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Vezain and Wahlbrink take RM academic top spots

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The top academic achievers at Rocky Mountain High School have been determined and are getting ready to transfer their tassels along with the rest of their graduating class at the end of this month. JR Vezain was named the valedictorian and Melanie Wahlbrink is the salutatorian.

Vezain, son of Shiloh and Mark Christman, was named the valedictorian of the 2010 graduating class at RMHS. He said his mother always pushed him to do his best.

"I wasn't allowed to get a B," he said, although he recalls just one B that he got in eighth-grade choir.

"I never wanted to be a straight-A student. I wanted B's but she wouldn't let me," he laughed.

Science and ag teacher Charles Pollart was Vezain's favorite teacher and another person who helped him achieve success, he said. RMHS secretary Elaine Abraham is another favorite staff member, Vezain said.

Vezain is a state champion wrestler and a national champion in saddle bronc at the high school rodeo circuit. He is a member of National Honor Society and FFA.

He began riding on his final high school circuit this April, with first-place finishes in bareback bronc riding at Thermop on April 9-11, Laramie on April 17-18 and Rock Springs on April 23-25. He also competed in the Newcastle Rodeo May 8-9.

He debuted his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association career April 30, with a third-place bareback ride in Canyon City, Colo., and a first place finish in Duncan, Okla.

Vezain plans to attend Vernon College in Vernon, Texas, on a rodeo scholarship in the spring. He will study business and plans to use his degree to start his own business related to the rodeo industry, such as making saddles or training horses.

Melanie Wahlbrink, daughter of Matthew and Tammy Wahlbrink, is the salutatorian of the 2010 graduating class at Rocky Mountain High School.

Wahlbrink said her mother, Tammy, pushed her throughout her life to do well in school, always telling her to work hard and do her best. Skye Mader, who teaches yearbook and is the FBLA advisor, also inspired Wahlbrink to do well, she said.

At RMHS, Wahlbrink played volleyball and basketball and was a member of NHS, student council, FBLA and the editor of the yearbook. A high school memory she will miss is traveling on road trips for sports with teammates.

Vezain and Wahlbrink will each give a speech at the commencement ceremonies and graduation Tuesday, May 25, at RMHS in Byron.



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© 2010 The Lovell Chronicle Lovell, Wyoming. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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