Chad Luther, South Lewis Senior High School Principal, is proud to announce the Class of 2024 Class Leaders. Mallory K., Brynn B., and Liadan M. have achieved the highest honors for the Class of 2024 and will be recognized during the South Lewis commencement ceremony in June, 2024.
Mallory, with an overall average of 98.92, is this year’s Valedictorian. Mallory is the daughter of Ronald and Angeline Kraeger, Lyons Falls. Mallory has dedicated herself throughout her high school career to pursuing and achieving academic excellence, to maintaining a rigorous training program as an athlete, and to positively contributing as a volunteer for many clubs and organizations within our community.
As a South Lewis high school student, Mallory has always maintained high honor roll grades. This year she was named a Class of 2024 South Lewis Lions Club Scholar, a distinction that acknowledges and celebrates graduating students who obtain high grades and model scholastic dedication. As a junior in the spring of 2023, Mallory was inducted into the Morgan Lewis Chapter of the National Honor Society and currently serves as its President. Mallory was also selected for several collegiate scholarships and awards. Mallory was the recipient of the Women in STEM Award from Rochester Institute of Technology, the St. Lawrence University Augsbury/North Country Scholarship, and The Rensselaer Medal from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. All of these awards recognize superior academic achievements of students who have ability and interest in science, who intend to pursue careers in science, and who have completed challenging course curriculum in high school. During the past two summers, Mallory has participated in Clarkson University Horizons which is an immersive, interactive STEAM program for high school students. Recently, Mallory was featured as a News Channel 7 Academic All-Star.
In addition to her academic focus, Mallory is well-known among her peers for her commitment as a member of the South Lewis cross country and track teams. As a runner on those teams, Mallory has received various accolades and earned many titles. Mallory has been competing as a Falcon on varsity teams since she was in eighth grade and was an integral part of the teams that won the New York Cross Country State Championships in 2021 and in 2023. As an athlete, Mallory has also enjoyed success on section and league winning teams, has been a New York State Scholar Athlete several times, has received Frontier League All-Star status for many seasons, and was chosen as a South Lewis Athlete of the Month. Mallory also helps out with the Falcons on the Run program which introduces elementary-aged athletes to the joys of running.
Mallory does not limit herself to academic and athletic pursuits; she also strives to be actively engaged as a volunteer in many school activities. Since tenth grade, Mallory has been a member of the Conspiracy Club; a mentor for the Future Educators program; a part of S.A.V.E. (Students Against a Vanishing Environment); a participant in Student Council, for which she was president as a junior; and an office holder in the Girls’ Athletic Association, last year she was the vice president and now she is president. This year, Mallory is also involved with the South Lewis high school musical and works behind the scenes with the stage crew. In addition to these school-based activities, Mallory finds time to work a few hours a week at a local business.
After graduation, Mallory plans to attend SUNY Polytechnic Institute where she will major in science and will pursue a career in the medical field.
The South Lewis Class of 2024 Salutatorian, with a grade point average of 97.08, is Brynn C. Bernard. Brynn is the daughter of Jack and Lori Bernard, Boonville. In her high school years, Brynn has been an involved South Lewis Falcon and has participated in many clubs, activities, and sports teams, all while remaining focused as a high-achieving student.
Throughout high school, maintaining high honor grades and a solid academic pathway have been among Brynn’s priorities. In the spring of 2023, Brynn was inducted into the Morgan Lewis Chapter of the National Honor Society and this year serves as its vice president. Recently, Brynn was designated as a Class of 2024 South Lewis Lions Club Scholar. Currently, Brynn is pursuing a New York State Advanced Regents Diploma with a Seal of Biliteracy and hopes to graduate with a 100+ Hours Community Service Distinction.
Over the years at South Lewis, Brynn has been an active member in many clubs including Student Council; the Falcon Friends Mentor Program; S.A.V.E. (Students Against a Vanishing Environment); Girls’ Athletic Association, for which she now acts as treasurer; and Future Educators, of which she is currently president. In the past, Brynn has also served as vice president for the Class of 2024. Brynn has been a part of the cast in high school musical productions and this year is a member of the South Lewis Select Chorus. After school hours and on weekends, Brynn spends her extra time working as a housekeeper for a local business.
In addition to her academic, club, and community responsibilities, Brynn is a wholly committed athlete in the South Lewis running program. Brynn stays busy all year training for cross country and the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. Brynn has been running with the varsity teams since she was in seventh grade and has been a vital part of the success of the running program over the years. Brynn has collected many individual distinctions, including league, section, state, and regional titles in cross country and in long distance events for both indoor and outdoor track and field. In cross country, she was recipient of the 2023 NYS Sportsmanship Award, and in track and field, she currently holds school records in both individual and relay events. Through the years, Brynn has also helped the South Lewis Girls’ cross country team earn league and section team titles and was a member of the New York State Championship winning teams in 2021 and 2023. She is a New York State Scholar Athlete and a Frontier League All-Star and was featured as the News Channel 7 Athlete of the Week in 2022 and in 2023. In addition to the school teams, Brynn has trained with South Tully Running Club and was part of a nationally ranked relay team with that club; she also assists with Falcons on the Run and acts as a guide and mentor for young racers.
In the fall, Brynn will attend University at Buffalo, where she will continue to run competitively and be a part of the Bulls’ athletic program. Brynn will major in Speech and Hearing Science.
Liadan has earned the distinction of Class of 2024 Technical Honor Student and achieved an impressive GPA of 96.27. Liadan is the daughter of Todd and Jennifer McAleese, Glenfield. Throughout her high school career, Liadan has successfully balanced a busy extracurricular schedule, has effectively managed a challenging academic program, and has conscientiously worked to maintain high honor roll grades.
Among Liadan’s extracurricular commitments is the National FFA. Liadan currently serves as the South Lewis chapter treasurer and has been an involved member since her freshman year. Recently, Liadan placed second in an FFA sub-state event and earned the right to compete at the state competition in May. Over the years, Liadan has volunteered in the Lewis County Dairy Booth, in the Constable Hall Garden, and at Autumn Ridge Goat Farm on Open Farm Day and during the Farm Foliage Tour. Also, as a junior, Liadan earned the Chapter FFA Degree. Liadan’s other extracurricular activities over the years include volunteering for the community at the Turin Fire Hall Fish Fry, during the South Lewis Fall Festival, and in the S.A.V.E. (Students Against a Vanishing Environment) program. To even out her schedule, Liadan also finds time to work at two local businesses.
As a South Lewis Falcon, Liadan has been a member of varsity athletic teams since her sophomore year. She was a member of the volleyball team two years and has enjoyed Frontier League All-Star status on both the girls’ soccer and softball teams. Liadan further extends her commitment to the South Lewis sports programs by being an active participant of the Girls’ Athletic Association. As an athlete with a strong academic record since her freshman year, Liadan has earned the distinction of New York State Scholar Athlete.
Additionally, Liadan’s diligence to her academic career during her high school years has earned her induction into the National Honor Society, in which she currently serves as historian, and the designation as a Class of 2024 South Lewis Lions Club Scholar. As a junior, Liadan was selected for the Student Sage Award from Russell Sage College, which honors outstanding high school students.
After her senior year, Liadan plans to attend Jefferson Community College where she intends to study Business Administration.
Congratulations to these students and their accomplishments. We will celebrate them and their peers at the South Lewis Class of 2024 commencement ceremony that will be held on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
