Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Kennett senior honored as 2018 ‘Best of Class’
Torianna LaBare, a Kennett High School and Technical College High School – Pennock’s Bridge senior, has been recognized as part of WPVI-6 ABC’s 2018 Best of Class. She received her award at a workshop and ceremony on Monday, May 21.
LaBare was nominated for the award by her TCHS teacher, Joan Farwell. Farwell has been Tori’s instructor in the veterinary science program for the last two years.
“Tori is a wonderful student and a delight to have in class,” Farwell said. “Tori has embraced everything that TCHS-PB has to offer. She has competed in both SkillsUSA and FFA competitions and leadership activities; she attended Link and then became a student leader for Link; she is one of the student members on our Occupational Advisory Committee. Tori took a dual-enrollment math class, maintained a 4.0 GPA while mastering all three years of competencies in just two years, and was inducted into the NTHS. No one has ever deserved to be awarded Best of the Class more than she did. I am so very proud of her, and she will be the benchmark of program success for other students in the Veterinary Science program to strive for. I anticipate some great things coming from her as she goes off to college and then enters the work force. It has been an honor to be her teacher,.”
Said LaBare: “Ms. Farwell scared me at the beginning. She gives off this air of complete honesty. She told me that I would have to give it my all in her class. She taught me the value of working hard. She taught me to never give up, to always keep trying, even when the work is difficult.”
LaBare will be attending Delaware Valley University in the fall to pursue a fouryear, pre-professional degree in animal science with the eventual goal of becoming a large animal veterinarian.
“I’ve always loved horses. I’ve been around horses my whole life. I feel a connection with them and want to specialize in large animals so that I can work with them,” LaBare said.
According to their website, 6abc has coordinated The Best of Class award for more than thirty years. Winners attend a free daylong celebration that highlights the academic achievements of outstanding high school students from Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Northern Delaware. The 2018 Best of Class Event taping took place at the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey.
The Best of Class 2018 special will air on 6-ABC on Saturday, June 9, 2018, at 7 p.m. The Best of Class Special is hosted on 6-ABC by Action News Anchors Brian Taff and Sharrie Williams.