GALWAY — Galway Junior/Senior High School Principal Michael Miller is proud to present the Top 10 graduates for the Class of 2020. Congratulations to: 

Alex Malanoski, son of Cheryl and Stan Malanoski of Middle Grove is the valedictorian Class of 2020. Alex is an Eagle Scout, treasurer of Class Office, treasurer of National Honor Society, and a writer and photographer for Eagles Media Center. He was also an anchor and director for GTV. Alex was a two-sport athlete competing in varsity baseball and basketball. Alex will attend Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications to study Broadcast and Digital Journalism. 

Kaylee Bagdan, daughter of Lisa and Kevin Bagdan of Amsterdam, is the salutatorian Class of 2020. Kaylee was president of the Student Senate; head editor of Eagles Media Center; co-editor of Impressions Literary Magazine; student senate representative; and a member of the National Honor Society, Planned Decision Making, and a Student Group in Partnership with Officer Bedell. Kaylee was a two-sport athlete competing in varsity softball and soccer. Kaylee will attend Skidmore College in the fall and major in biology and environmental sciences. 

Rachel Wnuk was an anchor on GTV and writer for Eagles Media Center. She was secretary of class office and co-president of the Science Club. She participated in Student Senate, National Honor Society, Prom Committee, Best Buddies, Do Something Club, Drama Club, and Leo’s Club.

Rachel received Scholar Athlete honors in soccer, basketball and track and field. She was a WAC Hudson Valley Division Soccer Second Team All Star, WAC All-Star, and News Channel 13 Athlete of the Week honoree. Rachel plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering and possibly volunteer for the Peace Corps. Rachel is the daughter of Amy and Brian Wnuk of Hagaman. 

Walter Ellsworth was a member of class office, Science Club, Robotics Club, and Republican Club. He ran track and field and participated in Boy Scouts. He will attend Georgia Institute of Technology and major in electrical engineering. He would like to specialize in engineering electric vehicles. Walter is the son of Amy Ellsworth and Peter Ellsworth and stepson of Elaine Ellsworth of Galway.

Anna Gardner was a member of National Honor Society. She competed with the undefeated Galway Varsity Volleyball team that won the WAC Championship, Section 2 Class D Championship, Regional Championship, and finished the season as NYS Semi-Finalist. Anna was a Second Team All-Star. Anna will attend the University of Vermont and major in sustainable parks, recreation, and tourism. She is the daughter of Judy Koskinen and Jim Gardner of Galway. 

Ryan Lovelass was a member of class office, National Honor Society, Eagles Media Center, and Robotics Club. He was a two-sport varsity athlete competing in golf and basketball. He was recognized on the court with a Section 2 Honorable Mention award. Ryan has a long list of achievements in golf including leading the Golden Eagles’ golf team to two WAC Team Championship Titles. Next year, Ryan will be competing with the Division I Binghamton Bearcats Golf team while pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering in the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering. He is the son of Melissa and Kevin Lovelass of Galway. 

Paige Brink was a member of S.A.D.D., Impressions Literary Magazine, and the Do Something Club. She was also a member of the Galway varsity cheerleading team. Paige will attend the State University of New York at Oneonta to study Early Childhood and Childhood Education. She is the daughter of Rebecca and Brian Brink of Middle Grove. 

Ruth Reichard was president of the National Honor Society and a director for GTV. She was a member of Class Office, Student Senate, Band, Jazz Band, and Drama Club. She was also a three-sport varsity athlete competing in soccer, basketball, and softball. Ruth will attend the State University of New York at Potsdam in the fall to double major in biochemistry and Spanish on a pre-med track. She is the daughter of Maureen and Richard Reichard of Middle Grove. 

Rachel Germain maintained academic scholar status throughout her high school career. She received the Galway Lions Club Citizenship Award. She also went to Europe twice as a People to People Student Ambassador. Rachel is a member of National Honor Society, a writer for Eagles Media Center, and an anchor for GTV. She is the founder and president of the Galway Do Something Club. Rachel will attend the State University of New York at Oneonta in the fall to pursue a degree in early childhood and childhood education with a liberal arts concentration. She is the daughter of Peggy and George Germain of Amsterdam. 

