Senior Spotlight: Isabella Hockenberry Grimes

Senior Spotlight: Isabella Hockenberry‑Grimes

Oasis Academy senior Isabella Hockenberry‑Grimes has been at Oasis since she started school in kindergarten. She reflected on thirteen years of memories, friendships, and experiences that shaped her path forward.

“I’ve been at Oasis Academy since kindergarten, so I’ve basically grown up here. It’s been … an experience,” she said. “I’ve made lifelong friends, survived countless due dates, and learned more than I can remember. While I’ve enjoyed my time here, I think I’m more than ready to move on and see what life looks like outside the Oasis bubble.”

Some of her most cherished memories come from school trips.

“My favorite memories from my time at Oasis Academy have been the Disneyland trips through Student Council. I was lucky enough to take it with my dad, Mr. Eric Grimes; he’s our student council advisor,” she shared. “Those are memories that will last a lifetime.”

Academically, one of her standout experiences was in a unique psychology course.

“My favorite class was Psychology: The Making of a Murderer through Western Nevada College, because it felt less like a class and more like a club for people interested in the psychology behind criminals,” she said.

Hockenberry‑Grimes also took part in a wide range of school activities, including cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, student council, and FFA, contributing to her involvement across campus life.

She will be graduating with her Associate of Arts degree from Western Nevada College in addition to her high school diploma.

After graduation, she plans to attend Washington State University in the fall, where she will major in criminal justice and criminology with a minor in psychology. Alongside her academic goals, she also plans to rush and embrace the opportunity to experience life outside of Nevada.

As for advice to underclassmen, she kept it simple and humorous.

“If you’re late, stop and grab Starbucks for yourself, and a Dr Pepper for Ms. B,” she closed.

Senior Spotlight: Keegan Merritt

As graduation approaches, Keegan Merritt is reflecting on his time at Oasis Academy as both fun and challenging. Merritt started at Oasis in fourth grade.

“I might not be the best example of a ‘good student,’ but I really enjoyed my time at this school,” he said. “I really value the friendships I’ve made. We all stuck together and stayed by each other’s sides. Now we’re all graduating together; I’m proud of my friends and how far they’ve come.”

Among the educators who made a lasting impact, Keegan credits his former teacher Mr. Jake Lewis.

“He was always there to help when I had questions and made the entire class laugh,” he said. “He made math an understandable topic, which I thought a person could never do.”

That connection, even down to sharing the same birthday, left a meaningful impression.

“He has the same birthday as me, which probably made my connection with him a bit stronger. If Mr. Lewis wasn’t my math teacher back then, I have no clue how I would’ve made it through high school algebra,” he added.

Keegan also discovered a passion for storytelling and filmmaking through Video Production.

“I absolutely loved creating these little scripts for small movies. It helped me realize what my passion was, too,” he said. “One of these days you’re going to see my name on the big screen, ‘Directed by Keegan Merritt.’”

Outside the classroom, Keegan explored activities that helped shape his high school experience. Merritt participated in archery and played a key role in the Dungeons & Dragons club, where he spent three years building characters and stories with peers.

“We made lots of characters, and we helped each other learn how to build stories,” he said. “I hope they keep my goofy characters in their memories.”

After graduation, Merritt plans to take a year or two off from school‑related activities and focus on saving money so he can eventually go back to college. Until then, he plans to work a full‑time job and earn some money so he can be a DJ for weddings or dancers.

As he prepares to graduate, Keegan leaves underclassmen this advice.

“If you’re having a tough time, tell someone. No one is going to know if you are hurting or stuck unless you say something,” he said.

He encourages students to find what works for them and to keep pushing forward.

“School is stressful, and things will be hard. But your friends believe in you. Your family believes in you. I believe in you. Make sure to do everything that you love. No matter what anyone says, you got this,” he closed.

Senior Spotlight: Dahlila Creer

Senior Dahlila Creer started as a freshman at Oasis Academy. She has been an active part of the Oasis school community, participating in athletics and co‑curricular activities throughout her four years.

Although Creer admits she was initially unsure of what to expect when starting at the school:

“I thought it was going to be the worst time of my life,” she shared, recalling her early concerns about the dual‑enrollment workload. However, what began as uncertainty quickly transformed into appreciation.

“Over time, I realized it was actually one of the best decisions I could have made for myself,” she said. “The supportive environment and the people I met made a huge difference in my experience. I especially became really close with my friend Carly during my sophomore year, and that friendship is something I truly value. Looking back, Oasis helped me grow not only academically but also as a person, and it gave me memories and relationships that I will carry with me into the future.”

Much of Creer’s high school journey was shaped by her involvement in school activities. As a three‑sport athlete participating in volleyball, basketball, and softball, she built lasting friendships and unforgettable memories.

“A lot of my best memories come from practices, games, and just spending time with my teammates,” she said. “Those moments made high school more meaningful and fun.”

Beyond sports, her favorite class, Student Council, allowed her to play an active role in shaping the student experience. She enjoyed planning major school events and working behind the scenes to bring people together.

“It was really rewarding to know that the events we planned helped make school more enjoyable,” Creer said.

She also expressed gratitude for those who supported her along the way, especially volleyball coach Jalana Bell.

“She brought a lot of energy, motivation, and structure to the team,” she said. “You could really see the difference in how we played and worked together.”

Her advice for future students is simple.

“Get involved as much as you can, build connections with people, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. High school goes by a lot faster than you think,” she said.

After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Nevada, Reno, where she will continue exploring her interests while working toward her future career goals. She will be graduating with both her high school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree from Western Nevada College.

Senior Spotlight: Amity Palanivelu

As graduation approaches, one Oasis Academy senior is reflecting on a journey filled with growth, connection, and unforgettable memories. After graduation, senior Amity Palanivelu plans to continue her education while staying close to home.

“I plan to do online schooling via UNLV while staying at home before I eventually leave on my own and branch out, meet more people, explore the world and all of its treasures,” she said.

Palanivelu is graduating with an Associate of Arts from Western Nevada College, along with her high school diploma.

“I switched from an Associate of Science because all in all I found myself to enjoy being creative more than actually enjoying studying or working around anything STEM‑related,” she explained.

When thinking back on her time at Oasis, one moment stands out above the rest.

“One of my favorite memories … occurred in Mr. Evan Brandt’s class,” she said. “He had a sort of wrestling mask on … and then proceeded to teach us all Algebra II whilst being in the wrestling mask. He was always the funniest out of all the teachers. Algebra II was one class where I genuinely felt excited to go to.”

Palanivelu began at Oasis in middle school during COVID.

“Around the end of 7th grade I met so many new people and got to learn so many things,” she said. “If it wasn’t for Oasis, I would not be where I am as a person today, and I want to thank everyone who had to carry me at my darkest moments.”

Among the many impactful educators, one stood out most.

“As much as every teacher was amazing, I liked Mrs. Julie Stockard the most,” she said. “I felt that we both understand each other. I could even call her a very good friend of mine. I could tell from her energy that she deeply cared for every one of us.”

As she prepares to move on to the next chapter, Palanivelu leaves future students with meaningful advice.

“Enjoy yourself. You only get to do high school once, so spend that time making bonds, building relationships, getting good grades … And above all, be kind. It’s going to get stressful … but remember there is always light at the end of the tunnel,” she closed.