2025 Students of Distinction

Gwen Ciota: Quiet strength and unshakable spirit

Gig Harbor Now is posting profiles featuring the Students of Distinction being honored by the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. Peers, teachers or parents nominate students, who must be a graduating senior at a Peninsula School District school. A panel of community leaders selects students to be honored in one of seven categories: academics; athletics; career and technical excellence; community service; music, arts and drama; overcoming adversity; and science and technology.

These students will be celebrated during a banquet from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Dr.

School: Peninsula High School

Category: Overcoming Adversity

Gwen Ciota’s story is one of grit, grace, and an unwavering commitment to keep showing up – even when the path forward was anything but easy.

Born with a rare chromosomal deletion and hearing loss, Gwen was faced early on with daunting challenges and a prognosis that left little room for hope. Yet, she’s defied expectations at every turn – not with flash, but with quiet resolve and a heart that never stops reaching for more. From the very beginning, Gwen has had to work harder than most just to keep pace. But where others saw obstacles, Gwen saw the opportunity to prove her strength.

Gwen Ciota

Throughout high school, she has maintained honor roll status every semester. She has also dedicated herself to martial arts, earning a black belt and Sempai status in Traditional American Karate, and achieving a fourth-degree purple belt in Japanese Karate. Her perseverance doesn’t end with personal achievements – Gwen is deeply devoted to service. She regularly volunteers with organizations that support individuals with disabilities, and she’s been featured in Hearing Our Way magazine, which highlights stories of kids and teens navigating hearing loss with resilience and pride.

At school, Gwen is known not only for her hard work, but for the joy and encouragement she brings to others. She’s showcased her talents in several school plays and consistently looks for ways to up lift her community. Her warmth, empathy, and authenticity make her a person others look to when they need to feel seen.

The adversity Gwen has faced has shaped her into someone who sees the world with deep compassion. As she explains, “Even with strong support from my family, I often felt lonely with peers, especially because of my hearing loss. It sometimes made it harder to connect and feel included. Going through that showed me how important it is to help others feel seen and welcomed.” It’s this sense of purpose that guides her – along with a perspective that success doesn’t have to look one way to be meaningful.

Gwen’s lived experience has inspired her to make her own path. Whether it’s through volunteering, theater, martial arts, or academics, her work ethic and refusal to give up are constant. “From a young age,” she says, “I had to work much harder to do even small things. That taught me to never give up, to stay positive, and to look for the good in every situation.”

After graduation, Gwen will begin pre-requisite courses at Tacoma Community College with plans to pursue a career in sonography. As she continues building a life of service and impact, she carries forward lessons many take a lifetime to learn: that courage doesn’t always roar, and success often begins simply with the decision to keep going.