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graduation 2021 section • Friday, May 28, 2021 • Page 1

Congratulations to Estes Park High School 2021 graduates Salute to the Class of 2021 By Chuck Scott, Co-Principal EPHS For the Trail-Gazette

Wendy Rigby / Estes Park Trail-Gazette

The Town of Estes Park celebrates 2021 Estes Park High School graduates with a series of banners along the parking garage acknowledging their accomplishment.

Dear Graduating Seniors, It is with great pride that I am writing this note for you, the class of 2021. The past four years, and especially the last 15 months, you have learned to deal with a kind of adversity that only comes around once in a generation. Between the pandemic and the fires, it has been an especially upsetting year. As a result, the education in your senior year has come in variety of formats; zoom meetings, remote learning academy, home schooling and in-person learning. Under these conditions, each of you has found a way to prosper and create an educational path for yourselves. Be proud of this. In a year that many would define as a crucible, you have learned what a solid work ethic can get you in life. A pandemic is a severe trial, and in it, I have watched you treat each other with kindness, generosity and understanding. I could not be more proud of you. I hope that most of all, what you have learned is that when you work hard and treat others well, you will receive the true currency of life, and that currency is gratitude. That’s how we make the world a better place. On behalf of so many people who care about you, I want you to know we are sorry we didn’t get to see you perform in plays,

Chuck Scott, Estes Park High School co-principal

musicals, choir, marching band and other events. We had shortened athletic seasons that were interrupted with quarantines. For many of you these are the passions that you so dearly love as part of your high school experience and I know you were deeply affected by not being able to participate. I feel for you. Remember that what you have developed this year is that thing we most wished for you – to have developed grit. So this is a graduation class of grit and kindness. I ask you to remember the words of Maya Angelou, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” As for me, I feel proud to have been your principal the last four years and wish you the best of luck as you begin the next chapter in your lives. With grit and kindness, you can change the world.

EPHS seniors bound for success By Bella Walker, EPHS Student Journalist For the Trail-Gazette

(Editor’s note: We salute those seniors who have worked hard at their art, their academics or their sport.)

Honda earns full academic scholarship to Vanderbilt Estes Park High School senior, Mina Honda, has made it official. She will be attending Vanderbilt College on full scholarship this fall. One might say that Honda is the Jack of all Trades, as she has worked hard taking academically challenging courses and volunteering in the school and community to get her to where she is today. Honda is a part of the National Honor Society, and also heads the student council. Honda challenges herself with difficult courses, but always finds a way to excel in all of them. Besides educating herself, Mina also teaches other students in the school. Honda has created and is currently teaching a class in the high school called ‘Agents of Change,’ where she challenges her students to ponder and solve the problems of modern day. When Mina isn’t in a class-

Bella Walker / Courtesy photo

Estes Park High School Senior Mina Honda was awarded a full academic scholarship to Vanderbilt University on March 1.

room, one can find her in the pool. Mina is currently on the girls swim team and is an essential asset to their very competitive team. When looking for colleges Mina partnered with a program called Questbridge, a scholarship program that helps students from low-income families find the best scholarships to high ranking colleges across the country. With the help of this program, Honda was accepted by 12 top schools. “I am really grateful to Questbridge for making college affordable. Knowing that I can graduate from a top school debt-free is

such an incredible feeling. It has allowed me to get excited about college, instead of worrying about how to payer for college,” said Honda excitedly. One of the schools that accepted Honda’s application was Vanderbilt, a school located in Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt is a highly competitive school with an acceptance rate of only 9.1 percent. Not only was Honda accepted into the challenging school, but she also accomplished getting a full ride scholarship which is very impressive. Vanderbilt stuck out to Mina because it best fit her academic

Bella Walker / Courtesy photo

Estes Park High School Senior Peyton Wilkerson signs his letter of intent to continue his Mountain Biking and academic careers at Colorado Mesa University on Feb. 22.

and physical needs. Honda plans to dual major in education and math, which, lucky for her, Vanderbilt has two great programs for. Honda is super excited for what the future has in store for her and so is everyone else at

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Estes Park High School. She has done so many awesome things for the community of Estes Park and we cannot wait to see how she changes the See success, pg. 8

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Page 2 • Friday, May 28, 2021 • graduation 2021 section

