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When nearing the end of your high school career, it’s easy for many seniors to acquire “senioritis” – a self-proclaimed right of passage to slack off during the final months of high school after four years of taking tests, writing papers and worrying about college applications or entering the military or work force.

However, several seniors refused to fall into that common pattern, including this year’s top six Honor Grads: John Fasano, Arielle Goyzueta, Jessica Horwath, Matthew Schwadron, Katerina Souliopoulos and Melissa Wiegand.

“Being an Honor Grad is meaningful because of all the hard work we put in over the past four years,” said Goyzueta.

The six agree that they’ll miss their friends – and some teachers – when they leave for college in the fall, but that they’ll carry their memories with them, especially the senior trip to Disney World and their senior prom.

“I’ll miss the tight, close knit relationships, but I’m excited for what’s to come,” said Horwath.

Class of 2008 Honor Grads

JOHN FASANO
John Fasano will attend Lafayette College in the fall, where he will major in mechanical engineering and plans on a career with the government. He is the son of Virginia and Frank Fasano of Goshen.

Extra-curricular activities: Class President, National Honor Society, National Foreign Language Honor Society, Eagle Scout, captain of varsity baseball team varsity basketball, varsity soccer
Volunteer activities: Relay for Life, community dinner volunteer, Scouting for Food (Eagle Project)
Awards/Scholarships: Roy Baldwin (2 years), Captains Award

ARIELLE GOYZUETA
Arielle Goyzueta will attend Grove City College as an elementary education major. She is the daughter of Juan and Valerie Goyzueta of Goshen.

Extra-curricular activities: National Honor Society, National Foreign Language Society, captain of varsity soccer and golf teams
Volunteer activities: Blood drive, volunteer work with church
Awards/Scholarships: Scholar-Athlete Award, Orange County Soccer League Scholarship, Walsh Golf Scholarship

JESSICA HORWATH
Jessica Horwath will major in human development at Binghamton University, where she plans on a career in speech pathology or education. She is the daughter of Tom and Shelley Horwath of Goshen.

Extra-curricular activities: Young Progressives, National Honor Society, National Foreign Language Honor Society (Vice-President), co-captain of varsity tennis team
Volunteer activities: Tutoring at Goshen Intermediate School, community clean-up
Awards/Scholarships: Monroe-Woodbury Teachers Association Son/Daughter Scholarship, NYS Regents Academic Scholarship

MATTHEW SCHWADRON
Matthew Schwadron will enter national politics after majoring in political science at Dickinson College. He is the son of Michael and Susan Schwadron of Goshen.

Extra-curricular activities: Drama club, Student Senate, National Honor Society, National Foreign Language Society
Volunteer activities: Tutoring at Goshen Intermediate School, Community Blood Services
Awards/Scholarships: New York State Merit Scholarship

KATERINA SOULIOPOULOS
Katerina Souliopoulos plans to major in Romance languages/Spanish with the goal of becoming a business lawyer, translator, speech pathologist and/or foreign language teacher. She is the daughter of Evangelia and John Souliopoulos of New Hampton.

Extra-curricular activities: Mock Trial, co-captain of varsity tennis team, president of National Foreign Language Society, treasurer of National Honor Society, president of Young Progressives
Volunteer activities: Habitat for Humanity, Arthritis Walk
Awards/Scholarships: Outstanding Linguist Award

MELISSA WIEGAND
Melissa Wiegand will major in engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. She is the daughter of Bruce and Nancy Wiegand of Goshen.

Extra-curricular activities: President of Venturing Crew, Science Olympiad, Math Team, varsity softball, flautist
Volunteer activities: 4-H, Vacation Bible Camp, Nursing Home volunteer, coached young members of Science Olympiad Team
Awards/Scholarships: Ottaway Family Award for Writing, Charlene Klieverik Memorial Scholarship, Americanism Award (from the American Legion Aux. Unit 377), John Philip Sousa Band Award, Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons grant, National Foreign Language Honor Society Award for Latin, President's Education Award, Goshen Masonic Lodge Scholarship, Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship, Edwin A. Stevens Scholarship (from Stevens Institute of Technology), DeBaun Performing Arts Scholarship (from Stevens Institute of Technology)