Dunkirk High lists Top 10 of Class of 2021

: Leionna Thomas

: Ashley Gotowka

: Lydia Lokietek

: Phillip Messina

: Rachel Glowniak

: Jessica Oquendo Vazquez

: Joseph Newton

: Makayla Pasierb

Makayla Pasierb

Dunkirk High School has listed its Top 10 Class of 2021.

Valedictorian: Mia Piede

College plans: SUNY Fredonia, psychology

Parents:Christopher and Tonia Piede

Activities: N.Y.S.S.M.A. solo competitions (2013-2019) for clarinet, 2019 for voice (in 2019, both solos were at All State-Level), Junior High Chautauqua All County Band (2015-2018), Senior High Chautauqua All County Band (2019-2020, was accepted in 2020 but was cancelled due to COVID),

Joseph Newton

French Club (2018-PRESENT), Varsity Indoor Track (2017-PRESENT), Softball (2017-2019), Varsity Soccer (2017-PRESENT), Jazz Band (2018-PRESENT), Band (2012-PRESENT), Select Chorus (2018-PRESENT), Chorus (2015-PRESENT), Varsity Outdoor Track (2021)

Honors/Awards: National Honors Society (2019-PRESENT); Area (2019) and Conference (2020) All-State Ensembles; JCC Student of the Year Award (2020); Class President (2017-PRESENT); Band President (2019-PRESENT); Captain of Dunkirk Girls Varsity Soccer (2019-PRESENT); MVP Award, Varsity Girls Soccer (2020); Booster Award, Varsity Girls Soccer (2018); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal Award; Student Government President (2019-PRESENT); All Western N.Y. Scholar Athlete (2020)

What experience at Dunkirk High School had the greatest impact on you? My teachers have had the greatest impact on me. I was treated like family with them, through the support and encouragement, and would not have achieved my academic goals if it were not for them. I feel prepared for college as a result of the life lessons and some of the rigorous tasks that I persevered through, during my time at Dunkirk High School.

Salutatorian: Amy Corbett

College Plans: D’Youville College, pharmaceutical science

Jessica Oquendo Vazquez

Parents: Amy and Ryan Corbett

Activities: National Honor Society, Business and Marketing Honor Society, Student Council member, Class Secretary, FBLA member, Varsity Bowling, Varsity Softball, Infinity Dance Academy competitive dancer.

Honors/Awards: 3 time section 6 champion for bowling, 2019 state champion for bowling, booster and co-mvp awards for bowling, varsity bowling starter for 6 years, scholar-athlete, dancer for 16 years, competition dancer for 7 years.

What experience at Dunkirk High School had the greatest impact on you? Learning from some of the smartest teachers working in the district and making relationships with all my teachers have been the highlights of my career at Dunkirk High. I also enjoyed working alongside the other class officers and our class advisors throughout the years planning events to make our high school experience the best it could be.

Lydia Lokietek

Rachel Glowniak

College Plans: Undecided

Parents: Matthew & Christie Lokietek

Activities: NHS, Envirothon, Volleyball, Was interviewed and secured for Girls State

What experience at Dunkirk High School had the greatest impact on you? Any science field trip that I took with Mr. Adam made me have an even deeper love for the environment, and they were definitely the highlight of my high school experience. My perspective about the world around me will forever be changed.

Ashley Gotowka

Phillip Messina

College Plans: University of Tampa, Forensic Science

Parents: Cynthia Przybycien & Timothy Gotowka

Activities: National Honors Society, Varsity softball, travel softball with Inferno

Honors/Awards: Academic scholarship for University of Tampa

What experience at Dunkirk High School had the greatest impact on you? Being able to go to the Dominican Republic on a trip with the school.

Lydia Lokietek

Joseph Newton

College Plans: SUNY Fredonia, Music Education

Parents: Colleen Newton and Richard Newton

Activities: Chorus, Band, Tennis, Jazz Band, Chautauqua All-County Festivals

Honors/Awards:8th Grade Youth Musicians Scholarship, National Honors Society, DHS Theatre President, Area All-State Chorus and Band, DHS Musical Leads, Playground Drama Day Camp Producer

What experience at Dunkirk High School had the greatest impact on you? I really was impacted by the experiences I had in both band, chorus, and tennis. These were times when I felt like I truly belonged. These were things I thought melded me into who I am today.

Leionna Thomas

College Plans: Jamestown Community College, Nursing

Parents: Amy Thomas and Anthony Thomas

Activities: A part of student council, class officers, National Honor society, national

business and marketing honor society, a competitive dancer as well as teaches classes at infinity Dance academy,

What experience at Dunkirk High School had the greatest impact on you? Definitely getting to be a part of the special olympics each year and help the kids have an amazing day away from the school. It definitely opens your eyes to how amazing these kids truly are.

Makayla Pasierb

College Plans: D’Youville College, Nursing Program

Parents: Frederick Lemiszko ll and Katherine Lemiszko

Activities: Treasurer for Student Council (4 years), Treasurer for Class of 2021(4years),

Dunkirk Girls Bowling, Musicals, Part of Church Choir, Lucky Lanes Junior Bowling League, WNY Teen Bowling Invitational League, Lucky Lanes Junior Adult Bowling League

Honors/Awards: National Honor Society member, National Business and Marketing Honor Society Member, Annual Honor Roll, 2019 NYS Girls Bowling Champ, 300 game bowled at 2020 Sectionals

What experience at Dunkirk High School had the greatest impact on you? During my time at Dunkirk, the biggest takeaway of mine was learning how important having a good work ethic is. I have learned that by working hard, good will come. Having multiple jobs while in high school has resulted in some awesome memories and a balanced mindset.

Jessica Oquendo Vazquez

College Plans: SUNY ESF while taking several credit hours at Syracuse University

Parents: Jessica Vazquez

Activities: volleyball, runs track, and pole-vaults. Also is part of the envirothon team and plays clarinet and trumpet with her High School bands.

Honors/Awards: Jessica has taking part in PHRYLI and won a scholarship after completing the Miss Borinquen Leadership Program. Jessica was nominated for the the Rachel Carson healthy planet award as an environmentally conscious student. Was accepted into Girls All State. Her last outdoor track season she received the overall female MVP award, and a third place pole vaulting award for the Hamburg Relays.

What experience at Dunkirk High School had the greatest impact on you? The experience at DHS that has most impacted me would have to be the amazing people that I have met throughout the years. That includes students and staff. Overall I have been able to find so many people that have helped me find my way and grown as a person. Lastly I would note that all of the science field trips I was able to take part in before the pandemic are still to this day some of the best group trips I have ever been on. Thank you for all the memories.

Rachel Glowniak

College Plans: Sacred Heart University,

Parents: Rich and Rebecca Glowniak

Activities: Varsity Soccer, Varsity Bowling, Varsity Volleyball, Varsity Softball, Student council, National Honors Society, Spanish and French Club, Class of 2021 Secretary (9-11 grade) Class historian (12th), T-ball coach, High School Musicals, National Honors Society Secretary of hours, FBLA

Honors/Awards: MVP for bowling (9-12), JV softball booster award, JCC deans list, Honor roll, MVP modified soccer, Student of the month.

What experience at Dunkirk High School had the greatest impact on you? Being able to take all the JCC classes

Phillip Messina

College Plans: Cayuga Community College, Health Sciences with a concentration in Physical Therapy

Parents: Patricia Messina & Dean Messina

Activities: High school baseball, high school football, Student Council member

Honors/Awards: National Honors Society member, Boys State nominee, student of the month

What experience at Dunkirk High School had the greatest impact on you? Having teachers that were always willing to give help whenever I would ask them for it.