Vanessa Colangelo was lead editor of Impressions Literary Magazine and ran varsity cross-country. She was a member of National Honor Society and had an Art Portfolio Exhibition at the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa. She plans to attend Fulton Montgomery Community College to study digital media arts. She is the daughter of Anthony Colangelo of Galway.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Corwin Freedman, a senior at Saratoga Springs High School, has been awarded the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s 2020 Rodion Cantacuzene Scholarship. Freedman, who will attend the University of New Hampshire in the fall and study classics and biology, has been awarded $1,000 toward his college costs.   

The Rodion Cantacuzene Scholarship was established in the spring of 2015 in honor of Mr. Cantacuzene’s 30 years of service to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees. The scholarship is intended to foster like-minded leaders, philanthropists, and volunteers throughout our communities. It is awarded annually to a deserving high school senior from Saratoga County. The recipient will have demonstrated a record of academic excellence, an interest in history and/or the arts, and exemplary service to the community.

Freedman aspires to be a teacher after graduating from college. He is a dedicated member of the Saratoga Springs community and was a leader of three volunteer-based clubs at Saratoga Springs High School, including the school’s eco-garden, which provides fresh food for the school cafeteria, and the Saratoga Naturalist Club, which cleans the school and leads recycling initiatives. He also volunteers with the Saratoga Therapeutic Equine Program, which provides equine-assisted therapy to special needs children, stroke victims, and veterans suffering from PTSD.

“The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is proud to present Corwin with the 2020 Rodion Cantacuzene Scholarship,” said Lindsay Doyle, the Museum’s educator. “The Museum staff is very impressed with Corwin’s activism and passion. He is an ideal candidate for this scholarship. We wish him all the best at New Hampshire.”

For more information about the Museum, including special events and program offerings, please call 518-584-0400 or visit our website at www.racingmuseum.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — While hundreds of high school graduates celebrate their academic achievements for the school year, one local graduate was recognized for her key personality traits. 

Eve Crossett, a graduate at the Saratoga Springs High School, was honored for embodying key traits such as anti-bullying and respect throughout the school year. She was featured on the Act with Respect Always (AWRA) website as a “spotlight.” The spotlight highlights individuals from schools and in the community who have taken it upon themselves to “pay it forward” as AWRA Ambassadors.

“Being a spotlight was a surprise. It feels really good to be recognized and I’m really excited for what the future will bring,” Crossett said. 

AWRA stresses the importance of one’s personal character both on and off the school campus. It was founded by Rich Johns as a pay it forward movement. Every year, Johns selects a student who embodies traits such as kindness, teamwork, courage, honesty and anti-bullying. Johns said he selected Crossett for not only her personality traits, but also the scholarship she received. Crossett received the West Point Association of
Graduates Scholarship.

 “West Point is sponsoring me to go to a preparatory school. I will attend Marion Military Institute in Marion, AL as a cadet in the Service Academy Preparatory Program this year, and upon completion of the program I will receive a Letter of Assurance from West Point. This guarantees a spot in the class of 2025 if I remain academically, medically, and physically qualified,” Crossett said.

Johns first met Crossett while helping the Saratoga girl’s tennis team. He began to help her on the tennis court, and grew to learn her personality both on and off the court. 

“I was on the girls’ varsity tennis team in Saratoga for a few years and he always came in and spoke. We didn’t become closer until this year as he came to our matches more often and I had more opportunities to talk to him. He then asked me to be a member of his program and I felt so honored,” Crossett said.

Johns added: “She is so open and honest. She has impressed me so much over the last year. The path that Eve has wanted to take is becoming a reality. She is one of the most caring, gifted, modest students I have ever met. I feel connected to Eve and all of the past spotlights.”

Crossett said Johns has reached out weekly throughout the COVID pandemic to check in with the members of AWRA. 

“He is a great role model in the community,” Crossett said. “I’m so excited to finally be able to live out my dream of going to West Point.”

Johns founded AWRA after growing up in South Glens Falls. There, he learned core values that he has used throughout his life. 

“My mom and dad were from large families that immigrated to the United States to create a new life for themselves. Each of them taught me from a very young age that you must always work hard and respect all people that are in your life,” Johns wrote on his website. “As a young student and athlete, I soon learned that teachers and coaches were there to help me improve my abilities. Respecting these individuals was first and foremost to me. As years have passed, the core value of respect continues to be even more important to me. I believe that respect is at the center of all things we do in life.”

