The four with the 4.0

By maintaining a 4.0 grade point average throughout the entirety of their high school careers, four Creston Community High School Graduates have earned the title of Valedictorian in the Class of 2020.

These four students — Mackenzie Bodell, Brittany Linch, Eli Loudon and Hannah Walsh —have all walked the stage and received their diplomas during the recording of CCHS’s virtual graduation, which is set to be available 2 p.m. May 17.

Mackenzie Bodell

“It feels cool, but honestly I wasn’t expecting this,” said Bodell.

Bodell, 17, of Creston is the daughter of Eric Bodell. She said when she ended her Freshman year with a 4.0 GPA, it pushed her to continue that success, with planning and organization being the key to her success.

“I set aside time everyday,” said Bodell. “I had a set schedule of when I had practices and when I had time to study. I wrote in a planner, I used Google Calendar and kept deadlines, I was just really organized.”

Bodell participated in speech, different forms of band, choir, musicals and winter guard. Additionally, Bodell was the state champion for the Iowa State Drill Team Association Solo Contest in November 2019.

“I really enjoyed winter guard,” said Bodell. “We only had like 15 members on the team, so it was really fun to travel and perform. It was kind of an escape every night, because we had practice more often than not.”

“Mackenzie is such a positive, inspirational personality and many of the winter guard members looked up to her and admired her talent and leadership,” said winter guard coach Lisa Peters. “She was always creating new routine moves to add or enhance this year’s show. Mackenzie has worked so hard during her four years in high school and I am so proud of her and all of her accomplishments.  She will be greatly missed by all of her guard friends and me.”

During her time at CCHS, Bodell said her favorite memory was during her freshman year Valleyfest Showdown performance with the school band.

“The whole band went up to Des Moines and performed two performances that day, and I got to spend the whole day with all my friends and watch all these really cool bands,” said Bodell.

After graduation, Bodell plans to attend Iowa State University to double major in business and theater. She said that CCHS has more than prepared her for the future, and that the teachers, staff and administration deserve more recognition.

“I think they did a better job than they give themselves credit for,” said Bodell. “Aside from education, I learned a lot of life skills. I learned time management. I learned how to relax. I learned all the things you need to learn for the adult world.”

To incoming freshman, Bodell pushed the importance of enjoying the high school experience.

“While grades are a priority, make memories outside of the textbook and outside of the practices,” said Bodell. “Those are the memories that will matter most once you graduate.”

Brittany Linch

“This feels pretty good considering that this is not just an honor you can get, but one that takes a certain amount of time and effort,” said Linch.

Linch, 18, of Creston is the daughter of Mike and Raquel Linch. She said keeping her eye on the future was the key to her motivation in preserving her 4.0 GPA.

“It wasn’t easy, but I was looking toward the point where I am now, where I wanted to get scholarships and get a good foundation so I can be successful in college and after college,” said Linch.

Linch competed in cross country and track, and was inducted into the National Honor Society. Linch said she was extremely active in band, saying she ‘participated in every single event possible.’

“I started off in fifth grade, and I didn’t really have something that pushed me that way, as time went on I just got better and better,” said Linch. “I was getting better and receiving those honors, so I think that was what kept me in band. That, and it was so much fun.”

Linch would eventually be third-chair trumpet at Iowa All-State Band, and additionally got to perform in the Outstanding Soloist Recital in Ames.

“I taught her how to open her trumpet case and put the horn together, to giving her a pep talk going into every audition and solo contest she ever had,” said CCHS band instructor Mike Peters. “Brittany succeeds because she has the very necessary elements you need to succeed. An immense amount of talent, a drive to perfection and the personal discipline to use both so that every ounce of her talent is displayed when she picks up her trumpet or flugelhorn.”

Peters said while he was proud of her accomplishments during her tenure with the high school band, it’s her intentions after graduation that make him the most proud.

“The moment that made me the happiest, what gave me the most joy was when she told me that she was going to continue playing in college at Iowa State,” said Peters. “That she was going to continue to share her enormous gift with the rest of the world. The fact that she will continue to be a musician and grow is the best feeling any teacher can ever hope to achieve.”

During her time at CCHS, Linch said she enjoyed cross country bus rides and time with teammates, but her favorite memory was the band trip to Florida.

“We got to perform in a parade in Disney World, so we took a trip down there and performed and spent extra time doing other activities, it was fun,” said Linch.

