JONAS ALEXANDER

Jonas Alexander started attending Gilpin County Schools in Kindergarten. His fondest memory is hanging out with friends after school and during the day, which was the most difficult for his teachers.

Alexander played football all four years and basketball during the 12th grade. He loved the sense of family on those teams. He says his favorite teacher was Mr. Wuchter, stating, “That man has inspired me to be a better person and to follow my dreams and what I’m passionate about. I will follow that man into battle.”

A student who made life better is Dylan Schott. “We became friends in sixth grade, and from there it was magic,” shares Alexander, who admits “I love snowboarding. I am very, very passionate about the sport.”

Alexander wants people to know he likes snails, but he’s most proud of “becoming a better person and being a good citizen.” When asked what advice Alexander gives to new students, he responded, “Work hard, stay focused, and don’t do drugs.”

Alexander received the Black Hawk Scholarship. He plans on working as a handyman for Ron Schott.

Congratulations, Jonas Alexander!

ANNABELLE ALOEL

Annabelle Aloel started attending Gilpin County Schools in preschool. Her fondest memories are sports games, a YMCA trip, and Snowdodgers. She played basketball, volleyball, and soccer during her four years in high school. She credits basketball as her favorite sport.

Aloel was also a member of the National Honor Society in the 11th and 12th grades. Her favorite teacher was Mrs. Blake, and her favorite staff members were Mrs. Cindy and Katura Atherton.

Another student who made high school life better was Jenny Rodriguez. While in high school, Aloel worked at The Bean and Cream in Black Hawk. She says she is passionate about helping others thrive and leading people to success. 

“I am passionate about encouraging young women athletes to become mentally and physically strong and empowered,” states Aloel, continuing, “I am forever grateful for the memories and encouragement from friends, coaches, family, and teachers.”

Aloel is most proud of her experience as varsity captain, winning second team all-state for basketball, finishing school, and attending college.

When asked what advice she would give new students, Aloel responded, “Keep your head up! You're almost done.”

Aloel received the Regis Merit Scholarship and the Black Hawk Scholarship. She plans to attend Regis University to study nursing. 

Congratulations, Annabelle Aloel!

JACKSON ARRINGTON

Jackson Arrington was a band member in the 10th and 11th grades and helped with the yearbook during his senior year. He loved being a part of a fun group and being creative.

Arrington enjoyed making new friends and growing in many ways. He is passionate about music. He is proud of having made progress from start to finish, sharing, “It is amazing to see how far you can go when you work hard.”

When asked what advice he would give new students, Arrington responded, “Just stick with it and you’ll make it to the end.” Arrington plans to take a gap year to relax after working hard.

Congratulations, Jackson Arrington!

ADALYN BALL

Adalyn Ball has been attending Gilpin County Schools since sixth grade, when she moved from Texas.

She was active in theater and joined the choir, band, and anime art club. As a techie in theater, she liked painting the props and helping with costumes.

In choir she liked to hang out with the other kids, while in band she liked teaching the other kids how to play the violin. Ball enjoyed drawing and learning about old animation styles in the anime art club.

Ball says she liked Mr. Rouse’s classes and “how interesting he made every lesson so students would engage and learn." Another student who has made life better at school is Forrest (Ella) Lindenthaler.

Lindenthaler helped Ball step out of her comfort zone and make friends. “She taught me how to speak up and has been my best friend for six years,” Ball says. Ball is passionate about art. 

Ball’s mom tells us “Adalyn is the youngest and has two older brothers. She has three cats and a dog. Adalyn loves space but hates the ocean. She also loves anime, board games, and knowing more than her parents. This awesome senior is also most likely giving her mom a dirty look right now.”

Ball says she’s proud of herself for “simply getting this far.” When she arrived at Gilpin, she barely spoke in class and always kept to herself. She rarely did her homework, admitting, “At this school, I was able to be myself and grow with the support of friends and faculty. Thank you, everyone.”

