Warren Hardman

Archer O’Brien, Gilpin County. Warren Hardman has faced many challenges and roadblocks in his high school career but he has pushed through strong as ever, ready to take on the world. He has shown passion for theatre indefinitely. He began participating in the theatre program at Gilpin in 6th grade, continuing to participate all the way to his senior year. He will be attending The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, or AMDA, to continue to participate in the theatre world beyond high school. 

When asked what advice he might give to kids who attend Gilpin in the future, he said, “Don’t be afraid to be yourself. If your “friends’’ don’t like you for who you really are, they were never your friends to begin with. You’ll find better people to hang out with if you stay true to yourself.” 

This is a strong message for him to bring to the table because he has struggled quite a bit in the past as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Warren found plenty of support among his friends but not everyone had been so accepting. As a result, he has a passion for protecting LGBQT+ kids, especially when he considers whether one day his siblings might turn out to be part of the community. “I had decided long ago to fight for the protection of LGBT youth, and I know I will for a long time, even after graduating college.”

Aside from many of his beautiful comments about his hopes and dreams, we also asked him about fond memories from elementary since Warren has been attending Gilpin since he was tiny. His response should speak for himself in this situation, “Some fond memories could include running around at recess and breaking my hand. I know it doesn’t sound fun or anything but I had good friends then that made me feel better about it.”

Nolan Lindberg

Omayra Acevedo, Gilpin County. Nolan Lindberg has been attending Gilpin County since preschool. His fondest memories of high school have been mostly centered around sports. In elementary, he loved watching high school sports and attending all the games with his friends. 

His best memories of middle school were of the new freedoms he gained, and the bus rides to and from sporting events. The most recent high school memories come from sharing the basketball court and football field with his friends for the last time. Nolan has been an active member in basketball, football, baseball, interact club, and was inducted in the Honor Society during his senior year. 

Nolan has been receiving scholarships (from Black Hawk and United Power), which he plans on using for his medicine studies at CU Boulder.

He shares how much he has loved the great relationships he has built with friends, teachers, and the thing he will miss the most, “Being around my friends all of the time and being able to play sports.”

His favorite classes were chemistry and AP biology because of all of the fun experiments he would do in class. 

Nolan has held two part-time jobs since entering high school. The first was at the local carwash where he worked a little over a year and a half. More recently, he worked at the Gilpin County Recreation Center as a lifeguard, until it was closed due to Covid. 

Here are a few words Nolan would like to share, “My best advice for someone entering Gilpin County is that your education and your time at this school are only as good as the amount of effort you put into it. If you are willing to push and challenge yourself with upper-level classes you can get a terrific education.

He also adds, “There are many adults that I have looked up to in my time at Gilpin County. Both of my parents have been very influential in my life and have been nothing other than fully supportive my entire life. Other than my parents, I have received terrific support and mentoring from both Craig Ball and Steve Boulter who have been my football coaches throughout high school. One student that I have looked up to has been Chase Boulter who I watched succeed and graduate.“

Nolan is very passionate about a lot of things in his life, including his schoolwork and sports. He has always been extremely focused on being successful. While this has been difficult at times, it has turned him into an extremely well-rounded person. Without question, he should be proud!

Jaden T. Schott

Archer O’Brien, Gilpin County. Jaden T. Schott, a senior at Gilpin County High School, is a passionate and accomplished young man. Although he only started attending Gilpin in his sophomore year, unlike many of his peers who have known each other since preschool, he has risen to the challenge. 

His membership in the National Honors Society is no small feat seeing as the members are required to maintain a 3.50 GPA or higher at all times to qualify. He has also expressed quite a bit of interest in history for any and every culture and found a great deal of interest in his psychology class while at Gilpin.

He has a variety of options for his future but he made it evident that he would love to become an author. He has been writing a book for over two years now called Winter’s Tears. He says being an author is his third option for his future. He does hope that when he finishes this book he will fulfil his dream of becoming a published writer. One of his teachers even took it upon themselves to read his book and give him feedback.

Graduation is bitter-sweet and he will miss his teachers who have helped him through school and worked with him to make his dreams come true.

A strong-willed man, he plans to continue working for his dad’s blinds business until he finds a trade he is interested in. He says that working with his dad is the highlight of his week because he has the opportunity to work with his hero. 

Admiration for both of his parents came through in the interview when he said they have “poured their hearts and souls into making” a great future for their son. He actually provided a message for his mom and dad if they read this story. To his parents he says, “I love you both so much for everything you have done for me. [You have] kept me motivated to keep my grades up and [have given] me such a wonderful life.”

Damian Sonsino

Omayra Acevedo, Gilpin County. Damian Sonsino has been attending Gilpin County since second grade. A few of his fondest memories include winning the Spelling Bee, playing on the playground, participating in Science Bowl and riding home on the bus after games.

During his high school career, Damian has been active in baseball, basketball, theatre, the science bowl, the interact club, skiing and student council.

He plans to use multiple college-specific scholarships, including the Daughter of the American Revolution Good Citizens scholarship, to major in biochemistry. 

He has enjoyed forming relationships with friends and teachers during his high school activities. He shares that all of the science classes were great, especially Chemistry and Biology, and he also enjoyed many of the English, Psychology and Financial Literacy classes. 

He offers some advice for those entering their senior year in high school, “Keep working. A lot of people give up their senior year, but continuously working will pay dividends.” 

He would like to express a few extra words of appreciation, “My entire family has been very supportive and helpful. My former baseball coach, Tony Lorenz, is also a great mentor. Learning is something I am very passionate about. I want to keep discovering things and contribute to the vast well of human knowledge.” 

(Originally published in the April 15, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)