After graduation, Linch plans to attend Iowa State University to major in biology, with hopes to pursue marine biology. She will also be participating in the school’s marching band.

Linch said she has learned many lessons at CCHS but said the most important one was how to readjust in the face of the unexpected.

“Life isn’t going to be perfect, and we all have these plans, hopes and expectations,” said Linch. “Creston has taught me that sometimes those don’t work out, and I’ve learned how to work around those things and work through adversity in order to be successful.”

The best example Linch could provide was the school’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We didn’t get to finish senior year like we would have hoped, but we worked around that,” said Linch. “We had a virtual graduation, with track we kept our team together and shifted our gears to look at the positives instead of all the negatives.”

To incoming freshman, Linch provided advice she wish she would have been given.

“I wish someone would have told me that it’s okay not to have an exact plan and that you don’t need every little detail planned out,” said Linch. “Go with the flow, solve the problems as they come up and go from there.”

Eli Loudon

“It feels like all the hard work has paid off and come together,” said Loudon.

Loudon, 18, of Creston, is the son of Tim and Nancy Loudon. He said he didn’t start to notice his odds of becoming a Valedictorian until about halfway through his high school career.

“The first two years I didn’t think about it too much, but when Junior year rolled around I still had a 4.0 and I decided I should go for it,” said Loudon. “You have to make sure you’re as prepared and ready as you can be before going into any test, and make sure you get all the assignments done.”

Loudon participated in various athletics including football, basketball and baseball, as well as FBLA, student government and National Honor Society. He qualified for nationals twice in FBLA, was junior class president and was first-team All-District in football his senior year.

“I was the quarterback and lettered all four years,” said Loudon. “Football was my favorite sport in high school. I loved practices every day with the team, it was always a lot of fun, and it’s the sport I will probably miss most when it’s all said and done.”

-Jacobson quote

During his time at CCHS, Loudon said his favorite memory was a trip they took to New York and Washington D.C. during spring break his Junior year.

“My favorite part was going to New York and seeing all the stores and different sites,” said Loudon.

After graduation, Loudon plans to attend Iowa State University to major in computer engineering. He said CCHS has best prepared him by their selection of dual-enrollment courses.

“They allowed me to take a lot of college classes, so that was a good bonus,” said Loudon. “It somewhat teaches you how to be in college before you get there, so you will feel more comfortable.”

To his fellow graduates, Loudon provided an inspirational message.

“Work as hard as you can, and try and chase any dream you have,” said Loudon.

Hannah Walsh

“Receiving this honor is the greatest feeling I have ever experienced and I’m still shocked,” said Walsh.

Walsh, 18, of Creston, is the daughter of Jim Walsh and Jennifer Redd. Walsh said when she first entered high school, she didn’t think she would achieve a 4.0 GPA, let alone become a Valedictorian.

“I really had to prioritize my time with friends, activities, and academics in order to maintain my GPA,” said Walsh.

Walsh credits her earlier education at St. Malachy School for setting her on this path.

“When I attended St. Malachy, they taught me a lot about making sure your homework was completed on time, you kept things organized, and you continued to participate in activities,” said Walsh. “Ever since I graduated from there, that mindset was still engraved in my head and it helped me to keep my GPA.”

“Hannah was an excellent student, always following the rules and directions, completing her work thoroughly and thoughtfully, and being a kind friend to all,” said Ann Levine, first-grade teacher at St. Malachy School and former instructor of Walsh.

Walsh has participated in tennis, bowling, FBLA, publications, choir, 4H and was inducted into the National Honor Society. Walsh said she has many favorite memories from her time at CCHS, but the most notable was her Junior prom.

“I will never forget Prom 2019, when Logan Shady got a 1930 Ford Model A Roadster car,” said Walsh. “We called the horn the ‘sexy whistle,’ because it sounded like someone doing a high-pitched whistle. So, when we saw someone we knew, we ‘whistled’ at them!”

After graduation, Walsh plans to attend Central College to major in communication studies with a minor in marketing.

“Since CCHS give us the opportunity to take college classes, and some of the high school classes are a little more challenging, it has helped me get a glimpse of what to expect when I attend college this Fall,” said Walsh.

Walsh leaves with a positive outlook to share with her fellow graduates.

“We made many memories together, but it’s not ending just because we’re leaving,” said Walsh. “It’s only the beginning.”