When asked what advice she wants to give to new students, Ball says, “Work hard and if you need help, get it. You won’t succeed if you can’t recognize when you need help.”

Ball has received scholarships from Gilpin County and the National Society of High School Scholars. She plans to take a gap year and save money before attending college to study science.  

Congratulations, Adalyn Ball!

MADELIENE KHACHATRAIN

Madeleine Khachatrain started attending Gilpin High School in the 11th grade. Her favorite memories are visiting the Garden of the Gods, playing King of the Hill on top of a snow pile, and hanging out with friends.

Khachatrain played soccer in the 11th and 12th grades. She says she loved connecting with the team and learning a new sport. Most of all, she loved being a part of a team. What she loved most about high school was the pep rallies and dances. Another student who made life better is Lizzie Westbrook. 

Khachatrain is passionate about math and science, stating, “I love exploring the two subjects.” She is most proud of getting over her cleft palate.

When asked what advice she would give new students, Khachatrain responded, “Always put 100% effort into everything you do, no matter what, and enjoy every moment of high school, even the hard ones.”

Khachatrain received the City of Black Hawk Scholarship. She plans to attend the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs to study human physiology and nutrition—biomedical. She aspires to enter the dental industry.

GAVIN KNAUS

Gavin Knaus started attending Gilpin Schools in preschool. One of his fondest memories is getting to ride in an ambulance in preschool because he cut his head open on the playground. He says he even got ice cream after going to the hospital. 

Knaus recalls another “fun time” during a lockdown, which lasted several hours. His friend Dylan got hungry and wanted to warm up his burrito, but not having a microwave he could use in the classroom, he tried to cook the burrito by holding it above a toaster.

Knaus’ favorite thing about high school was Warren Tech, "a technical school next to Red Rocks Community College. I did the Automotive tech program for my junior and senior year, which has dramatically helped me figure out what I like doing.”

Another student who has made life better for Knaus is Brennan, who has been with Knaus since Kindergarten. The two friends have been hanging out and joined Knaus at Warren Tech. “He is a great person and an even better friend,” says Knaus about Brennan.

While in high school, Knaus worked at Ace Hardware, where he claims the experience has helped him “understand basic point of sale systems along with general hardware information.”

Knaus is passionate about music, specifically playing his guitar.

His advice for new students is, “Don’t do what’s popular, do something you enjoy.” Knaus also says, “I am proud of the people I’ve connected with in school and work. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for the people I surround myself with, and I am damn proud of them all.”

Knaus plans to continue working at Indian Peaks Ace Hardware in Nederland over the summer and then get a job as a conductor or train engineer with Union Pacific in North Platte, Nebraska.

Congratulations, Gavin Knaus!

ELLA LINDENTHALER (FORREST)

Ella Lindenthaler, better known as Forrest, has attended Gilpin County Schools since preschool. Her favorite memories from elementary school are learning to play Pokémon for the first time and meeting her lifelong best friend, Meadow. She enjoyed taking fieldtrips to the Museum of Natural History, dissecting owl pellets, and visiting the Dust Bowl exhibit at a museum. 

Her favorite memories from middle school include meeting her “adopted brother” Cameron, dissecting a sheep heart, and meeting her girlfriend, Leighton. She also recalls meeting a teacher who helped her understand math for the first time, and getting to do special creative writing assignments.

Art and theater have been a part of Forrest’s high school career: “My favorite part of the art class would have to be the clay room. I have been with Gilpin since elementary school, and the clay room inspired my art to flourish as much as it has. Not only that, but being in the art class for so many years has allowed me to improve my art drastically.”

“My favorite parts of theater are the dedication we always put into the sets and costumes, and the community built around the theater department. In the theater, it doesn't matter who you are when you're on stage; we all just help each other and work together to make the show the best it can be,” Forrest continued.

Forrest’s favorite part of high school was the creative and supportive groups of friends she made and the DND stories she created. Her history classes with Mr. Rouse were some of the best she has ever had, and she expresses her bliss for the opportunity to learn from him.

