TALON BARRY

Talon Barry attended Gold Hill Elementary between Kindergarten and fifth grade and attended Nederland Middle-Senior High School between the sixth and twelfth grades. A couple of his fondest memories include a daily morning circle with the whole school and camping trips. He says he also enjoyed “the large variety of school pets: Mr. N the bearded dragon was my favorite.” 

Barry played soccer during his four years of high school, stating, “I loved being coached by Señor Gonzalez. He has been a positive role model in my life, always encouraging us to try our best while keeping the sport fun.”

Barry says everything about school made it “the best,” especially his “homies who made high school enjoyable.”

While in school, Barry snowplowed during the winter and took on odd jobs like forest management and working for Barry Painting, Inc., to make money. Barry is passionate about staying fit and enjoying the outdoors, stating, “I’m grateful to have been raised in the mountains.”

Barry is “proud of learning that mistakes are there to teach lessons. No excuses, only progress.” When asked what advice he would give new students, Barry responded, “Work hard, play hard, but don’t slack on either.”

Barry plans to attend Western Colorado University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. 

Congratulations, Talon Barry!

NATALIA ANAIS GARCIA UPCZAK

Natalia Anais Garcia Upczak is a senior at Nederland High School. Her favorite school memory is playing tag, hitting her head on a pole, and laughing. She played volleyball and soccer all four years of high school. She says, “I loved spending time with my friends and meeting new people. I loved being competitive and spending time outside in the beautiful mountains of my town.”

Garcia Upczak was in the National Honor Society and the mentorship program in the 11th and 12th grades. She loved seeing change in her school and enjoyed helping other students grow.

Garcia Upczak loved sports most in high school because she connected with her peers. This allowed her to create a sense of togetherness with people she wouldn't normally connect with. Another student who made life better is Gideon Emery.

While in school, Garcia Upczak worked at Sweet Sue’s. She is passionate about helping the Earth and other people and making a positive impact. She is proud to have been accepted into many colleges. She’s also proud of her Player of the Year title in volleyball. Lastly, she is proud of graduating from High School and receiving prestigious scholarships

When asked what advice she would give new students, Garcia Upczak responded, “Remember you have free will.”

Garcia Upczak received the UCSC Regents' scholarship, SDSU Scholarship, Oregon State WUE, University of Oregon Scholarship, and DU Regent Scholarship. She plans to attend CU Boulder.

Congratulations, Natalia Anais Garcia Upczak!

PAYTON KUTSCHER

Payton Kutscher has attended Nederland schools since Kindergarten. Her favorite memories were the field days, field trips, and circus performances she participated in during Elementary school.

Kutscher was the volleyball manager in ninth grade but played in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. She played basketball in the 12th grade. She participated in the student council all four years of high school and was a member of the National Honor Society in the 11th and 12th grades. 

“I loved these activities as they allowed me to connect with people. I built lasting connections with people I never thought I would, letting me branch out. I also loved them as they taught me many life skills and allowed me to push myself out of my comfort zone, letting me discover things about myself,” says Kutscher about her experiences.

Kutscher loved growing close connections with the teachers who changed her life forever. Kutscher says Rovenna Yakubov, Scott Geels, and Daniel Wade are teachers who “profoundly impacted” her. 

“I also loved sports and how they allow me to be a part of such a loving, caring, and fun community, meeting new people and making connections that will last a lifetime. Volleyball was my favorite sport as it was one of the most important and influential parts of my high school experience.”

Kutscher continues, “All of my friends made my life exponentially better. Especially in school, I was able to build friendships and make amazing memories with them. However, we were also able to push each other to be the best we could academically, as we loved to compete with each other.”

While in school, Kutscher worked at the Carousel of Happiness, “a fun and rewarding experience” that has allowed her to work on skills such as “responsibility, customer service, communication, and time management.”

Kutscher is passionate about being herself and achieving and accomplishing everything she sets her mind to. She wants to help make a positive change in the world. She is proud of the numerous awards she has received in high school.

When asked what advice she could give new students, Kutscher responded, “Enjoy the time while you have it. High school is a fun time to find amazing friendships and discover who you are and what you want to do. Even though it sucked sometimes, in the end it was worth it.”

With the several scholarships she received from the School of Mines, Western Colorado, CSU, University of Oregon, Adelphi University, Montana State, University of Utah, and DU, Kutscher plans to study nursing at Adelphi University in New York. 

Congratulations, Payton Kutscher!

