Sara Sandstrom-Kobi, Nederland. We are getting very close to the day Nederland’s Class of 2020 was to take the traditional walk across the stage to receive their high school diploma. It is not easy for the students, parents, and school staff to accept that this will not be happening in May. As I talk to more of the senior class I see the disappointment in their faces and hear it in their words. At the same time, they know it is out of their control and are bravely moving on to the next steps in life.

In this glimpse at Nederland’s Class of 2020 we meet two young women who know where they are going in life and who both have a great love for horses. 

Ainsley Norman

Ainsley and her family moved to the Nederland area when she was in elementary school. She has been attending Nederland schools since second grade. Her favorite times in elementary school involved outdoor education. Ainsley loved the alternative education style and thrived when connecting with nature.

In high school Ainsley participated in Sources of Strength and was a 360 Leader. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council and the Robotics Club. Ainsley enjoyed creating and organizing activities for the school through the Student Council. Their goal was to build more engagement and unity in the school. When I asked Ainsley about robotics she said it is fun to be a part of putting things together and then seeing that final product. The robots they create are pretty amazing. 

Ainsley loved taking as many science classes as she could while at Nederland High School. She found the classes to be challenging and rewarding. 

She always appreciated the small comfortable environment the school offers. The relationship with teachers was always one where she could ask for help when needed. She is grateful to the teachers and kindness that they showed.

Ainsley is also grateful to her parents who she says helped push her out of her comfort zone. She is also appreciative of the love and support from her grandma. 

I asked Ainsley what she is passionate about. Her face lit up and she said, “Horses. I love horses!” She has been riding and taking lessons with Sheila Ranegar at Rising Sun Ranch for 10 years. She loves interacting with horses and learning how to handle them and care for them. Most of all, she loves to ride horses. She has helped with camps at the Rising Sun Ranch and hopes to continue riding while in college.

Ainsley will be moving to Portland, Oregon, in the fall to attend Reed College. When she visited the college it was very appealing that a student can earn physical education credit with horse riding classes. She also loves the Portland area and the fact that it is a small college. She felt very comfortable there. 

Ainsley has not declared a college major, yet, but she knows it will be something in the sciences. After our conversation, I am quite sure I can say that Ainsley will always be pursuing science and will always have a great love for horses. 

Cora Rochelle Worthington

Cora joined the Nederland Middle Senior High School (NMSHS) family as a sixth grader. Prior to that she had spent most of her elementary years learning online with Colorado Online Virtual Academy. As she approached sixth grade her and her parents decided it would be good to incorporate more of a social life and extracurricular activities at a traditional school. They decided on Nederland and Cora says she was welcomed with open arms. 

While in high school Cora played volleyball, was on the Honor Roll and was part of REACH. She has loved the small community of NMSHS and how tightknit her class is. Cora has loved her time at NMSHS and was determined to graduate with her class. You see, Cora’s family moved to Broomfield before her senior year started. She is so committed and dedicated to her school and classmates that she drove to Nederland every morning to attend school. She was determined to graduate a Panther even when it meant waking up very early to make it to that first class on time. 

She knows she will miss her friends very much after high school. When asked about graduating Cora said, “It feels like a fairytale is coming to an end and reality will have to soon set in.”

Cora feels the teachers at NMSHS genuinely care about her and her success. She always knew she could seek out help from a teacher when she needed some extra guidance. One of her favorite classes was Spanish. She found it fascinating to learn a new language. Cora took Spanish throughout high school and hopes to continue in college.

AP Literature and art classes were also highlights for her. She loved studying poetry and creating her own poems. She is also an artist. Cora loved taking drawing and painting classes because she was able to dive into her imagination and bring it to life on canvas. Art teacher Ms. Redmond became a mentor to Cora. Cora appreciated that Ms. Redmond always pushed her to find the meaning in art. 

Cora speaks about her family with so much love and warmth. Her parents, Nickey and Michael Worthington, have been her support system. She says, “They encourage me to live to my full potential. If I fail, they always tell me to keep trying and they are right beside me.” 

It is also wonderful to hear Cora speak about how proud she is of her younger brother, Nigel. She says that her brother faces challenges every day, but rarely do they get the best of him. They have a beautiful sibling bond full of love and respect.  

Cora has spent time outside of school working at the Stage Stop in Rollinsville, when it was open. She likes to spend her free time with her favorite horse, Jordan. She loves riding and working with horses. She says that her teacher, Sheila Ranegar, at Rising Sun Ranch is exceptionally loving and patient. 

When I asked Cora what she is passionate about she said that she wants to spend her life helping others. To do this she will be pursuing an education and career in criminal justice. In the fall she will attend Front Range Community College. Then, perhaps move to Metro State in Denver. She is not sure yet if she will go toward criminal psychology, forensics or perhaps another criminal justice class will spark a specific interest for her. She says, “We need more people out in the world to help others and make a positive difference.” Cora wants to make a positive difference. 

Nederland’s Class of 2020 is in their final days of high school. I hope each senior can look back and smile as they remember their years at Nederland schools. Each one has contributed to the community. This class particularly has been a close-knit group. They truly seem to care about each other. They have given each other the gift of friendship. Something that can last for many years to come. 

(Originally published in the May 7, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)