Senior Profiles
Published July 2023
Meet four newly graduated seniors who have accomplished so much in academics, arts, athletics, and supporting a positive atmosphere. Be sure to watch them closely as they move beyond Two Rivers High School!
Erik Essen
What have you enjoyed most about your School District 197 experience? I’ve enjoyed growing up with my friends along the way, some going back to elementary school.
What have been your most rewarding academic experiences? The first was my junior year class, Precalculus (or Precalc). Precalc was the hardest class I have taken in terms of workload and rigor. However, my teacher, Mr. Chhoun, helped me understand Precalc better. The other is being in the National Honor Society (NHS). NHS is a program that requires you to volunteer in the community, and I am so glad to have done it. Giving back to a community that has given so much to me is a great feeling.
What athletics, activities, and/or clubs have you been involved in? Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track & Field, National Honor Society, Link Crew, and SuperFans.
What are your plans after high school? I plan to study business at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
What would you like to share with your teachers? To each and every one of you, I truly thank you for helping me become a better student, but more importantly, a better person. What is your hope for the future? To make the world smile, at least just a little bit more
Ava Warford
What have been your most rewarding academic experiences? I have enjoyed the Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) and art courses. I have taken sewing classes and have made many clothes, and courses in interior design, painting, drawing, pottery, and photography. I enjoyed taking these classes because I could express my creativity, which was a nice mental break in my day.
What athletics, activities, and/or clubs have you been involved in? Tennis, gymnastics, track & field, Link Crew, National Honor Society, and Warrior Leadership Team.
What are your plans after high school? I will be attending the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
What advice would you give to younger students/future Warriors for their educational journey? Always ask questions, try your best to stay on top of your work, and build relationships with teachers and staff, and clubs and activities are a must!
What would you like to share with your teachers? I would like to thank every one of my teachers from kindergarten to my senior year. I would not be where I am today without every one of them, and would not have achieved any of my goals if it weren’t for their support.
What is your hope for the future? My hope for the future is to eventually return and have the opportunity to give back to all the amazing people who have inspired me to be who I am today
Gabe Goldenman
What have you enjoyed most about your School District 197 experience? One of my favorite things about School District 197 is its diversity. You get a ton of different demographics in our schools, so it’s easy to learn about other cultures.
What have been your most rewarding academic experiences? Human anatomy and physiology. It was a fun time to learn about it, study it, and get a good grade in the class.
What are your plans after high school? I will be going to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter to study exercise physiology in hopes of eventually becoming a physical therapist. I will also be playing football and maybe running track and field.
Has a particular teacher, counselor, coach, or advisor impacted you? The person who made the biggest impact on me is my football coach Mr. Orth. He has supported my athletic career through every sport I have participated in.
What would you like to share with your teachers? Thank you for being the amazing people that you are and being in the position that you are in. I am very thankful that you all have taken part in growing me into the man I am today.
What is your hope for the future? My hope is that everyone can find peace with who they are and who other people are. I think that people, myself included, can be too judgmental of others without seeing or knowing everything happening in their lives. Without knowing what is going on with someone, how can we have a say in what they think or do? My hope is that everyone will realize that.
Ellie Reiff
What athletics, activities, and/or clubs have you been involved in? Volleyball team, softball team, link crew, and the community building club.
What have been your most rewarding academic experiences? My favorite class I took throughout high school was personal finance. Personal finance put money into perspective for me. We learned about budgeting, investing, and how to stay out of debt.
What are your plans after high school? I plan on going to DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. I am double majoring in marketing and psychology. After school, I hope to be the head of an advertising company.
Has a particular teacher, counselor, coach, or advisor impacted you? Coach Katie Naughton. Katie has been my coach for five years of high school volleyball. She has always been a stable person I can go to with whatever is going on in my life. She always makes a little time each day for students.
What would you like to share with your teachers? I am grateful for the helping hands that guided me through high school, as it can be a tough time. From freshman year social studies, where Mr. McCarthy taught us how to take proper notes, to senior year AP Composition and Language, where we spent a month on a research paper, all of my teachers prepared me for my next steps.
What advice would you give to younger students/future Warriors for their educational journey? Manage your time wisely. High school is super fun and has a lot of opportunities, but students need to learn how to manage their time. Managing their time will allow them to become more organized, which allows them more freedom to do the things they want to do.