Washougal High earns gold-tier ‘School of Distinction’ award

WHS students travel to Florida to accept Jostens award

From left to right, Washougal High School (WHS) teacher Tami Grant, WHS student Gavin Johnson, WHS teacher Kyla Ritchey and WHS students Jude Maddox, Riley Vaughan and Mackenzie Olkowski attend the Jostens Renaissance Global Conference in Orlando, Fla., July 18, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Tami Grant)

Contributed photo courtesy of Tami Grant Washougal High School students Jude Maddox (back right), Gavin Johnson (back left), Riley Vaughan (front second from left), and Mackenzie Olkowski (front second from right), and teachers Tami Grant (front left) and Kyla Ritchey (front right) pose for a photo at the Jostens Renaissance Global Conference in Orlando, Florida, on July 18, 2024.

Contributed photo courtesy Tami Grant Washougal High School students, from left to right, Riley Vaughn, Mackenzie Olkowski, Gavin Johnson and Jude Maddox pose for a photo at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, in July 2024.

Jude Maddox’s perspective has changed greatly since joining the Washougal High School (WHS) Associated Student Body (ASB), which has worked diligently to improve their school’s culture.

“I kind of understood (the concept) of recognizing people, but I thought it was kind of stupid, just (getting) a sheet of paper or something,” said Maddox, a rising senior. “I realized that there are a lot of people who don’t get recognized by family or don’t necessarily have the friend group or the relationships … (to) ever get recognized at all. If you have a school (that does) recognize those kids who don’t typically get that attention or the affirmation for doing the right thing, I think it can make a huge impact.”

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