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High academic achievement and community service
characterize Schuylerville graduates
Schuylerville Central School District’s Class of 2008
finishes the year with more than 82 percent of the
graduating class planning to attend college or enroll in
military service. Among this year’s many success stories
are the district’s top 10 graduates:
Valedictorian Matthew T. Malin,
who is graduating with a 99.31 academic average and is
planning to major in computer science at Brown
University in the fall. Throughout his high school
career, Matthew has been involved in many school
activities, such as the Quiz Team, Computer Club and
Math League, National Honor Society during his junior
and senior years, as well as competing for both Indoor
and Outdoor Track. Additionally, Matthew has received
numerous awards and honors, including the Clarkson
University High School Leadership Award, the Rensselaer
Medal for Math and
Science and the Air Force Math and Science Award. In
addition, Matt received perfect scores (100) on both the
Math B Regents exam and the Spanish Regents exam and the
highest score (98) on the Living Environment (Science)
Regents test. He scored an 800 out of a possible 800 on
the SAT Mathematics Level 2 and has been on the school’s
high honor roll since ninth grade. Matthew’s poetry was
chosen for publication in the Jr.-Sr. High School’s art
and literary journal, Looking Glass. He has been an
active volunteer, giving of his time to the
Schuylerville Public Library, Rebuilding Together
Saratoga County and the Ronald McDonald House. Matthew
also established a peer help program, worked as an
assistant in the district’s Summer Technology Program
and volunteered for activities taking place at
Schuylerville Elementary School.
Salutatorian Holly Rippon-Butler,
who is graduating with a 98.65 academic average and is
slated to attend Yale University in the fall. Holly has
participated in many school activities, including Band,
Spanish Club, Photography Club, Art Club, Computer Club,
Math League, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
and National Honor Society. Her musical accomplishments
are numerous, such as high rankings in New York State
School Music Association competitions, participation in
the Empire State Youth Orchestra, the Saratoga Springs
Youth Orchestra and Area All-State Band and selection as
just one of 12 Saratoga County high school students to
play with the U.S. Army Band during a regional
appearance. Holly participated in Indoor Track, Outdoor
Track and Cross Country and was on the Ski Team. She has
been on the high honor roll during her entire high
school career, was chosen as a peer mediator for Working
Against Violence Everywhere (WAVE) and was honored as a
New York State Public High School Athletic Association
Scholar Athlete. She was the high achiever on four
Regents exams––Spanish (with a perfect score of 100),
World History (100), English (100) and Earth Science
(99). Holly received the University of Rochester
Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in
Humanities and Social Sciences and the Robert J. Myers
Memorial Award for excellence in the area of health.
Additionally, she is a member of the United States
Achievement Academy, the National Society of High School
Scholars and had her literature and artwork was chosen
for publication in Looking Glass. Holly has been an
active volunteer in her community, donating time for her
church, Relay for Life, as a mentor for local youth and
as a musician providing entertainment to the elderly.
She has also volunteered at the Saratoga Library Summer
Reading Program and for Second Hand Rose thrift shop.
Kara Anne Peterson,
who is graduating with a 97.90 academic average. In the
fall, she plans to attend Northeastern University where
she’ll major in psychology and prelaw. Kara Anne has
been recognized with numerous honors, including the
Clarkson University High School Achievement Award, the
Senator Joseph L. Bruno Scholastic Achievement Award and
the Court Stella Maris Catholic Daughters of America
Award. She received the highest score on the following
Regents exams: Spanish (100), Earth Science (99) and
Math A (99). Her school-based activities include
participation in the Yearbook Committee, Chorus Council,
Prom Committee, National Honor Society, WAVE, FBLA, Book
Club, as well as Math League. Kara Anne has engaged in
varied volunteer activities, such as helping to plan the
American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, acting as a
peer mediator and offering assistance at the American
Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
event and Saratoga Hospital’s Run for the Radiation
Oncology Center. She has also participated in roadside
cleanups and organized a fundraiser for a local family
in need after a tragic death.
Jennifer Lopez, who
is graduating with a 97.88 academic average and is
planning to major in biology at SUNY Brockport and
eventually attend veterinary school. She’s been involved
with Schuylerville’s Jr.-Sr. High School’s Drama Club,
Ski Club, Math League, Prom Committee, Computer Club,
Yearbook, FBLA, Student Against Destructive Decisions (SADD),
Chorus, Select Chorus, Symphonic Band, Student
Government, Honor Society and WAVE. As a student
athlete, Jennifer has participated in softball, field
hockey and indoor track. She received the Bausch & Lomb
Award and has been on the high honor roll every year
throughout high school. In addition, Jennifer was chosen
for People to People, an opportunity that allowed her to
travel throughout Europe as a student ambassador. She
also participated in All-County Band, earned the highest
score on the Earth Science Regents exam, was chosen to
be a peer mediator and received the Scholastic
Excellence Award. Jennifer devotes many hours to
community service, including volunteer work for the Race
for the Cure, Making Strides for Breast Cancer, a local
soup kitchen, the Salvation Army, the Alzheimer’s
Association and the Teen Council. She has also
volunteered her time to benefit the elderly, as well as
elementary school students.
Lisa Limeri, who is
graduating with a 97.76 academic average and planning to
major in prelaw at SUNY Binghamton. She has been a
member of numerous clubs and organizations while at
Schuylerville Jr.-Sr. High School, including the
Schuylerville Honor Society, National Honor Society, the
Mock Trial Team, Band, Ski Club and Model UN. Lisa has
been on the high honor roll since 2003, and was chosen
to participate in Area All-State Band, as well as the
All-County Band. Additionally, she was selected as a
Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) Ambassador. Lisa’s
awards are varied, including the Court Stella Maris
Catholic Daughters of America Award for earning the
highest grade on the Math A Regents examination, the
Wells College 21st Century Leadership Award and the
Senator Joseph L. Bruno Certificate of Merit. She has
earned college credits in oceanography from the
University of Southern California and attended the DEC
Environmental Camp. Outside of school, she has found an
affinity for Tae Kwon Do; she teaches this form of
martial arts and has also earned a black belt in the
discipline.
