High school seniors set to graduate from local school districts this month have navigated unprecedented challenges in their efforts to earn coveted diplomas.
Members of 2023 graduating classes were freshmen when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of all New York state schools in spring 2020.
At that point, willingness to adapt became critical, with students, parents, teachers and staff making a quick pivot to remote learning in an effort to stay on track for graduation and minimize academic regression.
Obstacles didn't go away when the next school year dawned, but this is a success story. Hard work and flexibility paid off. Graduating seniors earned their commencement stage spotlight.
A select few will garner extra accolades. These are the students whose study and talents have brought them the distinction of graduating at the pinnacle of their classes.
We've compiled a list of the valedictorians and salutatorians from more than 50 Southern Tier high schools.
Here are the students who made it to the top of the Class of 2023:
Addison Central School District Faith Skowvron, valedictorian of the Addison Central School Class of 2023.
Marshall Brewer, salutatorian of the Addison Central School Class of 2023.
Afton Central School District Jesse Voltz, valedictorian of the Afton Central School Class of 2023.
Elijah Baciuska, salutatorian of the Afton Central School Class of 2023.
Alfred-Almond Central School District Valedictorian Julian Petrillo, left, and salutatorian Jack Byrnes, right, of the Alfred-Almond Central School Class of 2023.
Andover Central School District Morgan Satterlee, valedictorian of the Andover Central School Class of 2023.
Will Kent, salutatorian of the Andover Central School Class of 2023.
Arkport Central School District Laura Murray, valedictorian of the Arkport Central School Class of 2023.
Braydon Brewster, salutatorian of the Arkport Central School Class of 2023.
Avoca Central School District Jacob Taylor, valedictorian of the Avoca Central School Class of 2023.
Haden Abbott, salutatorian of the Avoca Central School Class of 2023.
Bainbridge-Guilford Central School District Kaitlyn Curtis, valedictorian of the Bainbridge-Guilford Central School Class of 2023.
Lillyann Finch, salutatorian of the Bainbridge-Guilford Central School Class of 2023.
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Bath Central School District Ella Miller, valedictorian, and Kelsey Thorp, salutatorian of the Bath Central School Class of 2023.
Belfast Central School District Justin Hill, valedictorian of the Belfast Central School Class of 2023.
Canaan Sullivan, salutatorian of the Belfast Central School Class of 2023.
Binghamton City School District Michael Vititow, valedictorian of the Binghamton City School Class of 2023.
Dominic Lisio, salutatorian of the Binghamton City School Class of 2023.
Bolivar-Richburg Central School District Haley Mascho, valedictorian of the Bolivar-Richburg Central School Class of 2023.
Noah Martin, salutatorian of the Bolivar-Richburg Central School Class of 2023.
Bradford Central School District Michele Rosno, valedictorian of the Bradford Central School Class of 2023.
Chelsey Williams, salutatorian of the Bradford Central School Class of 2023.
Campbell-Savona Central School District Noah Puffer, valedictorian of the Campbell-Savona Central School Class of 2023.
Karissa Champion, salutatorian, of the Campbell-Savona Central School Class of 2023.
Canaseraga Central School District Jacob Broughton, valedictorian of the Canaseraga Central School Class of 2023.
Ryan Sanders, salutatorian of the Canaseraga Central School Class of 2023.
Canisteo-Greenwood Central School District Diana Morling, valedictorian of the Canisteo-Greenwood Central School Class of 2023.
Kylie Williamson, salutatorian of the Canisteo-Greenwood Central School Class of 2023.
Chenango Forks Central School District Alaina Gumble, valedictorian of the Chenango Forks Central School Class of 2023.
Ashley Franta, salutatorian of the Chenango Forks Central School Class of 2023.
Chenango Valley Central School District Marin Lesch, valedictorian of the Chenango Valley Central School Class of 2023.
Joshua Coddington, salutatorian of the Chenango Valley Central School Class of 2023.
Corning-Painted Post School District Preston Ogunwumi, valedictorian of Corning-Painted Post High School Class of 2023
Nishant Lahiri, salutatorian of Corning-Painted Post High School Class of 2023
Cuba-Rushford Central School District Gracie Motil, valedictorian of the Cuba-Rushford Central School Class of 2023.
