{"id":2458960,"date":"2020-05-28T23:26:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T05:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=326605"},"modified":"2020-05-28T23:26:00","modified_gmt":"2020-05-29T05:26:00","slug":"graduation-2020-aspen-high-students-to-talk-challenges-during-commencement-speeches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/graduation-2020-aspen-high-students-to-talk-challenges-during-commencement-speeches\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduation 2020: Aspen High students to talk challenges during commencement speeches"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.8471872376154\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-326605-280\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled gallery-container\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-668x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy photo | Aspen High School class of 2020 valedictorian Quinn Ramberg.\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Aspen High School class of 2020 valedictorian Quinn Ramberg.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-668x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen High School class of 2020 valedictorian Quinn Ramberg.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-1-768x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy photo | Aspen High School class of 2020 co-salutatorian Kat Goralka.\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Aspen High School class of 2020 co-salutatorian Kat Goralka.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-1-768x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen High School class of 2020 co-salutatorian Kat Goralka.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-2-682x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy photo | Aspen High School class of 2020 co-salutatorian Maxine Mellin.\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Aspen High School class of 2020 co-salutatorian Maxine Mellin.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-2-682x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen High School class of 2020 co-salutatorian Maxine Mellin.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy | Aspen High School\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Aspen High School<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-3.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen High School\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-4-1024x731.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Aspen High School athletic field (Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times).\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Aspen High School athletic field (Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times).<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-2-4-1024x731.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen High School athletic field (Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times).\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-7-1024x679.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Kat Goralka, center, walks back to her car with her parents Mike and Caryn after receiving her scholarships and salutatorian honors during the scholarship drive-through event on Thursday, May 28, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Kat Goralka, center, walks back to her car with her parents Mike and Caryn after receiving her scholarships and salutatorian honors during the scholarship drive-through event on Thursday, May 28, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-7-1024x679.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Kat Goralka, center, walks back to her car with her parents Mike and Caryn after receiving her scholarships and salutatorian honors during the scholarship drive-through event on Thursday, May 28, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-8-1024x662.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Aspen High School valedictorian Quinn Ramberg, center right, stands with her family as her honors and scholarships are announced during the drive-through event at Aspen School District Campus on Thursday, May 28, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Aspen High School valedictorian Quinn Ramberg, center right, stands with her family as her honors and scholarships are announced during the drive-through event at Aspen School District Campus on Thursday, May 28, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-8-1024x662.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen High School valedictorian Quinn Ramberg, center right, stands with her family as her honors and scholarships are announced during the drive-through event at Aspen School District Campus on Thursday, May 28, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-9-1024x725.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Aspen High School\u2019s Maxine Mellin, center left, stands with her family as her scholarships are announced during the drive-through event at Aspen School District Campus on Thursday, May 28, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><strong>Aspen High School\u2019s Maxine Mellin, center left, stands with her family as her scholarships are announced during the drive-through event at Aspen School District Campus on Thursday, May 28, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/AHSgrad-atd-052920-9-1024x725.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen High School\u2019s Maxine Mellin, center left, stands with her family as her scholarships are announced during the drive-through event at Aspen School District Campus on Thursday, May 28, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/graduation-2020-aspen-high-students-to-talk-challenges-during-commencement-speeches\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/graduation-2020-aspen-high-students-to-talk-challenges-during-commencement-speeches\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">Kat Goralka\u2019s co-salutatorian speech might take a somewhat serious approach Saturday during Aspen High School\u2019s graduation ceremony at Buttermilk Ski Area. She\u2019s using it as a way to reflect on the recent weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic and how the class of 2020 has had to adapt on the fly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cAlthough the last few months of our high school experience were cut short, it definitely didn\u2019t define my high school experience or define how I\u2019ll look back on all of it years from now,\u201d Goralka said. \u201cI\u2019m really grateful for the community putting it together and still finding a way to celebrate all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The AHS seniors always believed they would one day walk across the Benedict Music Tent stage to receive their diploma. Then came COVID-19, which closed down in-person learning earlier this spring and made putting together any sort of commencement ceremony a challenge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The final result will be Saturday\u2019s 10 a.m. drive-in graduation at Buttermilk. Held in the ski area\u2019s parking lot and closed to the public, it\u2019ll look much different than in past years but hopes to accomplish the same goal. That being to celebrate the nearly 140 seniors who will graduate as part of the class of 2020.