BRISTOL — The Mt. Abraham Union High School class of 2018 wrapped up their high school careers when they received their diplomas on June 9. Two exceptional students addressed the class and their families and friends — Valedictorian Molly Funk and Salutatorian Jenna McArdle.
Funk (pictured, right) is the daughter of Thomas Funk and Elizabeth Maher of Bristol. She is a creative, intelligent and well-rounded young woman. She has challenged herself academically by taking the most rigorous courses available to her at Mt. Abraham Union High School. She has completed Advanced Placement (AP) Studio Art, AP European History and AP Calculus AB.
As a senior, she is enrolled in AP Biology, AP US History and AP English Language and Composition. In order to add to the rigor of her academics, she has also taken advantage of online course offerings and has excelled in three classes through Virtual High School. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Funk’s extracurricular commitments are impressive and she has made a positive impact in each activity that she has chosen to be involved with at Mt. Abraham and in her local community. She has participated in the fall and spring musicals; as an actress, as well as a set and costume designer. She has been a key member of the Mt. Abraham girls’ soccer team.
Funk is the club leader for the Mt. Abraham Environmental Action Group, where she is involved in sustainability initiatives in the school. She is also a founding member of the Mt. Abraham Student Activism Club. For the last three years, Molly has been a member of Student Government in the role of Secretary and the Community Council as Communicator and Clerk.
In addition to her commitments at school, she has participated extensively within our local community. Funk has volunteered at Project Independence, Elderly Services and will continue her work as an employee there this summer. She has also worked as a kennel assistant at the Bristol Animal Hospital and a swim instructor through the town recreation department.
She has participated in the United World College Global Leadership Forum in Montezuma, New Mexico, attended the Governor’s Institute of Vermont: Current Issues and Youth Activism and studied abroad in Panama through the AFS Summer Community Service Program.
Molly’s rigorous academics and diverse range of extracurricular commitments demonstrate how focused she is on making a positive impact on her school, local and global community. She is a natural leader and her enthusiasm, energy and passion are contagious. Next year Molly will attend Boston College. She will be missed at Mt. Abe and we wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
McArdle (pictured, left) is the daughter of Wendy McArdle of Bristol, and Scott McArdle of Starksboro. Jenna is a warm and engaging. She has a quick smile and a great sense of humor. She has a broad group of friends and involves herself in many activities.
McArdle takes her studies seriously. She has a strong work ethic, consistently producing quality assignments. She has taken AP course options in English Language, Biology, European History, Calculus AB and Calculus BC. She has taken all of Mt. Abraham’s lab science offerings, earning quality grades in each. In addition, she has extended her study of Spanish through level four.
Because of those efforts, McArdle has been recognized for academic excellence in each semester of her high school career. Teachers report that Jenna uses her time effectively, takes initiative, and contributes to the overall learning environment. She is always prepared and brings an attitude that maximizes her potential for learning.
McArdle has found the balance of being cool, confident, and kind. She is unassuming, accepting, and interacts as easily with adults as she does with her friends. Athletics have played a major role in her life. She has been an asset to the Mt. Abraham soccer program. She has also been responsible for much of the success experienced by the Eagle Championship Softball team.
School spirit is McArdle’s trademark. She is the queen of Eagle Nation, supporting her friends as they play, perform, sing, dance and score. She is always dressed to the nines in whatever the team spirit theme of the day may be. She is proud of her friends, her teammates, and our school.
They say that attitude is everything. McArdle’s positive can-do attitude is an example for all. Over the course of her high school career she has grown into a confident young woman with tremendous potential for future success. In August, Jenna will enroll in the prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University. All in the Mt. Abraham community are very proud of her accomplishments and wish her the best in her future endeavors.