Johns can be reached through social media or email at acejohns@aol.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Only one of the 31 seniors of the 2020 Saratoga Central Catholic School (SCC) graduating class was asked to put on their cap and gown this past weekend.

As the graduates drove through the school to pick up their caps and gowns, graduate Ria Walsh was honored. Her fellow students and teachers beeped their car horns and showed their support through the purple and gold school colors. Faculty and Staff wore their SCC spirit-wear with pom-poms and signs. They also handed out goodie bags, yearbooks, academic and athletic awards and caps and gowns to each senior as they drove up.

“We had them all park their cars in the parking lot while beeping their horns and yelling. Ria was so excited. The students got to support her and she got to see them and have a little celebration as well,” Mary Guarnieri, director of advancement at SCC, said.

Last August, Walsh joined the Army National Guard. Her recruiter, SSG Brandon Moseman joined the celebration and honored Walsh with a personal level of achievement.

The district has planned a tentative graduation ceremony for Friday, July 10. However, Walsh will leave for basic training on June 30, and SCC still wanted to honor her. 

Interim Principal Michael Kondratowicz handed the graduate her diploma along with two awards she earned. Walsh received one award from the Gurtler Brother VFW Post 420 Patriotism award and also received the Knights of Colombus 4th Degree Assembly Patriotism award.

Guarnieri said the event was great and the students appreciated it. 

“It went very well. We had a dunking booth where students could attempt to dunk our Athletic Director Alphonse Lambert,” Guarnieri said.

A local DJ, Elaine Gaynor of DJ Smalz, played music for the duration of the event. Along with picking up their caps and gowns, students were welcomed to receive their awards for the school year. Guarnieri said for the ceremony this year, two faculty members recorded a video of the awards in their gym. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Connor D. Hart, age 18, of Saratoga Springs, recently graduated from Camden Military Academy of Camden, South Carolina. Connor spent his Senior Year of High School at CMA earning Cadet of the Semester, Cadet of the Year, and was Valedictorian of the Class of 2020. Connor earned a GPA of 3.94 in college course work from the University is South Carolina. He is planning on attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State College (Virginia Tech) in the Fall as a member of the Corps of Cadets.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Lions Club Scholarship Committee proudly presents $32,500 in academic awards to seven Saratoga Springs High School Seniors. All seven seniors are pursuing four-years + in academic programs with diverse fields of study. 

It is disappointing that the annual Lions awards luncheon was unable to be held this June, however, we are anxious to share these students and the honor they receive for their hard work and perseverance during this difficult senior year.

FIRST ANNUAL LIONS FOUNDATION – JACK BERKOWITZ MEMORIAL $10,000 SCHOLARSHIP

Elizabeth Siebeneck 
Duke University/Chemistry – Pre-Med.
First in the class of 2020, she has received multiple awards and honors for her excellence in scholarship, high character, music (violin) and athletic (tennis) competition. Elizabeth’s community service was at home in Saratoga’s food pantries programs, in class leadership and government roles and abroad in Ghana and Peru as a Globe Aware volunteer. Elizabeth received the highest ranking score of all twenty-seven applicants to receive this scholarship award. 

$5000 FOUR -YEAR ACADEMIC PROGRAM AWARDS: THREE AWARDEES

Trinity Hogben
Siena College/Business – Advanced Regents Diploma.
Volunteer work for Special Olympics, Lions Stars Skating, Best Buddies (5 yrs) provided Trinity with leadership skills to be selected for International conferences for Special Olympics both state and national. Channel 13 recognized her as a Kid who Cares for her outstanding community achievement.

Megan Bissonette 
College of William and Mary Williamsburg – International Relations.
Leadership as the Leos Club Vice President for 2 years with organization and participation in the club activities as well as community work with her church, the Saratoga Library Book Buddies program, her work ethic and varsity sports provided Megan with this award.

Claire Kelly
Siena College/ Biology – Pre-Med Track with the goal of ER Doctor.
As Leo Club President with dedication to the growth and development of the Leos Club through leading by example, as well as her work ethic, giving to her community through her favorite ,The Skating Stars- A Lions Club Program, Claire clearly demonstrated her Lionism. 

