Graduations scheduled for this weekend
With the school year quickly reaching its end, both the Colby and Abbotsford High Schools will be hosting their graduation ceremonies this coming weekend.
Colby
The Colby High School Class of 2025 will send 80 seniors into adulthood this Friday, May 16. Their graduation ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. on the football field and track pending the cooperation of the weather.
Veronica Mateer is the valedictorian, and Olivia Johnson is the salutatorian.
Mateer plans to attend St. Norbert College and will major in human health and performance. Her parents are Patrick and Margaret Mateer.
Johnson plans to attend UW-Madison and will major in astronomy and physics. Her parents are Lyle and Katie Johnson.
The 2025 class motto is, “Only limitations you’ll have are the ones you place upon yourself,” a line from the musical artist Kendrick Lamar. The class flower is the white rose dipped in gold glitter.
See GRADUATIONS/ Page 6
Veronica Mateer
Olivia Johnson Graduations
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Abbotsford
Abbotsford High School will honor 80 members of its graduating senior class during a commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 17. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. and will take place in the Abbotsford High School South Gym.
The 2025 valedictorian is Chloe Cihlar with a 3.994 GPA. Chloe is the daughter of Matt and Wendy Cihlar.
The 2025 salutatorians are Margo Lynn Pogodzinski and Tatum Bargender. Margo is the daughter of Christina Lewison and Brad Pogodzinski. Tatum is the daughter of Ryan and Brooke Bargender. Margo and Tatum both earned a 3.993.
Chloe Cihlar participated in numerous extracurricular and volunteer activities. Among Chloe’s accomplishments are leadership roles, including captain of the swim team and secretary of the Class of 2025. She also participated in the National Honor Society, Mathletes, FBLA, FCCLA, Educators Rising, Marawood Leadership Conference, BLASTStudent Senate and Safe School Ambassadors.
She also competed in swimming and track all four years of high school, qualifying for state in both sports. She is enrolled in the Teacher Academy through NTC.
Outside of school, she has helped with the Abbotsford Christmas Parade for the past eight years, and volunteers for the after school program. She is a Big Sister to an elementary student, and also helps with many different church events. She has assisted in raking leaves and planting flowers for community members. She organized and ran in the FBLA Fun Run. She participated in the mock accident last year, and has helped with several Red Cross blood drives.
Chloe is planning to attend UW-La Crosse to pursue a degree in elementary physical education/ adaptive.
Margo Pogodzinski also participated in numerous extracurricular and volunteer activities. She is the Class of 2025 vice president, and volleyball team captain. She participated in the National Honor Society, FBLA, Student Senate, BLAST, Safe School Ambassadors, Mathletes, Marawood Leadership Conference, and Educators Rising at Abbotsford High School.
In addition to school activities, she is very busy in the community. She has helped rake leaves and plant flowers for community members. She coordinated and participated in the FBLA Fun Run. She helped with the mock accident last year. She also tutors middle school students in mathematics. She volunteered at the Red Cross blood drives.
Margo plans to go to UW-Green Bay for a degrees in Human Resources/ Business.
Tatum Bargender, the other salutatorian, participated in extracurricular and volunteer activities. She is the National Honor Society and softball team captain. She participated in NHS, FBLA, BLAST, Mathletes, and Safe School Ambassadors at Abbotsford High School. She was in the Youth Apprenticeship program for health care.
In addition to school activities, she is very busy in the community. She is a youth sports coach for softball. She has helped rake leaves and plant flowers for community members. She helped with the Red Cross blood drives.
Tatum is planning to go to UW-Eau Claire for nursing.
Chloe Cihlar
Margo Lynn Pogodzinski
Tatum Bargender