Susanna Harro, who
is graduating with a 97.60 academic average and has been
on the high honor roll for 14 quarters at Schuylerville
Jr.-Sr. High School. She was also chosen to be a member
of the National Honor Society. Susanna graduates with
many musical accomplishments to her name, including
participation in the district’s Jazz Band, where she was
section leader for the last three years, as well as
participating in All-County Jazz Festival. As a member
of Symphonic Band for the last four years, Susanna has
been section leader since 2005 and was also selected to
participate in the All-County Band Festival and the
All-Area State Festival. Additionally, she has taken
piano lessons for a decade and saxophone lessons since
1998. Susanna has also taken advantage of the
opportunities offered through the district’s Career
Education Program, getting hands-on job experiences at
Battenkill Veterinary Clinic, Saratoga Physical Therapy
Associates and Cornell Cooperative Extension Equine. She
plans to attend Wheaten College in the fall, where she
will major in biology and anthropology.
Samantha Barnum, who
is graduating with a 96.79 academic average. Samantha
has earned numerous academic honors, including being on
the high honor roll and a scholar athlete for four
years, being in the National Honor Society and the
Junior Honor Society, winning the Senator Bruno Academic
Achievement Award of Merit and receiving an Excellence
in Latin Certificate of Merit. She was recognized with
an academic excellence award from Schuylerville Jr.-Sr.
High School, as well as placed third in business English
during the Adirondack Community College Business Day
competition. She has been an active participant in Book
Club, WAVE, FBLA, Yearbook, Math League, Prom Committee,
as well as Indoor and Outdoor Track and Cross Country.
Samantha was also chosen to attend New York State School
Music Association events. Her community service
activities include volunteering for American Cancer
Society events, the Ronald McDonald House and Saratoga
Springs Hospital emergency room, along with
participating in DARE training and singing holiday
carols in Schuylerville. She has also been part of the
district’s musician volunteer group, MAESTRO. In the
fall, Samantha plans to attend SUNY Plattsburgh, where
she’ll major in nursing.
Katherine Cushing,
who is graduating with a 96.68 academic average and
planning to attend Hobart and William Smith College in
the fall, where she’ll major in neuroscience and premed.
Katherine has been recognized for many academic
accomplishments, including membership in the National
Honor Society and Junior Honor Society, earning high
honor roll status for 2004 through 2007 and winning the
University of Rochester Xerox Award for Innovation.
Additionally, she attended the National Youth Leadership
Forum on Medicine, the Russell Sage Forensics Career Day
Program, RPI’s Science and Technology Arts event and was
an Intel Science Talent Search applicant. Katherine is
gifted in the arts, having more than 10 years of
classical ballet training, highlighted by performances
with the Moscow Ballet Company. She played flute in the
Jr.-Sr. High School Band, the New York State School
Music Association All-State competition and All-County
Band events, while her violin talents were put to use in
the the Saratoga Springs Youth Orchestra and All-County
Orchestra. Katherine’s community service work led to her
nomination for the WNYT-TV/Times Union/St. Peter’s
Health Care “13 Kids Who Care.”
Emily Hanehan, who
is graduating with a 96.55 academic average and who has
been involved with many activities during her years at
Schuylerville Jr.-Sr. High School, including Art Club,
Spanish Club, Book Club, Chorus, Symphonic Band, Jazz
Band, Future Farmers of America (FFA), Yearbook
Committee, Prom Committee, FBLA, Drama Club and Computer
Club. She has also been a part of the Honor Society, as
well as a member of the Field Hockey, Track and Field
and Lacrosse teams. Emily has been recognized for such
academic achievement as earning the highest scores on
the Earth Science and Spanish Regents exams and winning
the Earth Science Honors Award and the Spanish Award.
Her commitment to the agricultural field is illustrated
by her numerous state and national FFA awards and
recognition––first place finishes in the state Creed
Speaking event, second place in Agricultural Issues and
Prepared Speech and third place in Agricultural Sales.
Additionally, Emily won 4H awards in dairy,
food/nutrition and leadership. She’s also committed to
community service, having volunteered her time for local
nursing homes, Sundae on the Farm, 4-H, Schuylerville
Elementary School activities, Schuyler House, FFA and
Dairy Princess activities.
John K. Mannix, who is graduating with a 96.14
academic average and planning to attend Cornell
University in the fall, where he’ll major in
engineering. He is a member of the National Honor
Society, National Junior Honor Society and has been on
the honor roll at Schuylerville Jr.-Sr. High School
during all quarters. John earned perfect scores on the
Advanced Placement U.S. History and English exams and
won the RIT Computing Medal, the NYS Senate Outstanding
Achievement Award and the Johns Hopkins University
Center for Talented Youth Awards in Mathematics and
Verbal categories. He has taken advanced- or
honors-level programs in all academic areas throughout
his high school career. John’s extracurricular
activities include participation in Math League, Quiz
Team, Computer Club, Spanish Club and Yearbook
Committee, along with competing athletically in soccer,
lacrosse and skiing. His community service activities
include volunteer work for Saratoga Youth Court, Celiac
Disease Resource, Inc. and as a tutor at Schuylerville
Public Library. John has also worked with Schuylerville
Elementary and Jr. High School students during the
district’s Summer Technology Program and attended
Pennsylvania State University Engineering Department’s
selective program on nanoscience and nanotechnology.
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