Aleah Demick, salutatorian of the Cuba-Rushford Central School Class of 2023.
Dansville Central School District Jeffrey Birmingham, valedictorian of the Dansville Central School Class of 2023.
Gabriel Doe, salutatorian of the Dansville Central School Class of 2023.
Deposit Central School District Kendra Hartz, valedictorian of the Deposit Central School Class of 2023.
Gabby Singer, salutatorian of the Deposit Central School Class of 2023.
Elmira High School Shane Heifferon, co-valedictorian of the Elmira High School Class of 2023.
Milo Miller, co-valedictorian of the Elmira High School Class of 2023.
Juliet Poole, salutatorian of the Elmira High School Class of 2023.
Elmira Heights Central School District Aiyana Miles, valedictorian of the Elmira Heights Central School Class of 2023.
Josephine Burleigh, salutatorian of the Elmira Heights Central School Class of 2023.
Evertech Academy Rowan Barrows, valedictorian of the Evertech Academy Class of 2023.
Alec Peak, salutatorian of the Evertech Academy Class of 2023.
Fillmore Central School District Mitchell Ward, valedictorian of the Fillmore Central School Class of 2023.
Katelyn Pastorius, salutatorian of the Fillmore Central School Class of 2023.
Friendship Central School District Katherine Grace Lamberson, valedictorian of the Friendship Central School Class of 2023.
Claire Jane Calhoun-Mullen, salutatorian of the Friendship Central School Class of 2023.
Genesee Valley Central School District Lealah Greene, valedictorian of the Genesee Valley Central School Class of 2023.
Adison Grusendorf, salutatorian of the Genesee Valley Central School Class of 2023.
Greene Central School District Payton Yahner, valedictorian of the Greene Central School Class of 2023.
Natalie Specht, salutatorian of the Greene Central School Class of 2023.
Hammondsport Central School District Luke Szathmary, valedictorian of the Hammondsport Central School Class of 2023.
Cadence Butler, salutatorian of the Hammondsport Central School Class of 2023.
Harpursville Central School District Sophia Konidis, valedictorian of the Harpursville Central School Class of 2023.
Madison Fleming, salutatorian of the Harpursville Central School Class of 2023.
Hornell City School District Madelyn Moore, valedictorian of the Hornell High School Class of 2023.
Michellen Lian, salutatorian of the Hornell High School Class of 2023.
Horseheads Central School District Anh Thu Tran, valedictorian of the Horseheads Central School Class of 2023.
Tess Eisner, salutatorian of the Horseheads Central School Class of 2023.
Houghton Academy Jessica Adenuga, valedictorian of the Houghton Academy Class of 2023.
Caleb Hilsher, salutatorian of the Houghton Academy Class of 2023.
Jasper-Troupsburg Central School District Cayden Lawson, valedictorian of the Jasper-Troupsburg Central School Class of 2023.
Lorelei Cary, salutatorian of the Jasper-Troupsburg Central School Class of 2023.
Johnson City Central School District John Beblavy, valedictorian of the Johnson City Central School Class of 2023.
Agena Malziu, salutatorian of the Johnson City Central School Class of 2023.
Avrey Stallman, salutatorian of the Johnson City Central School Class of 2023.
Maine-Endwell Central School District Aleah Nale, valedictorian of the Maine-Endwell Central School Class of 2023.
Isabelle Bordages, salutatorian of the Maine-Endwell Central School Class of 2023.
Marathon Central School District Audrey Jasper, valedictorian of the Marathon Central School Class of 2023.
Jonathan Forrest, salutatorian of the Marathon Central School Class of 2023.
Newark Valley Central School District Karli Berghorn, valedictorian of the Newark Valley Central School Class of 2023.
Katie Berghorn, salutatorian of the Newark Valley Central School Class of 2023.
Norwich City School District Emma Brooks, valedictorian of the Norwich High School Class of 2023.
Elspeth Hunter, salutatorian of the Norwich High School Class of 2023.
