Wednesday, July 3, 2024
BREWSTER – Shadowing a local business was one of the influential turning points for Brewster Class of 2024 valedictorian Kash Vandelac.
“As a senior assignment I shadowed Erlandsen for 16 hours,” said Vandelac. “I was interested in in both civil and aerospace engineering and chose civil engineering.”
Erlandsen & Associates, Inc. specializes in surveying, planning, and engineering services.
Vandelac said he plans to pursue his chosen subject at the University of Washington this fall.
A second-generation Brewster graduate Vandelac has been a Bears product all his life and has a younger sister who is now a freshman. Along the road to maintaining a 4.0 GPA he also found time to participate in the legendary Brewster sports program.
“I played basketball, baseball, and did one year of cross-country,” said Vandelac.
He recalls the 2022 state championship baseball game against Toutle Lake as his most memorable high school experience. Brewster was trailing the favored Ducks, 1-6, going into the top of the seventh and final inning of play. In a made-for-movies comeback the Bears scored six runs against their opponent and managed to hold them scoreless during their turn at bat to win the game, 7-6.
“Their pitcher was ranked something like 10th in the nation,” said Vandelac. “He was drafted later.”
Toutle Lake pitcher Jackson Cox became the highest ever high school draft pick from Cowlitz County when he was selected by the Colorado Rockies.
Vandelac said his greatest academic challenge was a worldwide event that affected students everywhere.
“The Covid pandemic was the hardest time,” said Vandelac. “It caused many students to fall off and never get back to where they were before that.”
Despite that setback Vandelac said he understood the value of academics.
“I always knew that keeping my grades up would be important.”
Having a teacher he could turn to for advice and support helped and for Vandelac that is English teacher Dean Busching.
A regimen of tackling the books and giving in other responsibilities their place
“I always made sure that I did my homework after going home and included time to eat regularly and get to my job.”
The job is at McDonalds where Vandelac has been employed for almost two years.
With roots planted deep in Brewster. Vandelac has not ruled out returning someday but is keeping his options open for the time being.
“I’m going to go wherever my career takes me,” Vandelac said.
Wherever that is, it will be far.
Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here