Meet the Rockville High School Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Their grade point averages look like a decently paced NBA game and Chelsea McDonnell was able to convert one more layup to edge Jennifer Mears and be named valedictorian of the Rockville High School Class of 2012.

McDonnell is a celebrated writer for both prose and poetry and she even managed to sneak in an award-winning play here and there. She wants to get a pharmacy degree from the University of Connecticut. 

Mears has been honored at the state, regional and national levels for her performance as both a student and athlete and wants to become a physician's assistant after earning degrees from Quinnipiac University.

Vernon Patch talked to McDonnel and Mears and asked them a few questions - some personal and some academic - about their four years at RHS.

Here is a glance at the top students for 2012:

Valedictorian

Chelsea McDonnell
 

GPA: 102.64
College: University of Connecticut
Major: Pre-Pharmacy

Are there any extracurricular actives you want to participate in while in college?

Primarily, I plan on continuing to be involved in community service and volunteer activities at college.  I also plan on joining a handful of other clubs that will help me to meet new people, try new things, and step out of my comfort zone a little bit. UConn has an incredible amount of clubs and organizations on campus, so I’m sure that I am going to find new activities that I will enjoy being a part of.

Describe your most cherished memory of Rockville High School

I have cherished all of the time that I have spent at Rockville High School; there is not just one singular memory that stands out the most.  I’ve enjoyed everything like our proms, Class Day, our Powderpuff games (particularly winning against South Windsor last fall 26-8), acting in the annual Murder Mystery, playing in the Volleyball Lock-Ins, participating in Spirit Weeks, and simply just having classes with great teachers and amazing classmates.  I’ve enjoyed the past four years, and I’m proud of what role I have been able to play in the school. It’s bittersweet that the time has passed by so quickly, but I know that I’ll always look back at my high school years and be able to say that I enjoyed myself.

What is the best class you ever took?

The best class I ever took was Academic Writing with Ms. Amy Matyseck this year. It was an Early College Experience course for which I was able to earn UConn credit.  Over the course of my senior year, I wrote seven college-level papers based on readings we did in class or on topics we discussed such as the definition of humanity, common misconceptions in today’s society, or the idea of Panopticism. My writing improved so much this year because of that class. Ms. Matyseck is one of the greatest teachers I’ve had in high school, and the students in the course were more of a large family than just a class.

What class was much harder than you thought?

Surprisingly, Floral Design was one of the most difficult classes I’ve taken in high school.  It wasn’t necessarily the grading that was hard but rather the difficulty level of the projects we did.  I’m much better with a calculator or pencil in my hand than I am with flowers and ribbon, but it was interesting to see how much my arrangements improved over a semester.  However, I’m still not the greatest at making floral bows, but I think I can live with that.

What thoughts will be running through your head on graduation night?

I may not seem like it at first, but I’m a very sentimental person, and the last month or so of school has been pretty difficult to get through.  It was full of “last”s—last classes, last school lunches, last time opening my locker, last times walking through the hallways.  My biggest fear on graduation night will be crying as I deliver my speech because it will be the last time we’re all going to be in one place together, but I know that all of my classmates are going on to accomplish so much in the future. I knew that graduation day would come eventually; I just wish it wasn’t so soon.

What aspect of college are you looking forward to the most?

I’m most looking forward to being in a different, much larger school environment and being able to meet new people with similar interests on campus.  I’m also looking forward to being able to take a greater variety of classes and having more control over my role as a student and over what I learn. I expect that college is going to be challenging, but I’m excited to face the challenge next year and to see what I’m capable of in the future.

•

Salutatorian

Jennifer Susan Mears

GPA: 102.21
College: Quinnipiac University
Major: Entry Level Masters of Physician Assistant Program

Are there any extracurricular actives you want to participate in while in college?

Orientation leader, soccer, chorus, Catholic Church, community service groups, possibly try to start throwing program for track, possibly leadership program.

Describe your most cherished memory of Rockville High School.

My favorite memory would have to be when I was announced as one of 12 national finalists for the Wendy’s High School Heisman this past fall. In a surprise assembly, my whole family was brought up on stage with me and a representative announced that I was a finalist. My proudest moment was when my class gave me a standing ovation. It is one thing to succeed through selfishness, but in that moment I realized that my class supports my success and I hope they recognize how much I appreciate their support throughout the years. In my mind, this was evidence of how I have maintained my personality and compassion for the people around me while following my own dreams and this is a lifelong goal of mine.

What is best class you ever took?

ECE Academic writing was by far my favorite class because it challenged me not only academically, but also intellectually. I developed my writing techniques as well as gained insight to complicated subjects such as human nature and the nature of fear through reading complex academic pieces and responding with original thoughts. It was a very enjoyable class.

What class was much harder than you thought?

ECE Environmental was difficult because there was a lot of extra book work and online research I had not anticipated. For an elective science, I found myself having the largest workload of the semester in that class. It was still a fun class and I learned a lot, but there was definitely more work than anticipated.

What thoughts will be running through your head on graduation night?

There are so many people I am grateful for going to my graduation. I will probably be worried about the various tasks I need to perform, from my speech, to singing, to turning our tassels, but I know I am going to make a point to sit back and take it all in as I have done with all of my senior activities. This school has been so good to me, and on my last night I want to remember all of the people who have influenced me. I want to remember this night forever. And it will probably be really hot!

What aspect of college are you looking forward to the most?

The people I met at Quinnipiac are incredible. They are energetic and passionate, just like me. I cannot wait to become an active member of their community. I will be in clubs (hopefully narrowing that down a little more than high school, but we’ll see) and playing sports at some level. My professors seem extremely nice and the education I will receive is highly regarded. I am looking forward to being on my own and establishing my life outside of Vernon, but I know I will always take with me the lessons I have learned here.