WEST VALLEY — There’s no hiding that West Valley Central School is small, and this year’s graduating class of 20 students is one of the smallest classes to ever receive their diplomas from the school.
However, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a small school in a small town, according to all three student speakers who addressed their classmates during commencement on Saturday in the school’s auditorium.
Haven Ford, the class president, said that West Valley’s small school characteristic is a strength and not a weakness as some people may believe. She compared her classmates to siblings — when there are disagreements, for better or worse, a small class size essentially requires quick resolutions.
“In larger schools, you are able to bail to avoid them and go on living your life,” she said. “Here, very similar to siblings, it seems like we can’t all stay mad at each other for very long. Especially towards the end of the year, I believe we have all become a little closer and learned how to stick together.”
Salutatorian Sarah Sheffield noted that growing up in West Valley was truly a “unique” experience and that the class has grown up together as “one big, dysfunctional family.” Her speech followed a similar trend as Haven’s about family and conflict resolution.
“Like siblings, we live in such close proximity that we have no choice but to get along and love each other — whether we like it or not,” Sarah said. “We have watched each other grow up — seen the others’ successes and, sometimes, failures.”
Cody Keller, the class valedictorian, called his time at West Valley a “transforming experience” and said he has learned plenty of lessons not only from the school but the community. All three student speakers made it a point to not only touch on the school’s impact but the community’s role in their lives as well.
“The people of this fine school and fine community have taught us the most valuable of lessons — to follow your heart and your dreams,” Cody said. “While some may call West Valley small or inadequate, they do not realize it is these qualities that have made us all the strong, successful young adults you see before you.
“As we move into the great unknown, the values we were taught at West Valley — like honesty, sincerity and individualism — will help us to rise above the rest and blaze our own trails, even if we falter or fail along the way.”
The guest speaker to the class was John Janora, a former social studies teacher at the district who also served as the commencement speaker in 2015.
Graduates
Roberto Alvarez, Paul Crouch, Stephanie Delano, Cheyanne Folts, Haven Ford, Ashley Frank, Matthew Grigsby, Henry Heim, Zoie Hohn, Cody Keller, Juliette Komosinski, Ashley Laudisio, Cody Luder, Julianna Noto, Lauren Olejniczak, Rena Riley, Erika Seltzer, Sarah Sheffield, Cameron Stuhler and Edward Thiel
Scholarships & Awards
Roberto Alvarez — Ashford Snowmobile Club Award; Pete Scherer Memorial Award; Keith Young Memorial Award
Stephanie Delano — JBC Academic Progress Award; CH2MHill B&W BWXT West Valley, LLC Science Scholarship
Cheyanne Folts — American Legion Award; Ashford Snowmobile Club Award; Kristen Hintz Memorial Track Award; Theron Hotaling Memorial Award; Superintendent’s Award for Attendance
Haven Ford — Cattaraugus County Youth Citizenship Award; Community Service Award; Barb Nagel Memorial Award; State of NY Comptroller Award; WVTA Scholarship; CH2MHill B&W BWXT West Valley, LLC Science Scholarship
Ashley Frank — Cattaraugus County Youth Citizenship Award; JBC Academic Progress Award
Matthew Grigsby — Heart and Hustle Award; James Proctor Memorial Award; Leo Bernhoft Memorial Scholarship
Cody Keller — Valedictorian; Academic Excellence; Louis Armstrong Award; CANY Scholastic Recognition Award; CCB Academic Scholarship; English Award; JCC College Connections Student; Language Award; President’s Award for Excellence; Rensselaer Medal; RIT Computing Medal; State of New York Comptroller Award; University of Rochester Xerox Award for Innovation; U.S. Marine Corp. Semper Fidelis Award; Delmont K. Pfeffer Memorial Scholarship; Gilbert Snyder Memorial Scholarship; CH2MHill B&W BWXT West Valley, LLC Science Scholarship
Ashley Laudisio — Bette Aldrow Medical Award; American Red Cross Scholarship; President’s Award for Achievement; University of Rochester Bausch & Lomb Science Award; Liz Wiley Memorial Award; Janda Lee Hunt Memorial Scholarship; WVTA Scholarship; CH2MHill B&W BWXT West Valley, LLC Science Scholarship
Julianna Noto — Art Award; Elisa B. Hughey Arts Scholarship
Lauren Olejniczak — Heart and Hustle Award; Instrumental Music Award; JBC Scholar of Excellence Award; ONO Craft Group Award; RIT Computing Medal; Russell Sage College Award; Triple C Award; University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leader Award; U.S. Marine Corp. Distinguished Athlete Award; Wells College 21st Century Leadership Award; Delmont K. Pfeffer Memorial Scholarship
Erika Seltzer — Alumni Association Award; Cattaraugus County Youth Citizenship Award; Elmira College Key Award; JBC Academic Progress Award; Mentoring Service Award; National Honor Society Distinguished Service Award; President’s Award for Achievement; Russell Sage College Award; Anna Schroeder Memorial Award; Wells College 21st Century Leadership Award; Al Engels Scholarship; WVTA Scholarship
Sarah Sheffield — Salutatorian; Academic Excellence; Cattaraugus County Youth Citizenship Award; Elmira College Key Award; Heart and Hustle Award; National Honor Society Scholastic Excellence Award; President’s Award for Excellence; Rochester Institute of Technology Innovation and Creativity Award; John Philip Sousa Award; State of New York Comptroller Award; University of Rochester Fred Douglas/Susan B. Anthony Award; U.S. Marine Corp. Scholastic Excellence Award; Jack Nuthall Memorial Scholarship
Edward Thiel — Irwin Ahrens Memorial Award; Business First Comm. All-Star; Doug Ford Memorial Award; God and Country Award; Heart and Hustle Award; Kristen Hintz Memorial Track Award; National Honor Society Outstanding Member; Outstanding Vo-Tech Student Award; Penn York Excellence in Chemistry Award; RIT Innovation and Creativity Award; State of New York Comptroller Award; Triple C Award; U.S. Marine Corp. Distinguished Athlete Award; Obidah Ramadhan Award Scholarship
