Bighorn Bulletin

Senior Spotlight: Jay Frederick 

Graduating senior Jay Frederick and his dog, Rex, have been an integral part of the Oasis Academy community ever since he started at the school in his freshman year.

Transferring to Oasis Academy brought some initial uncertainty.

“When I got to Oasis, I thought it would be hard, but it turned out not to be too bad,” he said.

During his time at Oasis, he stayed active both in and out of the classroom. He was a dedicated member of the cross‑country team, participating all four years, and also explored his creative side through a variety of art classes.

“I took a lot of art classes. I enjoyed them—my favorite was Watercolor 1 with Mrs. Jill Oglesbee,” he said.

Frederick’s favorite academic subject was science.

“My favorite class was biology because I got to see and learn about all animals,” he said.

That love for animals will lead him into his career after graduation. After earning his diploma in May, he would like to enter the workforce and pursue a career doing what he loves as a horse trainer.

Some of his most memorable experiences came from hands‑on and collaborative activities. One standout memory was a unique student‑led project.

“My favorite memory is making dino nuggets for high school lunches to sell. We all had #nuglife T‑shirts with a dino nugget on it,” he recalled.

Throughout his high school career, he found support and encouragement from several teachers and mentors who made a lasting impact on him.

“I would like to thank Ms. Jackie Bogdanowicz, Mr. David Springfield, and Mrs. Oglesbee,” he said. “Mr. Springfield is a great history teacher, and we had a lot of fun history projects. Ms. Bogdanowicz taught biology really well, and I enjoyed participating in Ag Day. Mrs. Oglesbee is a great art teacher—she has a lot of creative ideas, and I loved her watercolor class.”

He also gave special recognition to additional staff members who helped guide him along the way.

“I’d also like to especially thank Ms. Christine Barnhouse and Mrs. Jennifer Blakemore, who were there whenever I needed them. They helped when I had questions and made me do the work,” he shared.

As he prepares to graduate, this Oasis Academy senior leaves behind a legacy of perseverance, participation, and appreciation for the people and experiences that shaped his high school years.

Senior Spotlight: Trenton Aldrich 

As graduation approaches, one Oasis Academy senior is looking ahead to a hands‑on future built on the skills he developed during his time in school.

“After graduation, I plan to go to Phoenix, Arizona, and attend Universal Technical Institute (UTI) to get a degree in motorcycle mechanics,” he said.

In addition to earning his high school diploma, Aldrich will also graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree in welding through Western Nevada College. Welding has been an important part of his school career and was his favorite class.

“I would say my favorite class would be welding because it helped me develop new skills I could use,” he explained.

Aldrich began at Oasis Academy as a sophomore in high school, and his start wasn’t easy.

“I would go to my classes, and I would usually sit by myself when I first got to Oasis because I didn’t have any friends,” he shared.

Over time, however, that changed.

“After meeting people, we would hang out in the parking lot between classes, and sometimes we would work on one of our trucks because there was always something wrong with one of them,” Aldrich said.

Some of those moments turned into lasting memories.

“One of my favorite memories was between classes. Talon and I cut off his exhaust on his truck in the middle of the school parking lot,” he recalled.

A key part of his success came from the support of Mr. Andy Lenon, who helped keep him on track.

“I would like to thank Mr. Lenon for helping me and making sure I was on the right track for passing my classes so I could graduate,” he said.

Aldrich leaves future students with straightforward advice.

“Do your schoolwork on time,” he said.

Honor Society Inducts Members

On Thursday, April 29, members of the National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) proudly welcomed their newest inductees. Thirty‑eight students from 6th, 7th, and 8th grades were inducted into NJHS, and eight high school students were inducted into NHS.

Photo below:  NJHS inductee Allison Whitaker with art teacher Racquel Feest.

The event highlighted the organization’s four pillars—scholarship, leadership, service, and character—which each member is expected to uphold. Students and staff celebrated the inductees’ achievements and commitment to making a positive impact both in school and the community.

During the National Honor Society ceremony, students heard from Churchill County CASA Program Manager Shana Plount about the meaning of selfless service and the importance of looking out for and helping one another. As a testament to that service, this last year Oasis NHS students volunteered a total of 554 hours—an average of 29 hours per member.

“I am extremely grateful to our teachers, such as Mrs. Julie Stockard and Mrs. Racquel Feest, who recognize the value of honor society programs and make time to mentor our next generation of leaders,” said Dane Nott, K‑12 School Leader.

“These programs promote academic excellence, leadership, service, and character development among our students. Additionally, these programs encourage students to give back to their communities while building skills that prepare them for college and future careers. Supporting the NHS also fosters a positive school culture by recognizing and motivating high‑achieving students,” Nott added.

Inductees for National Junior Honor Society included: Hayes Allegre, Avery Baker, Logan Butcher, Kayden Coday, Elijah Davis, Ben Frey, Wesley Griffin, Hailey Hiibel, Gemma Lambson, Zachary Lemieux, Bailey Lewis, Alexandra Manzo, Maylee McKnight, Madison Mello, Grace Miller, Kathryn Preston, Lauren Rule, Juniper Sorensen, Harmonie Brooks, Connor Butcher, Madelyn Byrd, Lilianna Freeman, Antonio Garcia, Zander Merritt, Victoria Molatore, Elijah Morgan, Alaina Oyler, Allison Whitaker, Gabriela de Leon, Cadence Garber, Preston Gurr, Jake Nichols, Sadie Nuttall, Alyssa Oyler, Odin Roose, Alana Santos, Mackenzie Schoenmeier, Connor Tolman.

Inductees for the National Honor Society included: Bailey Beebe, Amberlyn Casey, Keagan Coday, Stevie Hiskett, Asher Irving, Mason Jardine, Wyatt Ricks, and Crew Schank.