You just never know who is going to turn out to be the most amazing and successful person in your graduating class. In a couple days, The Post will be sharing stories of the amazing 2013 senior classes in the Bethel and Franklin Pierce School Districts. There is one more awards night to go before we do.

Last night, Franklin Pierce High School (FPHS) presented awards to their seniors. One standout was watching former graduate, Elizabeth Erikson present scholarships to seniors who are rising above their exceptional challenges, personal hardships and getting ahead.

Elizabeth herself is a graduate of FPHS. She was born with complications. From that she has cerebral palsy, is quadriplegic and unable to speak. She usually communicates (as most young people) using texting on her cellphone. While working on her high school portfolio, she started learning about how to invest on the stock market. She turned out to have an amazing talent for investing.

So over this past week, Elizabeth has been giving back to her community by presenting scholarships, two one thousand dollar scholarship in the Bethel District and four in the Franklin Pierce District. Last night, at the end of the presentation which her father delivered, there was silence. Then suddenly the room began to come to its feet. There was a standing ovation, not for the seniors receiving the awards, but for the amazing alumnus who overcame her own odds.

Elizabeth Eriksen is a member of the Parkland Spanaway Kiwanis and has also contributed significantly to club and the International Kiwanis Foundation. This past year she became a Walter Zeller Fellow for her contributions to the ELIMINATE project to end neonatal tetanus.

Elizabeth Eriksen, you are a shining star in your community. Thank you for inspiring the rest of us!