LUKE JOHN MAHORSKI-BODLEY

Luke John Mahorski-Bodley started at Nederland High School as a freshman in the fall of 2021.

Over his four-year high school career, he’s participated in cross country and track and field as an active nose-breathing runner. He says these activities let him practice his art, and he has loved working with coach Gavin Coombs for all eight seasons of Cross Country and Track.

Mahorski-Bodley has been playing the violin since fourth grade, including in the Nederland orchestra. He thanks his “very best orchestra teacher,” Christine Mallery, for helping him become a better musician, stating, “Under her, she has taken us to four orchestra competitions over the years where we were judged and were able to show off our skills.”

As a senior, he joined the Nordic ski team as a first-time skier. “I had so much fun Nordic skiing. I will be continuing this sport in future winters,” he confesses. He’s been a part of the school’s fall plays, directed by Liz Evans. 

“It was fun to act and pretend to be something I am not in the play that my fellow performers and I were in, Every Book You Read In High School In 25 Minutes Or Less,” Marhorski-Bodley tells us.

The things Mahorski-Bodley loved most about high school were the teachers he worked with. He loved taking Algebra II, Precalculus, and AP Physics 1 with Scott Geels. He thanks Mr. Geels for helping him to love learning and understanding math, while joking and being his best self in class. 

Mahorski-Bodley enjoyed getting to know Assistant Principal Sean DePaula. He notes that DePaula also moved to the mountains in 2021 and they developed a close bond. Mahorski-Bodley has much to say about his great teachers. In short, he is grateful for what they have given him.

Another student who made life better is one of his greatest friends, Eric Thurston. “I had the honor of getting to know him well in high school. He has always invited me to his house for barbecues and little get-togethers. His home is like a second home for me.”

Mahorski-Bodley and Thurston ran track together for two years. When Thurston would not join the track team in his senior year, Mahorski-Bodley was “destroyed. He is just a good guy. He was there to help me get through hard classes and give me a hand when I needed it. I will miss him, but we will meet in Denver during our time in college.”

While in high school, Mahorski-Bodley worked with TEENS, Inc. Teamworks during the summers. His experience with TEENS, Inc. led to him a position as a junior crew leader, helping to build trails and forestry work throughout the Front Range, spanning from Eldorado Canyon Park to the Mile High City. 

Mahorski-Bodley is excited to help lead a crew this summer. He hopes the leadership position with TEENS, Inc. will make him a better leader and prepare him for future leadership.  Over the years, the TEENS, Inc. Youth Board has advocated for several issues and policies. As an active member, Mahorski-Bodley plans to continue advocating for local teens and his community, including the TEENS, Inc. proposal for child care expansion. 

Mahorski-Bodley shares one of many reasons he’s passionate about advocating for local youth: “I am severely dyslexic. As a junior, I took the AP Language and Composition. It was the hardest class I had ever taken in my whole life. It was a big challenge with having dyslexia. It tested my reading and writing skills like never before. Despite this, I would pass the AP exam with a three. This was my Triumph over my disability, and I am as proud of it as I can be.”

When asked what advice he wants to leave new students, Mahorski-Bodley responds, “Enjoy the journey while they are in school because your time at Nederland High School will go by fast. High school has a natural death, and it will come fast. A good friend, Roan Harper, gave me this advice when he was a senior and I was a freshman. He was right.”

Mahorski-Bodley received scholarships from Regis University, where he plans to study political science and finance. “I want to go into public service in government as someone who pushes policy as elected, appointed, or in some form of a government job.”

Congratulations, Luke John Mahorski-Bodley!

AYA PELKUM DONAHUE

Aya Pelkum Donahue has been attending Nederland schools since Kindergarten. Her fondest memories include imaginary field trips in kindergarten with Ms. Johanna, making clay planets and solar systems, celebrating the last day of school by cleaning the desks with shaving cream, and having “jobs” in Ameritown with Ms. Beauvineau.

Theater was a big part of Pelkum Donahue’s high school career, as she was actively involved in performing arts all four years of high school. “Musical theater was the number one highlight of my high school career. I cannot thank Ms. Evans and all the students in the theater program enough for making it so wonderful,” she shares. 

She also says the people she connected with in theater will affect her positively throughout college because being on stage made her more confident, inspiring her to prioritize academics and the things she loves.

Pelkum Donahue was also an active participant in the choir all four years of high school. She was a member of the National Honor Society in the 11th and 12th grades and the climbing club in the 12th grade.