CONGRATULATIONS 2021 GRADUATES

What a long, strange year it’s been

By Jason Van Tatenhove Trail-Gazette

EPHS students tell of trials, tribulations, lessons of past year

It is hard to compare the events of the past 14 months to any other time in recent history. This past year has brought us pandemics, lockdowns, wildfire evacuations, no toilet paper on the shelves, hoarding gasoline in plastic bags. The list doesn’t seem to stop. While all of us have suffered through this year, one of the hardest-hit segments of the community has been high school students transitioning to their adult lives. Most of these students looked forward to traditional rites of passage: homecoming, bonfires, sports, prom, and graduation. Unfortunately, many of these traditions had to adapt to our new normal. We wanted to hear how these students navigated the long, strange year in their own words. We interviewed several upper-level students at Estes Park High School to see the most challenging parts of the past year for them and what silver linings they may have found. Maria Rojas Martinez is a senior and says the weirdest part of the year was just not being in school the whole time and transitioning from in-person classes

to online and back again. For her, online school “was a bit much to handle for me because I had to keep track of things to turn in, and internet issues…everything just slowly deteriorated with time.” “I felt very lonely,” she said.” I am very social and like to be around people I know, and not having that made me stressed out, and I felt isolated.” Martinez said the isolation was the most challenging part for her this past year. Martinez played the alto saxophone for the school band and was the section leader for the past two years before COVID hit. She said she felt lost that she couldn’t put on concerts and meet up with her section to tell them how well they were doing. Martinez says they were able to practice via Zoom, but it just wasn’t the same. Being able to play with the band once again, she said, is enriching and it was nice to have the restrictions beginning to lift again. One silver lining Martinez said she found over the past year is, “I definitely feel more independent than I did before, I feel I can

rely on and trust in myself more…and I feel good about it.” After graduation, Martinez plans to work for a while before attending the University of Northern Colorado, where she plans to study music education. Senior Kyra MacGregor said the most challenging part of the past year was “bouncing in and out of school.” She thought the first semester was the hardest, but things began to calm down the second semester. MacGregor, who is active in theater, said theater was hit hard because communication and community are essential for their craft. They were not able to have any theater productions at all this year. She said the Theater Guild is now opening up this summer for high schoolers, but many kids are still wary of taking part in the programs. Online School for McGregor was okay, but “I slept through 90% of my online classes because I would get my work done and then couldn’t do much after that,” she said. While MacGregor did well with grades online, she said her grades slipped slightly with the multiple

transitions between online and in-person classes. “It was very upsetting that they moved prom and graduation onto one day,” she noted. “Everything has been pushed back, moved, or canceled.” She also said that this tanked the morale of the school. “It went from we have a great team and good sports going to nothing. Because you can’t go to the game, you cant see a show, you cant hang out with your friends.” The silver lining that MacGregor found was “knowing that we are resistant for whatever may come our way and how we can overcome it.” Atlas Rhode is a Junior this year, and for him, the hardest part of the year was finding the balance between online and in-person classes. For Rhode, the transitions between online and in-person class was something he did well with. “In a way, for me, it was nice to be able to switch back and forth. You didn’t get stuck in a rut or too tired of doing one thing for too long, so it was different,” he said. Rhode said that had he been a sophomore this year with a more challenging class load, it

would have been much more difficult. This year Rhode was unable to participate in extracurricular sports. He had previously on the cross country and track teams. Rhode said the social impacts of not doing something as simple as sharing a meal with a group of his peers was the hardest for him. The silver lining Rhode found this year was, “If you didn’t have good study habits this year, you either failed or succeeded. Which is tough love, but it certainly helped some kids get ready for college.” Ruth Walker, a senior, said the most challenging part of her year was ,”the social interaction. I saw no one in my senior class, from last April until the first week of January when we came back in person.” She also said it was hard not being able to reach out and ask for help, especially with college around the corner. “It made you grow up and become an adult, and you had to figure out, and if you didn’t figure it out, it was not going to a happy path when you made it back to school,” Walker added.

Walker usually plays volleyball, basketball, and track and field. She was also a part of the English Learners class and the National Honor Society. Another significant impact for Walker was this year’s shortened sports seasons. Volleyball season was originally reduced to six weeks, but after the team was quarantined twice, the season was cut to only three weeks. “I was really looking forward to homecoming and spirit week,” she said. “We did have a homecoming week, but it just wasn’t the same because it was held in spring instead of fall.” Walker also said she feels prom and graduation will be strange with social distancing limitations. “We learned how to communicate and work better together as a team,” she noted. “I think we had to learn that the power is in working together.” Walker said the real silver lining for her was how the events from the past year brought the community together. Walker plans to attend York University in Nebraska to study international Ag business. She also hopes to study abroad to learn more about arable land and make it sustainable to feed the world.

