Valedictorian - Sahil Sekhon
Sekhon, son of Rajwinder and Kashminder Sekhon of Saugerties, started the 2023-2024 school year as a junior. Following discussions with Guidance Counselor Eileen Madden about the possibility of graduating early, he proceeded to take the necessary steps to do just that. Showing remarkable maturity, self-confidence, and determination, he earned his Valedictorian status by achieving a weighted GPA of 100.567.

In addition to excelling academically while taking four Advanced Placement (AP) courses and six college-level courses, Sekhon was involved in various clubs and extracurricular activities, including Math Team, Spanish Club, Science Olympiad, Student Council, and Student Government. Sekhon also participated in the Football, Wrestling, Tennis, and Soccer programs, serving as captain of the Tennis team. In addition to devoting more than 120 hours to community service through his involvement in the Key Club, he held a part-time position at the Saugerties Mobil Mart.

Sekhon said that some of his fondest memories of high school are from his time spent with the Football team. “The people on the team always had your back,” Sekhon explained. “Everyone wanted everyone to do their best on and off the field; they motivated you to always do your best.”    

Sekhon expressed gratitude to his parents for instilling in him the importance of hard work and focus, drawing inspiration from their immigrant background from Punjab, India. He said that he also draws inspiration from his faith and his involvement in volunteer work with the Gurudwara, Sikh Temple.

While undecided on his college choice, Sekhon has received acceptance letters from Bucknell, Rutgers, and Binghamton Universities. He plans to pursue a major in Business to pave the way for a career in entrepreneurship or corporate leadership.

Salutatorian Michele Loebbaka
Loebbaka, daughter of Elizabeth and Michael Loebbaka of Saugerties, earned the title of Salutatorian with a weighted GPA of 100.101. Alongside her rigorous academic schedule, including eight AP classes and nine college-level courses, she participated in several extracurricular activities, including Key Club, Band Council, and Math Club. A passionate flute player since Grade 4, she is a member of  the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She was also inducted into the Saugerties chapter of the National Honor Society and selected as this year’s Mum Queen by her peers.

Outside of school commitments, Loebbaka volunteers at St. Mary of the Snow Roman Catholic Church and works part-time at Buns in Saugerties. She also enjoys doing miniature nail art. 

Reflecting on her high school experience, Loebbaka highlighted a memorable field trip to Mine Kill State Park and the NY Power Authority’s Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project, emphasizing her interest in environmental science.

Loebbaka attributes her success to her parents' guidance and the encouragement of both her Math teacher, Jennifer Sauer and her Band Teacher, Michael Cho. Both teachers were incredibly supportive, making each class a highlight of the day.

In the fall, Loebbaka will attend Rochester Institute of Technology, embarking on the Engineering Technology Exploration Program with a focus on Packaging Science or Environmental Sustainability.