Over the past few years, Larned High School has changed dramatically. From turf football fields to the exciting growth of the school’s average ACT scores, it is safe to say that Larned has made some thrilling new changes. Like any great administration, Larned High School has suffered through a few teething pains on its way to the 2025 school year. In this article, we will hear the voices of past LHS alumni and their thoughts on whether or not the school prepared them for the future.
First on the list is Breanna Hemken. Breanna graduated last year in 2024. When asked if she felt that LHS prepared her well for college, she stated, “I feel like the classes I took in high school prepared me for my college classes, and they gave me the skills I needed to be a good student!” Breanna was involved in many different activities in high school, including tennis, FCA, FCCLA, STUCO, and many more. She is a prime example of what a hard-working student looks like. When asked what advice she would give to high school students wanting to get the most out of their years in high school, she said, “I would say to take all the core classes that you can. I took every science course and almost every math course offered at LHS. These classes helped prepare me for the rigorous coursework in college.” Breanna is now studying at Fort Hayes State University and doing very well. Seeing how well Larned prepared last year’s senior students for the future is exciting!
Next up is Jacob Colglazier. Jacob graduated from LHS in the year of 2023. While Jacob enjoyed his time at LHS, he had a few things to add on the contrary side when asked if the high school prepared him well. He stated, “Yes, I do, although I do wish we were able to have taken more classes, specifically math classes, for college credit. I think overall, the general education was enough for basic college classes.” Jacob ended his high school career with the highest GPA that one could have coming out of high school, a 4.0, so to say that he was a well-achieving student would be an understatement. However, Jacob also mentioned how “Most of the pressures people put on you in high school about college do not matter. Things like ACT scores and keeping a high GPA. Although they help with scholarships, they don’t matter at all once you are in college.” He went on to talk about how keeping up a good work ethic and getting all of your work done help the most in the end.
Last up is former senior Jocylen Clawson. Jocelyn had a busy high school career with being involved in activities like band, pep band, and golf. When asked what she thought about LHS, she stated “I think that LHS did prepare me for college.” She also mentioned how she now has much more free time than what she did in high school, and continues by saying “Professors expect you to be able to learn how to do what they’re teaching quickly. You need to teach yourself how to do most of the content because they just tell you what you need to study for but not much after that.” With that being said, if Jocylen did not have her busy schedule in high school, she may not have gained the necessary skills to move on to the difficult college life.
In conclusion, Larned High School is a great place to learn. It is interesting to see the difference between when Jacob Colglazier graduated and when Breanna Hemken and Jocylen Clawson graduated. It will be interesting to see how the high school continues to improve in the future!
