Meet just a few of the appoximately 2,000 students who will walk across a stage this week to receive their St. Vrain Valley Schools diploma. Congratulations to all students in the Class of 2018!
Danny Trevino
Music Education, Montana State University
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
One of my all-time favorite memories in St. Vrain was representing my district at the 2018 Colorado All State Mixed Choir. I was able to connect with collegiate level music professors from across the country and meet students from every county in the state. From bonding with my fellow choir mates to introducing myself to distinguished conductors, All State was a very wonderful experience.
Payton Garcia
Colorado Mesa University
What teacher has had the biggest impact on your success so far?
The teacher that has had the biggest impact on my success is my 5th grade teacher Jen Mayer. She was able to help me get identified as Gifted and Talented in leadership and that lead to a lot of projects and involvement that I am extremely proud of.
Amanda Kowalski
Anthropology, Colorado State University
What teacher has had the biggest impact on your success so far?
My yearbook advisor, Annie Gorenstein-Falkenberg, has taught me since my sophomore year. From that first day in Honors English 10, her passion for teaching matched mine for learning. Her constant support in my writing, graphic design, and life in general has given me an incredible role model that I know I’ll have for the rest of my life.
Nathan Schneider
Dartmouth College
What’s a favorite memory from your time at Lyons Middle Senior High School?
My favorite memories of Lyons are my years with the Cross Country team under Coach Roberts. It was a great time, and taught me so much. Coach Roberts as well as the experience taught me that you will get out what you put in and to always work hard.
Sarah Lutter
International Business, University of California Irvine
How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success?
The abundant AP courses offered allowed me to select and take those which interested me. This helped me explore different subjects while attempting to determine what I wanted to study after high school. Especially the AP English classes and the AP Capstone program prepared me for higher level research and writing.
Kamran Elahi
Business (Economics) and Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
The Academics Game League of America encourages middle and high school students to think creatively and create a love of learning. I participated in several competitions with the St. Vrain team at the state and national level while attending Sunset Middle School, and in high school, I took on a coaching role by passing on what I learned to younger students. Being involved in something long term where I used my former experiences to mentor others is one of my favorite experiences and one of my best memories from my time at St. Vrain.
Heather Copeland
Early Childhood Education, Front Range Community College
What teacher has had the biggest impact on your success so far?
I don’t think I could narrow it down to one teacher. All of my teachers at Olde Columbine High School have pushed me to be able to graduate when I thought I wouldn’t be able to and I couldn’t thank them or the whole staff enough for giving me the push I needed.
Jacob Boettcher
Political Science and Psychology; Concentration in Family Studies, St. Olaf College
How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success?
The Silver Creek Leadership Academy (SCLA) has given me the opportunity to identify how I want to serve, invest and engage in the people and the community that surrounds me! As I look to my future I know that I will carry with me, my experiences from four years in the Leadership Academy. These experiences are ones that has challenged me to go beyond my comfort zone, develop new global outlooks, and to lead a project that will define my high school experience.
Madison Reed
Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
How has your school’s focus program prepared you for postsecondary success?
My program of focus has been the STEM program, which has helped me focus my love of the outdoors into a career. The diversity and group structure of the STEM program has helped me grow as an analytical thinker, and I am excited to continue pursuing engineering in my post secondary education.
Andrew King
Computer Science Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain?
I fondly look back at times when I was competing in track, cross country and soccer, however some of the best memories I have are when I complete a class. The sense of accomplishment you get is unrivaled by all other feats in high school and you’re getting closer to your goal- finishing high school- every time you finish one more.