The Walton Central School District has announced its valedictorian and salutatorian, as well as the honor graduates, for the Class of 2026.
The valedictorian is Elijah Williams and the salutatorian is Kahrin Vesterfelt. Each is scheduled to speak during the annual graduation ceremony, which is set for June 27.
Valedictorian
Active within the school and in the community, Williams is a member of the National Honor Society and student council. But that only is the start as he finds a way to juggle school groups, athletics, and community groups.
He’s a member of the pep and marching band, and the school musical. Williams has attended area all-state, all-county and was chosen to attend the HOBY conference, and boys state. He attended states and nationals for the speech and debate team, and was also part of the travel club. Athletically, he participates in soccer, as well as indoor and outdoor track and field. He competed in state qualifiers for track. He’s also earned scholar-athlete awards.
Academically, his list is long. Williams has been consistently on the Superintendent’s List, and earned the Seal of Biliteracy for English and Spanish. He also has Regents mastery. Williams has received scholastic-achievement awards in Spanish II-IV, pre-calculus, physics, economics and government, English, chemistry, Earth science, global history, high school chorus, and high school band.
Outside of school, Williams is active in area community theatre groups, including Orpheus and Tri-Town.
After graduation, he will attend college and pursue a degree in music education, with plans to have a successful career as a music educator.
Williams is the son of Kristine and Gary Williams.
Salutatorian
Vesterfelt continually sets herself apart in and out of the classroom.
A member of the National Honor Society, she is active in several clubs, including varsity club, and the musical. Vesterfelt is a member of the band, chorus, orchestra, and plays the piano. She has earned seven NYSSMA awards, including a perfect 100 on a level 5 piano solo. She has also attended the area all-county music festival for the past five years, participating in a variety of different ensembles.
Academically, she’s a regular on the Superintendent’s List, and has earned scholastic awards in English 9, orchestra, English 11, Spanish IV, pre-calculus, chorus, band, and anatomy and physiology.
Athletically, she has participated in soccer, basketball, as well as indoor and outdoor track and field. She was a member of the school record-breaking 4x400 relay team and has earned several scholar-athlete awards.
Outside of school, Vesterfelt is a member of the young women’s group, and a youth group. After graduating, she intends to attend college to major in exercise science. Ultimately, she plans to obtain a doctorate in physical therapy.
She is the daughter of Rachel and Christian Vesterfelt.
Honor graduates
Walton CSD has also announced its top honor graduates for the Class of 2025 and they are as follows:
Kylie Wood (daughter of Kyle and Kellie Wood), Carter McNamara (son of Nicole Hodorovych and Brian McNamara), Gavin Harrington (son of Michael and Cindy Harrington), Addalyn Strub (daughter of Kyley Strub and Leo Hannon), Layne VanValkenburg (daughter of Lynne and Steve VanValkenburg), Lucas Rice (son of Megan Plank and Chris Rice), Chasidy Constable (daughter of Burt and Brittany Constable), Katelynn Gregory (daughter of Kim Reed and Kevin Gregory), Sophia Nichols (daughter of James and Emely Nichols), Delana Wood (daughter of Donna Wood and Richard Wood), Nathaniel Harrington (son of Michael and Cindy Harrington), Arwen Tracey (daughter of Amber Foreman and Lanny Tracey), Olivia Barnes (daughter of Matthew and Jessica Barnes), Aiden Branigan (son of Joe Branigan, and Heidi Branigan and Dino Martini), Delaney Kilmurray (daughter of Sean Kilmurray, and Jessica Kilmurray and Jake Bouton), Angelas Mills (son of Terry and Amanda Mills), Maddox Little (son of Molly and Ty Little), Olivia Bartlett (daughter of Tim and Renee Bartlett), Leila Pedro (daughter of Chris and Jill Pedro, and Catalina Montalvo), Killian McGowan (son of Kelly and Jeff Clark, and Daniel McGowan), Caden Scofield (son of Crystal and John Scofield), Phade Lindsay (daughter of Jordan and Elizabeth Lindsay), Gianna Armstrong (daughter of Vanessa and Bret Armstrong).