Odessa-Montour honorees included, from left: Bethany Smith, Melody Stadelmaier, Taylor Thoman, Katie Ray and Allison Stamp.

20 Schuyler Scholars honored

WATKINS GLEN, June 15 -- Seniors whose academic efforts have earned them a spot in the top 10% of their class in their high school careers were honored Tuesday night at the fourth annual Schuyler Scholars Celebration. It was held at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel.

Ten seniors from Watkins Glen High School, seven from Odessa-Montour and three from Bradford were presented plaques. The evening began with hors d'ouevres, and included a choice of dinner: chicken or pasta primavera.

The meal was preceded by introductory remarks from Bradford School Superintendent Wendy Field. After the meal, the keynote address was delivered by Ryan Mosher, Senior Director of Sales and New Business Development at Watkins Glen International. A second speech was presented by former Schuyler Scholar Jesse Johnson (O-M Class of '08).

Those honored were:

Watkins Glen High School: Sarah Bond, Nicholas Cocca, Zachary Dvornicky-Raymond, Christine Ector, Shannon Hazlitt, Emily Pazar, Marissa Pike, Amber Swartz, Throsby Wells and Alexandra Young.

Odessa-Montour: Seneca Collins, Jocelyn Garrison, Katlynne Ray, Bethany Smith, Melody Stadelmaier, Allison Stamp and Taylor Thoman.

Bradford: Zachary Hunt, Bradly Rosno and Mallory Wolverton.

The superintendents of the three districts -- Tom Phillips from Watkins Glen, Jim Frame from O-M, and Wendy Field from Bradford -- were on hand, along with principals Dave Warren (WGHS), Greg Conlon (O-M) and Kelly Houck (Bradford) and Watkins Glen School Board members Brian O'Donnell, Gloria Brubaker, Robert Dill and Joe Fazzary.

Mosher said in his speech that the honorees should "seize the opportunities that come your way. Don't shy away from challenges. And surround yourself with good people."

Johnson, who attends Cornell University, said that high school graduation "is not the end; it's the beginning."

He told the honorees that once in college, they should not skip lectures, and should try to master time management.

"And set goals," he said. "They can be week-by-week goals as well as year-by-year ones."

He also urged them to seek help from professors or teaching assistants if needed, for they are among the "people who want to help you meet your goals."

Photos in text:

Top: WGHS senior Shannon Hazlitt receives her plaque from Supertintendent Tom Phillips.

Middle: Keynote speaker Ryan Mosher of Watkins Glen International.

Bottom: The three Bradford High School honorees. From left: Zachary Hunt, Mallory Wolverton and Bradly Rosno.

Left: Watkins Glen honoree Nicholas Cocca. Right: Guest speaker Jesse Johnson, a former Schuyler Scholar.

From left: O-M honoree Seneca Collins, and Watkins Glen honorees Alexandra Young and Marissa Pike.

Watkins Glen honorees (from left) Sarah Bond, Throsby Wells and Emily Pazar.

WGHS honorees (from left) Amber Swartz, Zachary Dvornicky-Raymond and Christine Ector.

School Superintendents (from left) Wendy Field of Bradford, Tom Phillips of Watkins Glen, and Jim Frame of Odessa-Montour.