2024

Kenneth Jackson is a 2024 graduate of Hudson High School and the Questar III- Donald R. Kline Technical School, where he majored in Culinary Arts. Kenneth is the son of Mandy Pulver of Hudson, NY. He completed many college level courses through Columbia-Greene Community College and his excellent grades earned him a place on the high honor roll and membership in the National Honor Society. He was awarded the UAlbany Multicultural High School Scholars’ Award and the Craftsmanship Award through Questar III.

Kenneth worked in the Hudson community as a youth peer leader at the Mental Health Association of Columbia and Greene Counties and a junior leader at Kite’s Nest in Hudson. He also worked as a baker’s assistant and a junior counselor at the Hawthorne Valley Farm in Harlemville. Despite his busy schedule, Kenneth found time to volunteer at various functions for Donald R. Kline Catering, and helped out with class fundraising and at the LatinX Festival in Hudson. He is fluent in American Sign Language; and is certified in Naloxone administration and ServSafe Food Safety. Kenneth plans to attend the Culinary Arts program at Johnson & Wales in Providence, Rhode Island.

Dominic Marasco is a 2024 graduate of Germantown High School. He is the son of Stephanie Marasco. Dominic received numerous academic awards during high school, including Excellence in Journalism and English during his Junior year, placement on the Columbia Greene Community College Dean’s List (summer 2023), and high honor roll (12th grade). He participated in Odyssey of the Mind and high school band as an underclassman, and served as treasurer of the National Honor Society during his senior year.
Dominic volunteered in the local community throughout his high school years. He participated annually in Germantown’s River Sweep cleanup events and a local food drive, and volunteered for Relay for Life. An active member of Boy Scouts of America, Dominic achieved BSA Life Scout rank and became a member of the Order of the Arrow. He completed his Eagle Scout project and is on track to qualify for the rank of Eagle Scout. Dominic intends to study Psychology at SUNY Oneonta next year.

Alexa Meza, the daughter of Alejandro Meza Martinez, is a 2024 graduate of Ichabod Crane High School. She is an honor roll student and was involved with several clubs at the school including SADD, the Spanish Club and Sala Latina International Student Organization. She served as president of Sala Latina, a cultural club where students discuss and learn about each other’s cultures, customs and traditions. As a member of the Capital District Delegation of the Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PRHYLI), she researched and debated legislation that is important to the Latino community. Alexa was awarded the New York State Seal of Biliteracy after completing original research focused on addiction and how it affects families and the Latino community. She presented and defended her research in both English and Spanish.
Alexa is actively involved with her church community, as a volunteer in the catechism and confirmation classes and as a translator for bilingual students. She works as a waitress at a local restaurant. Although not yet decided about the college of her choice, she plans to major in Biology next year.

Erin Soltano is a 2024 graduate of Germantown High School and the Questar III Donald R. Kline Technical School. She is the daughter of Susan and Andrew Soltano. An excellent student, Erin was the student yearbook editor for the 2023 -2024 yearbook, and captain of the varsity soccer team. While on the soccer team, she created media posts about the team with collages of photos. Erin served for the past two years as a volunteer firefighter with the Taghkanic Volunteer Fire Company, where she was involved with emergency response training and firehouse fundraising. She completed her Emergency Medical Training certification course at Questar III.
Erin’s passion is sports management and media. She sought out an internship with the director of Community Outreach for the Albany Patroons basketball team and with the general manager of Catamount Mountain Resort. Erin was the first intern at Catamount, and learned about everything from public relations and marketing to making snow for the ski slopes. She also worked seasonally at Green Acres Farm Stand and Bakery in Livingston for three years and the West Taghkanic Diner as a waitress for the past two years. She plans to study sports media at Ithaca College in the fall.

Salmi Jaman is a 2024 graduate of Hudson High School. She is the daughter of Sanwar Siddiqui and Mahmuda Akter of Hudson. Salmi excelled academically and placed on the high honor roll throughout her entire high school career. She completed many rigorous classes to earn college credits at SUNY Cobleskill and Columbia-Greene Community College. Her academic excellence placed her in the National Honor Society, and earned her an Advanced Regents Diploma. Salmi was a key member of the HHS Multicultural Club and helped organize the annual Multicultural Festival, Black History Month, and Hispanic Heritage Months. She also served as a student council representative and participated in Model UN.

Outside of her school day, Salmi volunteered at AnimalKind and the Hudson High School Store, and worked at a local retail store. Multilingual, she is fluent in Bengali, English, and Urdu / Hindi, and is working toward fluency in Spanish. She intends to study Accounting at the University at Albany.

Emma McGlynn is a 2024 graduate of Taconic Hills Senior High School and completed the Questar III New Visions Medical Program at Samaritan Hospital. She is the daughter of Sally Stark and Sean and Cheryl Mc Glynn. A high honor roll student throughout high school, Emma earned numerous awards as scholar athlete in track and field and field hockey. She excelled in Marine Biology and College Chemistry; and won recognition for her academic achievement from the prestigious National Hispanic Recognition Program and the National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program. She participated in the National Youth Leadership Forum: Medicine & Health Care at St. John’s University.

Emma served as a member and secretary of the student council and the National Honor Society, and volunteered as a scorekeeper for the varsity volleyball team. Emma worked two jobs during high school, including four years in food service roles at local restaurants and two years as a junior ski instructor at the Butternut ski and tubing area. She plans to major in Biochemistry at Boston University and then pursue a Medical Doctorate with the goal of joining Doctors Without Borders.

Riley Robertson, a 2024 graduate of New Lebanon High School, is the daughter of
Marsha Robertson. Riley completed a challenging academic program at NLHS, including college level courses in English, Spanish, Statistics, US History, Biology and Physics. She graduated sixth in her class and achieved high honor roll every year. Riley has been involved in a variety of extracurricular activities since middle school. An active member of the senior choir, she participated in black tie affair rehearsals and concerts and the school rock band. She participated in the Student Leadership Council, where she was vice president for two years, the Outspoken Club, and was the student representative to the district’s Board of Education. She was a member of the varsity soccer team, where she served as captain for three years.

Riley was awarded the Hugh O’Brian Leadership Award and represented her school at the HOBY Leadership Weekend. Active in her community, Riley volunteered with the school backpack programs, the annual school based Thanksgiving dinner, and helped raise funds for the local historical society. She worked part time at local retail businesses, and secured her Water Safety Instructor credential, which allows her to lifeguard and teach swimming lessons. Riley plans to attend Russell Sage College to study Nursing.

Lily Strattman is a 2024 graduate of Chatham High School. She is the daughter of Jocelyn Beyor of East Chatham. Lily graduates in the top 5% of her class and is a member of the National Honor Society and Tri-M Honor Society. She has consistently been on the high honor roll and has earned student of the quarter awards for AP Biology, Chorus and Jazz Band while also taking AP courses in US and World History.
Dance, music and theater activities have played a significant role in Lily’s life. She enrolled in the challenging and competitive New Visions: Visual and Performing Arts Program for her senior year. She has been a member of the concert band, jazz band and choir throughout high school, and participated in NYSSMA and All County Chorus. Lily is the recipient of the Theater Performing Award through Master Class Performing Arts in Troy where she is also a choreographer. Lily is a dance instructor with Columbia Elite Allstars and a volunteer at the Mac-Hayden Theater. Lily plans to attend SUNY Geneseo to major in Musical Theater.