When asked which other student made life better, Forrest responded, “While most of my friends from the school have ended up moving away, Cameron has helped me through most of my time here at the school. We spend most of our days together, and I'm glad to have him with me.”

While in school, Forrest worked in a restaurant at a casino. She feels the experience helped her in different ways, stating, “Not only did I earn enough money to pay for my diagnosis, but that experience should also help me when I'm looking for jobs in California.”

Forrest says she’s passionate about art, sculpting, anatomy, birds, weapons, language learning, storytelling, and exploration. She wants people to know,“even though it was hard, I'm glad I managed to continue to be my true self through all my years at Gilpin.”

Forrest is most proud of having learned German, Latin, and Sign Language and running over 10 DND campaigns. She’s also proud of the more than 1,000 art pieces she created in school. Currently, she is working on creating her first video game with a friend.

Here’s advice from Forrest to new students: “It will suck for a little while, but trust me when I say that you will get through it, school will end eventually, and if you are in middle school, or a junior in high school, you will get though this year. Middle school and junior years are the worst years, but they do end. As well, I would suggest getting everything over with early, having a hard class senior year sucks.”

Forrest received the Black Hawk Scholarship. She plans to take a gap year to establish residency in California or Oregon, where she will attend Humboldt College in California or Lewis and Clark College in Oregon. She wants to major in Psychology and Art, or Major in Psychology and Minor in Art, while working on getting a teaching license. 

Congratulations, Forrest! 

AVERY RAMSEY

Avery Ramsey started attending Gilpin County School in the fourth grade. Some of her favorite memories from elementary school were playing on the playground in the snow, seeing who could make the biggest snowball. She loved playing girls vs. boys basketball on the blacktop and working in the classroom.

Ramsey’s activities included basketball, soccer, and track in the ninth, 10th, and 11th grades. She also played volleyball in the 12th grade. She says, “I had played sports and put all my energy and time into sports, especially basketball.”

In the fall of this year, during the warm-ups of her first volleyball game, she tore her ACL and meniscus. “This was heartbreaking, considering I had a full year of sports to look forward to, and this is all I did in my free time for the past 6-7 years.”

Ramsey confesses that the traumatic event proved she’s worth much more than sports. Her body needed to rest. “I was shown many other talents and even got a new job.”

Ramsey’s favorite Gilpin memories are playing sports and traveling with her teammates. Over the years, she’s played a lot of volleyball, basketball, soccer, and track. “Each sport comes with challenges, but my beautiful, supportive teammates made it worth my time and effort,” Ramsey adds.

She also wants to thank Coach Shoe, Coach Katura, Coach Brook, and Mrs. Bayne for helping her become a better person. Ramsey says, “Each of them took their time to develop a relationship with me.”

Dannika Sternlicht is another student who made Ramsey’s time at Gilpin School better. Ramsey says she and Sternlicht met in the fourth grade during recess. They played together and were involved in 4-H, but weren’t in the same class. 

At the end of middle school, the two friends hung out with different people, but Ramsey says, during freshman year, they found out they had a lot in common and reconnected. They developed a strong relationship that included sleepovers, concerts, caring for horses, and camping trips. 

“My family took her in as another daughter, and hers did the same for me. Now, we are almost always together. I’m looking forward to running fire department calls with her and attending all the concerts we purchased tickets for.”

During high school, Ramsey worked two steady jobs, including her current position at the Gilpin County Community Center as a Child Care Leader and Guest Services Representative at the front desk. 

After training and classes, Ramsey passed the necessary exams to become a Central City firefighter. She admits to planning to use the skills from her experiences and apply them to an EMT school in the fall.

“I love kids and traveling, so I would like to share the Gospel by doing traveling children's ministry. I have a passion for helping others, so both career paths would be extremely rewarding,” she notes.

Ramsey is passionate about many things outside of work and school. Western fashion and supporting native turquoise and silver jewelry artists are two of her extracurricular hobbies. She even makes clothing and beadwork.

