“Girlbossing” the Ivy Leagues

With respect to college admissions, the SHS Class of 2022 has certainly distinguished itself: In addition to a banner year for top-tier college admissions, several students will be attending Ivy League schools.

Class President Celia Rees looks forward to attending Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, in the fall. Having played such a prominent role in the success of the graduating class, Rees is prepared for the challenging academics at Harvard. When asked what makes her most proud, Rees responded, “I’m proud that I never did anything on my extracurricular resume just for the sake of it looking good on a resume. I genuinely enjoyed all the clubs I was a part of, and the fact that I didn’t plan out an extracurricular life just to get me into college makes me really proud.” Aside from being class president for all four years, Rees served as a student representative on the school board, a leading member of the Allies Not Bystanders Club, and a past member of Model UN.

While Rees’ efforts contributed to her remarkable accomplishments, outside support was also crucial. She remarked, “I never could’ve done it without the support from my mom, my best friends, Kristina and Rowan, and everyone from the school.” Praising the SHS community, Rees said, “Everyone in the grade has been so genuinely happy for me, and I feel so lucky to have such supportive people in my life. Without them, I don’t know where I would be.”

SHS senior Carly Bolton will also be attending Harvard University, where she plans to study economics in pursuit of a future career in business. Her unrelenting positive attitude, coupled with her strong devotion to service, makes her an invaluable member of the graduating class.

At SHS, Bolton has been involved in countless extra-curricular activities, including, lacrosse, soccer, track, beach volleyball, Best Buddies, the HAPPY Club, DECA, Student Government, and the Anti-Racism Club. Most notably, she founded the Red Cross Club. In terms of her pursuits outside of SHS, she uses her spare time to spark positive change in the community: “I’ve worked with an organization called Breaking Book Barriers as a web developer and media marketer, combating economic inequality by fighting for easier access to those very expensive test prep books,” she said.

Bolton said she managed to balance all of these undertakings with a job at Starbucks, a job at the local toy store, and, of course, “time with family and friends.” Basically, Bolton has managed to do it all while maintaining top grades in high school. 

Elizabeth Larkin is another exceedingly bright, accomplished, and capable member of the graduating class. In the fall, she will be attending Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The creativity and open-mindedness she has exhibited at SHS make her an inspiration.

One of Larkin’s most remarkable achievements was founding the SHS History Bowl Club, which competes in buzzer-based history quiz competitions. Even though it was a new club this year, the high school’s team qualified for nationals, and since its establishment, “the club has truly prospered, inviting in so many new dedicated members in such a short amount of time,” according to Larkin. Forming this incredible, close-knit group, Larkin has not only contributed to an inclusive, positive school environment–she has created a legacy.

Planning to major in computer science and “leaving room to explore,” Larkin is excited to broaden her academic horizons at Cornell while focusing on work that inspires her. Aside from the scholastic advantages of the institution, Larkin was also drawn to the school for her own reasons: “I have always loved the city, and my sister also goes there, so I’m certain it will be a perfect fit for me.”