Cole has been named the Valedictorian of Salamanca’s Class of 2021. Cole graduated with an average of 100.08 and received a NYS Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors along with Mastery in Science and Math. This was all accomplished while taking a very demanding course load which included 9 college courses and 6 Advanced Placement course. Cole is the son of Cheryl and Dave Johnson. He will be attending Rochester Institute of Technology and has been accepted into the Accelerated Dual Degree Program, majoring in Computer Engineering. Cole has received the RIT Presidential Scholarship in the amount of $18,500 per year, over the course of four years. Cole received the Seth P. Holcombe and Lucy E. Holcombe Scholarship from the Thomas Munson Foundation in the amount of $20,000.  He also was gifted the RIT Alumni Scholarship from Mr. Brendan John, a Salamanca and RIT alumnus.

Cole was very active with extracurricular activities including National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Business/Marketing Honor Society and The National Society of High School Scholars. Cole was also the lead programmer and electrician for the FIRST Robotics School Team, a member of the RC Club, a member of the Physics Club with Dr. Robert Williams from the University of Buffalo and a founding member of Salamanca’s Dungeon & Dragon’s Club.  In 2018, Cole was named the Salamanca Science Student of the Year. In 2018 and 2019, Cole received the Salamanca STEAM fair award.  Cole also was awarded the Selby Hancox Memorial Award for Independent Technical Achievement at St. Bonaventure University and the Excellence in Extra- Curricular Activities Award in 2019.  In 2020, Cole was named the Jamestown Community College Connections Student of the Year and received the Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology.

College Courses taken: AP Government, Calculus and Analytic Geometry, English Composition II, Writing About Literature, Zoology, English Composition I, PreCalculus

College choice: Michigan Technological University

Career Interests: Environmental Engineer

Scholarships received: New York State Scholastic Excellence Award, Ray Evans Scholarship for Commitment to the Arts, Andrea Celeste Morton Memorial Award

Extracurricular activities (non-sports): Salamanca Student Activist (1 year, Co-Founder and Co-President), Drama Club (6 years), National Honor Society (2 years, President), Science Honor Society (3 years, President and Vice President), Math Honor Society (2 years, Vice President), Seneca Honor Society (2 years), Music Honor Society (3 years), Robotics (2 years), Student Government (1 year), HOBY (1 year), Close-Up with USET (1 year), Class President (6 years), Student Council (6 years), Seneca Youth Council (4 years)

Athletic Participation: Club soccer (6 years), Club Hockey (10 years), Box Lacrosse (5 years), Modified Soccer (3 years), Varsity soccer (3 years), Modified Lacrosse (2 years), Varsity Lacrosse (4 years)

Honors/Awards: Class of 2021 Boy of the Year, State of New York Triple “C” Award, Inducted member of the American Chemical Society, representative for Boys State, George Eastman Young Leaders Award, Arion Music Award, Edward John Memorial Award

Parents: Gene Desposito and Rochelle Redeye

College Courses taken: Calculus and Analytic Geometry, English Composition I, PreCalculus

College choice: University at Albany

Career Interests: Environmental Science, Sports

Scholarships received: University at Albany 1844 Scholarship, Thomas Frank Debolski and Eleanor L. Debolski Scholarship, Cattaraugus County Bank Award for Excellence

Extracurricular activities (non-sports): National Honor Society (2 years), Seneca Youth Council (4 years)

Athletic Participation: Varsity Lacrosse (4 years, Second in Sectionals), Varsity Football (1 year, Second in Sectionals)

Honors/Awards: Lehman “Dar” Dowdy Award, Title VI Award, 2021 Salamanca High School Coaches Award

Parents: Chad Whitcomb and Rae Lynn George

College Courses taken: Calculus and Analytic Geometry, English Composition II, Writing About Literature, Zoology, AP Government, English Composition I, PreCalculus

College choice: SUNY Brockport

Career Interests: Professional wrestling, nutritionist, personal trainer, farmer, Environmental Protections Officer

Scholarships received: American Red Cross Educational Scholarship, Salamanca Bowling Association Scholarship

Extracurricular activities (non-sports): National Honor Society (2 years), Drama Club (2 years), Seneca Youth Council (1 year)

Athletic Participation: Varsity Golf (3 years), Varsity Bowling (3 years), Varsity Track and Field (1 year)

Honors/Awards: Dennis Evans Memorial Award

Parents: Brian and Christine Murphy

College Choice: Full Sail University for Music Production

Career Choice: Creator and Inventor

Scholarships: Received: Kiwanis Gilbert Krause Music Award $350; Salamanca High School Special Instrumental Music Award; Karl and Nicole Pryor/ Corning Foundation Scholarship $1,000

Extracurricular: Jazz Band 5 years (Trumpeter), Pep Band 5 years (Trumpeter), FRC and FTC Robotic Clubs (head of design and build), Salamanca Esports (Most Defensive Player).