Graduating seniors get local scholarships By Jason Van Tatenhove Trail-Gazette

Estes Park High School recognized 24 graduating seniors who were awarded over $115,000 in local scholarships on Wednesday, May 19. There were 40 local scholarship donors that went through 305 applications from students who plan to attend college or trade school. In total, 74 scholarships were awarded. Here are the donors, amounts awarded and the recipients. •Ace Hardware – $500 – Maira Tariq (times two), Chase Murray, Cole Murray Alex Henderson. •American Legion 119 – $500 –Halley Moak, Ruth Walker. •Art Center of Estes Park – $1,000 – Rachel Calvin. •Bobcat Booster Club – $500 –Ellie Bergsten. •Bria Brown Memorial Foundation – $1000 – Isabella Fanucchi, Braden Moore, Chase Murray, Aide Padilla, Haddie Thompson. •Constituting America – $1,000 – Halley Moak •David Laurienti Memorial Scholarship (Kind Coffee, Ed’s Cantina) – $1,500 – Amelia Westley. •Estes Park Board of Realtors – $1,500 – Jennifer Kinch, Maira Tariq. •Estes Park Education Association – $500 – Maria Tariq, Maria Rojas Martinez. •Estes Park League of Women Voters – $500 – Isabella Fanucchi, Jennifer

Jason Van Tatenhove / Estes Park Trail-Gazette

In total, 74 scholarships were awarded.

Scott Memorial – $1,000 – Maria Rojas Martinez. •Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies – $2,000 – Kyra MacGregor. •Hilltop Guild Allenspark- $1,500 – Jennifer Kinch. •Hilltop Guild Betty Fulton – $500 – Rachel Calvin. •Hilltop Guild Joan Rogers – $2,000 – Ellie Bergsten. •Kiwanis Club of Estes Park Hal Wilson – $1,000 – Bethany McCusker. •Kiwanis Club of Estes Park Vern & Jeannie Mertz – $1,000 – Alex Henderson. Jason Van Tatenhove / Estes Park Trail-Gazette •Knights of Columbus – Graduating seniors were awarded over $115,000 in local scholarships on Wednesday, May 19. $1,000 – Amelia Westley. •Longs Peak Rotary – Kinch, Bethany McCusker. Raymond, Maira Tariq. son, Amelia Westley. $1,000 – Maira Tariq. •Estes Park Memorial •Estes Park Woman’s •Estes Valley Sunrise •Muriel MacGregor Observatory – $1,000 –Jen- Club – $2,000 – Racheal Cal- Rotary – $3,000 – Maira Scholarship – $2,000 over nifer Kinch, Bethany vin, $1,000 – Maira Tariq, Tariq, $1,500 – Peyton Wilk- four years – Ruth Walker, McCusker. Maria Rojas Martinez. erson, Halley Moak, Ellie MeilaIgel. •Estes Park Patriots for •Estes Valley Land Trust Bergsten, Jennifer Kinch. •Noon Rotary Roger M. Peace – $1,000 – Charly – $1,000 – Peyton Wilker•Fine Arts Guild – Lloyd Thorp – $4,000 over four

years – Rachel Calvin. •Noon Rotary Carver Family Memorial – $2,000 over two years – Alex Henderson. •Noon Rotary – Lynn Coffman – $1,500 – Ruth Walker. •Noon Rotary Ron L. Kuhns – $1,500 – Lucas Pearson. •Noon Rotary Bob Brunson & Roger Thorp – $4,000 over two years – Cole Murray. •Noon Rotary Lee & Alice Hagemeister- $1,500 – Braden Moore, Ethan Hill. •Noon Rotary Stanley Hotel – $2,500 – Jana Coop. •Noon Rotary Academic Awards – $8,000 over four years – MeilaIgel, Isabella Fanucchi, Ellie Bergsten. •PEO-AV Dorothy & James Durrett – $2,735 – Amelia Westley, Ellie Bergsten. •PEO-GJ – $2,500 –Maira Tariq, Amelia Westley, $2,000 – Jennifer Kinch, Maria Rojas Martinez, $1,000 – Aide Padilla, $500 – Halley Moak. •PEO-IY – $1,000 – Amelia Westley, $500 – Jennifer Kinch. •Rooftop Rodeo – $1,000 – Ruth Walker, Amelia Westley. •Town of Estes Park Helping Hands – $1,000 – MeilaIgel, Maira Tariq, $500 – Ellie Bergsten, Isabella Fanucchi. •Daniels Fund – $80,000 over four years – Halley Moak. QuestBridge – $303,592 over four years – Mina Honda.

