The Hoosick Falls Central School District has announced the top ten students in the Class of 2016. The District recognizes these students for their hard work and academic achievement. [private]
Junior-Senior High School Principal Stacy Vadney said, “Congratulations to our top ten. This is a well-deserved recognition that they have all earned.”
Seniors Jeffrey Brewer and Anna Wysocki have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the Class of 2016.
Jeffrey Brewer, Valedictorian: In addition to earning the top spot in his class with a grade point average of 97.990 percent, Brewer is a scholar athlete, who played on the HFCS soccer team, performed in drama productions, and competed with the band and chorus at group and solo NYSSMA festivals. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, the Performing Arts Council, and Student Government.
Brewer is the recipient of the RPI Medal, Rochester Xerox Award, the Elmira College Key Award, and of a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program for outstanding performance in the Preliminary SAT / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and the scholarship for Academic Excellence.
Brewer will be attending RPI in the fall and will be pursuing studies in the field of physics and engineering. He is the son of Amy and Wayne Cornell of Hoosick Falls and Derrick Brewer of Schenectady, NY.
Anna Wysocki, Salutatorian: Wysocki plans to continue her education at Smith College. She is undecided but is interested in neuroscience, psychology, and environmental science and policy.
In addition to graduating second in her class with a grade point average of 97.669 percent, Wysocki has participated in several extracurricular activities including National Honor Society, where she serves as president. She is also president of Earth Club, Treasurer of Varsity Club, Secretary of Student Council, and Historian for the Class of 2016. She is a member of Key Club, Drama Club, Prism Club, the Panther Post, and Yearbook Club. She is a scholar athlete, who played basketball, soccer, and lacrosse.
Wysocki is the recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship, Elks Most Valuable Student Award, Isabel McGuire Memorial Scholarship, and the Jeffrey Stratton Memorial Scholarship. She is also a John Liporace Foundation Scholarship (JLS) Finalist. Wysocki received an honorable mention for the Triple Crown Athlete Award in soccer and basketball. She will be a STRIDE scholar at Smith College.
Outside of school, Wysocki loves to volunteer, especially for youth soccer and basketball programs. She serves as a Eucharistic Minister at Immaculate Conception Church and is the spokesperson for the student leaders who held the PFOA press conference. Wysocki is the daughter of Heather and Dr. Todd Wysocki of Hoosick Falls.
Olivia Cushman: Graduating third in the Class of ‘16, Cushman has a grade point average of 97.190 percent. Olivia is a scholar athlete and has been a member of the cheerleading team and varsity lacrosse team. She served as the Varsity Club Event Coordinator and is a member of the National Honor Society, Book Club, and the Student Council.
Olivia has been accepted to Marist where she will study abroad at Lorenzo de Medici in Italy this fall. She will be studying criminal justice and art history.
Outside of school Olivia loves traveling and has visited such places as Hawaii, Italy, and Spain. She hopes one day to travel the world.
She is the daughter of Don and Marcia Cushman of Petersburgh, NY.
Alexandria Betit: Betit captured the fourth spot in this year’s class with a grade point average of 96.455 percent. She is a scholar athlete whose sport was field hockey. She is secretary of the National Honor Society, a member of Key Club, and a class officer. Betit is also a JLS Finalist.
When not at school, she plays field hockey at Riley Rink and works as a Pharmacy Technician at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.
Betit plans to attend the University at Albany this fall, studying biology on the pre-med track.She is the daughter of Normand and Christina Betit of Eagle Bridge.
Megan Flynn: Flynn is graduating fifth in her class with a gpa of 96.167 percent. She has served as the president of her class all four years of high school, and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is a scholar athlete and has played varsity soccer and basketball. She is a member of Youth-To-Youth and Key Club.
Out of school, Flynn plays guitar, club soccer, and has helped with youth soccer and basketball programs.
Flynn will be attending Sage College of Albany in the fall. She is the daughter of Edward and Heather Flynn of North Hoosick.Jake Kinney: Jake is graduating sixth in his class with a GPA of 96.014 percent. He plans to pursue accounting at Siena College in the fall.
Kinney is a member of the National Honor Society and is a peer tutor. He plays trumpet in the Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, and Pep Band. He is a scholar athlete and played soccer and basketball. Jake is also a JLS Finalist. He is a winner of the Sage College Award and the St. Michael’s College Book Award.
Outside of school Kinney is a member of the Boy Scouts (Life Scout) and is working on becoming an Eagle Scout. He is also a Lector at Immaculate Conception Church and participates in town clean-up events. He plays “Taps” at Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, and Voice of a Vet Ceremonies.
Jake is the son of Brian and Maggie Kinney of Hoosick Falls.Tiffany Saint Hilaire: Tiffany is graduating seventh in her class with a 94.788 percent GPA. She has participated in Chorus, Drama Club, and plays the flute and guitar. Tiffany is also a member of the Panther Post staff, Jazz Band, Show Choir, and the National Honor Society.
Outside of school Saint Hilaire is a Sunday school teacher, a member of prayer group, a Girl Scout, and participates in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. Between volunteering for school and town events, she also takes care of her crazy dogs.
Saint Hilaire is going to attend the University at Albany in the fall. She is the daughter of Austin and Heather Saint Hilaire of Hoosick Falls.
Zoelena Poore: Graduating eighth in the class, Poore has a grade point average of 94.782 percent. Zoelena plans to attend the University at Albany in the fall and study biology on the pre-med track with a biochemistry minor. Poore has been a member of the Key Club, Earth Club and has been a Student Council member for several years. She is a scholar athlete and has played varsity lacrosse since eighth grade. She also played field hockey for two years.
Poore is taking four AP courses: Biology, English, Calculus, and Psychology.
Outside of school she is serving her fourth year as a volunteer firefighter. She also works two jobs, one at a horse barn and the other at the laundromat.
Poore is the daughter of Tammy and the late Gordon Hudson of Eagle Bridge.
Joshua McCart: With a grade point average of 94.315, McCart earned the ninth spot in the class. He is a member of the National Honor Society, and also serves as historian. He is vice president of Varsity Club and has been a member of the Panther Post staff. Josh plays alto saxophone in both the Jazz and Symphonic Bands. Additionally, McCart is a scholar athlete, having played baseball and soccer, and was a captain of the varsity bowling team.
Outside of school McCart works as a cashier for Hannaford Supermarkets.
He is attending Hudson Valley Community College in the fall, where he will study math and science. McCart is the son of Timothy and Donna McCart of Hoosick Falls.
Jennifer Sargood: Rounding out the Top ten, Sargood has a GPA of 94.166 percent. She participates in several extracurricular activities such as Varsity Club, where she is president. She is a scholar athlete and has played varsity field hockey and softball, and competed on the bowling team where she was a captain. Sargood is a member of the National Honor Society. She mentors children in the Elementary School.
She is going to University of Buffalo in the fall to major in accounting. After completing her undergraduate studies, she plans to attend law school.
When not at school Sargood spends time with her friends and family. She works at the Barbecue Recreation, where she also bowls in leagues. Jen volunteers with programs like Relay for Life. She is the daughter of Ed and Nicole Sargood of Hoosick Falls.
The 143rd commencement exercise of the Hoosick Falls Central School will be Friday, June 24.[/private]