Waters and Gartelmann lead the Class of 2017

MILLBROOK — The valedictorian and salutatorian this year at Millbrook High School are Kelly Waters and  Erica Gartelmann, respectively. 

Kelly Waters

Kelly lives in Verbank with parents Robin and June, and an older brother. She was in the school chorus, she plays piano and clarinet, she was a member of the Honor Society and she was involved the Interact program — all of which kept her busy. She played lacrosse, rode horses and took care of her two dogs and one cat.

Kelly plans to attend Clemson University in South Carolina come fall, something she is a bit nervous about but also very excited. She expects she’ll miss everyone, but said her parents are happy for her and agree with her choice of school. 

Kelly chose Clemson because of its size and ample choices in curriculum. Also, Clemson is known for its football team; Kelly loves football and other sports. A plus, she said, “My father is a big football fan. He may come down for some of the games.”

Kelly also loves horseback riding, and Clemson has an equestrian team, something she can plan for in the future. 

She wants to study general engineering. She likes to write, and may pursue technical writing. Her brother Ryan is a technical engineer. She also likes to read, “The Outsiders” being among her favorites.

Kelly enjoyed attending Millbrook schools. She praised English teacher Frank Fiorenza for making writing a pleasure. She said attending a smaller school afforded more opportunities to learn and to grow, like her love of music. She said her experiences in the district have created fond memories.

“Leaving the Millbrook community to go to college is going to be a big adjustment for me,” she said. “I’ve known some of my friends since pre-k, and I still run into teachers I had in elementary school. I am lucky to have attended a district where I could form these close relationships and be involved in many different activities. Even though I am going away, I will always have the values I gained from this community with me. I am so grateful to all the people who helped get me here, and for all the opportunities that were given to me.”

Erica Gartelmann

Erica will be attending SUNY New Paltz next year, chosen because she feels it affords diverse and reputable programs. She also feels it will give her an opportunity to be involved in the arts outside of the classroom. 

Erica said she’s excited to see what her future will bring, though she was initially somewhat anxious.

“When I first started to apply to college, I was fearful of the unknown,” she said. “It made me uncomfortable not having a clear path of what I was going to do next. Now, I have come to terms with not knowing. In fact, I am beginning to like it because it means anything is possible.”

The daughter of Eric and Tracy Gartelmann, Erica has an older brother, Andre, and a dog named Sammy. And while she will be working as a waitress this summer at the Millbrook Golf and Tennis Club, she’s also planning a trip to Denmark for two weeks at the end of August to visit relatives there.

Erica is a music lover, and has been in many plays at Millbrook High School. This past spring she played the Sour Kangaroo in “Seussical the Musical.” Also a member of chorus, she enjoyed many performances.

“Music has always been one of my main interests,” she said. “I learned a lot and gained more confidence from being involved in the music program at Millbrook, and will carry the love of music I have developed in high school with me for the rest of my life.” 

She praised Millbrook High School for providing myriad opportunities and memories. Erica said she liked its smaller size. She added Millbrook High was more than just a school, it was a home away from home, with a “tight-knit community of students and staff.” She also praised her many “wonderful teachers,” and credited them for her success.

Erica hasn’t decided on a major, but she is excited about taking courses in college that she wasn’t exposed to in high school. While she isn’t sure what she wants to do, she does know that whatever she does, she wants to be a role model. 

“I think it would be amazing to have younger people look up to you,” she said, “or to have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.”