J. Orion Bruno

Jacqueline Hart Gibson, Nederland. Graduating high school is no small feat during any year. Accomplishing milestones in year two of a global pandemic requires, and builds, fortitude and strength of character. 

For Orion Bruno, a 2021 graduate at Chinook West High School, the universe dolled out additional challenges this year with the loss of his father, Thaddeus Bruno in August of 2020. Having formerly attended Gilpin High Orion had planned to spend his senior year in Lakewood with his dad. With his father’s passing Orion had to make a new plan fast. He says he’s grateful Chinook was an available option for him and that he was able to register at the last minute.

Orion reports the highlight reel of his high school experience includes AP history at Gilpin High School, where he feels he was taught a more accurate account of historical events allowing for the opportunity to learn from our collective mistakes. 

At Chinook he felt he benefited from the positive vibes that created a motivating learning environment. He stated the energy at Chinook gave him, “the motivation I needed to be successful in my high school career.” He participated in the creation of the 2021 yearbook and said he is grateful for all the staff who showed genuine interest in his well being and achievements. 

Orion has registered for school at Arapahoe Community College this fall, where he intends to earn a degree in mortuary services. He’s excited to move on to a more populated college experience. One day he would like to marry, own a suburban home with a white picket fence, and create a family with two children of his own and two older adopted children. 

Orion’s advice to upcoming seniors is “get your FAFSA and college placement tests done without procrastinating...and learn how to drive.” 

Lauren Merz

Jacqueline Hart Gibson, Nederland. Our children enter high school and as parents we hope they will exit with a diploma, and a foundation to begin their adult life. Sometimes our children get lucky, and they find inspiration. Despite the pandemic that has defined 2020-2021 for many, Lauren described her senior year of high school as her best year.

Lauren began her high school career at Nederland High School but chose to transfer to Chinook West for her sophomore year.  Lauren says that her senior year was an “awesome year.” “My grades were higher than they had been for all of high school, and I was able to make a ton of friends. It was really great that we got to be in school all year despite Covid.” 

Lauren was voted “Most likely to be class president,” and she said, “It was pretty cool because I basically got to be the president of the class because my friends acknowledged me as such.” 

Lauren’s favorite experiences in her senior year were all the trips they were able to take as a class. Lauren was part of a group that took a field trip to the Denver Art Museum a few weeks ago that she enjoyed. She said, “I’ve been super into rock climbing ever since I started going to Chinook.” Lauren credits the staff at Chinook for encouraging her love of rock climbing. She also says she’s been looking into work at a bouldering gym for the summer, following graduation. She described her overall experience at Chinook as really good.

Lauren has been looking into a few different colleges for theater but will attend a community college first for additional credits. For now she seems to be keeping her options open until after the summer. 

Lauren’s advice to the upcoming senior class is to, “Enjoy it while you can. Bust out the work and really make it count.”

(Originally published in the May 6, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)