Cocalico High School
Kenston Lafleur
Senior
Kenston Lafleur, son of Jessica Martin and Gene Lafleur, has had a creative senior year at Cocalico. Some of these creative classes include Thematic Literature, Digital Design, and a year-long Independent Studio Art. Here, Lafleur has made many works in and out of the classroom, even being highlighted at the Lancaster Museum of Art.
In the future, Lafleur plans to study art and design at an undecided college or university to become a full-time artist. On top of this, he shared that he would like to get more active in the community and give back as best he can. If he could travel anywhere in the world, he would pick either Japan or Haiti. This is due to the atmosphere and culture in Japan, as well as to see the history of his ancestors in Haiti.
Outside of school, Lafleur enjoys playing the drums, collecting figurines, hanging out with friends, listening to music, and reading. Some of his favorite media are comics and manga; he attributes this to the art and depth of the works. Lafleur’s favorite quote is from Kanye West: “Nothing in life is promised except death. If you had the opportunity to play this game of life, you need to appreciate every moment. A lot of people don’t appreciate their moment until it’s passed.” He said it reminds him to live life to the fullest because you only have one life, as well as continuing in life without regrets. Cocalico wishes him the best of luck in his future!
Written by: Ashton Rathman
Victoria Fassnacht
Senior
Daughter of Noelle and James Fassnacht and graduating senior Victoria Fassnacht has a lot to offer the world. Tori is ending her high school career with AP Literature and Composition, AP Biology, Precalculus, Intro to Forensics, Applied Calculus, and Physics. Along with these classes, she is also part of the Global Scholars program where she serves as an active member of service focusing on the representation of different cultures. She is additionally a part of Spanish Honor Society as the secretary. She is also president of the Spanish Club, where she plans service projects and activities centered around Spanish and Latin American culture. She is also in Cocalico’s National Honor Society, where she participates in projects such as environmental clean ups and tutoring services.
Tori plans to attend Northeastern University to study Marine Biology along with Spanish Language. She plans to advance to a graduate program to obtain her PhD as a marine biologist. Tori is interested in traveling to Thailand, where she can see the scenery and be a part of the culture in real time.
Outside of school, Tori participates in plenty of solitary and creative activities. She enjoys painting, drawing, reading, watching movies, and traveling around. Fun fact, she also enjoys listening to true crime podcasts. A quote Tori likes is by Frida Kahlo, “Do not wait for things to be given to you, go out and conquer them.” She likes this quote because it inspires her, not because of the words, but because it’s Frida Kahlo. Frida is one of Tori’s biggest role models due to her idea of freedom of expression and her stance on staying true to yourself with the refusal to change simply because of another’s opinion. Cocalico wishes Tori all the best in her future plans!
Written by: Natalie Snader
Lydia Knepper
Senior
Lydia Knepper, daughter of Curt and Julie Knepper, has kept her high school schedule packed this year. Some of Lydia’s courses include AP Microeconomics, Energy Power and Transportation, World Literature, AP Computer Science, Computer-Aided Design and Drafting, and AP Statistics. Besides her STEM-heavy course load, she is also a leader of Cocalico’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes club and a member of the Varsity Softball team.
In the future, Lydia is planning to attend Penn State Berks for Mechanical Engineering to pursue her interests in math and science. In her previous high school years, classes like AP Physics, AP Calculus AB and BC were designed to help her excel in her major. If Lydia could travel anywhere in the world, she would pick Alaska. This is due to the beautiful nature that the state holds up in the cold.
Outside of school, Knepper likes to be outdoors, enjoys hunting, playing softball, and going line dancing with her friends. A fun fact about Lydia is that she works a total of three jobs on top of her already busy schedule. Lydia’s favorite quote is from Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
“Faith is very important to me. I like this verse because it shows how God is always with us and will help us through life,” she said.
We wish Lydia the best through high school and in her plans after graduation.
Written by: Ashton Rathman
Karli Walters
Junior
Budding junior Karli Walters, daughter of Karen and Corey Walters, is being honored with her hard work and extracurriculars. This year, Karli is taking Wind Ensemble, Financial Literacy, Lifelong Personal Communication, Pre-calculus, AP Literature, Psychology, AP Statistics, Civics and Government, and Physics. She is heavily musically involved, partaking in marching band as part of the snare, Symphonic Band, and Music Practice Club. Walters loves being in marching band and has made many memories not only with Cocalico’s marching band, but the college bands of Millersville, Kutztown, and West Chester. She is additionally involved in Bible study.
Walters knows what she wants to do with her future, planning to apply at either West Chester or Kutztown to major in psychology along with playing in the marching band. She hopes to one day work in a psych unit. She yearns to travel to her cabin, which she considers to be her favorite and most beautiful place on Earth.
In her free time, Walters enjoys baking sweet treats–specifically cookies–drawing, making crafts, reading, and spending time with her friends. She also has a cat that goes by Daisy.
