Outgoing 2022-2023 Bishop Lions Club President Barb Smith is pleased to announce the just-conducted annual Top 10 Recognition Dinner May 15th at the Bishop Elks Lodge.  The purpose of the Lions at Top 10 is to recognize the top scholars at Bishop Union High School (BUHS) for their achievements and plans for their futures after graduation this June.  Bishop Lions will greet families and guests by ushering and handing out programs at the 2023 BUHS commencement exercises June 9th, 6pm, at the school.

Shown (l-r) are faculty and students involved this year with the Lions Top 10 event, catered by the Lions and 5 of their member volunteers doing the buffet service.  Indicated for each student in parentheses is their intended school after graduation.

BUHS Senior Guidance Counsellor Christie Nesbit; Emma Thornburg (Santa Barbara City College); Kyle Schaniel (Montana State University/Bozeman); Nicolette Maxey (Cerro Coso Community College); Will Hennarty (Oklahoma State University); Zoe Dailey (Colorado State University); Mason Remley (Cal State University/Long Beach); Reyna Naranjo (George Fox University/Newberg, Oregon); Rose Bracken (Stanford University); Brianna Stange (Cal State University/Northridge); Cora Van Nest (Utah State University); BUHS Principal Dave Kalk.

The featured motivational speaker for the evening addressing the soon-to-be grads and their families and guests was Kathryn Smith Bachman, Dean of Recruitment & Retention at Cerro Coso College in Ridgecrest, and coincidentally daughter of Lions Barbara Smith and Stan Smith of Bishop.

Dean Kathryn is a 1998 BUHS graduate who went on to marry, have sons Cole and Keeton, did more than 10 years in law enforcement for the City of Bishop and Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, and was recruited by Cerro Coso to initially be responsible for outreach to Inyo and Kern County high schools for recruitment and student services including housing, meals and other student needs.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree from National University while working full-time and raising Cole and Keeton and running that household.  Kathryn earned her Master’s Degree in 2022 through continuing studies at National University while carrying that family obligation and advancing at Cerro Coso College.

BUHS Principal Dave Kalk has been instrumental for more than 10 years in helping the success of the Top 10 evening by producing a PowerPoint presentation showing each of the Top 10 scholars along with their favorite subjects, teachers and quotation guiding their life toward graduation from high school.  Principal Dave had each student stand and introduce family and guests and friends enjoying the Lions meal and evening, along with announcing intended school and major course of freshman study toward a career goal.

The Bishop Lions and community gathered to applaud the students’ scholastic success and wish them bon voyage, launched from Bishop after graduation in June toward future successes.