Senior Spotlight is an ongoing series written by Lauren Konefal highlighting various members of the CRHS Class of 2023.

In a mere two months, the Coginchaug Regional High School Class of 2023 will be graduating and moving on to the next chapter of their lives beyond high school. The Devil’s Advocate interviewed select seniors and asked them to reflect on their experiences and accomplishments at Coginchaug as well as share their aspirations for the future.

Thank you to the featured seniors – Katie Farr, Conor Ullman, Tyler Warner, and Christine Waterman – who took the time to provide thoughtful responses for the first edition of Senior Spotlight 2023!

Katie Farr

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

Katie Farr (KF): After graduation, I will be attending Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. I will be playing Division 1 soccer and majoring in business. 

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

KF: Sports have been one of my favorite things in high school as I have met and gained so many friends. Playing and also watching sports games has been extremely fun as our senior class has lots of spirit. Our pink out basketball and volleyball games stand out to me the most. Additionally, school dances and field trips will be missed. I will never forget our senior trip to Washington D.C. and the neon theme dance this past March. 

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

KF: I am the treasurer of the National Honor Society and co-President of Spanish Honor Society. Also, I am an officer for DECA, which is a business-oriented club. We have planned many events throughout my time at CRHS like Mr. Cog, golf tournaments, food drives, etc. Class Council is another club that has been very fun as we helped plan Powderpuff, Prom, and Pep Rallies.

For sports, I play soccer, basketball, and outdoor track. I was thankful to be named captain for each of these sports to help lead the teams. We reached the semifinals for soccer my junior year and the semifinals for basketball my senior year. My last season of Outdoor Track just started, but we hope to possibly win Shorelines this year! An amazing track experience was going to New Balance Outdoor Nationals in June of 2022 as I was able to run with some of my best friends and my sister, Sophie. 

DA: What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

KF: My family and I like to travel in the summer and on school breaks. I like to try new things when traveling, like unique foods and certain activities. I also like to learn about their culture and how it is different from our life here. Some of my favorite places I’ve been to are the Cayman Islands, Aruba, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. I also love hanging out with friends on the weekend as we are a very close group of seniors.

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

KF: My favorite teacher at CRHS was Mrs. Kavanaugh. I had Algebra II with her sophomore year. I loved her teaching style and she was always very organized, like me. She also was my soccer and basketball coach throughout high school, so we were always together. 

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

KF: My favorite class was History Through Film with Mr. Pulino my senior year. I love watching movies on my own time, so being able to watch historical films in school was very interesting. We have watched many well-known and award-winning movies, so I have definitely learned some new things in that class. 

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

KF: My greatest challenge at Coginchaug was balancing school, sports, and my social life. However, I have certainly learned to push through with hard work as this will help me in the future at college. High school was a very busy time for me, but it has allowed me to experience certain situations in which I learned many things about myself. 

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

KF: I learned how to grow into an independent person as this will be important for college. I also learned how to manage my time to be able to succeed in sports, school, and other things. 

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

KF: My best accomplishment was being named the 2023 CIAC Scholar Athlete for Coginchaug. Each school in Connecticut selects one girl and one boy from each school who has excelled in both academics and athletics. I am grateful for all of my teachers and coaches who have helped me with everything in order for me to be able to receive this award. 

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

KF: My advice to underclassmen would be to get involved in as many things as possible. There are many opportunities at CRHS like clubs, sports, and school-wide activities. By participating in these things, you will meet some people you would’ve never had become friends with otherwise. 

Conor Ullman

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

Conor Ullman (CU):  I plan to attend Stonehill College with a major in Accounting.

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

CU: The aspect I enjoyed the most throughout my high school years was being able to play for different sports teams and meet new people through playing these sports. I also enjoyed being able to go watch the sports game I didn’t play for and support my classmates. I also enjoyed beating North Branford in soccer every year.

DA: What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

CU: Some of my hobbies outside of school include running, hiking, lifting, watching sports, beating North Branford, and attending different sports events.

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

CU: Mr. Thompson was my favorite CRHS teacher because he knew me right away as soon as I had a class with him and would always make sure I got my work done without being negative about it. Before my first class with him junior year, I knew him from my soccer team as he was my coach.

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

CU: My favorite class at CRHS was U.S. History because I enjoyed learning about the topics in the class and watching several documentaries on our history.

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

CU: My greatest challenge at Coginchaug was taking Biology and Chemistry because I really struggled in these classes and didn’t understand anything. I tried to overcome this challenge by getting a tutor, but ultimately, it did not help.

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

CU: I learned that if I put a good amount of effort into something, I will get a decent result out of it. But if I slack off and don’t put any effort into something, I end up doing bad and blaming it on other people.

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

CU: Some of the accomplishments I’m most proud of were being named Varsity Soccer Captain, being 1st Team All-Conference in Indoor Track, being a Shoreline champion in Indoor Track, beating North Branford, and being in the National and Spanish Honor Societies. 

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

CU: I advise that you put the work in school now, so you can get into the colleges you desire when you are a senior. I also recommend you join the CRHS Boys Soccer team next year as I can smell an undefeated season right around the corner.

Tyler Warner

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

Tyler Warner (TW): I recently committed to UConn to pursue a Computer Science and Physics degree! So I’m super excited about that.