Her favorite quote is, “Everything happens for a reason.” She claims that while it is cliche, she stands by it with her whole heart. It helps her to understand why bad things happen and how they have led her to beautiful results, even if the moment itself is not beautiful.
Cocalico wishes her all the best in her future in high school and beyond.
Written by: Natalie Snader
Asher Desiato
Senior
Asher Desiato, son of Nick and Joy Desiato, is enjoying his senior year at Cocalico High School. To do this, Desiato has compiled a course load full of arts and humanities. His classes entail Yearbook I, Music Production, Applied Calculus, Psychology, Thematic Interpretations of Literature and Media, a dual enrollment class, and TV Production as well as service learning for other TV production classes. Along with these classes, Desiato helps create school-wide videos for the Homecoming and Sir Valentine dances, participates in the track and field team, and is an active member of the Star Wars Club.
In the future, Desiato plans to major in either Secondary English Education or Communications. Classes like psychology, Thematic literature, and past English classes will help him pursue this field. In addition, Desiato has applied to Elizabethtown College and Lebanon Valley College. If he could travel anywhere in the world, he would pick Italy. He credits this to the food and his ancestry tracing back to the region.
Outside of school, Asher has an interest in the cinema industry. Some of his hobbies include filmmaking, writing, and watching/criticizing movies. At school, almost everyone knows of his more serious work on videos for school dances or his more comedic work shown on the school news. A fun fact about Asher is that he will forever have a deformed pinky finger after a volleyball incident in his eleventh-grade gym class. His favorite quote is, “When people stop talking, that’s when bad things happen” by Charlie Kirk. Asher Desiato is an outgoing and involved student at school. Cocalico wishes him the best of luck with the remainder of his year and his future endeavors.
Written by: Ashton Rathman
Emma Gensemer
Junior
Emma Gensemer, high school junior and daughter of Kelly Gensemer, has a lot to offer with her extraneous courses and extracurriculars. This year, Emma is taking AP US Government, AP Biology, AP Language and Composition, AP Computer Science, AP Physics, German 4, Service Learning, and Linear Algebra as a dual enrollment class. Outside of the school day, her schedule is packed with extracurricular activities such as Global Scholars, Quiz Bowl, Mock Trial while also being a leader in the American Sign Language Club. Additionally, Gensemer is in National Honor Society while also being the treasurer of the German Club. One of her current projects is creating a fundraising program for UDS. Additionally, she hosts and plans the annual trivia chili night competition. Lastly, she tutors during focus for Algebra II, where she has a total of 75+ hours of tutoring.
While she is unsure of what she wants in her future as a career, Gensemer plans to acquire a PhD in mathematics with a minor in German with the hopes of doing research for a university in the math/physics field until eventually becoming a professor. Additionally, she is interested in visiting Germany for the architecture and her love for the language.
With her limited free time, Gensemer enjoys sewing, gardening and baking, where she makes decorative cakes and enjoys anything with a creative outlet. Another area of interest is video games, such as Roblox and Minecraft. She also enjoys collecting various antique objects, such as cassette tapes. A quote Gensemer favors is, “One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching,” by Gerard Way. She feels inspired because she believes it is important to make the best of life and find things you enjoy; despite her packed schedule, she always makes sure to find time for hobbies and important people in her life.
Written by: Natalie Snader
Carson Weaver
Senior
As he begins his Senior year at Cocalico High School, Carson Weaver, son of Todd and Stephanie Weaver, has quite the year ahead of him. This year, Weaver is taking a heavy course load of AP Calculus AB and BC, Chemistry II, AP English Literature, AP Physics, Independent German V, Anatomy and Physiology, as well as an internship at a local dental clinic. Outside of this packed schedule, Weaver’s time will also be devoted to Mock Trial, theatre, Model UN, the quiz bowl team, the National Honor Society, Symphonic Band, and Global Scholars. On top of all these activities, Carson is also the president of Cocalico’s chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, as well as of the German club.
In the future, Weaver plans to become an orthodontist. To achieve this, he plans to get his undergraduate degree in biology and then attend dental school. This begins early with his internship at a dental clinic. Here, Weaver will get an understanding for how the dentistry and orthodontics world functions as well as gain credit for high school classes. If he could travel anywhere in the world, he would choose Japan. This is because he finds the concept of their city life intriguing along with the landscapes the country provides.
Outside of school, Carson enjoys many different hobbies, including collecting records, baking, and listening to music. A fun fact about Weaver is that he spent three weeks in Germany this past summer as an exchange student. His favorite quote is, “Everything will be fine in the end. If it’s not fine, it’s not the end” by Oscar Wilde. He enjoys this quote because in school, students tend to focus on the stress and negativity. But he has seen how if one is patient, things truly do work out for them. Cocalico wishes Weaver a wonderful senior year. It is clear to everyone around him that he has a big future ahead of him.
Written by: Ashton Rathman