Karns City grads exceed expectations
KARNS CITY — Karns City High School seniors turned in the final performance of their high school careers Friday night, saying they want to continue fighting back against lowered expectations for young adults.
That's no surprise, if you ask the people who have helped shepherd them through the past six years.
“This is a very successful class,” said assistant principal Ed Conto. “There were a lot of characters, but they were respectful, you know? They were just a well-rounded group across the board.”
The district's 120 graduates have plans that run the gamut, said high school secretary Trish Olkowsky.
“They're an extremely bright class with very high aspirations,” Olkowsky said. “It's been a pleasure.”
She said many students planned to pursue careers in medicine and engineering, and some already have trade jobs and are planning to work right out of high school.
One of those students, Austin Haid, said he hopes to find employment at CMC Impact Metals. Haid's backup plan is to attend Butler County Community College with an eye on eventually transferring to Clarion University to pursue a business degree.
Wherever he ends up, Haid said, he'll remember the lessons he learned at Karns City.
“I'm really going to miss a lot of the teachers,” Haid said.
He said Cullen Farrell, the debate coach, was “an inspiration,” to him during high school.
“The way he taught us to go out and act as young men will stick with me,” Haid said.
Other students, like Bridget Klein, were more focused on the future than the past.
Klein said she would miss some classmates and friends, but she is anxious to begin her college career at Clarion University, where she will major in speech pathology.
Senior class President David Olszak said the class' belief in challenging standards and raising the bar comes from the community, which he thanked for “endless support” during a high school career speckled with hard times and tragedy for some classmates.
“This class has had to endure a tremendous amount of adversity,” Olszak said, “Everybody here, and in the school district, should be extremely proud of how we came together during those tough times.”
Olszak's friend, Ethan D. Conto, plans to attend Grove City College and major in biology. But Conto would rather talk about classmates' achievements than his own. He said the class' strength lies in its diversity.
“This class includes the best auto body painter in the state, with a chance to go for a national title,” Conto said.
If people are looking for a secret to their success, said Matthew Yough, who is destined for Gannon University in Erie and a biomedical engineering degree, they need look no further than the people singing their praises Friday night.
“Things were made possible because the bar was raised,” Yough said. “Our potential is not limited ... that is our legacy.”
Yough echoed Principal Dave Beck in giving his classmates a final word of advice: “Have a safe summer and read a book.”
