Alicia Kretschmer has a photographic memory, something, she insists, has its pros and cons. On Friday, that memory will come in handy when she gives her valedictorian address at the Pine Bush High School Class of 2022 commencement.
Alicia went through Pine Bush Elementary School and Crispell Middle School before heading to PBHS, where math is her number one subject, followed closely by science. Her plan since she was very young was to follow in her dad’s footsteps and go into engineering. Then the pandemic hit. She was drawn to healthcare and now has shifted her plans to a pre-med program at Binghamton University.
She thought she might follow her parents’ path and go to Penn State, where they met and got married on campus.
“Binghamton has a better program for what I want to do,” she said. “And I like the smaller size of the school. I’ll be rooming with one of my best friends and I can save money and help pay for medical school.”
She has a plan.
Alicia has always been a good student, she said, but she also values her down time. She loves to be in nature, hunting and fishing, riding ATVs, just sitting and taking in the peace. “My family likes to be outdoors. We sit around the campfire and listen to music together.” Alicia has also played soccer throughout high school.
What she will miss most about high school are making memories with her friends and the teachers she has treasured, with one special person in particular.
“I had Mrs. (Kelly) Wohlgemuth sophomore and junior years, then had her this year for study hall,” said Alicia. “She is an amazing influence on me.”
Family means a lot to her. “My family has been the most important influences in my life,” she said. “My parents have pushed me when needed and my brother has pushed me to become a better person, even though we disagree sometimes.”
Her dad, Jason, and mom, Tami, who is a teaching assistant at Pine Bush Elementary, are incredibly supportive of her and her brother Oren, a seventh-grade student at Crispell. “My brother Oren is 12 years old, and he rewired our attic,” she said with pride. “He’s going to do amazing things when he’s older!”
Just like his big sister, we’re sure! Congratulations Alicia for always doing your best and achieving so much. We are Pine Bush proud!