High School announces 2010 valedictorian and salutatorian

May 12, 2010—Miss Karen Dawson and Mr. Michael Soressi were officially named Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively, by Mr. Mark Diefendorf, principal of the Clayton A. Bouton High School.

Clayton A. Bouton High School Principal Mark Diefendorf, Salutatorian Michael Soressi, Valedictorian Karen Dawson and Schools Superintendent Dr. Teresa Thayer Snyder.

Dawson excelled not only in the classroom where she took 14 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, but also participates in numerous extracurricular activities holding various elected positions. Dawson is a member of the National Honor Society; a four-year participant of Mock Trial, Model United Nations and Stage Band. In her senior year, she also joined the Masterminds team. Dawson participated on the junior varsity soccer team in ninth grade and has been a varsity participant for three years. She is also a four-year varsity member of the Track and Field team and a four-year participant of the Capital District Youth Soccer League.

Dawson has volunteered her time as a mentor for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Technology) Lego League, Dollars for Scholars, and tutoring fellow students.

Our Salutatorian, Michael Soressi, has a high school resume just as impressive. He has taken eight (8) Advanced Placement and Honors courses and is a member of the National Honor Society. Soressi has received Academic Excellence Awards in Regents Chemistry, AP US History, English Honors and Mathematics. He is also the recipient of the American Citizenship Award. In addition, Soressi is an accomplished Piper and is a member of both the Scotia Glenville Pipe Band and the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. He recently placed 3rd in the Juvenile Division of the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. He competes at sanctioned Scottish festivals to earn points to move up in levels. Soressi recently played at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albany where they displayed the world-renowned "Veterans Quilts."

Soressi has earned the distinctions of Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow with the Boy Scouts of America, and also volunteers his time on activities and service projects with his church.

Dawson will be attending Clarkson University in the fall, and Soressi will be attending Brigham Young University.

The Clayton A. Bouton High School Class of 2010 will celebrate its Commencement on Campus at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 25, 2010.