Aside from theater, she enjoyed Mr. Real’s classes the most. “He is one of the kindest people I have known, and his classes were engaging and always more than worth the work. I miss him and hope to find similar college teachers!” Pelkum Donahue adds.

Her brother Keahi is another student who made life in school better. Pelkum Donhue states, “He has been a very gentle and encouraging presence during these years, and I always have him to complain with or study with. In all aspects of life, he has always been there for me, and I will miss him more than anyone.”

She is passionate about the outdoors, including rock climbing, rafting, skiing, and hiking. She also paints for fun and loves to dance.

While in school, Pelkum Donahue worked as a vet technician in Boulder. She wrote for The Mountain-Ear for a few years and volunteered on the Eldora Ski Patrol for a year. She believes her experiences helped her explore her passions for college because she got a glimpse into the medical, animal, and social work fields.

Pelkum Donahue is most proud of having had a positive high school experience and having exciting plans despite initial struggles with mental health and anxiety. She gives herself credit for overcoming these struggles, leading her to experience a happy senior year and a great start to college.

When asked what advice she would give new students, She responded, “Nederland is often said to provide fewer opportunities for students, but to me, it seems, there is more freedom to create one’s curriculum. In big schools, there are many classes, but here the teachers know you so personally that they often provide students with individual and unique opportunities. It is worth staying here!”

Pelkum Donahue received scholarships and grants from Colorado College and Montana State University.  She plans to attend Colorado College this fall to embark on a journey of  Molecular Biology and Musical Theater. 

Congratulations, Aya Pelkum Donahue!

KEAHI PELKUM DONAHUE

Keahi Pelkum Donahue has attended Nederland schools since kindergarten. One of his favorite memories is listening to audiobooks while drawing in the fourth grade. He says it felt peaceful and calming, “with everything else falling away into the simplicity of coloring.”

Pelkum Donahue participated in the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras and theater lighting design during all four high school years, performing as an actor in the 11th and 12th grades. He raced with the Alpine Ski team during the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades and was a member of the National Honor Society (Secretary, Math Tutoring Program Founder) in the 11th and 12th grades. 

He adds, “My favorite aspect of my activities was the amazing diversity of pursuits this community had to offer. I was able to pursue varsity sports, spring musicals, national honor society, and youth orchestra without any activity prohibiting me from participating in others. This diversity of extracurriculars was the most important factor in maintaining my mental health through high school.”

What Pelkum Donahue loved most about high school and Nederland in particular was the flexibility and openness of his community. “It was always so accepting of unique aspirations, hopes, requests, backgrounds, and interests. This has made Nederland such a supportive and open environment to grow up and attend school,” he says.

Another student who made life better is Pelkum Donahue's twin sister,  Aya. He thanks her for always helping him step outside his comfort zone and pushing him to explore new activities. He’s grateful Aya was a comforting and reliable presence throughout their 13 years in Nederland schools, and for always “encouraging him to be silly.”

While in school, Pelkum Donahue worked in a research internship at CU Boulder for three years, working under the supervision of a mentor to conduct novel research in computational astrophysics. 

He has presented his research at two international conferences and is publishing his second peer-reviewed paper. While he plans to shift the topic of his work slightly, he says this is exactly what he wants to do with his future career.

Pelkum Donahue is passionate about collaborative music, including youth orchestra, a cappella choir, chamber music, and musical theater. “I love working with small groups of people to produce rich and thought-provoking works of art. I’ve pursued this since elementary school and fully plan to continue in college and beyond,” he expresses.

He is proud of following a personalized path through high school, “which was only possible through the endless support and enthusiasm of the NMSHS staff.” From teaching himself classes with only an AP test at the end of the year to creating a math tutoring program, he believes “Nederland is an environment that lets people follow their passions and dreams without constraints by convention.”

When asked what advice he wants to give new students,  Pelkum Donahue responded, “Don’t feel limited by what is conventional or has been done before. If you want to try something, do it! Our small school can offer the flexibility and support to help you explore whatever activities or pathways you can think of.”

He received grants from Princeton University, Stanford University, and Columbia University. He received a merit scholarship from CU Boulder and is a Regeneron Science Talent Search and National Merit Scholarship Finalist.

He plans to attend Princeton University to study physics with a minor in vocal performance. He aspires to earn a PhD in plasma physics and conduct nuclear fusion research, while continuing to perform music recreationally.

Congratulations, Keahi Pelkum Donahue!

GRAY SCHLOSSER

Gray Schlosser started his Nederland Middle-Senior High School career in the sixth grade. His favorite elementary school memories are rollerblading and “doing the circus in the gym. We would always put on a little show for the parents.” 

