Straight-A student and community role model Natalie Kotch was selected as St. Timothy School’s valedictorian for the Class of 2023.
Since Grade 8, Kotch has maintained the highest academic average of her class. In addition to her academics, Kotch is also part of the St. Timothy School band program and sits on the student advisory council.
Outside of the classroom, Kotch served as an active volunteer in the community with St. Mary’s Catholic Parish and the Helping Hands Society. She is also part of the Snap Dance Studio’s performance team and has been dancing since Grade 2.
“Every spring, I actually compete with them and this year it was really cool,” Kotch said. “We got to perform in Mexico over spring break. We went to a resort and [we] were part of the evening entertainment, and this year, my tap group number has been nominated and qualified for provincials that take place later in June, so that’s quite exciting.”
Looking back on her years as a high-school student, Kotch said one of her fondest memories from her time at St. Tim’s was being a part of the school band.
“We went to Vancouver and that was just a really fun experience, both as part of the band and getting time to spend with my classmates and also students from other grades,” Kotch said. “It was also nice to go after we’ve been stuck in Cochrane for the past couple of years.
“But I also just enjoy the conversations that I hear during classes. Sometimes we can get way off topic, but those are always enjoyable, and they just make the day more interesting.”
Although Kotch said it is an awesome achievement to be named valedictorian for her graduating class, she said she hadn’t really considered the possibility of that accolade until her Grade 12 year as a student.
“A lot of my classmates asked me if I was going to apply in previous years, but I never pictured myself doing it,” Kotch said. “This year, it changed and I’m really happy that I did, because I think it was an awesome learning experience as well as an honour.”
Once she’s received her high-school diploma on June 28, Kotch will be heading to the University of Alberta in the fall, where she plans to work towards her Bachelors of Science with honours in physiology.
“I’m really excited to go there, but I’m not entirely sure what I want for a career path,” Kotch admitted. “I’m thinking medicine, but I also want to go there with an open mind and see what interests me with the classes that I’m taking.”
For whoever follows in her steps as St. Timothy’s next valedictorian, Kotch said the best advice she can part with is to insert their personality into their speech.
“Don’t create a speech to impress everyone else,” Kotch said. “Create one that is close to your heart and that means something to you because that will make it so much better, more important, and easier to talk about and connect with.
“I really enjoyed my time at St. Tim’s,” Kotch added. “And while I had a very small graduating class and we have a very small school, it made high school more personal and just enjoyable having known [everyone].”
She would also like to give a special shout out to teachers who made her time as a student even more enjoyable.
“First, Mr. Cummings, and Mrs. Nowicki, because I am pursing science in university and they were really amazing teachers and just made those classes so enjoyable,” Kotch said. “I’ll give a shout out to Mr. McGregor, who is the band teacher. He does a lot for the fine arts and just does a lot for the kids, and it was really, really fun to be in the band and experience that.”
