schools competition drive to support the Auburn Food Bank. “As a teacher, what got me started with the food drive was using it as a vehicle to demonstrate to children how important it is to give back,” Rottle said. “It’s important to get kids thinking how they can think beyond themselves and help others, which is exactly what the food drive gets kids to do.” Now in its fourth year, the Auburn All-Schools Food Drive recently brought in a whopping 65,000 pounds of food and $7,000 in cash. …

Michelle S. Pahlow made the dean’s list at Pacific Lutheran University. Pahlow, daughter of Daniel and Jackie Pahlow of Auburn, and Viola Pahlow of Renton, is a graduate of Green River Community College. She is pursuing degrees in nursing and physical education with a concentration in pre-physical therapy at PLU.