Senior Spotlight: Kelsey Holeczy

When thinking about seniors of the class of 2025 who have left an impact on their peers and teachers alike, Kelsey Holeczy is certainly topping that list. An invested member of the Speech and Debate Team, a Freshman Mentor, and a three-time Best of Sno writer for The Park Press– Kelsey is a decorated senior, but her impact goes beyond her awards. Her legacy lies with the people she is leaving behind and her influence on them. 

Kelsey’s journey to becoming who she is now was not an easy one. She had her share of trials and tribulations, as many people do, but what matters is how she overcame them. 

“I honestly was a completely different person freshman year than I am now. I was very anxious and I didn’t really talk to anyone, I just kept my head down and did my schoolwork. As I grew older, though, there were other people who were just as weird and quirky as I was and that really has helped me become the person I am today. I knew I wasn’t alone; I always had people to lean on no matter what and honestly, it was one of the biggest factors in shaping who I am today. I could be honest with people about how I was feeling and I didn’t need to keep my head down anymore. I have been through a lot mentally, I know that now, and sometimes things suck a lot– the world is scary– but you will always have people who support you, are on the same path as you, and will support you no matter what,” said Kelsey. 

As a student, Kelsey has been dedicated and consistent throughout her high school career when it came to her grades and doing what she needed to maintain them. She will be attending Shepherd University for her college education, which is located in Shepherdstown, W.Va. Her teachers unanimously agree that she is a hardworking individual who has earned everything good that has come to her.

“Every teacher wants a student like Kelsey. That may seem cliche, but she excels in everything she sets her mind to. Kelsey is one of the best writers I have encountered in my career. From her Original Oratory speeches to her essay on social class, Kelsey engages with her readers and listeners, bringing them into the conversation. Additionally, she uses her voice to engage with her classmates in meaningful ways, helping them to understand nuanced ideas that we discuss in my English class,” said CP English teacher Mrs. Nelson.

Her journey into becoming who she is now led her to being a member of the Speech and Debate Team for state championships 43, 44, and 45. This past season, she served as the inaugural secretary of the team’s executive board. Individually, she has received many awards, including first place in oral interpretation of literature at the state tournament this year. However, her greatest feat thus far is her recent sixth place in oral interpretation of literature nationally at the JW Patterson Tournament of Champions in Lexington, Kentucky. There were around 1,300 entries, hailing from 38 states and five different countries– so this is definitely a testament to both her talent and dedication to her most beloved craft. 

“Speech and writing are both really important to me because the world is crazy, but there are people who are all going through the same things and I want to be an advocate for them. I am being a voice for those who don’t have one, and getting a chance to speak about what I’m passionate about is something I honestly think I take for granted– and it is something I don’t think I could ever compare anything to,” said Kelsey. 

Miss Mathieu, one of her coaches, said, “It has been such a pleasure to be Kelsey’s coach these last few years. Watching her grow and become the teammate, competitor, writer, and young woman she is now has been so rewarding. She didn’t make the team at first, and despite that setback devastating her, she pushed through. She eventually got on the team and is ending as one of the top NSDA points scorers. Her work ethic, dedication for this team, and desire to become the best version of herself will leave a lasting impression on all of us. Her presence will surely be missed, but I know she’ll still blow up my phone with voice memo rages.”

Teammate Arie Friend said, “Kelsey is a wonderful person. She is genuinely kind and dedicated to whatever she puts her mind to. As a teammate, a friend, and as an individual– Kelsey is always there for me and I couldn’t ask for a better person in my life.”

But she didn’t achieve all of this alone. She had numerous people throughout her school career who have helped her become the dedicated person she is. 

Kelsey said, “My speech coaches– Miss Mathieu, Mrs. Droginske, and Mrs. Nelson– have all been there for me through everything I have ever dealt with. Miss Mathieu I met whenever I didn’t make the speech and debate team at the end of freshman year, and she and Mrs. Droginske were the ones who told me to never give up because I had something special, and that was something that honestly changed the trajectory of my life. Through speech, I also met Mrs. Nelson. She is always there for me and her door is always open, and she never makes me feel like a nuisance or that I am annoying her. Sometimes I can be mean, but she lets me have my moments and have my space. I honestly don’t know if I would be sitting here today if it wasn’t for that woman. Her whole essence has made me feel so safe and welcome, but really I am thankful for all three of them.”

Even with all of this, there is still a little girl way back when who did not know about all of this love and support she was going to receive in the future– and if Kelsey could say something to her, this is what she would say:

“I think I would tell her that life kinda sucks, but you’ll learn to get through it, and people always say ‘things will get better’ but honestly– sometimes they don’t. They do eventually, but sometimes they don’t for a while, and that can be really hard to deal with. I want her to know that you will find people who will always support you and always have your back, no matter what challenges you face. No matter how rude you are to them or how much you push these people away, they will always come back and be there for you no matter what you do to them. So I think I would just want her to know that again, life sucks, but you will find the people who make it bearable,” Kelsey said. 

Overall, Kelsey has persevered through so much to become the wonderful person she is now, and to anyone inspired by her story, she has some words of wisdom to help you through whatever it is you are dealing with. 

Kelsey said, “As someone who, again, didn’t make the speech team originally and now it has become my whole life the past three years– I think they just need to know that things can get really hard. It can feel like everything you have worked for was for nothing, but you just need to keep going and trust that you have a purpose, you have power in this world, and you have a voice that people want to listen to. You are so important, and you have so much to offer and more to give, and even when it doesn’t feel like that and it feels like the whole world is bashing you into the ground, if you have that perseverance and you trust and believe in yourself, you can achieve anything you want. You can get wherever you wanna go in life.”

Kelsey Holeczy is a talented, inspiring, caring, and persistent person who has influenced everyone around her for the better– and because we knew her, we all have been changed for good.