Middleburgh Central Schools would like to congratulate the Class of 2023 Top 5.
Valedictorian: Sienna Kelley
Salutatorian: Megan Bramer
Honor Graduate: Riley Cronin
4th Highest Average: Caroline Adams
5th Highest Average: Joeleen Dines
“These extraordinary individuals have surpassed all of our expectations,” Principal Matthew Sloane said. “They will be pursuing goals that are unique to each of them and show the diversity of student interest at MCS. We are proud of their accomplishments and wish them the very best as they finish out their high school career and embark on their next adventure.”
MCSD would like to recognize all of our hardworking students and seniors for their tireless efforts this year to better themselves and our school community.
Getting to Know The 2023 Top 5: Sienna Kelley, Valedictorian
What you want people to know about you: I’m on the hunt for the perfect cappuccino. Hit me up for suggestions.
Career goals? I hope to have the opportunity to do what I love to do, write music! It would be cool to write for films or record companies, but we’ll see what happens. (I’m only 17, after all.)
Advice to help other students succeed: Never stop asking questions. Question your teachers, your peers, your administration, the curriculum, the entire system. Not just to start a riot but to actively engage as much as you can. Curiosity is a direct result of caring for something, so find what you care about and get curious.
Something about the world that concerns you: I try not to think about the world with a negative connotation, but rather ask the question, “How can we help others who are hurting?” If anything, I would say that viewing the world in a single-minded way encourages our fears to continue to hurt others.
Something about the world that inspires you: The courage communities can have to support each other through fear and suffering and come through with hope for each other.
A quote that means a lot to you and why: “Have courage and be kind.” Simple instructions for a positive attitude towards life.
MHS highlight: Going to World Finals with my Odyssey of the Mind team. They’re my second family, and getting to be creative and goofy together was a blast.
Clubs, athletics, and activities:
- Odyssey of the Mind (President)
- Drama Club (President)
- Jazz Band (President)
- Class of 2023 (Vice President)
- National Honor Society (Treasurer)
- Student Congress
- Music of the Knight
- Interact Club
- Piano Lessons (Grade 2-12)
Getting to Know The 2023 Top 5: Megan Bramer, Salutatorian
What you want people to know about you: For the longest time, I’ve had a huge interest in theater. I have participated in a grand total of 13 musicals so far, and I enjoy watching professional theater like Broadway and traveling tours. 
Career goals? In college I plan to pursue marine biology and hopefully one day begin to rehabilitate decaying aquatic ecosystems and restore neglected oceanic areas.
Advice to help other students succeed: Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. Take the right path.
Something about the world that concerns you: I believe the human race struggles with our trust. Both globally and interpersonally on smaller levels, we have to choose who we trust and often, we choose to trust some people far too much or not at all. I believe that this has helped create a multitude of divides among us as a species and I hope the world will one day see a more united and logical global society.
Something about the world that inspires you: I love being able to look at Earth and see it bursting with life. Not the lives of humans, per se, but the life in every blade of grass, every tiny bug, and the life flowing through things others may not see beauty in.
The quote that means a lot to you and why: “The rules are crumbling and no one knows what the new rules are. So make your own rules.” -Neil Gaiman. This quote really resonates with me because the world around us is constantly changing, and I feel that myself and my generation can get ready to rise up and be the new leaders. Leadership has always been an important part of who I am and this quote empowered me to be a better leader.
MHS highlight: My favorite memory at MCS is the 2022 Prom. I had a wonderful time with all of my closest friends. Not only that, but we worked really hard to plan it and it felt like it paid off for everyone, especially those of us who worked on the planning. I also really enjoyed seeing everyones school spirit during spirit weeks and pep rallies.
Clubs, athletics, and activities:
- Varsity Volleyball (Captain)
- Drama Club
- National Honor Society
- Youth as Leaders
Getting to Know the 2023 Top 5: Riley Cronin, Honor Graduate
What you want people to know about you: My family and friends are very important to me, and I enjoy reading and spending time with my siblings.
Career goals? I want to pursue a career in nursing, specifically as a NICU nurse.
Advice to help other students succeed: Try your best. It is all anyone could ever ask of you. Always ask questions even if you are embarrassed to ask them. It will only benefit you in the long run.
A quote that means a lot to you and why: “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” This quote means a lot to me because I had a major setback in sixth grade after having surgery that left me out of school for almost two months. It was hard to be able to come back from the surgery and return to school while being behind the other students. I always have put my hardest into my school work, so it was very hard for me to catch up on the almost two months I missed. Thankfully because of the wonderful and caring teachers I had in sixth grade, I was able to get caught up and continue to fight so hard for my education from that point forward.
Something about the world that concerns you: One thing about the world that concerns me is access to healthcare. Many people go without routine physicals or check ups and even medications that are necessary for their health because they can’t afford them.
Something about the world that inspires you: One thing about the world that inspires me is the kindness of strangers. There are some people out there that would give you the shirt off their back in a heartbeat even if it was the only shirt they had.
MHS highlight: The late nights leading up to Technopalooza in 2018 when we did karaoke in the tech room with Mr. Gray while getting the students’ projects ready.
Clubs, athletics and activities:
- Volleyball (Since Grade 7)
- Cheerleading (Grades 9-10)
- National Honor Society
- Musicals (Grades 6-8)
- Music of the Knight
- Youth As Leaders
Getting to Know The 2023 Top 5: Caroline Adams
What you want people to know about you: I love to travel, and I would love to see the world one day.
Career goals? I would love to work for Google one day in the marketing department. I’m currently committed to Siena for Marketing/Communications. I’m extremely excited about the future and what it holds.
Advice to help other students succeed: It doesn’t take a lot to show up and do your work; you can still have fun, go out, and manage good grades. Always try to find a balance.
Something about the world that concerns you: The negative impacts of social media and how it influences the world.
Something about the world that inspires you: The perseverance people have shown throughout my life. Most people I know have had difficult times or challenges they had to face, but they overcame them, which is something I will always strive to do.
The quote that means a lot to you and why: “Health is wealth.” This is a short quote, but it really resonated with me because we as humans take a lot for granted and don’t realize what we have until it’s gone.
MHS highlight: Our Junior Prom and Winter Formal.
Clubs, athletics and activities:
- Odyssey of the Mind (Multiple years)
- National Honor Society (Co-secretary, Grade 12)
- Drama Club (Grades 8-12)
- FBLA (Treasurer, Grade 12)
- Student Congress (Grade 11 and 12)
- Youth as Leaders
- Junior Prom Set-Up
Getting to Know the 2023 Top 5: Joeleen Dines
What you want people to know about you: I love to travel internationally and have been to four different countries.
Career goals? I want to become more educated in the agricultural field to eventually be able to come back to my hometown and help struggling farmers with the business side of their operations.
Advice to help other students succeed: Although school is important, remember to hang out with friends and make memories because, at the end of the day, those are the things you will remember about high school.
The quote that means a lot to you and why: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened,” by Dr. Seuss. I like this quote because it reminds me to continue to be optimistic even when something good ends, and to cherish those moments.
Something about the world that concerns you: The growing divide in our country and world, in general.
Something about the world that inspires you: People who have started at the bottom and have worked their way to the top. This inspires me to work hard even if others may have started with more of an advantage.
MHS highlight: One highlight of my time spent in high school would be going to watch basketball games with friends and hanging out afterwards. I’d say another very memorable moment of high school was our junior prom.
Clubs, athletics and activities:
- National Honor Society (Secretary Grades 11 and 12)
- Student Congress (Grades 11 and 12)
- Junior Prom
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