Geneva City Schools Class of 2025 valedictorian and salutatorian are both eyeing careers in the sciences.
Valedictorian Rendell Belanger Curren will attend Williams College, and although she has not yet decided on a major, environmental science is a top contender. Salutatorian Emily DeBolt will attend West Virginia University, where she plans to major in biochemistry or forensic science.
Belanger Curren is studying abroad in Rajamäki, Finland, this year. Geneva City Schools reached her by e-mail for this story.
“I think everyone should feel proud of themselves for graduating,” Belanger Curren wrote, explaining that while she’s pleased with her valedictorian distinction, her entire class has overcome substantial obstacles to reach the graduation stage. “Some of my classmates have done amazing things that don’t necessarily show up on transcripts.” She says she owes her academic success to her family, especially her parents, Elizabeth Belanger and Ethan Curren. “My family instilled in me academic curiosity and a love for learning,” she explained. She also expressed gratitude to all of her Geneva High School teachers, with special mention for science teacher Kirsten Abbott and English teacher George Goga.
“I don’t know what I want to pursue as a career, but I want to make a difference,” said Belanger Curren. “That’s my main goal.”
DeBolt plans to become a forensic scientist. “You can have a very clear impact on people, and obviously it’s nice to have a purpose,” she said, explaining her choice of vocation.
DeBolt attributes her academic success to her general interest in learning and sense of commitment. “Once I’m told to do something, or I’ve said I will do something, then I’ll do it,” she said. She also credits her parents, Janine and Ken DeBolt, for encouraging her. To incoming students, she advises, “Keep an open mind, because I remember taking some courses thinking, ‘oh, this is going to be boring; I’ll never need this,’ and then finding something interesting that I really liked.”
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