Ironwood Class of 2013 earns high marks for excellence in classroom

IRONWOOD — Three members of the Class of 2013 surpassed a high goal in graduating on May 26, something superintendent Tim Kolesar can’t remember ever seeing in 30 years of working in the school district.

Three graduates had cumulative grade point averages above 4.0.

Maighlin Kolesar had a GPA of 4.0309, Ellen Hagstrom 4.0129 and Bradley Torni 4.0001.

“That is just amazing to me,” Tim Kolesar said.

According to Hagstrom and Torni, the GPAs came as a surprise.

“I had no idea until I went to pick up my transcripts after graduation,” Hagstrom said.

All three plan on continuing their educations at four-year universities.

Maighlin Kolesar will attend Michigan State University and major in nutrition and fitness, while Hagstrom will attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and major in biology.

Torni will attend Michigan Technological University and major in computer science.

According to Tim Kolesar, the Class of 2013 was “very bright,” based on the number of students with high GPAs.

Forty of the 72 graduates were honor students with 3.0-or-more cumulative GPAs, and 32 of those 40 students had GPAs of 3.25 higher.

Fourteen of the 32 students had GPAs of 3.5 or higher, and nine of the 14 had GPAs of 3.75 or higher. Of those nine students, six had GPAs of 3.9 and three of those six had GPAs of 4.0 or better.

“The Class of 2013 was a very bright group of students, and they had lots of people support their efforts over the years in the Ironwood Area Schools,” Tim Kolesar said. “Your parents and family, your teachers, friends, neighbors and community members all tried to make Ironwood a good place to live.”

Asked about their secrets to success, “Prepare for a lot of late nights,” Maighlin Kolesar said.

Torni said, “And don’t procrastinate until the night before.”

While their entire four years of high school have been filled with hard work, their were particular classes that made it all the more challenging, including math and Advanced Placement literature, according to Hagstrom and Torni. But one class gave them a little fun.

“I really liked AP history,” Maighlin Kolesar said. “That was a good class.”

After four years of studying, taking tests and extra credit projects, the three were able to relax, but not as early as one might think.

“Graduation day,” Hagstrom said. “That was when I was relieved.”

As for their futures, Tim Kolesar has high expectations.

“I know that they are all going to do great things,” Tim Kolesar said. “The Ironwood Area Schools of Gogebic County are proud to recognize the academic achievements of these students as they prepare to get on with the next step in their future plans.”

Hagstrom is the daughter of Pat Hagstrom, Maighlin Kolesar is the daughter of Tim and Megan Kolesar and Torni is the son of Sandy and Dale Torni.