2016-2017: Everyone has a story
Hear the stories of students at Pleasant Valley
Chapter 1: Lily Jones
Lily Jones is a new student at Pleasant Valley this year. Before becoming a Spartan, Lily was living in South Korea. She has no pets and three siblings. She enjoys lifeguarding class with Mr. Royer and running cross country with her friends. As a new student, she would like the students and staff of PVHS to know that she is very bad with sarcasm. Lily shared an embarrassing story about how she tripped...
Chapter 2: Veera Simola
You don't always notice someone is different from the first appearance. Just like this, Veera Simola blends perfectly in among all other students in the crowded high school hallways. A normal-looking girl, her notebooks and books stacked under her arm, making her way to the next class. However, her name does not seem very...American. And if you talk to her for a while, you will soon notice an unfamiliar...
Chapter 3: Scotty Jones
While many people aren’t familiar with the name Christian Jones, Scotty has a fuller meaning to his character. Growing up as a child, Jones had everything his heart desired: a great family, a dog, and many other things. But the one thing his heart didn’t desire was moving. Throughout his childhood, Jones moved five times, from Wichita, Kansas to Ann Arbor, Michigan. While living in different places...
Chapter 4: Sarah Aikman
The chances of someone encountering a bright, caring, and motivated young girl in high school are rare. Sarah Aikman, senior, displays all the characteristics of a stellar student and person. Aikman grew up in Oklahoma, where she spent some of her childhood. However, she is a Quad City native, and became the girl she is today at Pleasant Valley. She has been back and forth at Pleasant Valley six...
Chapter 6: Brooke Goy
It’s hard to go through major changes in life, and Brooke Goy has been through quite a few in the past few years. Brooke is fairly new to PV, having just moved here from Chicago in 7th grade. Brooke said that it was extremely hard to adjust here because she didn’t know anyone and she didn’t have any friends. “I acted differently than everyone else around here,” she said. “I opened up more h...
Chapter 5: Korryn Taghon
Everyone at Pleasant Valley knows who Korryn Taghon is, and if they don’t, then they need to. Korryn is recognized as the blonde sassy girl who walks down the halls with a smile beaming on her face. Unlike other students, Korryn was born extra special with Down Syndrome. Many people say they haven’t met a person with down syndrome that isn’t smiling, this is very true when it comes to Korryn. Korryn...
Chapter 7: Trent Vogele
Trent Vogele is a successful 12th grader with a promising future. Vogele was born in Fulton, Illinois and has also lived in Pella, Iowa prior to living in Bettendorf. He was raised in mainly Dutch communities, despite not being Dutch. The main impact his moving history has had on him is his affinity for Dutch letter cookies. Vogele, like most people, loves vacationing in warm places and spendin...
Chapter 8: Madison Ellis
Pleasant Valley senior Madison Ellis seems to be having a normal senior year, just like most people. She attends football and basketball games, listens to her favorite music (country and pop), and hangs out with her friends and family. But unlike many of her peers, Madison has not always been in this position at Pleasant Valley High School. For the first three years of high school, Ellis lived in her new...
Chapter 9: Mariah Martinez
Mariah Martinez is a sophomore here at Pleasant Valley, saying it is the only school she has ever known. She was born in Davenport and has been in the PV school district her entire life. Luckily, she says she does not mind it too much. She is the youngest of five children, with three older brothers and one older sister. Despite her large family, Martinez has developed a personality that is very uniq...
Chapter 10: Gavin Smith
Who has gone to a cross country and track meet before? Those that have, have seen a sophomore named Gavin Smith. Smith has competed on the varsity team for both sports, and continues to excel as he gets older. He was born in the quad cities, and has lived here his whole life. PV hasn’t always been his home though, since he switched to PV in the 5th grade. Smith has many friends from school and hi...
Chapter 11: Lexi Horaney
Lexi Horaney is a freshman here at Pleasant Valley, and she loves to participate in school. One of her favorite activities at school is band. When she was in 6 grade, she started playing the flute and has continued this passion into her high school career. When she isn't playing in the band, Horaney is hanging out with her two best friends, Olivia and Linsey. Hooraney’s friends say she is alway...
Chapter 12: Ike Sears
Isaac Sears, or Ike for short, is a senior at Pleasant Valley. He is described by his classmates as many things: a jokester, an incredibly intelligent individual, and a kind person. Sears is well-known for his intelligence among his classmates. He has been a recurring honor student every semester and challenges himself with AP and honors classes. Sears plans on attending Northwestern Universit...
Chapter 13: Aditya Desai
Although Aditya Desai is only a freshman here at Pleasant Valley High School, he’s had no fear immersing himself in so many of the activities the school offers. His love for music and school has brought him to join both band and orchestra. Aditya was introduced to music at a very young age. When he was only four years old he began to play the violin. He got his inspiration and motivation fro...
Chapter 14: Adam Arms
Adam Arms is a junior here at Pleasant Valley. However, he is fairly new to the school. His family just moved to the area from Missouri last year, meaning he did not become a Spartan until his sophomore year. Moving during high school would make for a difficult adjustment for anyone, but luckily, Arms said his transition was not too bad. He commented, “I like PV. It’s really just a high school, but ...
Chapter 15: Porter Cottrell
Porter Cottrell is sophomore at Pleasant Valley. Although this is the only place he has ever lived, his life has been anything but boring. Cottrell was born with three holes in his heart, a condition that typically requires a risky open heart surgery. However, in Cottrell’s case, the surgery was not necessary. “It was kind of miraculous. Right before I was supposed to have the surgery, the ho...
Chapter 16: Maureen Delpilar
Maureen Delpilar is a junior at Pleasant Valley High School. For Pleasant Valley students who regularly attend sporting events, they will have seen her on the sidelines with the cheer squad cheering on the various teams. Delpilar is always bursting with Spartan Spirit on the sidelines, and she is always excited for the next season to begin. She has connected with so many friends and students at Pl...
Chapter 17: Saugat Bohara
Saugat Bohara is a sophomore at Pleasant Valley High School. At school, Bohara is involved in tennis and the cricket club. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his girlfriend, Madeline Patramanis, junior, and his teammates. Carson Sutherland, senior said, “I met Bohara last year, and I enjoyed getting to know him. We are still good friends this year.” Family is important to Boh...
Chapter 18: Katelyn Jensen
“Do whatever it is that you like as long as there is good food involved.” This is the life motto of Pleasant Valley junior, Katelyn Jensen. Her motto probably explains why she has enjoyed working at Whitey’s Ice Cream shop for the past few years. Jensen was born in Utah, and ever since she left the state she has wanted to go back. She plans to attend Brigham Young University, where she wi...
Chapter 19: Caitlin Crome
Caitlin Crome is a freshman at Pleasant Valley, but she has already made a huge impact around the school. She is an extremely friendly and outgoing individual, and she has made sure to become very involved with as much as she can. Athletics are a huge part of Crome’s life. She was a member of the varsity softball team, was a varsity Platinum member, and is currently on the track team. She has...
Chapter 20: Zach James
Not everyday does one get the opportunity to see a 6’5” and 300 pound man wandering around the school, but at Pleasant Valley we get to see one everyday. Zach James, junior, at Pleasant Valley was born in St. Roberts, Missouri outside of Ft. Leanordwood where both of his parents were stationed in the military. Zach has moved around a lot as a youth, he lived in Florida for two years, and then moved t...
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