Class of 2020: Your Stories

Despite a disappointing senior year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the senior class at Duanesburg Jr/.Sr. High School voted to donate $4,000 of their senior fund to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to help local people in need.

The students have been fundraising since sixth grade, holding chicken barbecues, dances, and other events, and the monies normally would have been used to pay for their prom, senior trip, and other activities. With schools closed and gatherings canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such events were no longer possible.

In the photo, Duanesburg Class of 2020 Treasurer Andrew Drescher presents a check to Regional Food Bank Executive Director Mark Quandt as Student Council Vice President Paul Munson looks on.

Emma Doughty, a graduating senior at Hilton High School in Hilton, NY, is a member of New York State Education Department’s Youth Advisory Panel. The Youth Advisory Panel is one of NYSED’s primary stakeholder groups. It is composed of students with disabilities who are appointed by the Assistant Commissioner of Special Education to advise NYSED from a first-hand perspective on ways to improve the quality of special education services and student outcomes. Emma’s work with the Youth Advisory Panel figured prominently in her college entrance and scholarship essay, which resulted in multiple scholarships and awards.

Emma’s hard work and achievements have extended well beyond the classroom and have been recognized locally and nationally. In 2015, she set several records for her age group as a member of the USA Deaf Swim Team in the World Deaf Swimming Championships in San Antonio, Texas. In 2014, Emma was named one of RocParent’s 20 Under 20. She was also featured in a nationally-aired commercial for USA Swimming’s Swimming is the Funnest Sport campaign.

Emma’s efforts have stretched outside the classroom as she has taken her focus and skill into her job. In a letter to the Chili, Greece, Gates Messenger Post on August 22, 2019, Steve and Nora Coco wrote, “My husband and I would like to express our sincere gratitude to lifeguard Emma Doughty...who worked to save our daughter from drowning at the Stony Creek Apartments pool.”

Emma’s influence continues into the community-at-large. “Her passion is advocating for those with disabilities in order to help them gain access to everything they need to be successful in life,” wrote Ms. Carina Meyer, Emma’s school counselor, “She has presented numerous times on the inclusion of students in their IEP meetings, deaf culture, American Sign Language, and her personal experiences being deaf to many different audiences in the Greater Rochester area.” These presentations have included large groups of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.

In January, Emma was named a 2020 Coca-Cola Scholar. Less than 1/6th of 1% of applicants were chosen to receive this extremely competitive award. Emma has also been honored with a Hearing Loss Association of America Rochester Chapter Scholarship, she was named as a Young Woman of Distinction by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and she was awarded the University at Buffalo Pride of New York Scholarship.

“I can honestly say without any hesitation that Emma is the most amazing student I have ever taught,” wrote Mr. Ken Krause, Emma’s Algebra 2 teacher and former lifeguarding supervisor, “She works incredibly hard day in and day out and never settles for less than 100% from herself and others around her.”

Emma has also achieved the Academic Merit Award (the highest level of academic achievement at Hilton High School) with a 95+ GPA every semester of her high school career. She also received the Scholar Athlete Award for each of the six years she was a varsity swimmer.

“Emma is one of those rare students who has strengths in every subject in high school, and her constant positivity and willingness to embrace challenges truly demonstrate her versatility as a learner and person,” wrote Ms. Amber D’Ambrosia, Emma Doughty’s 9th and 11th grade English teacher.

Emma hopes to become an attorney so that she can advocate for underserved populations, especially people with disabilities. She plans to attend the University at Buffalo this fall to study English.

Somers Central School District Senior Shout-Outs

The Somers High School Student Council created tributes highlighting deserving seniors. Find the Somers Central School District Senior Shout-Outs here.

Ani Gribbin, a talented musician with plans to study neuroscience and eventually attend medical school, admits that the pandemic and school closure will play a role in decisions she will make for the rest of her life. It has given her insight into what motivates her, how true friendships can thrive during stressful times and that she has not lost her senior year.

“Many of my big senior plans were changed. But I don’t think all was lost,” she said. “I’ve realized that this pandemic is almost a reality check for many of us, and it’s almost funny how small many of our extraneous concerns before this pandemic seem now,” said Ani, who has a GPA of 4.0 and is 8th in her class of 201 graduates at Amherst Central High School in suburban Buffalo, New York.

Describing herself as someone who loves learning, is driven to succeed and competitive with herself, she knew her senior year was going to be stressful with six Advanced Placement classes, applying for college, and involvement in an extensive list of extracurriculars that ranges from first clarinet in the Sinfonia (before school chamber orchestra), first tenor saxophonist in the Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble president, National Honor Society member and officer, International Women’s Day Organization committee member, Operetta musical performer and student producer/assistant producer. Musically, she sings and plays three instruments earning many county, state and national ensemble seats. She is assistant principal first clarinet for the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra.

Adjusting to online school at home was certainly a big shift for her and with the abundance of time to spare, the first few weeks dragged along slowly. Developing a routine that included daily “socially distanced” walks with a friend and seeing her teachers virtually for review sessions and Google Meet classes helped maintain a sense of normalcy. Zoom and Skype gave her music performance opportunities, including being part of a virtual choir performance that got the attention of local media, a small virtual jazz ensemble and the choir singing the alma mater and the Amherst chorale at her virtual graduation ceremony.

“Although I lost many of my senior moments and events, I have been able to maintain the relationships with people that on a fundamental basis will make my senior year memorable. I have still been able to continue my education, decide where I’m going to college,” she said.

“I think before school closed, I was really holding on to and had high expectations for my second semester of senior year. I looked forward to all the trips and activities as a reward for all the work I had done first semester applying to and deciding where I’m going for college,” she said. “But after all that was cancelled, I’ve realized what really matters to me is the people I have spent my time with, and that I’ve made the most of my time in school academically and in all facets of my education.”

She plans on attending Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.