Chelsea Welsh knew from middle school on that she wanted to be the valedictorian of her graduating class. “It was just something that I wanted for a long time, and I made sure I got it.”It wasn’t easy, she said.However, Chelsea took seven AP (advanced placement) classes, and finished with Welsh attributes much of her success to her faith in God. “Because I’ve given my life to Christ, I have strengths other people don’t have,” she said. Welsh also gives her parents a lot of credit. She said her dad always “… expected me to be the best in my class. It was good for me to know that he wanted me to Welsh’s parents are Kim and Kim Welsh of Paint Brush Hills. Mr. Kim Welsh is a contractor and owns Welsh Construction. Mrs. Kim Welsh is an audiologist with Colorado Otolaryngology Associates.Welsh joined the Junior ROTC at Falcon High School when it was first offered in January of her junior year. She said the experience she gained from Jr. ROTC probably helped her gain acceptance to the Air Force Academy, where she will major in chemistry or biochemistry.”I think I’m going to like the challenges of basic training,” she said. “I want to be able to shoot a rifle and do certain things that I’ve never done.” She is looking forward to learning to parachute, too.Welsh said she’s thinking down the road about medical school, thinking about f becoming a surgeon or pediatrician.She’ll spend part of her very short summer – she starts at the Academy on June 30 – backpacking in the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness area with her family.
