Lainey Cooley, Gardiner Area High School

Lainey Cooley is ready to take on a new challenge in a big city.

After living in Gardiner her whole life and attending Gardiner Area High School, where she is valedictorian of the class of 2024, she’s set for a new experience.

Cooley, 18, plans to attend Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and study architecture in the school’s “4+1” program, where she will be able to earn her master’s degree by the end of five years.

“I always wanted to do something related to building or creating,” she said. “My strongest suit in school is math and I’m pretty good at art.”

At Gardiner Area High School, Cooley learned she was top of her class her freshman year.

Staying on top while balancing her academics, sports and making her own money was challenging, she said.

Cooley was on the varsity soccer and softball teams; a part of student council; in the Interact Club, which is like a Rotary Club for students; and in Varsity Club, a new organization that gives student athletes a voice. Since eighth grade she has worked at the Boys and Girls Club of Kennebec Valley tutoring students, as well.

“Staying on top of my grades, on top of the student class, on top of extracurriculars and having to make my own money was tough,” Cooley said. “But balancing it all has made me stronger.”

Gardiner Area High Senior Lainey Cooley, seen May 24 at the school, plans to study architecture at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

Cooley knew she wanted to attend Wentworth after visiting a few times and attending the Women@Wentworth Overnight. She mentioned that very few schools have architecture as an undergraduate program, so Wentworth’s program helped her decision.

She made the difficult decision not to play softball her first year to make sure her transition into college goes smoothly but mentioned playing softball at Gardiner and pitching through states her sophomore year in 2022 as one of her favorite memories.

Overall, she’s excited about her college experience and leaving Maine for the time being, but admitted she’s a little nervous.

“There is a lot that can go wrong, and a lot of people make mistakes,” Cooley said. “But there is so much opportunity and room for growth and to meet new people and have new relationships, so I’m mostly excited for that.”