Douglas High School 2024 graduate Kevin O’Connell, center, was awarded the National Merit and accepted a full 4-year scholarship on June 5 with the University of Reno. Photo special to The R-C
More than 300 students in the Class of 2024 will receive their diplomas throughout Douglas County this week. Many of those students overcame challenges and accomplished many achievements both personally and academically, all with a common goal to humbly persevere and to dream big even if it’s outside of the box.
Three Douglas High School graduates share those goals.
Ivan Euceda-Bernales is the first from his family to go to college and is doing everything he can to situate himself for his future.
“Growing up we didn’t always have everything or get everything we wanted,” said Euceda-Bernales, “which taught me how to persevere and not take things for granted. I have learned to work hard to secure and preserve that better future for myself.”
Having joined Douglas High School’s JROTC program as a freshman, Euceda-Bernales was awarded a full ride Navy scholarship that he can use at any university he is accepted to that has a Navy ROTC program. After graduation from that university, he will become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy.
Euceda-Bernales said he plans to study medicine specifically in oncology at Norwhich University.
He said his compassionate character and eagerness contributed to his choice in career.
“I always try to prioritize other people’s needs,” said Euceda-Bernales. “Anything I can do to help others survive and build a better future.”
After growing up playing golf, Abbigail Detsch dared to step outside of her “golf box” and try new things her senior year. She joined the swim team and went to Regionals, she had the opportunity to teach and perform with her little sister Mirabelle in the marching band’s front ensemble, and worked as a lifeguard and a preschool teacher all while juggling academics and social events.
“High school has been like going into a closet and deciding what to wear,” said Detsch. “There have been so many opportunities to try things on and I’ve enjoyed all the different outfits.”
After graduation Detsch plans to become a Deaf and Hard of Hearing PGA golf ambassador.
Detsch said she has never heard of the title before or anyone being an ambassador for the deaf and hard of hearing in golf.
“It’s sort of something I made up,” she said. “Inspired by a dear childhood friend who was deaf and my dad’s profession as a member of the PGA. I believe there is an opportunity to merge these two realms together.”
Detsch is taking college courses in deaf studies and will earn an Interpreter Certification from Western Nevada College. In the fall, she will step into a PGA mentorship program.
Detsch’s ability to think outside of the box can be summed up with her favorite quote, “see a need, fill a need,” spoken by Rodney Copperbottom in the 2005 animated movie Robots.
“It’s hard to describe the positivity I feel when I know I’ve done something constructive with my time and talents,” she said. “One thing is for sure it inspires me to do more.”
Kevin O’Connell was awarded the National Merit and accepted a full 4-year scholarship with the University of Reno where he plans to study software engineering and physics.
The National Merit is only awarded to about 7,000 students nationally.
O’Connell was active in cross country and track at Douglas High School, he has an interest in Japanese culture and language, ceramics and the arts, enjoys going on hikes, being outdoors, and is a plant collector.
“Kevin is a truly exceptional student, but also incredibly humble about his excellence,” said Douglas High School math and engineering teacher Christina Brown. “He shows and shares his gratitude to his teachers for providing opportunities for him to learn.”
Commencements kick off with Whittell High School 6 p.m. Thursday on the field.
