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2017 Senior Salute: This year’s Vail Valley high school graduates

Paula Cooper
Special to the Daily |

To see your senior

To see your 2017 high school graduate in the newspaper, answer the questions these grads answered, and email them to randy@vaildaily.com, along with a senior portrait or other photos. Feel free to be as serious or irreverent as you choose.

Paula Cooper

Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy

Favorite school moment from any year: When I gutted a fish at the sixtth-grade camp trip that one of the teachers caught, and we cooked and ate it.



Give a shout out: Thank you to my incredible parents for giving me the opportunity to attend VSSA and pursue my athletic goals. Also, thank you to the Hoyt family for hosting me during the school year for the past two years.

Summer plans: I always go home to my family’s ranch and help my dad take care of our cattle and horses. This summer, I will be working full time at a ranch next to ours, as well.

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Where are you headed this fall: Oklahoma State University where I will major in agriculture business and minor in Spanish. I will also be bringing two of my horses and competing on the rodeo team.

If you are leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: The powder days!

In 10 years, you’ll be: Running a huge ranch and hopefully have a happy family of my own.

Favorite class ever: English class with Mr. Kimmel.

Class you wish had been offered: Something related to agriculture!

Hope Gonzales

Vail Christian High School

Favorite school moment from any year: “Mary Poppins The Musical.”

Give a shout out: Thank you to all my teachers and my mentors. Thank you for helping me understand more of the world through my passion in learning. I’ll make you all proud someday. To my parents and my brothers: I love you so much and I’m glad I was able to accomplish so much with your help.

Summer plans: Lots of working, running and reading.

Where are you headed this fall: University of San Francisco.

If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: The views.

In 10 years, you’ll be: Venturing further on my journey to success.

Favorite class ever: Ms. Cooper’s English classes.

Halsey Lucas

Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy

Favorite school moment from any year: Skiing every day.

Give a shout out: Shout out to my parents for the education.

Summer plans: Work and bike.

Where are you headed this fall: I am staying here.

If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: Tourists who can’t drive our roads.

In 10 years, you’ll be: Probably back here.

Favorite class ever: Mr. Kimmel’s Contemporary World Issues.

Class you wish had been offered: Basic life skills.

Katelin Hennum

Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy

Favorite school moment from any year: Getting forcefully pulled into the water on the senior raft trip.

Give a shout out: Thank you to my parents who have never stopped supporting me in my athletic and academic endeavors (except when my mom thinks she’s a ski coach). I would also like to thank the teammates who I’ve spent more time with than at home for creating such unforgettable memories over the years.

Summer plans: Lake Powell, Hawaii and camping.

Where are you headed this fall: University of Denver.

If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: Kiwi.

In 10 years, you’ll be: Graduated from medical school and hopefully not killing people.

Favorite class ever: Getting coffee from Romero.

Class you wish had been offered: Photography.

Katherine Harnick

Battle Mountain High School

Favorite school moment from any year: FBLA Officer Meetings with Mrs. L and Mrs. Don!

Give a shout out: My Mom for feeding me and helping me reach my goals. My siblings for motivating me not to drop out. My friends for supporting me and being there for me every step of the way.

Summer plans: Adventure before the next four years of my life begins.

Where are you headed this fall: The University of Kansas.

If you’re leaving Eagle County, what will you miss most: 100 percent the mountains and the people.

If you’re staying, what are you happiest about keeping: I’m leaving 🙁

In 10 years, you’ll be: On some epic skiing adventure (or any adventure, for that matter) taking pictures and communicating with people.

Favorite class ever: Math with Renne!

Class you wish had been offered: Paddle Boarding and How to: Taxes. Hopefully not at the same time because that would be interesting.

Tiegan Torbett

Eagle Valley High School

Favorite school moment: The end.

Give a shout out: To all my homies, Kaikea for never leaving my side and to my mom and grandparents for always helping me whenever I need something and loving me unconditionally.

Summer plans: Work out for college football this fall.

Where am I headed this fall. Bethany College in Lindsborg Kansas to play football on a scholarship.

What I’ll miss the most: All my friends <3

In 10 years, I’ll be: a weights teacher and football coach just like Mr. Brown.

Favorite class ever: Weight training, of course.

Class I wish had been offered: Student teaching.


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