Tyson leads Fostoria Class of 2024

FOSTORIA—Chelsea Tyson is smart enough to have the Fostoria High School Class of 2024's highest grade-point average and realize that others have contributed to her successes. And she didn't take it for granted on Saturday when she received her diploma and addressed her classmates as valedictorian of her class. She said she wanted her 126 peers in the Fostoria Junior/Senior High School gym on Saturday to understand that while situations will always have to be resolved in life, the opportunity to do that will always be present. "Challenges are always going to be present in life, and, honestly, as you grow up, they're only going to get more complex," she said in a post-ceremony interview. "But how you handle them is what makes you who you are and you can always build off of that. So, even if you're struggling and you're not doing as well as you think you can, you can always use that as motivation to build up and better yourself." Tyson accumulated a 4.195 through the first semester of her senior year to earn valedictorian recognition. Skylar Sherman was salutatorian. Tyson more than kept herself busy during her high school year. In recognition of her grades and activity participation, she named to the National Honor Society. She also took part in student council, Drug-Free Clubs of America, the DECA career-development organization and Students For Change, and she played volleyball and softball and served as manager in the boys basketball program. She's also worked Java's Enchanted Bean, a coffee shop in downtown Fostoria. Having accomplished all of that, she didn't take getting her diploma lightly, nor did she fail to understand that it wasn't accomplished without a great deal of backing. "It honestly means a lot to make it this far because a lot of people don't get to make it to this point and they don't have the support system that I have," she said. "So, I'm just very thankful and it means a lot that I have the support system that I was able to be involved in the things I got the chance to be involved in." Tyson said her parents, Matthew Tyson and Corey Miller, are at the forefront of a support system that stretches beyond the family unit. "It's definitely a little bit of everything," she said. "My family is one of my biggest supporters, but I have an amazing group of friends, and the staff and administrators at Fostoria always had my back and were supporting me as well." Tyson said she plans to remain active on campus as she matriculates to Heidelberg University in Tiffin to study business. She aims to major in marketing as an undergraduate and then remain in Heidelberg's master's in business administration program, which will provide a significant tuition break if she fares well enough with her grades in her first four years.She said she intentionally looked to study nearby so she could remain closely involved in the maturation of her younger brother and sister. "With my younger siblings, I want to be able to be there for them and support them growing up while also being able to flourish while doing my own thing," she said. "Fostoria means a lot to me. I know that once I graduate college, I'm most likely going to have to move a little bit away to get the job that I want, that pays what I want, but as of now I'm still young and want to still be involved in Fostoria and be a part of the community that I love, even if I'm not going to high school here anymore." The Class of 2024's advisors were Amy Koomen and Amber Betenson. The class color was black, while its song was Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothing." The class motto was author and orator John C. Maxwell's quote, "You're only as good as the people you have around you." Class members included: Allan Anders, Trinity May Asbell, Lilynn Jeannine Sue Aufdencamp, Rachelle Maun Baccam, Matthew James-Eugene Balderama Jr., Johnna Elonie Banks, Trevor Lee Barchus, Brooklynn Renee Bergstedt, Morgan Alice Jane Bermudes, Karmen Bernal, Marisol Lynn Bernal, Jacey Marie Blair, Magdalene Botton, Mariah Bower, Megan Braden, Damien Bradley, Brendyn Rickie Lee Brown, Demetrius Tywann Brown, Alexander Bulkowski, Myasia Kayonna Cannon, Ares Capshaw, Christopher Carnahan, Kristian Wade Carter-Stokes, Gabriela Castillo, Xander Allen Cessna, Marissa Collins, Laura Marie Cook, Marvin Ray Cook, Mary Jean Cook, Krystal Kay Couch, Kaden Avery Craig, Jenna Crow, Gabriel James Davis, Katelyn Theresa Denny, Layla Marie Desbin, Collin Michael Dirks, Brayden Adam Drenning, Landon Curtis Dunn, Aurora Elizabeth Etzinger, Jordan Faber, Bryanna Kelly Ferguson, Jordan Ferguson, Alexavier Frias, Jonas Matthew Garton, Matthew Christopher Gierke, Luis Alberton Hernandez, Toni Lee Hernandez-Hill, Dylan Joseph Holmes, Kaleb Edward Jakcsy, Machi Johnson, Jocelin Louise Jordan, Timberley Kidwell, Makenna Lee King, Elijah Wayne Kiser, Derrick John Kleinmark Jr., Alex Christopher Kotter, Exzavior Miles Layton, Jacob LeBay, Alex Samantha Lewis, Amelia Lira, Julianna Marie Loach, Luis Lopez, Huston Main, Destiny McAfee, Desinee Ariyah McBeth-Settles, James Leo McCaskill, Makalynn McCumber, Adisyn May McElwain, Keyera Cherise McGhee, Timothy Alan McGrew, Cayden Blair Miller, Gavin Michael Miller, Kylee Marie Miller, Imaneleza Marca Navarro, Ryan Patrick O'Neal, Hollie Osmer, Parth Patel, Warren Maurice Powell, Prince-Makel Jeffrey Pree, Christian Jacob Price, Jayce Eli Ramirez; Danny Lawton Raney III, Morgyn Juleyanne Ricker, Julius Robinson, Nevaeh Olyvia Robinson, Izabehla Simona Rodriguez, Brennen Rose, Kairo Sanchez, Jordan Scott Sauber, Libby Nicole Schlachter, Kaileb Jeffrey Schube, Keegan Seaburn, Isabelle Sherman, Skylar P. Sherman, James Edward Simms, Chris Skeen, Ashon Slaughter, Austin James Smith, Azarien Michael Smith, Devin Lee Smith, Gaig Michael St. Clair, Luke Anthony Stansbery, Anyanka Rae Stansbery, Addison Blair Switzer, Addisyn D'Nae Talley, Braylee R'Nae Talley, Ceegan L'Nae Talley, Roberto Tovias, Christel Ann Trejo, Landon Tuttle, Chelsea Kaylen Tyson, Jayla C'Ne Uballe, Serenity VanRavenswaay, David Micheal Carl Waltermeyer, Landon Webb, Aidan Bruce West, Dawson Binx Williams, Karma Nakiya Janea-Kelly Williams, Jayden Lorenzo Lee Ybarra.