Groton High School celebrates early college graduates

It’s hard to believe another academic year has passed, but indeed it has, and 50 seniors will graduate from Groton High School (GHS) on June 25 at 11 a.m.

Of those 50 students, 10 already graduated in May from Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) with an associate degree — seven of the 10 graduating with honors — thanks to the CollegeNow program, wherein students may take concurrent enrollment courses and earn high school and college credits simultaneously.

Babs Carr, who has been a teacher at GHS for the past 28 years, has been teaching concurrent enrollment courses for about 20 years and has been the coordinator of the early degree program for the past eight.

At a celebratory dinner held June 9 with Carr, Superintendent Margo Martin, members of the Groton Board of Education and many parents and guests in the GHS cafeteria, students Ethan Butts, Chloe Conger, Abigail Dykeman, Kael Eldred, Aiden Harriott, Madison Howell, Noah McCormick, Drake O’Connor, Dylan Sedorus and Hailey Van Alstine were honored for their accomplishment.

These students have met all of the academic standards required for their high school graduation, along with taking college courses during the school year at GHS and over summers at Tompkins Cortland throughout their high school careers.

Butts is a member of the Future Farmers of America and stage crew in the GHS drama club. He will study information technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology this fall.

“It is a great opportunity to be able to get my associates degree while still in high school,” Butts said. “It gives me a head start after high school, and I am looking forward to continuing my education.”

Conger, who will serve as the Class of 2022 salutatorian, will continue her education at Middlebury College, studying early childhood education and English. She has been an active Girl Scout and a member of student council, drama club, band, choir, National Honor Society, Tri-M Honor Society, yearbook club, Interact Club, Empire Girls State and the United Way Youth and Philanthropy Program.

“This has been a great opportunity to have a taste of the college experience and expectations that come with college-level courses,” Conger said.

Dykeman has been involved in varsity basketball, Student Council, Class Council, AAU Basketball and Interact Club. She plans to attend St. Bonaventure University and will major in biology.

“This opportunity to receive my associates degree is something I’m very thankful for,” Dykeman said. “Mrs. Carr has helped me so much in the last four years, helping me obtain my degree. Being able to graduate with my friends from college is a memory I will cherish forever.”

Eldred will also attend St. Bonaventure and will study broadcast journalism. He has been involved in the ski club and has played basketball, soccer and golf at GHS.

“The opportunity to attain my college degree while in school has really meant a lot to me,” Eldred said. “It has given me the opportunity to possibly finish college earlier. I am very grateful for the advantage that it has given me and its impact on my future.”

Harriott has been a varsity football player at GHS. He plans to study aerospace engineering at Penn State University.

“Obtaining my associates degree in high school has been very valuable to me,” Harriott said. “Through the courses I have taken, I have learned how to be a better student and, most importantly, how to be a better person. I am so grateful to receive my degree and I could not be more thankful for TC3.”

Howell has been active in French club, drama club, student council, National Honor Society, Tri-M Honor Society, band, chorus and dance. She will attend Colorado State University for zoology with a pre-vet focus.

“Getting my degree in high school has taught me to truly push myself and test my limits,” Howell said. “I believe that it has prepared me for college by introducing a workload above what I thought I could handle. It taught me to expect the unexpected.”

McCormick will attend Ithaca College this fall to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. His GHS involvements have been student council, French club, weight training, track and field, basketball, soccer, National Honor Society and Interact Club.

“Getting an associate degree in high school will help shorten my time in college and give me a minor experience with college courses,” McCormick said.

O’Connor has been an avid varsity basketball player and varsity golfer. He will attend Alfred State University for electrical engineering.

Sedorus has kept busy at GHS with soccer, outdoor and indoor track, basketball, National Honor Society and Class Council. He will attend Wells College for exercise science.

“It’s awesome to graduate college before high school, and needing to spend less time at college completing classes will be great,” Sedorus said.

Van Alstine will head to SUNY Oneonta this fall to major in adolescent education with a focus in biology. She was the National Honor Society secretary, Senior Class secretary, a member of student council, Interact Club and drama club and an avid competitive dancer at The Next Jennaration during her school years.

“I cannot begin to explain how amazing it felt to graduate with my associate degree before receiving my high school diploma,” Van Alstine said. “It was an unreal experience to say the least. Due to this opportunity, I was able to learn and grow as a student and, most importantly, push myself out of my comfort zone by tackling double the amount of classes and assignments. I am so thankful for

Mrs. Carr and my parents for encouraging me to take this leap of faith into a new, crazy chapter of my life that I will carry with me forever! I would highly recommend the CollegeNow program because it definitely pays off, and it is something I feel extremely proud of.”

Each of these students will start their paths in the world of adulthood ahead of the game. Congratulations to all!

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com or text or call Linda at (607) 227-4922.  

In brief: 
 
Student sports commitments 

Two of Groton High School’s (GHS) graduating seniors have committed to sports programs at their respective colleges this fall.

Omari Riley Israel will play football at Hartwick College. Dylan Sedorus will play soccer for Wells College.

These students were honored at a special commitment ceremony at GHS on June 15. Congratulations to both of them!

TST/GHS Student of the Month 

The following Groton High School student was recognized as an outstanding student of the month for May at the TST BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center: Rachel Houston, Culinary Arts.

Students are chosen based on qualities such as character, leadership, citizenship, work ethic and attendance and should be compassionate, honest, trustworthy, responsible and a positive role model.

Congratulations, Rachel!

Last call for free clothing! 

After nine years serving the Groton community with free clothing for the entire family, The Clothing Closet on Main Street will close as of June 25. Please stop by between 10 a.m. and noon June 25 to help clear things out.

The racks need to be emptied, so all are welcome to come and take whatever you and your family and beyond can use.

The staff thanks everyone who has been a part of helping on “both sides of the counter” and hopes this is not a forever “goodbye” but instead a “see you later.”

Sunday brunch at Casper’s

Casper’s Kitchen, 118 Main St., will feature its “After-Church Special” brunch buffet June 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. Due to Father’s Day on the third Sunday of the month, this is a change for June. The next buffet will be held July 17.