Although she has only grown an inch and a half physically since her freshman year, Halle Yocom has truly developed and matured as a person and a student during four years at Gilpin County High School (GCHS), rising to the top of the Class of 2022. Yocom is the senior class Valedictorian.

COVID-19 might have thrown her a curve ball as she had to finish her sophomore and entire junior year, including two AP classes, remotely from home. However, her own perseverance along with parent and teacher support and encouragement resulted in her continued academic success.

Halle has been an important member of the cheerleading squad exemplifying school spirit. She has been raising fans to their feet since she was in preschool. She is also an active member in Student Council, Interact Club, and in the theater department productions. This year Halle stepped out of her comfort zone to venture into the extracurricular sports program. She joined the basketball team as well as participating as a team member in GCHS’s inaugural season for the Girls’ Soccer team.

Even though the content is challenging, Halle said her favorite class is AP Calculus. She enthusiastically expressed that Mrs. Van

Hoose does a great job of teaching.

Yocom always feels so satisfied completing and getting the right answer to a calculus problem with calculations that took up half her page.

When asked if she has any advice for underclassmen she said, “Prepare and study for tests prior to the night before the test. There is no way that you will pass if you try to cram a whole unit of things in one night while doing other homework and still taking care of yourself.”

Upon graduation Halle will be furthering her education at the University of Colorado, Boulder by majoring in Integrative Physiology as well as checking things off her bucket list, such as skydiving and focusing on her own growth into adulthood.

Halle did not have any final words because “this is not a forever ending or goodbye.” But, Yocom did say she would like to thank everyone including her family and friends, all of the great teachers at Gilpin County School, and just everyone inside the school for their support from Preschool through grade 12. The entire school staff have been so supportive of me and a great influence each in their own special way.

I am Gilpin County School!