Story Photos
 Castle Rock grad Adam Edwards, who hopes to study astrophysics in college, stands in front of the school's signature rocket. Bill Wagner/ The Daily News
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Standout Grad: Sky's the limit for Adam Edwards
Sunday, June 15, 2008 11:48 PM PDT
By Barbara LaBoe
Printable version
E-mail this articleCASTLE ROCK — When Castle Rock High School English teacher Sue Strickland graded Adam Edwards’ papers she kept a dictionary handy.
That’s because Edwards, in addition to being gifted in math and science, also has “the best vocabulary of any student I’ve ever had,” Strickland said. She’d often discover words she’d never heard of in his papers, only to look them up and find they existed and had been used correctly.
“I can’t say enough good things about him,” Strickland said. “Science and math are his passion, but he is very, very good at English and he loves to write poetry and you don’t see that very often — especially in a male. ... He’s consistently surprised me.”
She’s not alone. The school staff unanimously named Edwards when asked to suggest an outstanding graduate.
Edwards completed his “outstanding” school work while also working 32 hours a week at Burger King to help his ailing mother with expenses. He figures he averaged about three hours of sleep a night during his senior year, yet still ended with a 3.7 grade point average.
“(Sleep) just doesn’t happen for me, and now I feel like sleep is a waste of time,” he said. “I know neurologically I need to do it, but if I just tell myself I don’t need it I can (get by.)”
His schedule wasn’t helped by the extra math and science classes Edwards piled on during the years, but he said he enjoyed the classes even when they were difficult. In fact, he waived an elective to sign up for a statistics class, and when that was cancelled took anatomy instead.
“I like classes that make you try and set the standard a little higher,” he said. “I even went to school on senior skip day.”
In the fall Edwards will attend the University of Arizona where he hopes to study physics and astrophysics, combining his love of space with math and science. He’d like to get a doctorate and then be a professor and researcher. And Arizona, with a NASA-affiliated program, is a perfect fit for him, he said. Also, with scholarships and grants Edwards has close to a free ride, which was key to being able to go to college.
Edwards said he’s drawn to math because it’s “a more defined way of speaking” that always has sure results in the end.
That’s not to say Edwards is serious all the time, though. His bedroom is full of children’s toys, and he’s covered the walls with paper so he can draw on them whenever he chooses. He also likes Pokemon and dinosaurs, “even if it does sound nerdy.”
And, he can solve a Rubik’s Cube in less than two minutes.
“It’s just a series of patterns, really,” he explains with a shrug.
Studying at Arizona with nearly 40,000 other students will be big adjustment for Edwards after life in small Castle Rock, but he said he’s sure he’ll succeed.
“I have to get things done ... and no matter what I’m sure I can stick it out,” he said. “I cannot fail.”
Adam Edwards, Castle Rock High School
Age: 18
Hometown: Castle Rock
Parents: Lonnelle Eickhoff, Castle Rock, and Dale Eickhoff, Coquille, Ore.
Future plans: Attend the University of Arizona and pursue doctoral degree in physics and astrophysics; become a professor.
Favorite musical artist/band: Coheed and Cambria
Favorite teacher: Carl Stello, physics.
In his own words:
If you could talk to anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
American poet Edgar Allen Poe
What is your favorite high school memory?
“Spending time with my girlfriend, Brittni Olsen.”
If you could have one super power, what would it be?
“Hmmh, it has to be something abstract. I would like to be able to turn inanimate objects into polar bears.”
Previous 2008 Standout Grads
Fred Wannamaker, Kelso High School
Neil Karstetter, Clatskanie High School
Nick Wilson, R.A. Long High School
Tasha Ford, Wahkiakum High School
Caitlyn Bradley, Winlock High School
Mary Beth Shipper, Mark Morris High School
Patrick Robinson, Naselle High School
Daryl Moore, Kelso High School
Donnie Sellers, Woodland High School
Jordan Smith, Rainier High School
Britt Land, Toutle Lake High School
Trang Le, Mark Morris High School
Kirsten Merry, R.A. Long High School
Louie wrote on Jun 16, 2008 10:55 AM:
Too bad more students don't grasp the fact you will get nowhere without an education...it will affect your entire life.
Pull the ear phones out of your ears, turn of the TV and the computer and pick up a book. "
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