by Judy Frost
Hoosick Falls High School seniors Maxwell Haar and Lindsey McMahon have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the Class of 2015.
In addition to earning the top spot in his class with a grade point average of 97.45, Max Haar this year served as president of the National Honor Society (grades 11-12). During the past three years, he has written for the high school’s newspaper, Panther Post and competed as a member of the Masterminds team.[private] Max has served as Class Historian (grades 9-12) and been a member of Key Club (grades 11-12). Also a student athlete, he played varsity soccer all four years and was named to the WASAREN League Boys Soccer First Team last year.
Max is the recipient of the University of Rochester’s Bausch & Lomb award and was named Best Camp Counselor for HAYC3 during the past two years.
The son of Amanda and David Haar of Hoosick Falls, Max plans to attend The University of Richmond in Virginia this fall to pursue as yet an undecided double major.
Salutatorian Lindsey McMahon plans to continue her education at Cornell University in Ithaca where she will pursue a double major in International Agriculture and Rural Development (IARD) and Animal Science.
In addition to graduating second in her class with a grade point average of 97.11 percent, Lindsay has participated in several extracurricular activities including National Honor Society (grades 11-12), Key Club (grades 9-12), the school newspaper (grades 9-12), and the elementary mentoring program (grades 10-12). Lindsey also played field hockey from grades 9-11, and lacrosse as a ninth-grader.
Outside of school, she has participated in 4-H, the New York State Junior Dairy Leaders and she has served as the NYS Junior Holstein Club Dairy Bowl chairperson.
Lindsey earned a NYS Regents Scholarship and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institue (RPI) Medal. She was named a John Liporace Foundation Scholarship (JLS) finalist, and was selected a New York State School Music Association’s (NYSSMA) Symphonic Band Gold Medalist.
Lindsey is daughter of Mollie and Daniel McMahon of Hoosick Falls.
Graduating third in the Class of 2015 is Elizabeth Philpott with a grade point average of 96.71 percent. Liz has played varsity lacrosse, mentored elementary students, served as treasurer of the National Honor Society, participated in Key Club and served on Student Council.
She was named a John Liporace Foundation Scholarship (JLS) finalist, earned the title of Scholar Athlete, made Principal’s List and received an Elks Foundation Scholarship.
Liz plans to attend the University of New Hampshire this fall to study chemical engineering and will be among the first Hoosick Falls graduates to participate in the new Hometown Mentoring program in college next year.
She is daughter of Kristin and Matt Philpott of Hoosick Falls.
Christopher Redick captured the fourth spot in this year’s Top 10 with a grade point average of 96.53 percent. Chris has played in the Hoosick Falls Jazz Band from grades 7-12 and served as Jazz Band PAC representative in grade 11. He also played varsity golf (grades 7-12) and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Chris was nominated for the Frederick A. Douglas Scholarship from the University of Rochester, earned a 96 of 100 at the New York State School Music Association’s (NYSSMA) Level 5 Alto Sax Solo and made Principal’s List (grades 9-12).
The son of Marie Redick of Hoosick Falls, Chris plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy this fall to study physics.
Shaelynn Kelly is graduating number five in her class having earned a grade point average of 96.38 percent. Shaelynn has served as class president (grades 9-12), secretary of the National Honor Society (grades 11-12), and president of the Earth Club (grades 9-12). Throughout high school, she has been a writer for the school newspaper, Panther Post, been a member of the Ski Club, and during the past two years, was a member of Student Council. Shaelynn played lacrosse all four years, serving as the team captain, and played junior varsity and varsity soccer. She also has completed many hours of community service as a volunteer during town clean-ups, as a mentor for younger students, participating in the school’s Christmas Wish program and working as a counselor for a church summer camp.
Shaelynn was named a John Liporace Foundation Scholarship (JLS) finalist, received a Daughters of the American Revolution award and was selected for a HOBY Leadership Award as a 10th grader.
The daughter of Patrick and Julia Kelly of Hoosick Falls, Shaelynn plans to attend Marist College in Poughkeepsie where she will study psychology and special education with a concentration in grades 1-6, and minor in Spanish.
Joshua Wood is graduating sixth in his class with a grade point average of 96.06 percent. He plans to pursue a dual major studying engineering and business at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy this fall. Josh has played varsity basketball and varsity football all four years and this year served as class vice president. He is a member of National Honor Society and Key Club.
He has made the Principal’s List and earned the title of Scholar Athlete throughout his high school career. Josh also has been a member of The National Honor Society (grades 11-12) and he received the Margaret Frazier Award this year.
He is the son of Amy and Chris Wood of Hoosick Falls.
Ashly Cumbo is graduating seventh in her class with a grade point average of 95.09 percent. Ashley has participated in Masterminds, National Honor Society, Key Club and Pumpkinpalooza while attending Hoosick Falls High School. Academically, she has made the Principal’s List and earned a Presidential Scholarship to the State University of New York at Oswego.
The daughter of Marianne and David Cumbo of Hoosick Falls, Ashly plans to attend SUNY Oswego this fall where she will study psychology.
Graduating eighth in the Class of 2015 is Emily Martin with a GPA of 95.01 percent. Emily plans to attend the University of Vermont College of Arts and Sciences in Burlington where she will major in biology with a Pre-Med track. The daughter of Peter Martin and Tanya Cowder of Hoosick Falls, Emily has been a writer for the Panther Post (grades 9-12) and a Ski Club member (grades 10-11). She also volunteers at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVCM) in Bennington.
With a grade point average of 94.46 percent, Taylor Flohr earned the number nine spot in the Top 10. Taylor plans to attend Sacred Heart University in Connecticut this fall and enroll in the nursing program. She has been a member of the varsity cheerleading squad since grade 9 and is a member of the National Honor Society.
The daughter of Laurie and Jordan Flohr of Hoosick Falls, Taylor serves as a junior member of the Hoosick Rescue Squad.
Rounding out the Top 10 is Casie Mann with a GPA of 94.31 percent. Casie participates in several extracurricular activities including Historian for the National Honor Society (grades 11-12), Key Club (grade 12), the Panther Post (grades 10-12), Student Council (grade 12), Prom Committee (grade 11), Yearbook Committee (grade 12), and Varsity Club (grade 12). She played varsity soccer (grades 10-12) serving as team captain during her senior year. Casie also participated in town clean-ups during the past two years.
Outside of school, she has participated in Youth Soccer (grades 11-12) and served as a faith formation classroom aid (grades 10-12).
This year, Casie earned an award from BlueShield/BlueCross of Northeastern NY, and she previously made Honor Roll (grade 9) advancing to the Principal’s List in grades 10-12.
The daughter of Craig and Stacey Mann of Hoosick Falls, Casie plans to attend Hartwick College in Oneonta this fall to study nursing in the 3-year accelerated program and become a neonatal nurse after completing college. [/private]