Ramsey has been the Vice President of the local 4-H club, participating in shooting sports and cake decorating. “This year in 4-H, I’m doing heritage arts, leather work, and fashion while selling my products through the buymanship program.”

In her free time, she paints and crafts beadwork on shoes and jeans. She's also altered her dresses, including for school dances, “to make them special.”

“Be kind. You never know what people are going through, so just treat people with respect. Remaining friends with everyone was the best decision I made. Jesus loves all of us, so stay strong in your faith towards Him even when temptation comes your way, and treat others with grace because it’s their first time living too,” is what Ramsey leaves new students with. 

Ramsey says she’s proud of herself for getting as far as she has this year, stating, “Even when I’ve been stressed about school, work, my future, life in general, and thinking that I would never be able to walk again, I found a way to pull through. I wouldn’t have made it this far by myself.” With the love and grace of her family, friends, and the Lord,  Ramsey admits she wouldn’t be happy to share her story today! “I love you all very much, and thank you for the support!

Ramsey has received the Black Hawk Scholarship for $8,000 and plans a career as a full-time first responder.

Congratulations, Avery Ramsey!

DYLAN SCHOTT

Dylan Schott started attending Gilpin School in the sixth grade. A fond memory of Schott’s is staying after school, hanging out with my friends almost daily. When they could drive, they spent time in Idaho Springs after class. He says, “...and it was super fun.”

Schott’s favorite teacher is Mr. Wuchter, who Schott says helped him grow. “He's helped me through problems I've had in my life, and I genuinely consider him a friend rather than just a teacher.”

Another student who made life better is Jonas Alexander. Schott and Alexander have been friends since the sixth grade. “We may not be the most productive when we're together, but we're always sure to have a good laugh whenever we are,” says Schott about his friendship with Alexander.

While in school, Schott worked for his dad’s handyman service. He’s passionate about friends and family. He is most proud of successfully making it through high school, and the dramatic changes he’s made.

When asked what advice he gives new students, Schott responded, “Be who you want to be. Don't force who you want to be to try to fit in. Do what you want and hang out with who you want. Be nice and kind to other kids, who may be in your situation or worse. One thing I regret is treating others badly because I was treated the same.”

Schott received a scholarship from Black Hawk and plans to work for his dad’s handyman business.

Congratulations, Dylan Schott!

ANDREW STARKEY

Andrew Starkey is a Gilpin High School senior. One of his favorite memories in middle school at Gilpin was going on a YMCA trip in 6th grade. He says, “It was a time to be alive.” He remembers playing against Soroco in the eighth grade in the blistering cold and winning. “Middle school football was fun, I wasn’t a big sit-in-a-desk guy, especially when I was younger.”

Starkey played basketball, football, and track in the ninth, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. He says his favorite sport has always been football. His first three years at Gilpin were rough for the program, but he states that they all put in a lot of hard work during his senior year, all thanks to the coaches, teammates, and family. 

Starkey confesses to loving football most in high school, sharing, “It’s taught me many lessons and I’ve built great relationships that I want to continue to have. I believe every boy should play football.”

Starkey also says that his “boys,” Connor H., Ryan H., and Kayden B., are other students who have made life better. He knows his three good friends will always have his back no matter what. While in high school, Starkey worked at the community center as a lifeguard. He likes to exercise and play, or watch, sports. He also enjoys driving his car.

Starkey is proud of being one of the eight-man All-State Football Players this summer. He says he’s also proud of the hard work he’s put in during his senior year. “And it’s all thanks to my coaches, teammates, and family,” Starkey shares.

“Better late than never, but never late is better,” is the advice Starkey leaves for new students. Starkey received a scholarship from the City of Black Hawk. He plans to attend a trade school to learn HVAC systems or another trade.

Congratulations, Andrew Starkey!

DANNIKA STERNLICHT

Dannika Sternlicht has been attending Gilpin Schools since pre-school. Some of her favorite memories from elementary school are making ice slides down the hill near the playground, playing groundies on the playground, and the ice cream social we had during Valentine's. 

