Ella Forney, a senior at Hidden Valley High School, has been an active presence in many areas of school life from academics to athletics, including soccer, swimming and basketball. Throughout her high school journey, she has not only achieved several personal milestones but also gained experiences that have helped shape her along the way.
Ella has excelled not only in sports, but also in academics. One of her proudest academic accomplishments is graduating from Burton with honors. Additionally, she completed the nursing program with honors and earned both her CNA and EKG certifications. Beyond the classroom, she has been actively involved in a range of extracurricular activities. She played varsity basketball for two years, swam during her senior year, and was a four-year member of the Hidden Valley women’s varsity soccer team.
Many memories were made during Ella’s time at Hidden Valley, but one in particular stands out. Her favorite high school memory is when she and the women’s soccer team advanced to the state finals.
“It was so exciting to see all of our hard work that year pay off,” she said.
While Ella is best known for her contributions to the soccer team, she also made an impact in swimming and basketball.
The people around us often shape who we become, and Ella’s friends have had a meaningful impact on her life. Audrey Pearson and Holly Griffin, both seniors, have supported Ella since her freshman year. Although saying goodbye to close friends can be difficult, Ella is excited to attend James Madison University alongside her friends Gretchen and Maddie.
“It’ll be weird not to see them every day,” she admitted.
One of the most significant events in Ella’s high school journey was tearing her ACL during her sophomore year. Despite the setback, she believes the experience helped her grow and changed her life for the better.
Ella plans to major in nursing at JMU. While she doesn’t have confirmed travel plans yet, she hopes to visit the Florida Keys or possibly Colorado this summer to see family.
Beyond her academic and athletic accomplishments, Ella is known for her fun and energetic personality. When asked what fictional character or celebrity she most identifies with, she responded:
“Phoebe from Friends, because she is very outgoing and doesn’t really care what anyone else thinks. That’s kind of the vibe I bring and the way I choose to live.”
Ella accomplished a great deal during her four years of high school, creating lasting memories and meaningful friendships along the way. If she could give her freshman self a piece of advice, it would be:
“Keep being yourself and go out and do all the things you want to do. Your people will come, and your circle will form in time.”
Ella reflected that her freshman and sophomore years were challenging as she worked to discover who she was, but during her junior and senior years, she began to truly find herself and connect with the people who mattered most.
