Whitehall names top students

Ryans Final-5 Peets_SethWhitehall’s valedictorian for the class of 2014, Ryan St. Clair will be earning the highest possible degree that a student in a New York State high school can earn. St. Clair will officially be earning a regents degree with advanced designation with honors and mastery in math and science.
This school year is the first that this mouthful of a degree will be awarded and St. Clair will be the only Railroader to receive this special diploma.
After graduation, St. Clair will be attending Middlebury College, where he will major in biology and biochemistry, with the intention of becoming a doctor.
On top of his scholastic achievement in the classroom, St. Clair also found himself in an assortment of different honor societies, he was involved in the People to People Ambassador Program, participated in varsity tennis and track and has been incredibly involved in community activities.
“Ryan has the drive to excel and be the best” Social Studies Teacher Justin Culligan said, “He took an AP class with me and was always reading ahead and re-reading the information.”
English Teacher Karen Short said, “I agree with Justin and on top of everything he said, Ryan is very meticulous with all of his work.”
“He doesn’t let the drama and other distractions get to him, while still maintaining a good social life,” Culligan added, “That’s because he comes from a good family.”
Salutatorian, Seth Peets was incredibly close to being awarded the highest possible degree as well. Peets will earn a regents degree with advanced designation with honors and mastery in science. Peets will be taking his impressive diploma to SUNY Adirondack in the fall, where he will major in humanities and social science.
“Seth is another one that has the innate ability to be intellectual,” Short said, “It’s like he doesn’t even have to think when he writes, it just flows.”
“He has a no nonsense attitude,” said Culligan, “He asks good questions, and he really excels at higher level thinking, I noticed this in my social studies classes.”
The rest of Whitehall’s top ten have obviously shown their own share of scholastic aptitude and performance as well, and their achievements clearly warrant recognition. In order from third to tenth, the rest of Whitehall’s top ten are as follows; Mackenzie Fironi, Brandon Steves, Malia DeLorme, Rachel Aubin, Samantha Baldwin, Taryn Tracy, Ashley Davis and Paul Ferguson.