Those students and their accomplishments, in their own words, are:

— Elizabeth “Ellie” Ayers: “Over the past four years, I have been involved in various extracurricular activities, including volleyball, basketball, track, softball and football cheer. During my senior year of volleyball, I was honored to serve as team captain, and was named both First Team All Conference and First Team Division 4. Not only have I devoted time to sports, I have also dedicated time to leadership roles, serving as Student Council and Spanish Club Treasurer. I have also been a member of the Youth Advisory Committee, National Honor Society and Business Professionals of America, where I qualified for the state competition in both my sophomore and senior years. Outside of school, you’ll find me hanging out with friends, attending sporting events, tanning at the beach, and working at the Iron County Medical Care Facility as a certified nursing assistant. After graduation I will be attending Bellin College to further my education and fulfill my ambitions to become a nurse. Although I am anxious to go out into the world on my own, I am beyond excited to see what my future has to offer!”

— Zachariah Brown: “I am a member of the honor roll. I am currently in the mechatronics program at the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District’s Technical Education Center, learning about how electrical systems work, such as wiring electrical panels and the basics of pneumatics. I have earned many departmental awards throughout my high school career. In my free time I enjoy working on my Camaro, mountain biking and listening to music. After high school I plan to leave the area and focus on performance tuning and optimization of vehicular systems by specializing in enhancing engine dynamics, refining suspension setups, and calibrating ECU parameters to maximize both power output and driving precision, all while maintaining a keen understanding of mechanical balance and vehicle aerodynamics.”

— Ella Gasperich: “I have achieved many honors, both academically and athletically. I have been able to participate in sports such as basketball, golf, track, cheer and volleyball. This year, I had the privilege of serving as team captain for the varsity volleyball team! Aside from sports, I am actively engaged in academic organizations such as student council as president, Business Professionals of America, National Honor Society as president and as drum major for the Marching/Concert Band. I was the 2023-2024 Miss Iron County, which granted me the opportunity to volunteer many hours of my time to various fundraisers, organizations, events, etc. I met so many great people from outside and inside our community! When I am not in school, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, boating, taking walks with my dogs and playing the piano. I work two jobs, those being the piano player/waterfront at Camp Batawagama in summer and being the social media coordinator at my mom’s Ben Franklin store in Crystal Falls year-round. I plan to attend St. Norbert College next fall to pursue marketing with a double minor in sports management and music while also competing on the track and field team. While I am excited to graduate, I will miss the relationships I have formed with the staff and friends at school, as Forest Park has greatly impacted the person I have become.”

ZACHARIAH BROWN

— Liam Johnson: “I thoroughly enjoyed my time participating in the Business Professionals of America alongside my fellow peers. Going to state and national level competitions were enthralling, granting me valuable and enjoyable life experiences. Furthermore, my time at the DIISD Technical Career Center was very important for my own personal growth and proved to be a good time. After I graduate, I will pursue cybersecurity at Bay College and Michigan Tech. Through the past few years, I have grown to appreciate Crystal Falls and am proud to say I’m a part of this community.”

— Lucy Johnson: “I started attending Forest Park at the beginning of my sophomore year after moving to Michigan from Missouri. I’ve been on honor roll during most of my time at Forest Park, and I’ve taken Bay College dual enrollment classes during my junior and senior years. I’m involved in student organizations such as Business Professionals of America, student council and Youth Advisory Committee. I competed at the regional and state BPA competitions during my sophomore and senior years, and I placed both years in the regional competition and won sixth place in state for desktop publishing during my sophomore year. I’ve served as a student council representative during my junior and senior years. Also, I’ve worked part-time as a server during most of my high school years, and currently participate in work study at Goodman Law Office in Iron River. Next fall I’m planning to attend Michigan State University to study psychology. I am really looking forward to this next chapter in life, but will miss friends, teachers and staff at Forest Park.”

— Lilly Post: “Throughout my time here, I have participated in many sports such as cross country, volleyball, basketball, track, and softball. I am also involved academically by being a part of the student council, Business Professionals of America, Youth Advisory Committee, National Honor Society and Iron Area Health Foundation Student Leadership Team. I have volunteered during my time here in any way I can, whether that’s working concessions, blood drives, or sporting events. I work as a tenant care aide at Victorian Heights, and I am a cook and lifeguard at Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp. In my free time, I enjoy reading, boating, and spending time with family. This fall, I will be attending Carthage College, studying allied health science with hopes of becoming a radiation therapist.”

— Gabriel Quevedo: “I have been a part of a variety of organizations throughout my high school career, such as the National Honor Society, the Youth Advisory Committee, the Forest Park marching band, and the Business Professionals of America. At the Business Professionals of America, I qualified for the National Leadership Conference by placing second in Fundamental Desktop Publishing in 2024’s State Conference and third in Advanced Desktop Publishing in this year’s Conference. I have worked throughout my four years in high school at Greencliff Lawn and Landscaping. I compete in various sports such as basketball, football, and track and field. I have had the privilege of volunteering to help my school, community and those in need through the different groups I have been involved in. In my free time, I love spending time with family and friends, and I enjoy the outdoors. I plan to attend Michigan State University to get a degree in accounting.”

— Skylar VanOss: “Throughout high school, I have participated in numerous activities, including student council, the National Honor Society, Business Professionals of America, the Youth Advisory Committee, Job’s Daughters International, and the marching band flag corps and concert band. Additionally, I have served as class secretary from my sophomore to senior year, and I currently hold the position of secretary for the student council. I am excited to be competing for BPA at the national level soon. Athletically, I have been a member of the track and volleyball teams, and I am currently involved with the girls softball and cheer teams. In my free time, I enjoy reading, traveling, and hanging out with friends, family, and my dog, Ember. In the fall, I plan to attend Michigan State University’s Lyman Briggs College to study human biology, with the ultimate goal of becoming an optometrist. While I’m nervous to move on to college, I’m excited to see what the world has to offer.”

ELLA GASPERICH

— Dalaney Wagner: “I have achieved multiple honors both academically and athletically, and have been involved in various extracurricular activities throughout the years. I have participated in volleyball, basketball, softball and track. I am a proud member of the student council, Business Professionals of America, Youth Advisory Committee, National Honors Society, and the Iron Area Health Foundation Student Leadership Team. I have served as class president both sophomore and senior year, along with vice president freshmen year. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, hanging out with friends and helping at youth sporting events. During the summer, I work at Camp Batawagama, where I have been given the opportunity to be a counselor this year. After high school, I plan on attending Grand Valley State University for elementary education. I hope to earn my master’s degree and become a superintendent one day. I am both eager and anxious to graduate this spring, but am thankful for the loving community I have grown up in.”

— Kaidince Woollard: “I am involved in many athletics such as basketball, softball and cheer. I actively take part in Business Professionals of America, student council and have served as the class treasurer throughout high school, and National Honors Society. When I am not at school I enjoy being outdoors, hanging out with friends, and playing with my puppy. I have had the opportunity to work in many places, which include Fortune Lake Bible Camp in the kitchen, Fizzy’s eatery, Iron County Medicare as a CNA and the chance to babysit for many families. Although I will be sad to leave friends and peers after graduating, I am beyond excited to further my journey at Lake Superior State University in the fall for pre-nursing.”

Forest Park High School will have graduation at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Eddie Chambers Gymnasium in Crystal Falls.

LIAM JOHNSON

LUCY JOHNSON

LILLY POST

GABRIEL QUEVEDO

SKYLAR VANOSS

DALANEY WAGNER

KAIDINCE WOOLLARD