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Silver Creek valedictorian, salutatorian Class of 2017

Valedictorian Brandon Birner

SILVER CREEK — The two top-ranking seniors in the Class of 2017 at Silver Creek Central School District were as follows:

Valedictorian Brandon Birner, who graduated with a 106.85 average, is the son of Gregory and Elizabeth Birner and the brother of Brooke Birner.

Throughout high school, Brandon had an active leadership role in many clubs: he was president of National Honor Society, president of Key Club, vice president of Natural Helpers, an officer of Band, and a member of Jazz Band, SADD and Big Buddy.

Brandon played on the varsity soccer team for the three years and was co-captain his junior and senior years. He is a member of the Concord Travel Soccer League and the Sahlen’s Sports Park indoor soccer league. He is the recipient of several scholarships from The State University of New York at Fredonia, including the President’s Award for Excellence, the Foundation Scholar Award, the President’s Science/Math Scholarship and the Children of Alumni Award and was selected to participate in SUNY Fredonia’s Honors Program.

He received scholarships from the Far West Council of Superintendents, the Character Council of Western New York, and the Inner Lakes Federal Credit Union and is taking advantage of the New York State STEM Incentive Program. In 2016, he was the recipient of the Jamestown Community College Connections Student of the Year award, was named Western New York Section VI Scholar Athlete, and was selected to attend Boys’ State.

Brandon plans to attend Fredonia State to study biology with a concentration in exercise science. His future plans include pursuing a master’s degree in physical, occupational or cardiac rehabilitative therapy. He is grateful for the support, knowledge and experiences his family, friends and administration and staff at SCCS have granted him.

Salutatorian Hannah Boothe, who graduated with a 106.33 average, is the daughter of Stephen and Christina Boothe of Silver Creek. She has a lifelong interest and passion for music. She was president of the Senior High band, a member of the Black Knight Jazz Ensemble, and was a member of the pit orchestra for the school musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

Hannah is also the secretary of Silver Creek’s National Honor Society chapter. Throughout high school, she was a member of Key Club, a member of the Junior Varsity softball team, and a member of the Senior High chorus.

Outside of school, Hannah works as a childcare provider at Lake Shore Family Center, participates in Christ Chapel Wesleyan Church’s youth group, studies piano with Virginia Miller, and is a member of the Western New York Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps.

She is an accomplished French hornist, having studied under John Krestic of Silver Creek since she was in elementary school. She has been selected to the Chautauqua County Music Teachers Association’s All County each year since the sixth grade, and the New York State School Music Association’s Area All State each year since seventh grade. In 2015 and 2016, Hannah was selected by audition to NYSSMA Conference All State, which is New York’s highest-level performance opportunity for high school musicians. To be selected, Hannah received a perfect score of 100 on a NYSSMA level 6 solo, the most difficult level a soloist can perform at a NYSSMA festival.

In the fall, Hannah plans to attend Fredonia State as part of the Honors Program and pursue a degree in music education under the guidance of Marc Guy. She hopes to become a music teacher, with plans to eventually pursue a doctorate degree and a position on a college faculty.

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