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CONGRATULATIONS 2021 GRADUATES

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CONGRATULATIONS 2021 GRADUATES

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CONGRATULATIONS 2021 GRADUATES

graduation 2021 section • Friday, May 28, 2021 • Page 7

CONGRATULATIONS 2021 GRADUATES

Athletics in the time of COVID-19

Bella Walker / Courtesy photo

The Estes Park Volleyball team was defeated by Platte Valley on Saturday (April 10), 3-0.

EPHS sports see mixed results in strange seasons

Bella Walker / Courtesy photo

The Estes Park Girls Swim Team swan hard against Liberty Commons at home on Saturday, Feb. 20. The Bobcats finished second with an overall score of 59.

By Tim Mosier Trail-Gazette

Since the Coronavirus first wormed its way into our lives over a year ago athletes at all levels, from LeBron James to my niece (8U softball), have had to adjust and adapt to the new way athletic competitions were held. Over the course of a year, the athletes at Estes Park High School have done just that, competing with class and sportsmanship amid seasons turned upside down. What may have been the biggest adjustment made by any one team was the football team, the proverbial ‘boys of fall,’ who elected to move their season to the spring due to health concerns. That move proved to be a fortunate one as vaccines were starting to become widely available as the Bobcats’ season kicked off. Before spring football got underway, the Boys and Girls Basketball teams experienced wildly different seasons over the win-

Jason Van Tatenhove / Estes Park Trail-Gazette

the Bobcats football team accomplished something that hasn’t been done on Estes Park soil in at least 22 years, if ever, when they dismantled the Grand Valley Cardinals at Bobcat Stadium by a score of 40-27.

ter. The boys (8-6, 4-6, seventh in the 3A Patriot League) had a tightly packed schedule that allowed for little time to rest between games and school work, while the girls schedule was marred by mandatory COVID shut-

downs. The boys started the season 3-0 before dropping four of their next six, but the team finished the season strong with back-toback road wins and gave coaches and returning players something to look

Bella Walker / Courtesy photo

The Estes Park Girls Basketball team lost their final game of the 2021 season on Saturday (March 6) to Strasburg, 44-30.

forward to next season. The highlight of their season may have been senior Ethan Hill becoming just the second male player, and sixth Bobcat ever to score 1,000 career points. The girls (1-8, 0-8, eleventh in 3A Patriot League)

had a tough time staying on the court, and had a tough go of things when they did. Their lone win of the season came in when they edged Lyons, 30-29, in their second game. Then came a week long break due to a positive test on the team. After getting back on the court on Feb. 9 against Eaton, the girls would be shut down for over two weeks before they resumed the season on Feb. 25 against Brush. The girls swim team also had a turbulent season. They finished 2-5 overall, swimming in only league matches. They finished second in the four-team 4A/3A Tri-Valley League. Although they struggled collectively, the squad did send three divers to the state competition and had one sign to swim at the college level. Freshman diver Kaylie Wallace finished third overall in the state, sophomore Sadie Morgan finished eighth, and freshman Annalise Anderson finished twelfth. Ellie Bergsten

signed a letter of intent to swim at Concordia, and male swimmer Luke Webster signed to swim at Mesa University in the fall. The girls volleyball team fought hard all year and finished (3-7, 1-6). More detailed stats on the season were not available. In what was the athletic highlight of the 2020-2021 school year, the Bobcats football team (5-3, 3-1, second in 2A East Spring League) had an incredible season, winning a home playoff game in regulation and clawing their way to the state semifinals for the first time ever. It was definitely something special to not only watch high school football games in the spring, but to watch the Bobcats do so well and play so hard was a bright spot on a cloudy athletic school year. Thankfully, with vaccinations already being approved for those as young as 11-years-old, next year looks to be a welcomed return to traditional seasons.

Bella Walker / Estes Park Trail-Gazette

The Estes Park Boys Varsity Basketball team lost to Sterling on Wednesday night (March 3), 69-27.

Page 8 • Friday, May 28, 2021 • graduation 2021 section

CONGRATULATIONS 2021 GRADUATES Success from page 1 world.

