Valley Catholic Schools fosters the importance of giving back to the school and community and seeking opportunities to apply your gifts to improve the world around you. Two members of the Class of 2025, Sierra Simmons ’25 and Luke Pranger ’25, each took the initiative to implement projects that will be appreciated for years to come.
Sierra Simmons ’25
As the National Honor Society President and a multi-sport athlete, Sierra Simmons was inspired by the upstairs mural on the wall of the VCHS courtyard and was inspired to create her own. She did not profess to being an artist but just wanted to share her enthusiasm for Valley Catholic for years to come. “I really thought it would be fun to do a mural, and I wanted to make a statement,” said Simmons. She considered different themes and locations, but focused on the image of the Valiant to adorn the hallway outside the athletic center as a means to especially provide enthusiasm for the basketball and volleyball teams.
After graduation, while most students had moved onto summer vacation or were preparing for life post-graduation, Sierra was working through the details of the mural. For anyone who has ever attempted to transfer an image onto a wall, it can be tricky. Sierra reflected on the challenges of the project and shared, “It was really daunting once we got in there and looked at how big the wall was.” Aside from stenciling the full-scale template onto the narrow hallway, aligning everyone’s summer vacation schedule was the most challenging obstacle to completing the project. However, “It was a National Honor Society project so everyone was eager to get it done,” said Simmons.
Simmons expressed joy in seeing the project completed and her final accomplishment as a student. As she reflected on her transition to an alumna, she concluded, “I know that I’ll be coming back to support the community and like the idea of my mural supporting the teams in the future.”
Simmons is currently studying at San Diego State University.
Luke Pranger ’25
Luke Pranger put out a call that he was seeking a service opportunity to complete his Eagle Scout rank. This work needs to demonstrate both leadership and serve the community. To earn the prestigious badge, Luke would fall into the roughly 6 percent of Boy Scouts who advance through and complete the entire program. “The service project is the biggest step in becoming an Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank that you can achieve in Boy Scouting, and it’s considered a significant honor,” said Luke.
Known as a focused and dependable student, it wasn’t long before John Matcovich, Valley Catholic School President approached Luke with a project that would benefit both of them: a new ticket booth for the athletic fields. There was alignment between them regarding the need for a permanent solution, and Luke was the student to make this happen. Â As a long-time Valiant, Luke has been watching games here since 6th grade, and he was very familiar with the folding table and lounge chairs that were previously designated the ticket sales booth.Â
Luke was eager to get started. However, this work required a lot more coordination between him and the school than a typical service project. First, he needed approval on where to build. Then he required plans that meet the needs of the school, as well as arranging the purchase and delivery of the materials. After all these points were resolved, he got to spend extra time at the school constructing the booth.
Completing the ticket took a lot of organization and hard work but the results show the dedicated effort of his work. Luke is unsure of the actual lifespan of the booth; however, he said, “Mr. Matcovich considered it the most durable Eagle Scout project he’s ever seen and would still be there by the time my kids might be going to purchase tickets.”
As Luke reflected on his life as a Valley Catholic alumnus, he looks forward to continuing to connect with the school. “I know I am moving forward into the college portion of my life, but I know I’m going to return to my high school now and then. I’ve already made promises to friends in the drama department that I’m coming back to see some of their performances,” said Luke.
Luke is now a student at Oregon State University studying computer science. He plans to focus on creative design in the video game industry.
