Class of 2025 Valedictorian Christopher Rickard and salutatorian Mia Abruzzese were among the honorees representing 20 school districts at the recent 2025 Orange-Ulster BOCES Outstanding Student Honoree Luncheon, held at the Wallkill Country Club.
“Christopher and Mia have worked hard to achieve their distinctions and we were so proud to join them as they were honored with their Orange County valedictorian and salutatorian peers,” said Superintendent Brian Monahan. “We know they will do well in all their future endeavors.”
Christopher will attend Penn State University and major in mechanical engineering. He has excelled in math and science and earned numerous awards including the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Scholar-Athlete Award, is a RIT High School Physics Olympiad participant, New York State Boys State nominee and a Student-Athlete Leadership Summit participant.
Mia will attend Nazareth University to major in biology and play ice hockey. She has excelled in biology, chemistry, English and Spanish and plans to pursue a career in wildlife biology.
Each year Orange-Ulster BOCES honors the outstanding students from the region’s public and private high schools who have demonstrated excellence in academic achievement throughout high school.
The gathering was attended by school officials, Board of Education members, parents and family members.