Elk Mound Class of 2024 Valedictorian: Caroline Gabert
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CAROLINE GABERT
ELK MOUND — Caroline Gabert is the valedictorian of the Elk Mound High School Class of 2024.
She is the daughter of Joseph and Erica Gabert of Elk Mound.
The Colfax Messenger sent a questionnaire to Caroline to ask about her experiences at Elk Mound High School and to find out about her plans for the future.
• What does it mean to you to have earned the title of valedictorian?
Becoming the valedictorian of my graduating class has been one of my biggest goals since middle school. Being named the valedictorian is a huge honor because it means all of my hard work and dedication over the past four years has paid off. Having a goal to work towards has helped me to stay focused in my studies, and has given me a strong sense of direction and purpose. Knowing that I’ve achieved such a long-term goal feels incredibly rewarding, and it sets the precedent that I can achieve any other goals I set for myself through persistence and determination.
• Describe the most memorable events from high school.
My two favorite memories from high school are winter carnival basketball, and playing powderpuff football during my senior homecoming. Seeing my classmates come together to achieve a goal while also having fun is a memory I’ll always cherish.
Winter carnival basketball is probably my favorite between the two. During winter carnival, each homeroom has a basketball team that plays in a big tournament against the other homerooms. The atmosphere when you’re playing is super energetic, and I always end up having a lot of fun. My teammates and I have had a great time over the years, and it created moments of unity for my homeroom when we got to the finals my junior and senior year. I’m definitely going to miss it.
Senior year homecoming was memorable because my class won homecoming that year. During homecoming, each grade participates in activities against each other to win the most points. Powderpuff this past year was a way for all of the girls in my grade to have the opportunity to play together, and it was rewarding to experience the win with everyone. After we won the championship game, the whole grade was super happy and energetic. It felt like everyone was really connected, which is a special feeling.
• What were your three favorite high school classes?
As someone who has always enjoyed learning about how and why things work, my three favorite high school classes were definitely Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry II, and Government.
Anatomy & Physiology, taught by Mr. Maenner, was a personal favorite class of mine because it allowed me to pursue my passion for learning about the human body, and eventually led me to declaring my college major. While challenging, the content of the class was always super interesting. My classmates also made the class incredibly memorable, and it was a great group of people. During this class, we got the unique opportunity to visit the UW-Stout cadaver lab. This was an experience I’ll remember forever.
Chemistry II is another favorite that comes to mind because I loved doing the more difficult, detailed labs. Mr. Walczak always has something interesting to show or tell us, and the class dynamic is always fun. My peers and I have a lot more independence in this class, and it’s very rewarding to work towards solving a particular problem or challenge.
My third favorite class was government with Mrs. George. Learning about how the legal system works was super interesting, and I greatly enjoyed the content of the course. I particularly enjoyed government because of its practical, real-world applications. Government has also helped me to develop my personal belief system in a way that was well-informed and logical, and led me to joining Cultural Conversations, a multicultural club run by Mrs. George.
• What activities were you involved in during high school?
During high school, I was involved in volleyball, basketball, track, cross country, Prom Committee, Cultural Conversations, Science Olympiad, National Honor Society, and Band.
Cultural Conversations, a multicultural club, was my personal favorite because it allowed me to cultivate my interest and passion for politics in a structured setting. In this club, students shared their opinions, stories, and experiences regarding social and political issues. During my senior year, I was fortunate enough to be a part of the Advisory Team. In this role, I worked with some of the other seniors in the club to plan the discussion topics for meetings, and gain experience in researching various topics. This club has had a tremendous impact on strengthening my interpersonal skills. I’ve become a much better listener, speaker, and communicator because of my time in this club, which is something I’ll be forever grateful for.
Science Olympiad is another favorite activity of mine because it has allowed me to learn more about different scientific areas. Science Olympiad brings together people from many different grades and backgrounds, and the meets always end up being a lot of fun. The club was a good way to challenge myself and further develop my research skills.
• What are your plans after graduation?
During this summer, I plan on continuing to work at Life Perks Coffee Co. where I work as a barista. If you’re ever driving through Elk Mound, I would highly recommend stopping by. Additionally, I plan on spending a lot of time with my friends before we all go off in different directions to college.
• Are you planning to attend college or technical school?
Next fall, I’ll be attending the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse where I’ll be majoring in biomedical science. Alongside majoring in biomedical science, I plan on having a pre-dental focus. Following graduation from my undergraduate degree, I plan on attending dental school with hopes to become a dentist.
I’ve decided to pursue dentistry because it combines my love of creativity, science, and the human body. I chose to major in biomedical science because it contains most of the prerequisites for dental school, and has a variety of science classes that are more related to human biology. I am excited to continue pursuing my passion for learning and the human body during my collegiate years.
• Anything else you would like readers to know?
I would like to thank my parents, teachers, family, and friends for their continued support over the years. I would also like to thank my classmates and peers for making my 14 years in the Elk Mound School District as special and memorable as they were.