The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

ELDRED, NY (June 13, 2012) –  The top 4 percent of Sullivan County’s high school seniors were honored at the 27th Annual Academic Achievement Dinner held on June 11 at Eldred Preserve Restaurant.

Hosted and coordinated by Sullivan County BOCES, the dinner was also attended by school district superintendents, principals, and in some cases, board of education presidents.

BOCES Superintendent Larry Thomas played emcee introducing each school district superintendent, as well as guest speaker, Frederick H. Kuriger, CEO of Catskill Regional Medical Center.

Kuriger (photo right) spoke about his background, and what the world was like in 1970, the year of his high school graduation. 

Following his talk, the students were called up to the podium where they told the audience of their post-graduation plans. Most mentioned colleges, but some spoke of military academies. They then were presented with a thesaurus, courtesy of The Times Herald-Record.

Accompanying the thesaurus was a scroll on which was printed a poem called “The Man Who Thinks He Can” by Walter D. Wintle, which Thomas (photo left) read at the conclusion of the program.

Students honored were: Eldred: Christine Donnelly, Brian Hazen, Erika Bowring; Fallsburg: Aaron Schmitt, Morgan Vegliante, Nicolle Freeman; Liberty: Katherin Heinle, Sydney Goldstein, Peter Koval, James Dapp, Vincent Webbe; Livingston Manor: Maggi Calo, Nina Zheng; Monticello: Erica Cncors, Kaitlyn Fisher, Dan Braunstein, Kristen Druse, Harry Lin, Emily Morey, Jessica Nesin, Jennifer Giza, Stefanie Vieira, Rasheeda McRae; Roscoe: Samanta Molinari, Courtney Banks; Sullivan West: Rebecca Corcillo, Jeff Yeung, Shawn Bailey, EJ Franskevicz, Kristina Sumfleth; and Tri-Valley: Heidi Furman, Olivia Rehm, Julia Spriggens, Gregory Swarthout.

Tribute was also paid to Sullivan West Superintendent, Dr. Kenneth Hilton, who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

To see more photos, or to purchase prints from the 27th Annual Academic Achievement Dinner, visit The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.