June 7, 2013 at 4:20 p.m.
Top finishers from Class of 2013 reflect on years at RHS
Top finishers from Class of 2013 reflect on years at RHS
Melissa Sheth, the class valedictorian, will be heading to Amherst College in Amherst, Mass., to pursue a degree in biology as a pre-veterinary student.
Looking back on her years at RHS, Sheth said some of her most fond memories result from the people she has come to know through sports and other extracurriculars.
"Team memories, as far as being on mock trial has been concerned, that has probably been one of the biggest influences in the past four years, but also sports such as soccer and tennis. Playing on the varsity teams and getting to know my teammates really well has really fostered a sense of community in the past four years," said Sheth.
Aaron Bowen will be attending Tufts University, located near Boston, to study computer engineering next fall.
During his time in high school, Bowen said his biggest accomplishment was getting "exemplary soloist" for his piano solo at the State Solo and Ensemble this year, playing Chopin's Etude in C minor.
A fond memory that sticks out to Bowen was attending a World Affairs Seminar last summer at Carroll University in Waukesha.
"The college invites about 1,000 students each year, and a local club sponsors a junior from Rhinelander to go every year," said Bowen.
The seminar's theme, "Global Communication 2.0: Technology's Impact on International Understanding," gave the attendees a chance to learn about emerging technologies in media and communication.
Ryley Zastrow will be attending the University of Wisconsin - Madison in the fall to study biomedical engineering. She will also continue to study Spanish. During high school, Zastrow said her biggest accomplishment was earning AP Scholar with Distinction honors for her performance in AP classes.
Zastrow's fondest memory from high school was her job shadowing experience this past year at Northland Orthopedics with Dr. Kent Lowry.
"I spent Monday afternoons in the clinical setting, and I spent all day Thursdays shadowing in the O.R.," said Zastrow.
Zastrow also had the privilege of attending a Lead America medical conference this past summer, which she was nominated to attend by her chemistry teacher, a memory that will remain with her for years to come.
Claire Tracy will be playing soccer at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke next fall. She has not decided which major she will pursue.
Because of her successes in high school athletics, Tracy said some of her most fond memories come from sports, but she will also always remember what it means to be a Hodag.
"The participation and being a part of the crowd at Rhinelander and being named a Hodag, and participating in athletic events, I think, have really been a big part of my high school career," she said.
Tracy said while she's proud of her academic accomplishments, she's most proud of her personal growth.
"There's always going to be the GPA, the tests and academic careers and all of that, but I think I'm more proud of where I've come as a person and what I've learned," said Tracy.
Sheth, and the other students who finished in the top five of the RHS Class of 2013, all worked hard to keep their grades up while participating in numerous other endeavours. The class valedictorian put forth some advice for future high schoolers.
"The biggest bit of advice that I got during my four years of high school was from my parents, and they always told me to study very hard," said Sheth. "I guess the advice that I'd pass on to future classmates is to study hard and do their best and really take pride in what they do, in their homework, in their sports if they're on a team, so really doing their best during the four years."
Matt Anderson, class salutatorian, was not available to be interviewed for this story.
River News sports editor Jeremy Mayo contributed to this story. Jim Oxley may be reached at jim@river newsonline.com.
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