Oswego County TodayPulaski High School Holds Honor Banquet

PULASKI – Outstanding scholars were recognized in a special honors banquet held at Pulaski High School to commend those students who maintained a 95 or better average for the entire school year last year.

Seniors recognized for outstanding academics in their junior year, pictured from left are: Austin Holmes, Julianna Finnerty, Ruth van der Heide, Brittany VanDuzer, Britney Castillo, Jacklyn Booth, and Jennifer Lapp. Missing from the photo is Jacob Gray.

Following a welcome by Pulaski High School Principal Michael Bateson, where he spoke about eight words that describe successful people: work, improve, focus, passion, push, serve, ideas and persist.

Bateson then introduced guest speaker Kyle Bice, an alumni of PACS and entrepreneurial business owner of PUSH Fitness.

Bice spoke to the students about characteristics they will need to be successful in life such as goal setting and planning every day.

Honor students for the junior class included: Tessa Powlin, Madison Kennedy, McKenna Moonan, Alexis Bowen, Ryan Morrissette and Walter Novak. Missing from the photo are Savannah Goodsell, Carla Soules and Laura Torres.

Reiterating what Bateson had said earlier about characteristics of successful individuals, he talked about those traits, but also about failure.

“Behind every successful business or Fortune 500 CEO there has been failure,” Bice said.

He encouraged the students to dust themselves off and keep moving forward, to learn from it.

Other important characteristics were patience, developing mentors and following their passion.

Sophomores, honored for academic excellence in ninth grade from left are: Mackenzie Mooney, Daniel Hefti, Samantha Hefti, Sophie Lawrence, Daniel Novak, Emma Greulich, Benjamin Carguello, Sierra Gilbo, Autumn Caldwell, Haven Phillips, Mina Aguilar, Ashley VanDuzer, Emma Camp, Erin Maneely, Dominick Spano and Corey Whitaker. Missing from the photo are Abigail Hanley, Albert Rodriguez, and Alex Rodriguez.

He encouraged students to find their passion and believe in themselves, urging them to find what drives them saying, “Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.”

Students and their families were treated to a delicious meal prepared by the Food Services Department at PACS and following the meal were presented with special pins to commemorate the honor.

The pins are to be worn on graduation to mark their accomplishment.

Following the presentation of the pins, Bateson, praised the students in closing saying, “We are sitting in the presence of greatness and greatness yet to come.”