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

TW: More recently, I have definitely enjoyed being a more prominent and advocate role within the school community, but overall I always loved leaving my mark.

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

TW: My first two years at Coginchaug I played football which left me with a lot of connections that I still use to this day. I am the founder of the weightlifting club which I was really excited to start alongside Mr. Thompson as I feel many kids have been able to learn all about getting into healthy habits. 

DA: What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

TW: I am at the gym or working out about three hours a day, I love eating and luckily with all the working out I can do a lot of it, and when I’m not doing homework, I’m most likely playing video games. My weekends are not at all action packed, I like to keep it simple.

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

TW: My favorite teacher is no longer here, but I would have to say Mrs. Kavanaugh. She is an amazing role model and was also creating her own unique characters for each student, and it really made you feel one of a kind. She’d forget a face but never forget a laugh.

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

TW: AP Physics. It’s not for the faint of heart–it was a very tough class but if you enjoy the content, you’ll find yourself taking notes for fun.

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

TW: Coming back from the pandemic was very clearly the hardest thing for everyone. Re-adjusting to school life after two years of sitting at a desk was tough. Just like anyone else, time and commitment got me through.

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

TW: I enjoy being able to stand out from a crowd. As a freshman, I wanted this over with and to just get out into the real world like any other kid but finding myself in this school was probably one of the best things I could’ve done.

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

TW: Creating the weightlifting club or eating a 10-inch triple chocolate cream pie in under two minutes–both of which are legacies I proudly entrust to the grades below me.

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

TW: Don’t stress out. You’re not the only one going through this, but be yourself, do what you can, and everything will happen for a reason.

Christine Waterman

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

Christine Waterman (CW): I plan to continue my education in college studying stage management.

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

CW: I have most enjoyed being a part of close-knit communities. Whether it’s in-depth discussions and learning in an academic class that just really bonds together, or forming life-long friendships through the music department, the people I have met and grown closer to during high school are the most special thing about this wild experience.

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

CW: My plan as a freshman was to join anything that seemed interesting and see where it took me! Over the years I figured out what best fit into my schedule and through what I could make the most impact. I am currently a highly involved member of all of CRHS’s choral groups, EDGE, and class council. 

DA: What are your hobbies and interests outside of school?

CW: Outside of school, I enjoy singing and songwriting, learning new languages or random skills through YouTube videos, and have found a passion for video editing and producing. 

DA: Who was your favorite CRHS teacher and why?

CW: Oh gosh, how can I pick just one!? I can honestly say that the teachers at CRHS are absolutely amazing and I could thank and praise every one of them for a grand number of things. Ms. Schilling, Ms. Suchy, Mrs. McClintick, and Mrs. Lee have been the most constant supports throughout the time I’ve known them–whether they have supported me academically, working on a project, or checking in on my mental health–they are the people that come to mind when we have those forms asking “do you have an adult at school you’d feel comfortable talking to in a difficult time?”

DA: What was your favorite class at CRHS?

CW: I have really enjoyed being in Chamber Singers for the past three years. I also have thoroughly enjoyed taking AP Literature this year–we are always having interesting class discussions and I appreciate that while it is a challenging AP-level course, the focus is on learning and truly enjoying the thought and care behind literature. The class is incredibly well-planned to allow each of us to develop our skills, highlight our strengths, and support our weaknesses. 

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

CW: Being remote was definitely the greatest challenge I worked through during my four years here. I’m such an in-class learner and the barrier of the screen put me in a very isolated and disconnected state. Overcoming it was in part a matter of prioritizing mental health and also looking for ways to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Mr. Maher’s zombie apocalypse unit was also the most engaging activity I’ve ever worked on! After about 7 months of being remote, I was able to reconnect with our show choir in person. I was in tears, happy tears, the first time we sang together. 

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

CW: I learned many valuable lessons and skills while at Coginchaug, but most importantly I learned how to prioritize doing what I love and what enriches my life the most. Entering high school I was very concerned about grades. While I still value high achievement in academics today, I’ve redirected my focus to be more learning-centered which has allowed me to enjoy more time in extracurriculars and personal projects I love. I learned that for me, finding that balance between learning all that I can from an interesting class, spending time taking care of myself, and filling my afternoons with activities is how I could both feel accomplished and fulfilled throughout my time at CRHS. 

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

CW: I am most proud of myself for finding that balance between an academic, extracurricular, and personal life and not giving in to peer pressure. Being yourself in a setting constantly pointing out what you “should” change or what could be “better” is hard, but remembering that high school is just one chapter of our lives helped me stay true to who I want to be.

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

CW: Figure out what’s most important to you and prioritize that. Life will constantly be throwing a million things your way. In high school that’s homework, tests, club meetings, sports games, concerts, applications, the list goes on and on and on. Try a little of it all and find what brings you the most joy! You only get one shot at this so make the most of it–whatever that means to you–and know that what you want to spend your time doing might be totally different from the person sitting next to you and that’s totally okay; it’s pretty amazing in fact!

The Devil’s Advocate would like to congratulate the Class of 2023 on their many accomplishments throughout their time at Coginchaug and wish them the greatest success in their future endeavors.