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Top CDH Students 2017

Reprinted from Traditions, Spring 2017-2018
July 31, 2017

Cretin-Derham Hall honors excellence in academics at the Commencement Ceremony each year by congratulating the Top CDH students in each class.

In recognition of their stellar work at CDH over the past four years, each student was asked to reflect on their experience at CDH, especially as it related to their high level of success.

	Post Graduate Plans	Intended Major	Reflection
Claire Minea (Valedictorian)	University of Minnesota, College of Science and Engineering	Mathematics	CDH has motivated me to achieve excellence through the teachers and staff. The countless hours teachers have spent with me before and after school made it a lot harder to let myself fail, because I didn’t want to disappoint them or myself. Having teachers that care so much about my success has made me care about my own success even more.
Ellie Salmen (Salutatorian)	University of Minnesota	Nursing	My experience at CDH has been amazing. The sense of community that is built is truly remarkable and something I will cherish forever. I believe that CDH has the best faculty and staff. All of the teachers are completely invested in the success of their students and help them work toward becoming their best.
Chili Chen	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Business	CDH has a competitive environment to push people forward. The amount of time teachers spend in their work truly encourages me to study and work hard. CDH’s welcoming atmosphere motivates me to succeed in both academics and socializing. I would not reach such achievements without this support. Since I am an international student, CDH has truly been a blessing to me.
Althea Gutzmann	College of Saint Benedict	English and Education	Excellence is visible when you use your gifts to the best of your ability. Each person is blessed with unique strengths and talents. The members of the Cretin-Derham Hall community encourage excellence. My teachers have challenged me and have demanded my best thinking, writing, work, and effort. I am thankful for the support and encouragement they have given me.
Olivia Kaus	University of Minnesota, College of Biological Sciences	Biochemistry	Everyday CDH motivates me to achieve excellence. The courses I have taken at CDH challenged me to think above and beyond the given curriculum. CDH has set very high standards which have pushed me to excel both inside and outside the classroom.
Michael McMahon	Georgetown University	Finance	One thing my time at Cretin-Derham Hall has taught me is the importance of teamwork. In the classroom, on the tennis court, and in the theater, my teachers, coaches, and directors have taught me that by working with others, I can achieve far more than I can alone. My experience at CDH was transformative. I have grown as a student, found new passions, and made lifelong friends. CDH has prepared me with the skills and experiences I need to succeed in college.
Irene Stringer	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Undecided	One of the lessons that I learned was how to self motivate. Whether in school, cross country, or track, I set goals for myself and worked hard to achieve them. It is a quality that I will carry for the rest of my life. At CDH, I've made lasting friendship and memories. I'm incredibly lucky to have the people and experiences at CDH that make it so hard to leave.
Jackson Sweeney	Villanova University	Political Science with Mandarin Chinese and Spanish	CDH has motivated me to achieve excellence through the opportunities available to students. I was able to work towards excellence in many different areas throughout high school from the arts, academics, athletics, and co-curriculars.
Marina Tschida	University of Wisconsin-Madison	Chemical Engineering	These past four years have consisted of a lot of hard work, good friends, and so many incredible experiences. I will cherish the time I have had with all those who have made those great memories, who have started the debates, who have had the phenomenal ideas, and all those who made high school an unforgettable experience. The teachers and staff here are truly incredible. I have worked with teachers who are so good at what they do, that I have refused to do any less than my best for them. I am truly grateful for these phenomenal people.
Amy Vievering	Cornerstone University, Michigan	Undecided	I've learned at CDH that above all, people are what matters. Not my own success, not my own needs, not my own tasks, but the well-being and needs of others around me. CDH motivated me to aim to achieve excellence by encouraging me as a student and person and by pushing me to do things outside of my comfort zone. Excelling means putting your best effort. It is not determined by the final result, but rather the heart and work behind it.
Julia Waters	University of Iowa	Biochemistry and Pre-Med	My four years at CDH have been than I could have ever imagined! I had the incredible opportunity to grow as a whole individual in the most supportive environment. The people that I am constantly surrounded by have helped me become the best version of myself and have made the experience incredibly enjoyable.