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As the 2007-08 school year is coming to a close, valedictorian Tanya Larsen and salutatorian Kelsey Gander are looking forward to the future.

Tanya will be attending the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to study physical therapy or nuclear medicine.

Kelsey will be a student at Drake University, De Moines, Iowa, where she will study pre-pharmacy.

Both students said they feel prepared for college life because they have gained time management skills while at Westby Area High School.

“With sports you learn to manage your time,” Tanya said.

“The biggest thing is time management — balancing your social time with academics and athletics,” Kelsey said. “You choose your priorities.”

While the scholars are looking forward to the future, they are also reflecting on their favorite memories.

Tanya and Kelsey both said their favorite memories center on their sophomore year when the boys basketball team advanced to state and the band and choir traveled by bus to New York City.

The New York City trip will be a longtime memory for Tanya because students “got to explore a new city.”

“It was a different experience outside of school,” Kelsey said.

Tanya and Kelsey said they both will miss certain things once they leave high school.

“I’ll miss my friends being right there, the friendliness of everyone and of the teachers and memories from athletics,” Tanya said.

I’ll miss the close-knit atmosphere of not just school but [also] the community,” Kelsey said. “If you have a problem, there are people you can talk to. It will be different not knowing everyone.”

Both students have been involved in a variety of school activities.

Tanya has been a three-sport athlete.

She played volleyball for four years, earning three letters and 2007 Honorable Mention in the Coulee Conference.

She also played basketball for four years, earning four letters. She was co-captain in 2006-07 and 2007-08 and for the 2007-08 season she earned an honorable mention in the Coulee Conference.

In addition, Tanya has played softball four years, earning four letters, 2005 honorable mention, 2006 second team all conference and 2007 second team all conference.

In addition to athletics, she has been involved in jazz band, pep band, student council and National Honor Society.

Along the way, Tanya earned several honors, including being on the high honor roll for four years and being named a Westby Area Kids Organization (WAKO) Student of Distinction in November of 2007.

Outside of school she is involved with Christian Young.

Sports have also been a part of Kelsey’s life. She ran cross country for four years, earning four letters and all-conference honorable mention her junior and senior years. In addition, she played basketball three years and has been on the track team for four years, earning three letters.

Her other school activities include National Honor Society secretary, dance team, choir and being a Badger Girls State representative.

Outside of school Kelsey is a member of the Enterprise Eagles 4-H Club and works part time at Sears.

Her honors include being on the high honor roll, being named a WAKO Student of Distinction as a freshman and junior and earning an academic letter.

As they have been involved with activities in school and the community, Tanya and Kelsey have had special people influence them.

Tanya’s influences came from technology education teacher Dennis Smalley and her family.

“Mr. Smalley stresses it’s more important what you learn while you’re here,” she said. “My family has been very supportive of all my activities.”

Kelsey’s greatest influence has been cross country coach and social studies teacher Brian Huebner.

“You can talk with him about anything,” she said. “He’s a teacher and a friend at the same time.”

What experiences have helped the students grow and reach their goals?

“Sports, because you deal with adversity every game; you don’t know what’s going to happen,” Tanya said. “You learn to go with the flow and learn how work with other people.”

“My part-time job,” Kelsey said. “I didn’t manage my time well before. You are making connections outside of school and you learn the responsibility of earning money for yourself.”

The seniors have advice for underclassmen — take advantage of the opportunities offered.

“Since this is a small school, take advantage of all the opportunities set before you,” Kelsey said.

She said if students don’t take advantage of the extracurricular activities offered, they might look back and “regret not taking a chance when they could have.”

“Take advantage of the opportunities and work hard, but don’t go to the point where you are not enjoying yourself,” Tanya said.

Tanya is the daughter of Paul and Ann Larsen. Her sister, Marissa, 20, is a college sophomore. She is the granddaughter of Albon Pederson and Glen and Shirley Larsen.

Kelsey is the daughter of Mark and Kathleen Gander. Her siblings are Jill, 23, who is working toward her master’s degree in microbiology at UW-L and Trent, 12, a sixth-grader. She is the granddaughter of Robert and Evelyn Wallace and Ronald Gander.