$2500 FOUR-YEAR ACADEMIC PROGRAM AWARDS: TWO AWARDEES

Christian Mercado 
Roberts Wesleyan College/ Engineering
3+2 dual degree program with RIT Christian is praised in his references for his leadership, positivity, respect and as a team player. He is an avid cross country, track and field athlete and will be running for RWC. As a young entrepreneur, he developed and managed a lawn business and his volunteer work in the community with Food pantries, Adopt a Soldier, Best Buddies and the Marine Biology Club speak to Lionism.

Renee Maslak
University of Notre Dame/ Physics.
NHS Blood Drive Coordinator, Franklin Community Center,Turkey Trot speak to community as well as Honduras on a medical mission. Exceptional work ethic, communication and organizational skills and her determination to discover medical techniques through shadowing experiences are just a taste of her success. 

$2500 LEOS CLUB SCHOLARSHIP – AWARDED TO A SENIOR CLUB MEMBER 

McClaren Heck
University of South Carolina / Public Health.
Participation in all of the club activities and helping to bring awareness of the club and its mission to the underclassman was McClaren’s strength. Leadership, organization and involvement: what all Lions strive to accomplish.

Donald Brandt. Photo provided.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Central School District has selected Donald Brandt as its new Gordon Creek Elementary School Principal. Brandt was appointed by the Board of Education at the June 3, 2020 meeting with a July 1, 2020 start date. He currently serves as the assistant principal at the Ballston Spa High School.

“I am continuously grateful for the opportunity to serve the Ballston Spa community and am very excited to do so in the role of Principal at Gordon Creek Elementary,” indicated Brandt. Further, “I am humbled to have been selected for this position and am eager to get started.  I look forward to working with the Gordon Creek students, staff, and families.”

Brandt was previously an administrator at the Queensbury Union Free School District, serving as the Middle School Assistant Principal. He also served as the Principal of the Albany Academy at the Elementary and Middle Schools. His teaching experience includes nine years at the middle and high school, teaching Science.

His past educational experience includes department oversight, curriculum mapping and improvement, implementing restorative practices to build community, and developing social and emotional learning.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rochester, a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Union Graduate College, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from SUNY Plattsburgh.

After the culmination of a multi-level search process, he was selected as the next principal for Gordon Creek Elementary School. The process involved the review of 49 applications, four rounds of interviews including a presentation to the Board of Education, and finally a discussion with the building Advisory Committee which unanimously chose Brandt. 

“We are thrilled with Brandt’s appointment after a rigorous process. Having a finalist in such a process be one of our current teammates is a great thing for the students, staff, and the District. We are grateful to all of our faculty, staff, and administrators who participated in the interviews and to our parents who participated in the survey process,” said Superintendent Ken Slentz.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 2020 school year was marked as unforgettable as students, teachers and parents all moved to distance learning.

COVID-19 changed the world of teaching and soon after the virus struck the Saratoga community, Saratoga Central Catholic School started to implement innovative distance learning. They began online classes on March 18, connecting students daily with set schedules, Zoom classes and encouraging messages for their students. 

“This has been an experiment. We learned by doing and I think that many of the schools have proven they can continue education under very difficult circumstances, which this pandemic certainly is,” Michael Kondratowicz, interim principal said. “The distance learning with contact to the faculty, has allowed the students to be guided by their teachers. It’s helped parents by educating their children and allowing them to meet on a regular basis with their teachers under these unusual circumstances.”

The initial challenge Biology and Earth Science Teacher Kate Sedlak faced with remote learning was discovering methods to relay the education material to the students in a clear, concise manner. 

“In the beginning, I think we never thought that we would be out for the whole year. We thought at the end of spring break we would be back. Once we realized that we wouldn’t be going back, we had to kick it up a notch,” Sedlak said. “Having the video classrooms has been a great thing…the school already has a digital platform we were using that really helped with the transition. It made it easier to communicate because students and faculty already knew the program.”

As a Biology teacher, living through a pandemic brought an ample amount of education material to Sedlak that students could directly relate to. The SpaceX Dragon launch also provided a learning opportunity for Sedlak’s students. 

“I really took what was happening in the world that we live in and related it to the science they are learning. That’s what you have to do when you are teaching…you have to make up fun and relevant material with today’s world,” Sedlak said. 

By relating the material to current events not only engages the students more, but also keeps them motivated as they can directly use the information they are discovering. Maria Izzo, dean of students and teacher for eighth-grade American history and twelfth-grade government, said seeing students online rather than in person has been difficult. 

