MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Legislature presented the county’s high school valedictorians with honors in a ceremony on  May 18. 

Ema Amato was the valedictorian from the Eldred Central School District. Ema will attend SUNY Plattsburgh to study chemistry, and is very active and involved in the school community, including involvement in band, on student council and as president of the GSA club, said high school principal Michael Conklin. 

Nicholas Muscia is the valedictorian from Fallsburg Central School District. “It is a privilege to get to know him,” said Shana Bruestle, high school principal; Nicholas actively participates in a wide variety of extracurriculars including a robotics club that won a state championship. He plans to attend SUNY Oneonta for clinical psychology.

Dylan Nichols is the valedictorian from Liberty Central School District. “Dylan is a true scholar-athlete valedictorian,” said high school principal Derek Adams. Dylan competed in soccer, basketball and baseball, and participated in the science olympiad, debate and pep band. He plans to major in computer science at the Rochester Institute of Technology. 

Jacqueline Lambe is the valedictorian from the Roscoe Central School District. She was student government president, merger committee student member, on the superintendent’s honor roll, and achieved the New York State Regents award for academic excellence, said superintendent John Evans. Jacqueline will study cognitive science at the University of Buffalo. 

Demi Budd is the valedictorian from the Livingston Manor Central School District; she could not attend the ceremony, as she was on a Future Farmers of America (FFA) trip in Buffalo, said Evans. Demi was senior class president, a youth poetry ambassador, a reporter and founding member of the Livingston Manor FFA. She plans to study English and sociology at Mount Holyoke College, taking part in a pre-professional track in law, public policy and human rights. 

Allison Weinstein is the valedictorian from the Monticello Central School District. Allison will study cellular molecular biology at Northwestern University. “Allison’s success is the culmination of years of intentional and persistent effort,” said high school superintendent Stephen Wilder. Allison has participated in pit orchestra and the all-county music program, and competed in tennis and on the ski team. 

Angela Cordishi is the valedictorian from the Sullivan West Central School District. Angela has earned a spot in the New York State Choir, has painted murals on open wall space in the school and “challenged herself by taking Sullivan West’s most challenging courses,” said high school principal Mark Plescia. She will attend Wilkes University as part of the honors program for pharmacology.

Thomas Houghtaling is the valedictorian from the Tri-Valley Central School District. Thomas took the first computer science AP test given at Tri-Valley, and will study computer science at SUNY Polytechnic Institute with a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree. “He prefers to be active, as most of our valedictorians have been,” said high school principal Margaret Tenbus; his efforts culminated in a state cross-country title the past year.