Some of her favorite memories from middle school were playing sports and the middle school dances. While in high school, Sternlicht participated in choir and band in the ninth grade, sharing, ”I have a background in music with the Colorado Children's Chorale. Having a background in music made the school choir and band pretty fun, and I was able to pick up on the music pretty quickly.”

In the ninth, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, Sternlicht participated in the student council, volleyball, and soccer. She says being in the student council has been “super fun and a very good leadership experience. "Making decisions about spirit week days and different activities was super fun to me, and being able to run the Student Council Instagram account.”

She confesses that volleyball had its ups and downs, but she always loved the fun on the bus rides to and from games, cheering on our teams, game day themes, and the talks on the benches.

Sternlicht has always loved soccer, admiring the team dynamic, bus rides, and the feeling after winning. “I was on the team when we first became a soccer team, and seeing the progress is incredible. Being in the top 16 in my junior year was one of my favorite things, and being able to experience,” says Sternlicht.

Soccer has been a big part of Sternlicht’s life and high school career. She’s played soccer since she was little. She’s proud to have been on the first Gilpin High School soccer team, cheerfully sharing, "I love my team and how we all have the same dream, and all work hard to achieve that dream.”

Another student who made high school life better is Avery Ramsey. The two girls have known each other since fourth grade, but their friendship blossomed in the eighth grade. They have been inseparable. 

“We have gone through so much together, we’ve gone through sports, friend groups, hobbies, Christianity, and so much more. I am so thankful to have gone through this time in my life with her. I hope we keep growing closer even after high school,” admits Sternlicht.

While in high school, Sternlicht worked three part-time jobs. Her work experiences include a position as a Graduate Assistant for the Colorado Children's Chorale. She’s worked as a ranch hand at Rudolph Ranch and a fire department apprentice for the Central City Fire Department. 

Sternlicht confesses, “Being the graduate assistant has helped me in a huge leadership way, but working at the ranch and the fire department helped me with my future career plans. I love helping people, and being a kind face for people to see is always rewarding.”

Aside from the fire department, Sternlicht has a passion for horses. Sternlicht has three horses named Cutty, Tattle, and Zephyr. Her horses are “pretty much my everything, and I don’t think there is a time in my life when I didn’t have horses.” 

When asked what advice Sternlicht wants to leave future students, she says, “Don’t let other people influence your decisions on what you do. Do what your heart tells you to do and ask God for guidance, and let Him into your life.”

Sternlicht is proud of herself for making it through high school. She’s also proud of becoming a volunteer firefighter with the Central City Fire Department, making a difference in her community, and "making a name for myself."

Sternlicht received the Gilpin County Fair Ambassador Scholarship. She plans to volunteer with Central City Fire while completing EMT school and the fire academy. She hopes to continue working with horses.

Congratulations, Dannika Sternlicht!

JOEI SUTTON

Joei Sutton has attended Gilpin County School since fourth grade. Some of her fondest memories in school were playing sports, ice cream socials, mask breaks, the snow slide, elementary school choir concerts, and sports banquets. 

She played soccer and was active in the student council in the ninth, 10th, and 11th grades. She played volleyball in the ninth, 1th, 11th, and 12th grades. She also played basketball in the ninth, 10th, and 12th grades and participated in track in her freshman and sophomore years. 

Sutton says playing volleyball was her favorite thing about high school, confessing, “I love the sport and the people I play with. My favorite volleyball memory was making it to regionals with my team my senior year and beating West Grand in 5 my junior year.”

Sutton shares that she loved spending time with Ms. Donaldson and Ms. Blake throughout high school. Other students who have made Sutton’s life better are Adele Fisher and Max Tanner. 

Sutton says Tanner and Fisher never failed to make her laugh. And she can talk to her sister Madison Sutton about anything. Some of Sutton’s closest friends also include Dannika Sterlicht, Samantha Kapke, Faith Ramsey, and Makenzie Marr. 