Wilkerson earns Mountain Bike scholarship Peyton Wilkerson is wheels up and headed towards Colorado Mesa University. He is the first Bobcat in Estes Park history to receive a scholarship for Mountain Biking, which the talented senior signed on Monday (Feb. 22) with Colorado Mesa, a school known for their top ranked Mountain Biking team. It is a big deal for any biker to be accepted onto their highly competitive cycling team, but for Peyton to earn a scholarship to be on it, is an enormous accomplishment. Peyton wasn’t always a star on the mountainous terrain though. Before high school Peyton didn’t ride or much less think of mountain biking. When freshman year rolled around he decided to give the peculiar sport a go and soon fell in love. During his freshman year of mountain biking, Peyton barely qualified for state. Having just got passed the qualifications, Peyton finished the state race in last place. For many people this is where they would have quit, but for Peyton this was fuel for his drive to be the very best. From that race on, Wilkerson worked tirelessly to excel in mountain biking. He practiced and worked hard every single day on the sport the required so much of him. By sophomore year, Peyton won every race he competed in, including the state race. For being the very last to becoming the champion of the state race in only a year speaks to the drive and dedication Wilkerson possesses. Peyton is so grateful for the sport of mountain biking and the doors it has opened for him. “While not competing this year due to COVID has been challenging, Peyton has kept his sights on his goals for the future,” states Peyton’s proud mom, Courtney Hill. Like most athletes COVID has messed up their season, but even with this struggle, Peyton has kept training and improving his biking game. Wilkerson is excited and hopeful about college at Colorado Mesa and for good reason too. Colorado Mesa is ranked the best mountain biking collegiate team in the nation. All athletes at the college compete at a top Division II institution. The 28 outstanding teams on campus have created a strong winning tradition for the school that Wilkerson aims to keep alive. He will soon be turning his purple and white over for the Mesa white, gold, and maroon. Wilkerson has accomplished so much already in the sport of mountain biking, but it’s definitely just the beginning for the upcoming star. The next chapter of his life is now unfolding, and with it too will come amazing oppor-

Bella Walker / Courtesy photo

Estes Park High School Senior Kyra MacGregor will be attending CU Boulder’s highly competitive Theatre program next fall.

Estes Park senior JD McCown has signed to play baseball at York College in Nebraska this coming school year.

Val Thompson / Courtesy photo

Bella Walker / Courtesy photo

Estes Park High School standout swimmer Luke Webster has signed a letter of intent to continue swimming at Mesa University this fall.

Estes Park High School senior Volleyball player, Haddi Thompson, signs her letter of intent to continue her athletic career at University of Dubuque located in Iowa.

tunities and accomplishments. CMU better get ready for the drive and grit of Peyton Wilkerson, a star in the mountain biking game.

water; the rest is history. Webster is a phenomenal swimmer. No matter what heat the young star competes in, he excels. “The hardest thing about swimming is the persistency, hard work, and dedication it takes to become the best you can be,” said Webster, but the talented swimmer makes all that look easy. He is always looking to challenge himself, which is one of the reasons he’s packing his bag for Mesa University. Mesa is a highly competitive D2 school. The beautiful facility, headed by outstanding coaches and filled with hardworking athletes is any swimmer’s dream. Luke Webster is among the few who are talented enough in their sport to be accepted and paid to compete for such a unique university. Luke and his parents are excited for what is to come in the young star’s future. Webster is ready to give not only Mesa University his talent, but also his heart. Luke doesn’t rely on luck. All he needs is a pool, swim trunks, and googles to absolutely kill it at Mesa University.

provided him with a strong bond to other athletes his age around the nation; something that will stay with McCown even when he goes to York College. A lot of the young man’s Multisport star life has been spent on the McCown headed to Estes Park baseball field, York College to play so he is excited for the new ball adventure and challenge The class of 2021 is filled that is soon to follow at to the brim with rising York College. McCown stars. Among these talentlooks forward to playing ed scholars and athletes is baseball at a higher level JD McCown, who is the and finding new ways to definition of a triple threat. challenge his mind and Not only does he excel in body. There are three traits academic and social events, that truly capture the but he is a powerhouse of essence of JD McCown; an athlete. McCown domi- being a leader, hard worker nates the football field and and filled to the brim with basketball court, but it’s talent. the ball field that has the Someone with these young star’s heart. qualities makes you wonBecause of McCown’s der if it was McCown or handwork and drive, colYork College who really leges have scouted the got lucky. young player. Among those Swimming standout scouts was York College, a Webster headed to small college located in Mesa University Nebraska. York offered Luke Webster is bound McCown a scholarship that to splash new talent into was too good to pass up Mesa University’s swim and now he is ready to “play ball” at his soon to be team. The senior was awarded a scholarship by new home. Baseball has always been Mesa last Monday afterapart of the senior’s life. He noon for something that has been caught wearing a comes so natural: swimming. glove and holding a ball The young star was pracsince he was just seven years old. Eric, his current ticing his freestyle before he could even walk. Right coach has been one of the from the start, Luke was driving factors in McCown’s success as a ball destined to be a great swimmer. Both Luke’s parplayer. The young star recalls coach Eric first put- ents were swimmers and his mother has coached ting him in as pitcher, various swim teams. Withwhich is now the position out his mom inspiration, McCown has stayed at swimming wouldn’t have since the little leagues. been so important to him. Though McCown has played football and basket- During middle school, Luke decided to give swimball, his real passion is ming a rest and picked up a baseball. The sport prodifferent sport. The break vides a challenge while allowed Webster to figure also allowing him to use out it truly swimming that his full potential. When had his heart. With a asked why baseball is his first love, McCown smiled. renewed interest, encouragement from his mom, “Good memories, even and numerous outstanding better friends,” McCown coaches, Luke found himsaid. self back in the icy cold The baseball team has