He also loved the tennis courts with Ms. Mary and building dream homes with Ms. Forrest and Ms. Theodorakos. Schlosser loved High Trials with his friends and science class with Ms. Badyrka in middle school. 

Schlosser played soccer and ice hockey all four years in high school. He was a member of the National Honor Society in the 11th and 12th grades, and played in the band in the ninth and 12th grades. 

“Something that I loved throughout my high school activities was the sense of camaraderie and making new friends. Each activity allowed me to make new friends from different pools of people. As somebody who has had the same friends since kindergarten, it was nice to have a reason to branch out and meet new people,” Schlosser confesses.

Schlosser loved the general sense of community at Nederland Middle-Senior High School. He says the most positive thing about attending a small school is building personal relationships with teachers and other faculty, stating, “The relationships I built with my teachers have taught me so much, and I can only hope to stay in touch with them in the future.”

Schlosser also loves the community surrounding ice hockey and soccer. The friends he made in team sports are some of his closest friends. Another student who made life better is Lauren. “Walking into class every day and seeing Lauren smile back at me has made my morning consistently every day over the past three years. She is fun to study, hang out with, and get outside with. She’s an amazing person overall. I look forward to the time I get to continue spending with her,” says Schlosser.

While in school, Schlosser worked for a merchandise company based at Ball Arena. He says the experience taught him a lot about interacting with people and the importance of being friendly and talkative. “It has made me more comfortable talking to people in general, but especially has helped me be less nervous talking to new people.”

Schlosser is passionate about being active, especially in ice hockey. He has spent many hours in the gym and on the ice. His goal is to play the highest level of hockey for as long as he can.

His other passions include learning new information, especially history. “I love learning about the past and have discovered a knack for remembering strange past events.”

Schlosser says that attending Nederland Middle-Senior High School taught him the true meaning of community and the benefits of learning in a small community environment. “Nothing better than skiing during your off periods and learning with a teacher who does the same thing on the weekends.”

Schlosser is most proud of keeping a GPA above 4.0 while maintaining a life balance of work, hours upon hours of athletics, Honors Society, and Student Council. He’s proud of participating in various clubs, band, Youth Leadership Academy, and “hanging out with my friends.” 

When asked what advice he would give new students, Schlosser responded, “Building personal relationships with your teachers is the key to success. When it comes time to ask for help, beg for an extension, and get crucial feedback and letters of recommendation, having somebody who you trust and who knows you makes the entire process more comforting. Having teachers who know you by name and you can hang out with at lunch or during off periods is what high school is about.”

Schlosser received the Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship and the Presidential Scholarship sponsored by the University of Utah. He plans to get a degree in Economics from the University of Utah. He wants to earn a living as an economist, analyst, or advisor and, possibly, go back to school to study law.

Congratulations, Gray Schlosser!

LAUREN SCHRADER

Lauren Schrader was in the sixth grade when she started at Nederland Middle-Senior High School. She also attended Nederland Elementary School and had such an amazing experience there, she has many fond memories of that time. 

One of Schrader’s favorites is the dream homes she made in the fifth grade with Mrs. Forrest and Mrs. Theodorakos. “We had a long time range. It felt like months as an elementary schooler, but it was probably not that long, thinking back, to build our dream home,” states Schrader.

Schrader recalls building a container home with every Home Depot sample she could find. She connected her model home to Dean Howell’s and Payton Kutcher’s dream homes. “I loved building them and showing them off to the rest of the school, and this will always be one of my favorite things I got to do in elementary school at Ned,” Schrader exclaims.

Schrader played volleyball all four years in high school. Volleyball has always been one of her favorite sports because her team became a family. Schrader played varsity throughout high school. She was a captain during her senior year and loved running the team’s Instagram account.

During her four years in high school, Schrader also played soccer. She says, “Our soccer team has improved over the last four years. I am so grateful to have gotten to be a part of it. I scored a goal from the 50-yard line in my Freshman year by accident. It is one of my few goals. It surprised me, but it was pretty cool.”

In the 12th grade, Schrader played basketball in Ned’s first year of having a girls' basketball team in quite a while. It was also the first time Schrader had ever played. Not knowing what to expect, Schrader confesses it became one of her favorite things about high school. She thanks her “wonderful team and Coach Kate!”

Schrader was President of the National Honor Society in the 11th and 12th grades. She enjoyed this organization and the many great things it does for students. One of her favorite things was a successful fundraiser for Miles Pancoast and his wheelchair rugby team.

