This is an ongoing series written by Staff Writer Lauren Konefal highlighting various members of the CRHS Class of 2022.

In a few short weeks, the Coginchaug Regional High School Class of 2022 will be graduating and bidding farewell to high school. The Devil’s Advocate reached out to select seniors to find out about their plans for the future after they graduate and asked them to reflect on their time at Coginchaug. 

Thank you to the featured seniors – Liz Carroll, Grace Hinsch, Jack Huscher, and Emma Ufferfilge – who took the time to write thoughtful responses for the first edition of Senior Spotlight!

Liz Carroll

Devil’s Advocate (DA): What are your plans for the future after you graduate?

Liz Carroll (LC): After high school I will be attending Suffolk University, in Boston, to study History and International Relations. After I plan on getting my masters in History and then becoming a teacher.

DA: What aspect of your high school years have you enjoyed the most?

LC: I have enjoyed the close relationships I have made over my high school years. I also really enjoy the leadership experience I have gotten from clubs and other activities. 

DA: What extracurricular activities and sports have you been involved with during your time at Coginchaug?

LC: I am Deputy Secretary General of our school’s Model United Nations Club and I have won Best Delegate twice in competitions. I am also in the National Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society and I write for the school newspaper.

DA: What was your greatest challenge at Coginchaug and how did you overcome it?

LC: My greatest challenge was trying to be myself and who I want to be but I really was able to establish my own individuality throughout high school. 

DA: What did you learn about yourself during your time at Coginchaug?

LC: I learned a lot about myself, mostly that I’m not a morning person. But also that I need to do something in the future where I can share my passions, like history, with people around me.

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

LC: I genuinely love the majority of the Coginchaug teachers but I love Ms. Suchy because she has helped me so much and given me so much advice. 

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

LC: My favorite class at Coginchaug has probably been AP Government and Politics just because I like politics and find the topics very interesting. 

DA: What are you going to miss the most about Coginchaug?

LC: I’m probably going to miss the teachers the most. 

DA: Which of your accomplishments at Coginchaug are you most proud of?

LC: I won Best Delegate at Boston University’s annual Model UN conference in 2021, which was a huge accomplishment for me. Also winning Best Delegate this year at UHart’s Model UN conference, with my brother, was a huge accomplishment.  

DA: What advice would you give to underclassmen based on your experience at Coginchaug?

LC: I would probably tell the underclassmen, specifically the juniors, to not stress about college because in the end everything will work out. 

Grace Hinsch

Devil’s Advocate (DA): What are your plans for the future after you graduate?

Grace Hinsch (GH): After graduating high school, I will be going to Bryant University to major in Accounting and minor in Legal Studies. 

DA: What aspect of your high school years have you enjoyed the most?

GH: Some of my favorite parts of high school have been attending school events, such as homecoming, Mr. Coginchaug, and the annual pink-out volleyball game.

DA: What extracurricular activities and sports have you been involved with during your time at Coginchaug?

GH: At Coginchaug, I have been a part of the Girl’s Tennis team (now co-captain) in the spring. Year round, I have participated in the school’s Robotics Team, Debate Club, Quiz Bowl Team, Class of 2022 Class Council, Book Club, French Honor Society (Vice President), and National Honor Society. 

DA: What was your greatest challenge at Coginchaug and how did you overcome it?

GH: One of the greatest challenges at Coginchaug I faced was finding a way to balance all of my activities and homework for school, especially when everything seemed to inconveniently overlap during the same week. Creating a mental schedule helped the most with this, or reaching out to one of my teachers to voice my concerns. One of my smaller challenges was staying awake during any of my science classes, because I am definitely not a science person. 

DA: What did you learn about yourself during your time at Coginchaug?

GH: Through my classes, I learned I prefered math and history classes to science and English ones. This discovery helped me to decide on majoring in Accounting at Bryant. 

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

GH: It’s too difficult to pick just one favorite teacher, so a few of my favorites are Mrs. Lagace, Mrs. Walsh, Mrs. DelGrego, and Mrs. McClintick. 

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

GH: My favorite class is my AP Government and Politics class, which I’m taking this year. It is a class I find myself most engaged and interested in, and it helps that I have the best classmates and teacher. 

