Fredonia Central School announces the Class of 2012 valedictorian and salutatorian. Noah Rankin is the valedictorian and Michael Hawk is the salutatorian.
Rankin is the son of David and Helena Rankin. Rankin has tried to take the most challenging courses available at Fredonia High School. He has taken a total of seven AP classes. During his senior year, he took Calculus, Psychology, English, and Physics. Last year, Rankin was awarded the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award and the Daniel P. Lowther Humanity award.
Rankin has been involved in athletics at Fredonia since ninth grade and has been a tri-sport athlete since his freshman year, participating in the cross country team, swim team, and the tennis team. Rankin has received coaches' awards in cross country and a most improved award last year in swimming.
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Noah Rankin
At FHS, Rankin was active in the volunteer organization Key Club and the Spectator, the school newspaper. He was involved in Key Club since ninth grade, and at the end of his junior year Rankin was elected vice president. For the Spectator, Rankin served as managing editor, as he wrote stories in journalism class and performs editing duties as well. Rankin participated in the high school musical by working on the stage crew.
Rankin is also very interested in science, which he has explored beyond the classroom. Last summer and into this fall, he assisted the associate professor of chemistry, Dr. Mason, in experimenting with the methane gas potentials of food waste, with tests done in a laboratory setting that may unearth possibilities for cleaner energy to be used locally.
After high school, Rankin is planning on attending Cornell University to study chemistry. He hopes that he will be able to travel and stay in another country during his studies. He would like to go into a career that concerns science, though he hopes he will be able to tie it in with his passion for writing.
Hawk is the son of Tom and Lisa Hawk. In high school, he made the honor roll every quarter of every year. Hawk has taken three years of Advanced English, one year of Advanced Global 10, two years of Advanced Music Performance, one year of collegiate level Spanish, he received a final grade of 100 for the following courses: Regents Chemistry, Differential Calculus, and Analysis of Functions. During his senior year, he took AP Calculus and participated in the 3-1-3 program at SUNY Fredonia. Hawk will receive an Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors upon graduation.
Hawk has participated in Fredonia High's athletic programs. In his freshman year of high school, he participated in four sports. In sophomore year, he participated in two sports; in his junior and senior years, Hawk concentrated on only one sport. Hawk ran on the Fredonia Cross Country Team for four years. This year was his fourth and final year on the Fredonia Tennis Team as an exhibition doubles player. He has received scholar athlete awards and the honorary "hardest worker" award from cross country.
During Hawk's first third-grade chorus concert, it became apparently clear that he had a passion for music and performing. He has participated in chorus for all 13 years of his school career. During his senior year, he did his sixth and final musical with FHS. Over the years, he performed in "Ragtime," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat," "Into the Woods," "Little Shop of Horrors," and "Godspell." In Hawk's sophomore year, he received the 2010 Kenny Award for "Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role" as Mr. Mushnik. Hawk has participated in All-County groups for seven years; he sang in the 2010 Area All-State Choir and received a Baritone solo in a featured trio; he will participate in the 2011 Conference All State Choir in Rochester. On Oct. 6, Hawk performed at the Tralf Music Hall in the Shea's Complex, after receiving the 2011 Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Scholarship.
Over the years, Hawk has tried to stay as active as he could outside of school and in the community. He has been involved in his church's youth group for three years. He has performed and traveled with the Chautauqua Children's Chorale for five years. For two years, Hawk performed and traveled with the Drama Enrichment Program centered in Jamestown; D.E.P. is planning a trip to perform in Italy and bring the Italian students back to Jamestown to be instructed in musical theatre and various vocal techniques. He was involved in Student Council for two years, and he now holds the position of president of the FHS Symphonic Band and Chamber Choir.
Hawk is planning on attending SUNY Fredonia to study vocal performance. He plans to complete his undergraduate education in a dual major, and he plans to apply for his master's degree in vocal performance. His ideal career choice is a professional performer in opera or musical theatre. Like the life of a performer, he is not sure what this world holds in store for him, but he will be eager to face any challenges along the way.