Schrader was an active member of the school’s student council during her four-year academic high school career. “I have always loved our homecoming festivities and the ability to help plan them,” she says.

Sports have been Schrader’s passion throughout high school. She has loved the connections and memories sports have brought her. She says she will forever be grateful for the opportunity to engage in so many sports and teams. “Playing sports with the same seniors all four years of high school has been a gift, and I'm so grateful for the time we all spend together on the field and court!”

Another student who made life better is Gray Schlosser. Schlosser has been Schrader’s rock and her best friend. She expresses gratitude for getting to know him. She says, “I am beyond excited for the new experiences we will share in Utah together.”

While in school, Schrader worked three jobs. She worked at North Boulder Recreation Center, coaching gymnastics since ninth grade. She was a gymnast for 10 years. She sold merchandise at concerts for the last two years, which she claims was “the coolest job ever.”

She also worked as the chair of the Youth Leadership Academy and has been a member for two years. In this role, she has been learning about leadership and advocacy in the Nederland community, intending to support the youth in her mountain town!

Schrader is passionate about her community. Growing up in a small town, has always been important to her to engage in community and do everything she can to support it. “I care strongly about leadership and advocacy, and can see this playing a big role in my future.”

Schrader is grateful to have grown alongside the same 30 kids since kindergarten, sharing, “Our grade is so special. I can't wait to see where everyone goes. I will forever hold my class of 2025 close to my heart.”

Schrader is proud of the balance she maintained in high school, playing three sports, holding three jobs, keeping up her grades, engaging in community and extracurriculars, all while balancing her “incredible friendships.”

When asked what advice she wants to leave new students with, Schrader responded, “Embrace the opportunities that Ned has to offer you. It is truly one of the most unique high school experiences. I am so grateful for it. Embrace the ability to engage in so many school opportunities and connect so strongly with those around you, because very few people have the chance to grow up in such a close community.”

Schrader received the Western University Exchange Scholarship from the University of Utah and the State Merit Scholarship. She plans to attend the University of Utah for Urban Ecology and Sustainability in the honors college. “I hope to be in a design firm one day, striving to design with the environment in mind and find innovative ways to support our planet through planning.”

Congratulations, Lauren Schrader!

JESSE SIEGAL GANE

Jesse Siegal Gane has attended Nederland Middle-Senior High since pre-kindergarten. His favorite memories from middle and elementary school are the Nederland Outdoor Ed programs, hanging out in the woods with friends, and learning about the outdoors. 

Siegal Gane played soccer in the ninth,11th, and 12th grades. He raced with the Alpine Ski Team in the ninth and 10th grades and participated in basketball and track in the 12th grade. What he loved most about sports was “the camaraderie that comes with being on a team. Win or lose, it is a fantastic place to be and to grow.”

What Siegal Gane loved about high school was making new friends and participating in athletics. Another student who made life better is Cedar Shupe. The two have been friends for a long time. “This year, we decided to both try a couple of sports we’d never played before, which ended up being some of the most fun I’ve had throughout high school,” he declared.

He continued, “We have a sense of friendly competition that elevates our athletics, and it was truly a blast participating in all these different sports throughout the years with him.”

When asked what advice he would give new students, Siegal Gane responded, “My biggest advice is to take advantage of as many different opportunities you are presented with, there's no such thing as too many experiences.”

Siegal is passionate about the outdoors, friends, and athletics. He is proud to graduate in 2025 and plans to enlist in the U.S Army after graduation. 

Congratulations, Jesse Siegal Gane!

ERIC THURSTON

Eric Thurston has been a Nederland school student since 2016. One of his “all-time favorite memories” is Ms. Mary’s gym class during the rollerblading days. He says he remembers the hockey kids being good and able to rollerblade backwards. He will also always remember the school’s performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

Thurston played soccer during his four-year high school career. He also participated in track in the 10th and 11th grades and Nordic skiing in the 11th grade. He participated in the yearbook club in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.

Thurston is grateful for his biology teacher, Mr. Real. “Though I’m deeply disturbed by biology and anatomy, I took biology in my sophomore year to get out of my comfort zone. A teacher can always teach a subject to a student, but they can’t always teach and seamlessly intrigue a student with a subject. Real was able to do both and encouraged me to learn biology despite me freaking out at biological processes,” says Thurston about his experience. 

Another student who made life better is Gideon Emery. Thurston shares, “He is exceedingly the most down-to-earth person I have ever met. We have been through it all. Through my experiences with Gideon, I have learned to be more patient, empathetic, and to embrace other people’s perspectives.”