DA: What are you going to miss the most about Coginchaug?

GH: After graduating, I will miss the random things I overhear from other students while in the hallway and at lunch. I will also miss all of the people I have grown close with for practically my whole life.

DA: Which of your accomplishments at Coginchaug are you most proud of?

GH: My proudest accomplishment at Coginchaug was getting Ms. Altieri to laugh at one of my jokes freshman year. Receiving high honors all four years of high school is also one of my best accomplishments. 

DA: What advice would you give to underclassmen based on your experience at Coginchaug?

GH: To any underclassman student at CRHS, I would suggest taking the time to ask others for help when you need it. Most teachers and classmates are willing to help you out if you ever feel stressed or overloaded with work.

Jack Huscher

Devil’s Advocate (DA): What are your plans for the future after you graduate?

Jack Huscher (JH):  I’ll be attending Iona College to play rugby and major in marketing.

DA: What aspect of your high school years have you enjoyed the most?

JH: Playing my favorite sports, like football, but also exploring new opportunities like Track and Field.

DA: What extracurricular activities and sports have you been involved with during your time at Coginchaug?

JH: Football, Track, DECA.

DA: What was your greatest challenge at Coginchaug and how did you overcome it?

JH: Transitioning from middle school, overcame it by talking with my guidance counselor Mrs. Schofield and talking to my older brother.

DA: What did you learn about yourself during your time at Coginchaug?

JH: It is very beneficial to step outside your comfort zone and try new things.

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

JH: Mrs. Walsh, she is so chill and makes class interesting. She also helped me out with many things including recommendations.

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

JH: Physics, great teacher, great classmates, interesting subject (at least for me).

DA: What are you going to miss the most about Coginchaug?

JH: The people in the building, students and teachers.

DA: Which of your accomplishments at Coginchaug are you most proud of?

JH: New Haven All-Academic Team (football), I’m most proud of this because it recognizes athletic and academic success.

DA: What advice would you give to underclassmen based on your experience at Coginchaug?

JH: Don’t be afraid to go to teachers for assistance or go to the guidance office for help. They can help out with numerous things.

Emma Ufferfilge

Devil’s Advocate (DA): What are your plans for the future after you graduate?

Emma Ufferfilge (EU): After I graduate I will be going to Quinnipiac for nursing.

DA: What aspect of your high school years have you enjoyed the most?

EU:  I enjoyed getting closer with new friends and spending time with my friends.

DA: What extracurricular activities and sports have you been involved with during your time at Coginchaug?

EU: I have been involved with French Honors Society, Track, and XC (Cross Country). 

DA: What was your greatest challenge at Coginchaug and how did you overcome it?

EU: My greatest challenge at Coginchaug was my best friend leaving Coginchaug to move to Texas our sophomore year. I overcame this by continuing to talk to her everyday after she left and making the best of the months before she left.

DA: What did you learn about yourself during your time at Coginchaug?

EU: I’ve learned more about who I am and who I want to become during my time at Coginchaug. 

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

EU: My favorite teacher at CRHS was Mrs. Anderson because I enjoyed her classes and even though we always did a lot of work, we were always able to get it all done while still being able to get distracted sometimes. Also she will always help us and make sure we understand something before letting us go on our own.

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

EU: My favorite class was French. Madame always made class fun and was able to have genuine conversations with us about French or just life during class.

DA: What are you going to miss the most about Coginchaug?

EU: I’m going to miss the memories I’ve made and my friends the most as well as the XC team and XC itself.

DA: Which of your accomplishments at Coginchaug are you most proud of?

EU: I am most proud of my time on the XC team and the amount of progress I have made throughout the 4 years I was on the team. They always tell you it goes by fast but you don’t believe it until you are actually about to graduate.

DA: What advice would you give to underclassmen based on your experience at Coginchaug?

EU: My advice to underclassmen would be to make the most of these 4 years. Also, the little things that bother you and problems you have as a freshman are not going to matter to you when you are a senior. 

The Devil’s Advocate would like to congratulate the Class of 2022 on their many accomplishments throughout their time at Coginchaug and wish them the utmost success in their future endeavors.