Honors/Awards: December 2020 Student of the Month, 1st place for Mathematics STEAM Fair, 1st place for Music STEAM Fair, Overall 1st place for STEAM Fair.

Parents: Jamie and Robert Klute

Maeghan graduated with an average of 97.43 and has been named Salamanca’s Salutatorian of the Class of 2021.  She is the daughter of Debbie and Tim Collins. Maeghan successfully completed a challenging program of study, including six college courses and two Advanced Placement courses. Maeghan earned a NYS Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation.  She will be attending Jamestown Community College in the Fall and will be receiving the USA Scholarship for two years covering the cost of tuition at JCC. Maeghan’s extra-curricular activities include National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Science Honor Society, and NHS Secretary. Maeghan was involved in Tennis (Captain Senior Year) and Bowling in which she received two MVP Awards, one CCAA First Team All-Star Award, one CCAA Second Team All-Star Award, one Sportsmanship Award and the was team captain her senior year.  She also was a member of the Unified Sports Team, Key Club, Meals on Wheels and participated in Operation Christmas Child.  Maeghan received the Certificate of Excellence Award in English, the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens Award and the Cattaraugus County Youth Citizenship Award.  

College courses taken:  Introduction to Computer Art and Design, Engine & Drawing with CAD, Introduction to Solid Modeling

College choice:  Undecided

Career interests: Writing – Author, Construction, Graphic Design, Game Design/Testing

Scholarships received: Harry B. Rappaport Award

Extracurricular (non-sports) activities:  Dungeons & Dragons – 2 years

Athletic participation:

Honors/awards:  SHS Effort Award & Boys State.

Parents: Bill McAllister & Julie Kuhaneck

College courses taken: Problem Solving, Elementary Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus

College choice: University of Rochester

Career interests:  Biomedical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering

Scholarships received:  Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award

Extracurricular (non-sports) activities:  National Honor Society and NHS Treasurer

Athletic participation:  Varsity Lacrosse (4 years) & Varsity Football (1 year)

Honors/awards:  Effort Award

Parents:  Michaela Redeye

College Choice: Saint Bonaventure University Majoring in Sociology and Minor in Psychology

Career Choice:  A career that involves working with and helping people.

Scholarships Received: American Legion Hughes Skiba Post 535 Education Award $600; Nelson M. Beard Memorial Scholarship $1,000; Colby Pitt Memorial Award $200

Extracurricular:  Girls State, National Technical Honor Society

Athletic Participation: Soccer, basketball, cheerleading, softball, and track.

Honors/awards: Top ten, Girls State, Nominated for National Technical Honor Society.

Parents: Julie Braker and Wes Donahue

College Courses taken: English Composition II, Writing About Literature, Zoology

College choice: University at Albany

Career Interests: Political Science

Scholarships received: University at Albany Book Award, Salamanca High School History Department Award, American Legion Hughes Skiba Post 535 Education Award, Roger and Frances Lord Volunteer Service Award

Extracurricular activities (non-sports): Vice President of the Class of 2021, Salamanca Student Activists (1 year, Co-President and Co-Founder), Spanish Honor Society (1 year), Journalism (1 year), DECA Club (1 year), International Club (1 year), Key Club (1 year), Ski Club (3 years)

Athletic Participation: Varsity Soccer (4 years, Andrea Morton Memorial Award, the CCAA East Second Team All-Star, CCAA East First Team All-Star twice, Post Journal All-Star Team), Varsity Lacrosse (3 years), Varsity Track and Field (1 year)

Honors/Awards: Class of 2021 Co-Girl of the Year, State of New York Triple “C” Award, Title VI Award, 2021 Salamanca High School Coaches Award

Parents: Kerry and Mindy John