Olivia Arthur named valedictorian for Groton High School’s Class of 2025

Ever since she was in fourth grade, Olivia Arthur wanted to become a valedictorian, and with a GPA of 3.76, she has achieved that dream for Groton Jr./Sr. High School’s (GHS) Class of 2025.

“I started looking around at my classmates in fourth grade wondering who might be my competition,” Arthur said with a smile. “My grandfather, Nan King, had been the valedictorian for his class in Maryland, and that’s what inspired me. He and his brother, Fan, were first generation immigrants from China. I always knew that education was important to focus on.”

Olivia has lived in Groton all her life with her parents, Michael and Ina. Michael owns Greentree Builders and teaches building trades in the STEAM program at GHS. Ina is an administrative assistant at Ithaca Area Economic Development.

Olivia’s high school experience

At GHS, Olivia is an Early College High School (ECHS) student, which allows her to take college courses in high school from Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3). She also took the health sciences course through the school’s STEAM program.

Olivia is a member of the National Honor Society and Tri-M Club. She has been involved in art club and chorus and has performed at NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association), All-County and All-State. Olivia is also the president of the Thanks-a-Latte club.

“The Thanks-a-Latte club is associated with our school library,” Olivia explained. “We operate a coffee machine in the library and charge $1.50 per cup. The funds we raise go toward purchasing books or other things needed in the library, and our club members make the decisions on what will be purchased.”

Olivia particularly enjoyed her studies in health sciences. She learned about first response techniques and CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) from the Red Cross, although she already knew CPR because she has been a lifeguard at the pool in Groton Memorial Park and is about to begin her third summer of doing that.

“I loved the many hospital visits to explore careers,” Olivia said. “We went to dental offices, the maternity ward at Cayuga Medical Center, the radiology department and more. I really enjoyed the stories from the EMTs [emergency medical technicians] who came in to speak to us. It was wonderful to hear their hands-on experiences and to see their ambulance.”

What’s next for Olivia?

This fall, Olivia will attend TC3’s nursing program and will earn her RN (registered nurse) in two years’ time. Her hope is to then find employment at a hospital that would provide the means to earn a bachelor’s degree and also give her the opportunity to discover what she’d like to specialize in as a nurse. She said she might like to become a traveling nurse.

“About two or three years ago, I began to notice people older than me who had a future plan that they didn’t stick with and people who did,” Olivia said. “I like the lifestyle of those who stuck with it more than those who didn’t, so that’s what motivated me to find a career I would stick with. When I was three or four years old, I wanted to be a pop star. Later in life, I thought I might be an accountant or a hairdresser, but in recent years, I settled on nursing.”

Olivia based her career choice on the stability of a career that will always be needed and her enjoyment of helping people — something she learned being a lifeguard at the pool.

When asked if school was difficult, Olivia said that she found it relatively easy until more recently when math was a struggle, but she made it through. She is very thankful for her best friend, Lena Brehm, who has always been there for her, and for her family.

“I love my parents,” Olivia said fondly. “They took a hands-off approach as long as my grades were good. No pressure was good for me. And my cat, Lila, supported me through it all. I got her three years ago, and she is my first real pet. I had fish and other things before, and I finally got her!”

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas toeditorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922. 

In brief:

Sullivan completes Elmira College Honors Program

Haley Sullivan recently completed the Elmira College Honors Program. This program provides students with an opportunity to study in an interdisciplinary environment that brings together students and faculty from across the liberal arts and sciences to explore both the practical and theoretical aspects of the liberal arts and sciences.

Founded in 1855, Elmira College (EC) is a private, residential, liberal arts college offering 30-plus majors, an honors program and 17 academic societies. The college is an NCAA Division III member, with 17 intercollegiate teams. EC’s undergraduate and graduate student population hails from more than 20 states and nine countries. It is a Phi Beta Kappa college and has been ranked a top college, nationally, for student internships. EC is also home to the Center for Mark Twain Studies, one of four historically significant Twain heritage sites in the U.S., which attracts Twain scholars and educators from around the world for research on the famous literary icon. Proud of its history and tradition, EC is committed to the ideals of community service and intellectual and individual growth.

Fourth of July fireworks

Groton’s annual Fourth of July Celebration Fireworks, sponsored by the Groton Fire Department, will be held Saturday, July 5 at dusk at Groton Elementary School fields.

Junior Firefighter Camp

The ever-popular Junior Firefighter Camp for children ages 5-12 will be held July 14 through 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. nightly. Held at Groton Memorial Park and taught by the Groton Fire Department, this camp is free for Groton residents. Preregistration is required via Groton Recreation’s website.