During Sutton’s senior year, she was a lifeguard at the Gilpin County Recreation Center. She says her experience working there will help her future career plans because she is now CPR, AED, and First Aid Certified. She’s also learning about customer service. 

Sutton is passionate about helping and serving others, which she does through Flatirons Community Church in Genesee. 

She shares, “All glory to God. He has made me the person I am today, and without Him and His grace, I would not be who I am. Throughout high school, my faith in Jesus Christ has taken off. My friend group has had a lot to do with that. My faith has been important to me over the past two years. If God did it for me, I know He can do it for you, too. 1 Corinthians 10:31.”

Sutton says she’s proud of the person Gilpin County has made her, and without growing up in Gilpin, she would not have built the relationships she did. “I will forever be grateful for the person that I am. I am also proud of myself for just graduating and being able to get out of here,” says Sutton. 

When asked what advice she wants to offer new students, she offered, “Every decision you make is for you and your future. Do not worry about what everyone else wants you to do. Do what makes you the happiest. Always be humble and kind. Treat everyone with respect. Everything that you do, do it with love and grace. Welcome God into your life, and ask him for help and guidance wherever you go, for He is always with you.”

Sutton received a few scholarships from Grand Canyon University and one from the City of Black Hawk Scholarship. She plans to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, to pursue a career in nursing. 

Congratulations, Joei Sutton!

LIZZIE WESTBROOK

Lizzie Westbrook grew up in Gilpin County, attending Eagles Nest at eight weeks old. Her favorite memories are playing sports, specifically volleyball and track and field, and away trips to 100 Elk in Elementary and the YMCA of the Rockies in 6th Grade.

Westbrook is passionate about Math and Science, especially calculus and biology. Throughout high school, she took all of the hardest courses Gilpin offered in both areas, and found that not only did they come naturally to her, but she also enjoyed learning them.

Westbrook’s high school activities included volleyball in the ninth, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades while she held a position in the student council. She says, “I loved the team aspect of the sport as well as how it challenged me as an athlete and individual overall.

As a member of the student council, she “enjoyed helping plan school functions and events, and having a say in the choices made within my school district.” Westbrook also participated in track and field in the ninth and 10th grades, with high jump, the 800m, and the 4 by 800m relay being her favorites. She held the school record of seventh place from her freshman year team.

Westbrook says she enjoyed learning new things throughout high school, especially Mathematics and Science. “My favorite classes have been AP Calculus with Mrs. Van Hoose and AP Biology with Mrs. Newman. I also really loved playing Volleyball in High School, even though I often struggled with injuries,” she confesses.

When Westbrook looks back at her time at Gilpin County School, she feels grateful for Jiselle Osteboe, whom she met in elementary school. “Through the years, we were often both top of the class students, and I feel grateful that she was there to push me academically.”

While in high school, Westbrook worked at the Black Hawk Bean and Cream since May of 2022. She says she learned a lot about collaborating with others and being resourceful in ideal situations, stating, “I believe these skills will benefit me in college and beyond.”

Westbrook also assisted in multiple sports teams, attending regionals and state during her high school career. Her efforts have paid off, earning Westbrook Gilpin County’s Class of 2025 Valedictorian.

Westbrook shares, “Having been surrounded by an incredibly high-achieving and competitive class, I feel honored to have earned this title. I am also a native Gilpin County resident, having grown up in the area since birth. Additionally, I am the only daughter of two amazing parents, Joyce and Bill Westbrook, who truly influenced who I am today and have been my biggest supporters through every challenge and success.”

Westbrook’s advice to new students is, “Be kind. As generic as it sounds, being kind and respectful to those around you makes such a huge difference. You don’t know what may be going on in someone’s life, and choosing to be considerate regardless of your fondness towards them can go a long way. High school is short; don’t waste your time getting involved in the drama.”

Westbrook received the City of Black Hawk Scholarship, the Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship, and the President’s Scholarship through Colorado School of Mines.

Westbrook plans to attend Colorado School of Mines in the fall to pursue a career in Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering.

Congratulations, Lizzie Westbrook!