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"row at-donation at-donation-mobile p-0\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\" onclick=\"handleDonationButtonClickMidArticle()\">Donate<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cA little nervous, but I\u2019m prepared,\u201d senior Quinn Ramberg said of having to give her graduation speech. \u201cI hope to get across the message that it\u2019s always important to persevere and keep trying when challenges arise.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Ramberg is this year\u2019s class valedictorian, while Goralka and Maxine Mellin are the co-salutatorians. Here\u2019s a closer look at all three ahead of Saturday\u2019s truly one-of-a-kind celebration:<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">IN OWEN\u2019S FOOTSTEPS<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Ramberg\u2019s older brother, Owen Ramberg, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/olympic-silver-medalist-alex-ferreira-highlights-aspen-high-schools-senior-graduation\/\">was co-valedictorian for the AHS class of 2018<\/a>, so she certainly had a lot to live up to. Not that this was a problem for the uber-talented Quinn, who is a scientist, artist, athlete and businesswoman all wrapped up into one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI definitely took the hardest classes I could,\u201d Quinn Ramberg said, \u201cbut it was more about taking what I really enjoyed in school. And that just resulted in me becoming valedictorian.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The younger Ramberg will next head to Stanford University, where she will study physics. Also a passionate artist \u2014 she oil paints, draws and creates ceramic sculptures \u2014 Ramberg hopes to find a minor or double major in the art world to combine with her physics degree.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s almost like a puzzle. There are a bunch of unknowns and it\u2019s trying to figure out what everything means and how our world works,\u201d she said of a career as a physicist. \u201cJust the culture of the school, everyone is super happy. And they also have a particle accelerator, which is a huge thing for physics. Which definitely drew me to the school.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">At AHS, Ramberg was a varsity member of the girls tennis team and even started her own company, <a href=\"https:\/\/skierscribbler.com\/8124\/news\/comfy-culture\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Comfy Culture<\/a>, which makes and sells sweatpants (yes, she can also sew).<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Owen Ramberg currently is on a pre-med track at Bowdoin College after originally attending Penn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">INTO THE UNKNOWN<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Goralka is super excited to attend the University of Michigan. She\u2019s sure Ann Arbor will be a perfect fit for what she wants, although she\u2019s had to use a little bit of blind faith in that regard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cMichigan has everything I was looking for in a school. Going through the whole process, I definitely wanted a larger public school that has a bunch of resources,\u201d Goralka said. \u201cI actually haven\u2019t visited campus, because I was supposed to go during spring break. So obviously that got canceled because of everything going on. But I\u2019m super excited to be in Ann Arbor. It just seems like it has the perfect balance for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Goralka is looking into biophysics at the moment, but was far from committal. She does, however, have a strong interest in the pre-med route, regardless of what her actual undergraduate study ends up being.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">A standout athlete who played three years of basketball, four years of volleyball and would have played a fourth in lacrosse this spring, Goralka said she was somewhat surprised to have been given co-salutatorian honors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s really cool to be recognized in the class,\u201d Goralka said. \u201cI think it\u2019s cool that Maxine and I tied and are able to have the title together. It wasn\u2019t really something I went through high school thinking about. It wasn\u2019t why I chose to take the classes and things I did. But I guess in the end it\u2019s nice to be recognized a little bit for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Subhead\">IT ALL ADDS UP<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">A math whiz, Mellin didn\u2019t quite know what to do with her skills. Then she went to the New York Stock Exchange as part of a trip with AHS and found her answer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI knew I wanted to do something with math, but I was torn between engineering and majoring strictly in mathematics \u2014 I didn\u2019t know where I wanted to take that talent,\u201d she said. \u201cI applied randomly to this trip, and being able to go there and see this side of business and this aspect of math where I thought I could apply myself to really opened my eyes and it shifted the direction I wanted to take my studies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Mellin is headed to Bucknell University in Pennsylvania to study math and finance. She likes the \u201cmiddle of nowhere\u201d aspect of Bucknell, an experience she wanted, as her career path is likely to lead her to a large city.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Like Goralka, she was surprised by her co-salutatorian honor. Mellin\u2019s speech will focus on her family, although she\u2019s not quite sure how to handle the very unique audience she\u2019ll face on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI was writing the speech originally and I was talking about, \u2018As I look out on this crowd \u2026 wait, I cannot say that. I have to say how I look out onto all these cars.\u2019 It\u2019s a different experience for sure,\u201d Mellin said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t pushing since freshman year to try and be salutatorian. It just happened naturally along with having fun throughout high school and having a good high school experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:acolbert@aspentimes.com\">acolbert@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/graduation-2020-aspen-high-students-to-talk-challenges-during-commencement-speeches\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aspen High School class of 2020 valedictorian Quinn Ramberg.Courtesy photo Aspen High School class of 2020 co-salutatorian Kat Goralka.Courtesy photo Aspen High School class of 2020 co-salutatorian Maxine Mellin.Courtesy photo Aspen High SchoolCourtesy Aspen High School athletic field (Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times).Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times Kat Goralka, center, walks back to her car with her [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2458960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-17 01:20:30","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458960","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2458960"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458960\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2458960"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2458960"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2458960"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}