“It’s difficult for students to not have their teacher in front of them to explain assignments and material. They are all just different levels of learners. Keeping them engaged and motivated as they’re not in front of you has been a challenge,” Izzo said. 

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Thinking creatively has allowed both Izzo and Sedlak to keep the students engaged and motivated while learning through a new medium. 

“There are a lot of resources out there, you just had to go through them and figure out what ones you could use,” Sedlak said. “When I started teaching we didn’t even have computers in the classroom. I had to do all my grades in a grade book with a calculator. Dealing with the technology was an issue and who knows what will happen next year. I’m trying to learn from this experience to see what I have to do next year.”

Izzo said she has run into technology problems as student cameras or microphones won’t work or the Internet crashes, which happened to Izzo just this week. Despite the disturbances with technology, Izzo can use multiple online platforms that allow the students to work in different ways, including group assignments. 

“I have to give a round of applause to our faculty, parents and students who, under these circumstances, have worked really hard to work with programs and try to help educate our students,” Kondratowicz said. “We will continue [distance learning] until June 12 for our seniors and June 19 for other grade levels. Then we will be stopping it and we don’t know what the future will bring. All sorts of government planning and discussions are going on in New York State about what the school year will look like next year.”

Izzo said: “it’s kind of hard to start off a school year with new students. I can only imagine starting in a new school and you’re on a computer…but I can’t even imagine what it would be like for the younger kids. [Distance learning] would be some students first kindergarten experience. I know it’s technology but that in-person connection is needed.”

Sedlak said from what she knows thus far, there are three main options for schools next year. She said the transition would be fluid through the options.

“But nobody knows. No one knows what is going to happen but we have to be ready. Whether it’s partial distance learning, we just have to be ready and prepared,” Sedlak said. “I’m just really proud of my students.”

Izzo added: “What do I think the future holds for remote learning? I hope it’s short-lived and maybe not just the only way we are going to do it. I’m hoping our NYS education system can find a way that we can be with them some of the time. It’s going to be difficult, but we know what we are up against now and we know what precautions we need to take. I think anything is possible to get the kids back into the classroom if you put your mind to it. I think we owe it to [the students], for their education, to try to make it happen to get back into the classrooms.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On May 26, 2020, the Saratoga Central Catholic’s Varsity and Junior Varsity Baseball Teams took part in a virtual 5K run to benefit Kelly’s Angels Inc. The Saints were scheduled to have a baseball tournament to support Kelly’s Angels, but had to cancel due to COVID-19. During a Zoom meeting, the varsity players wanted to do one last project as a team to support the organization, and decided on a 5K charity run. The teams received pledges from family and friends and raised a total of $2,305 for Kelly’s Angels Inc. The mantra…Saints helping Angels. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Skidmore College community came together online to celebrate the creativity and resilience of the Class of 2020, whose final semester was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thousands of graduates, students, family members, alumni and friends from across the globe watched as Skidmore conferred 647 degrees in an unprecedented virtual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 30. The event was broadcast live from the Surrey-Williamson Inn on Skidmore’s campus, and streamed on Skidmore’s website and social media accounts.

The tribute included many of the usual components of a traditional Commencement ceremony — a touching rendition of Skidmore’s alma mater performed by Emma Berkowitz ’20 and Lindsay Walsh ’20; welcoming remarks by Jinan Al-Busaidi ’20, senior class president; a speech by faculty speaker Jennifer C. Mueller; and greetings from President Philip A. Glotzbach, who invited graduates to rise and move their tassels from right to left, symbolizing the conferring of degrees. 

But this year was also unique: Like educational institutions across the United States and the world, the College suddenly switched to online learning this spring. During the Commencement ceremony, graduates gathered with friends and family members in smaller groups as part of global social distancing efforts to contain the spread of the disease. 

Rather than walk across the stage at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), graduates, many wearing caps and gowns at home, were recognized during a live program. Diplomas were sent out by mail.

Praising the resilience of the Class of 2020, President Glotzbach noted there was no playbook for the pandemic, nor for life.

“We all had to make it up as we went along — rather like trying to keep an airplane flying while making emergency repairs. But you rose to the challenge. Along with so many people at our College, you displayed flexibility, inventiveness, perseverance and creativity,” the president told graduates. “Yours is arguably one of the most resilient classes in the College’s history — perhaps the most resilient one.”