Posted Tuesday, March 5, 2019
The Walton Central School District has named its valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2019.
The valedictorian is Olivia Harby, and the salutatorian is Vincent Escobar. Each will speak during the annual graduation ceremony on June 22.
Valedictorian
Harby is a studious student, who juggles responsibilities of academics, clubs, and athletics and serves as the vice president of the senior class.
A member of the soccer, basketball, and track and field teams, she also is the president of the National Honor Society and Varsity Club. She is an active member of student council and participates in ski club and orchestra.
Academically, Harby is well decorated, earning scholastic achievement in pre-calculus, calculus, AP biology, trigonometry, regents chemistry, anatomy, forensics, US history and government, health, orchestra, geometry, Earth science, and global studies. On top of that, she scored 100 percent on ELA Regents, Algebra 1 common core Regents, and geometry Regents. Finally, she’s been on the Superintendent’s list throughout high school.
In athletics, Harby scored her 1,000th point this past basketball season, and has been a Midstate Athletic Conference all-star in soccer and basketball. She also served as captain of both teams. She also earned scholar-athlete honors from the league in soccer, basketball, and track.
Harby is the daughter of Jay and Amy Harby, and hasn’t decided where she will attend college, but she has been accepted to Boston College to major in biochemistry.
Salutatorian
Escobar is a focused student, who stays active with academics, clubs, and athletics and serves as the vice president of student council.
Escobar is a member of the National Honor Society and is an active participant in school musicals.
His academic record is impressive as a National Hispanic Recognition Scholar, and a Questbridge National College Match Scholar. He’s earned scholastic achievement in Spanish II, III, and IV, Global I and II, AP literature, pre-calculus, forensics, communications and broadcasting, health, natural disasters, Regents chemistry, and biology living environment.
In athletics, he competed on the soccer and wrestling teams, earning the MAC scholar-athlete award in each sport. He’s also a member of the Varsity Club.
Outside of school, he is a purple belt in Tae-Kwon-Do, and works within his church youth group.
Escobar is the son of Kathleen Cuomo and will attend Princeton University to study mathematics with a minor in finance.
Honor graduates
Walton has also announced its top honor graduates and they are as follows:
Maranda Klinger (daughter of Priscilla and Butch Klinger), Sophia Elston (daughter of Doug Elston), Sophie Wagner (daughter of Robin and Dana Wagner), Christian Vitek (son of Melanie Wezkiewicz and Cory Vitek), Jordan Johnston (daughter of Nicole Johnston and the late Larry Johnston), Alaina Tweedie (daughter of Terri and Jim Tweedie), Thomas Maguire (son of Tim and Brigid Maguire), Madison LeBarge (daughter of Wendy and Chris LeBarge), Owen Pieper (son of Lenny and Angie Pieper), Madison Graupman (daughter of Mirranda MacDonald, Jeremiah Graupman and Matthew MacGibbon), Jose Mirabal (son of Jose and Julissa Mirabal), Hunter McGonigle (daughter of Scott McGonigle and Teri McGonigle), Ethan Wood (son of Paul Wood and Greta Wood), River Reed (son of Michael Reed and Jessica Reed), Madison Barnhart (daughter of Jennifer and Scott Barnhart), Camberly VanValkenburg (daughter of Sam VanValkenburg and Tracy Stanton), Brett Charles (son of Kevin and Erica Charles), Christina Huntress (daughter of Sue and Ron Huntress), Jordynn Palmatier (daughter of Brian Palmatier and Roberta Backus), Samantha Layton (daughter Mike and Wendy Layton), and Olivia Haven (daughter of Nick Haven and Deborah Hughes).