Simko, Stevens take top CFHS academic honors

CLARK FORK — Many of the 17 students making up Clark Fork High School’s class of 2019 have grown up together.

As such, there is one trait they share that made this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian team difficult to pin down.

“Our class is just really competitive,“ said CFHS senior Lily Simko, who will serve as valedictorian, with classmate Brooke Stevens as salutatorian.

Because their class is so competitive, the teens agreed the announcement was a bit of a surprise. Stevens said she thought they might get the honor after both she and Simko were named Idaho Top Scholars last year, as the program recognizes the top 10 percent of the region’s junior class for their academic success.

Both girls are also dual credit students, taking classes at North Idaho College since their junior year. The program will give them a head start as they head to college in the fall. Stevens said she will be going to NIC next year to play basketball and study business administration.

“So that will help my first semester, trying to get in the groove of everything, I won’t have to take so many credits,” Stevens said.

Simko is looking at possibly attending the University of Montana, though she hasn’t made the decision yet. She scaled back on some of the college courses this semester, she said, so she could spend more time at CFHS as the end of her high school career approaches.

The teens have both been active in athletics for several years. Stevens said she started playing basketball and volleyball in third grade, and also has been golfing with grandmother since she was 12 years old. Simko has played basketball and tennis all through high school. She has also been involved in 4-H in the horse program for several years.

In addition to being named Top Scholars, both earned North Star all-league honors in February for basketball. Stevens was recently nominated as a finalist for Athlete of the Year in her division, an award that would put her among the state’s top athletes in the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame.

“I was really excited … I hope I get something this year, but it is also super cool just to be nominated,” Stevens said.

Winners will be announced today at the North Idaho Sports Award Banquet, held at the Coeur d’Alene Resort.

While the teens said it is time to move on as graduation closes in, they have enjoyed their time at CFHS. The duo said they have been going to school together, and have been friends, since preschool. Many of the students in their class have gone to school together since kindergarten as well, they said.

In highlighting some of the staff who have helped them through their successful high school careers, the duo said librarian Dawn Schatz and English teacher Rebecca Palmer stand out. They were always there for them and have helped Simko and Stevens with scholarships and getting into the dual credit program.

“Every single one of them is available if you ever need to talk to them about anything,” Stevens said.

Palmer, who has taught the girls since they came to Clark Fork Junior High in seventh grade, said it was a “delight” to be their teacher and they are both deserving of the honor of being named valedictorian and salutatorian.

“Lily is such and hardworking and dedicated student and very proactive about her education,” Palmer said. “She’s a voracious reader and eloquent writer and one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Brooke is a determined and focused leader both in the classroom and in sports. She works incredibly hard to get all she can out of school and sports alike.

“Future schools and employers are so lucky to get these two scholars. I will miss them terribly.”

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.