“Our friends often associate him with wisdom, giving him one of his nicknames, ‘Gideon the Wise.’ I truly don’t believe I would be anywhere near where I am without having Gideon in my life,” continued Thurston.

While in school, he worked at TEENS, Inc, The Backdoor Theatre, Toss, Tres Gringos, and Salto. He says making connections and networking through these jobs contributed, in many ways, to his future career plans. He’s grateful for having met many dedicated and unique people through these opportunities.

Thurston is committed to people, sharing, “I love connecting and engaging with people every day. I feel this connection towards people is documentation for support and recognition in their lives, and that’s why I’m pledged to trying to make a difference through community and music. I believe concerts, speeches, and activism steer our world in the right direction.”

He hopes people will help one another when they can, and will trust their process and the process of others. Thurston is proud of the 2023 school concert he organized with Owen Cleveland and Asher Hughes. “The Summer Medley was comprised of hit classics combined with current music to tell a story through lights, instruments, and emotion,” Thurston notes.

In 2024, the trio and the new addition, Polina Savich, continued their concert streak with Valedictorian for the Graduates, showcasing alternative music and Thurston's original arrangements. This year, Thurston prepares to end the high school concert streak with ULTIMATA, a concert that invites the students of the school community to showcase their talent.

When asked what advice he would give new students, Thurston responded, “I believe when you are in your ‘feels,’ you need to feel them. Society often puts people in a place where they have to be positive and happy; while this is an amazing aspect, you are not giving your mind the proper processing it needs to look over a moment. SO FEEL (every emotion). There is a rule, though, that you should be able to discern how you feel to choose how you want to apply yourself in the future.”

Thurston received the Chancellor’s Award from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and plans to attend UCCS.

Congratulations, Eric Thurston!

KENDALL ZOTTI

Kendall Zotti has been attending Nederland Middle-Senior High School since the sixth grade. Her favorite memories from elementary school are of recess. She says recess was always “the best time of the day for my classmates and me. Even though it was only 20 minutes, it felt like hours spent in a different world. I miss my limitless imagination and tag-driven stamina.”

Though Zotti still has fun with friends and classmates, she says it doesn’t compare to the freedom and fun she experienced during elementary recess, stating, “Those 20 minutes each day gave me some of my most cherished memories that I will hold close to my heart forever.”

Zotti played volleyball and soccer during all four years of high school, while also being a student council member. She was in the National Honor Society and the mentorship program in the 11th and 12th grades. She played basketball during her senior year.

Zotti valued the relationships with her peers, younger students, and staff members. “At NMSHS, it is impossible not to connect with others because everyone is open and willing to help you or just chat. Our teachers keep their doors open, and students are always friendly,” Zotti shares. 

Her favorite thing about high school was the unique small school family she built over the past four years. Zotti says there wasn’t anyone in particular who made life better, but it was everyone. Zotti says, “NMSHS is such a tight-knit school community, almost like a family. I have known my peers and some staff members since first grade. Throughout high school, this family grew with each new student. I cannot choose just one person because the community around me has made my time at school so special.”

While in school, Zotti worked at Decent Bagel and Sweet Sue's. The jobs taught her about work ethic and allowed her to grow. Zotti says, “Decent Bagel has gifted me friendships that will last a lifetime and experiences I will never forget.”

Zotti is passionate about competing. She joined the varsity volleyball team in her freshman year, and immediately knew she was passionate about sports. She will continue to compete in college on intramural or club teams. To keep her passion for sports alive, she aspires to coach volleyball to “spread the joy of competition.”

Zotti is proud of her academic and athletic success at Nederland. Balancing class, sports, and a job has been difficult the past four years, but each has given Zotti invaluable lessons and experiences. 

“I have maintained a GPA over 4.0, competed on varsity sports teams, and gained positions at my job throughout high school. I am extremely proud of my work ethic and drive to succeed no matter what,” shares Zotti.

When asked what advice she would give new students, Zotti responded, “Always ask for help and access the provided resources when you are struggling. Teacher office hours and tutoring programs have saved my GPA and helped me connect with new people. Being involved in school activities has also given me incredible opportunities and endless friendships. Overall, being willing to reach out for help and join activities will help you academically and mentally at Ned!”

Zotti received the WUE, Daniel G. Emrick, and merit-based scholarships from Oregon State University. She is attending Oregon State University this fall majoring in Geology.

Congratulations, Kendall Zotti!