Town of Webb senior, Shelby Egnaczyk, 17, moved to Old Forge seven years ago from Boonville, where she attended Adirondack Central school.
In the fall, she plans to attend North Country Community College (NCCC) to study Wildlife Recreation Leadership; then she says she’ll transfer to a four-year school to major in Wildlife and Fisheries Management.
Shelby explains her career choice this way: “I live in the Adirondacks and it’s so beautiful; I want to work to keep it that way. It’s kind of cliché probaby,” she said.
Shelby plays volleyball, softball and soccer, and she is a member of the track team.
Among those, her favorite sport is soccer.
She plans to continue with soccer and softball in college.
Her favorite classes are Economics and Advanced Placement Environment Science. “It goes along with Forestry,” she said.
Her favorite teacher is Mr. Cunningham. “He’s really funny and he’s always there for you. He gives a lot of one-on-one time; that really helps me learn quicker and easier,” she said.
Shelby has been a member of the school band, playing bass clarinet since seventh grade.
She is also a member of Key Club.
Egnaczyk says she loves being outdoors. “I try to play soccer and hike as much as I can,” she said.
In the winter, she is a snowboarder and enjoys going on snowmobile rides.
Shelby’s parents are Lisa Roberts and Tim Egnaczyk.
Lisa is a gardener at Enchanted Forest/Water Safari. Tim works at the family business, Boonville Heating and Plumbing.
Shelby’s siblings are sister Jaime Grenier, 27, and brother, Shawn Grenier, 29.
This summer, she plans to work at “A Sweet Car Named Desire,” the ice cream trolley at Souvenir Village.
She has worked there since she was 14 years old.
She also hopes to waitress.
Shelby said her friend’s father, Bob Coscomb, a Forest Ranger from Boonville, influenced her the most. “He steered me in the direction of my career,” she said.
She has two dogs and two cats, Tundra, Mindy, Apollo, and Vinny, that she will miss when she heads off to college.
“I’m looking forward to leaving, but also kind of scared,” she said.
“I’m going to miss the people in Old Forge; our community is so close,” Shelby said.
“It’s going be a big change going to a place, where I’m not going to know anyone,” she said.
She said she will miss her friends a lot, but she’s excited to meet new people and make new friends.
Since her college is nearby, she plans to come home and visit often.