Notre Dame High School Isabella Hazelton, valedictorian of Notre Dame High School Class of 2023.
Ella Chicone, salutatorian of Notre Dame High School Class of 2023.
Odessa-Montour Central School District Kathryn Adams, valedictorian of the Odessa-Montour Central School Class of 2023.
Victoria Brewster, salutatorian of the Odessa-Montour Central School Class of 2023.
Owego Apalachin Central School District Elizabeth Morton, valedictorian of the Owego-Apalachin Central School Class of 2023.
Jace Stuart, salutatorian of the Owego-Apalachin Central School Class of 2023.
Prattsburgh Central School District Bryce Schuck, valedictorian of the Prattsburgh Central School Class of 2023.
Ariana Sierra, salutatorian of the Prattsburgh Central School Class of 2023.
Scio Central School District Brenden Loucks, valedictorian of the Scio Central School Class of 2023.
Chase Kinnicut, salutatorian of the Scio Central School Class of 2023.
Seton Catholic Central School Connor Atchie, valedictorian of the Seton Catholic Central School Class of 2023.
Shannon Hayes, salutatorian of the Seton Catholic Central School Class of 2023.
Sherburne-Earlville High School Grace Todd-Rogers, valedictorian of Sherburne-Earlville High School Class of 2023.
Anna Fern, salutatorian of Sherburne-Earlville High School Class of 2023.
Spencer VanEtten Central School District Nathan Gillette, valedictorian of the Spencer-Van Etten Central School Class of 2023.
Bryce Grant, salutatorian of the Spencer-Van Etten Central School Class of 2023.
Susquehanna Valley Central School District Justin Pencek, valedictorian of the Susquehanna Valley Central School Class of 2023.
Lauren Hannigan, salutatorian of the Susquehanna Valley Central School Class of 2023.
Tioga Central School District Kathleen Toomey, valedictorian of the Tioga Central School Class of 2023.
Patrick Birney, salutatorian of the Tioga Central School Class of 2023.
Unadilla Valley Central School District Pyper Kneale, valedictorian of the Unadilla Valley Central School Class of 2023.
Trent Marinelli, salutatorian of the Unadilla Valley Central School Class of 2023.
Union-Endicott Central School District Patrick McGuinness, valedictorian of the Union-Endicott Central School Class of 2023.
Sydney Ziemba, salutatorian of the Union-Endicott Central School Class of 2023.
Vestal Central School District Victoria Lamoureux, valedictorian of the Vestal Central School Class of 2023.
Banshika Mangal, salutatorian of the Vestal Central School Class of 2023.
Watkins Glen Central School District Katrina Ricca, valedictorian of the Watkins Glen High School Class of 2023.
Nikhil Manakkal, co-salutatorian of the Watkins Glen High School Class of 2023.
Jenna May Solomon, co-salutatorian of the Watkins Glen High School Class of 2023.
Waverly Central School District Sophia DeSisti, valedictorian of the Waverly High School Class of 2023.
Oscar Williams, salutatorian of the Waverly High School Class of 2023.
Wayland-Cohocton Central School District Lila Wolfanger, valedictorian of the Wayland-Cohocton Central School Class of 2023.
Titan Rocha, salutatorian of the Wayland-Cohocton Central School Class of 2023.
Wellsville Central School District Joseph Mariotti, valedictorian of the Wellsville Central School Class of 2023.
Sara McCormick, salutatorian of the Wellsville Central School Class of 2023.
Whitesville Central School District Aislinn Hamilton, valedictorian of the Whitesville Central School Class of 2023.
Kennedy Bledsoe, salutatorian of the Whitesville Central School Class of 2023.
Whitney Point Central School District Kierstin Gehres (right), valedictorian, and Carley McGrath (left), salutatorian, of the Whitney Point Central School Class of 2023.
Windsor Central School District Elizabeth Beagell, valedictorian of the Windsor Central School Class of 2023.
Rory Bunnell, salutatorian of the Windsor Central School Class of 2023.
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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Class of 2023 valedictorians, salutatorians in NY Southern Tier
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