MacGregor continuing family legacy at CU Boulder Estes Park senior, Kyra MacGregor is headed off to CU Boulder to change the world through theater. Committing to writing endless essays, MacGregor not only got into their competitive theater program, but also earn a scholarship as well. The talented creative will be joining the innovative leaders that reside on the CU campus. “I applied to two schools and inside I knew I was meant to go to CU Boulder,” stated Kyra. Not only did CU Boulder allow her the creative atmosphere the young star craved, but

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CU had also been a part of the MacGregor family legacy. Two of her uncles, her grandma, her mom and dad had previously flourished at the beautiful campus. MacGregor started working hard in the past and has kept at it nonstop to get to the point she’s at now. Growing up in the theater business and being able to act in plays and musicals showed the young actress how creative integrity can not only entertain, but also change perspectives of audiences. “Going into theater means the world to me,” Kyra gushed. MacGregor has been a part of numerous plays through the Estes Park high school and the Fine Arts program, and throughout every part she’s played, whether big or small, she has absolutely killed it. “I’ve learned a lot from my family, my friends and specifically three of my teachers through my career as a student and entertainer: Alan Denney, Andrew Virdin and Danielle Hermon,” stated a beaming Kyra. She looks back at the connections and friendships she has made with all these people fondly, reinforcing her knowledge about the power of theater. If you say the name Kyra MacGregor anywhere in Estes, at least one person will smile in acknowledgment. MacGregor is destined for greatness whether on the big screen or on a stage. With her strong work ethic, outgoing personality, and blinding talent, we are certain that greatness at CU Boulder and beyond is inevitable.

Volleyball star Thompson signs to play college ball Earlier this year Estes Park High School senior and well-loved figure in

the community, Haddi Thompson, signed a commitment letter to play college volleyball for the University of Dubuque located in Iowa. Thompson had been offered to play college volleyball by five different schools, all offering to also give her an academic scholarship. The young volleyball star visited all the campuses that had offered to help fulfill her dream of college volleyball, but none of them made as much of an impact as the University of Dubuque. “I chose Dubuque because I loved the campus, the team, and coach, and they have a top-notch nursing program,” said Thompson. When Dubuque offered not only playing time on their volleyball team but also a 90,000 dollar scholarship, Haddi did not think twice before signing the commitment letter. Volleyball had been Haddi’s dream since the 6th grade, where she first fell in love with the game. In 6th grade, Thompson joined the volleyball team as a manager. Ever since then, she knew that she was meant to play volleyball and to become the best at it. From 7th grade to the present day, Haddi hasn’t ceased playing the game that owns her heart. “She’s worked tirelessly playing volleyball yearround since she set this goal,” stated Haddi’s proud mom, Val Thompson. When she’s not on the court playing for the EPHS Bobcats, she is grinding away for the Colorado North Stars. (A competitive club team based out of Loveland.) Since Haddi is such a gifted volleyball star, she plays a year up on the club’s 18 Black Team. Haddi has worn a purple and white uniform, a red and white uniform, and will soon be suited up in the University of Dubuque royal blue and white. “She has played competitive club volleyball at a couple of different clubs in Ft Collins, Loveland, and Denver on national traveling teams over the years. Currently she’s playing for Colorado North Stars out of Loveland on their 18U Black team — playing up one age group,” said Val. Soon the gifted player will become a UD Spartan, but will always remain a Bobcat at heart.

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