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June 22, 2010 - Many years ago, Goshen High School administrators began honoring the top six graduating seniors instead of the traditional top two. It was found that these high-achieving students held GPAs that were so close – merely hundredths of a point apart – that the district felt that all of them deserved to be honored for their hard work and accomplishments. And so the Goshen tradition of honoring the six Honor Grads began.

This tradition runs strong today, and for good reason. This year’s Honor Grads have spent their high school careers immersed in extra-curricular activities, spent their time volunteering and fundraising, and participated in interscholastic athletics; all while dedicating themselves to achieving high academic standards.

The six Honor Grads claim to have learned a lot from their four years of high school, such as making the most out of life and how to balance the things you enjoy with the things you have to do. The say they’ll miss the closely knit community of Goshen High School, and the friends they’ve made over the years.

Each of them will head out into the world, taking with them their memories and lessons learned. But each can recall how their school chose to celebrate their accomplishments together, which in the words of one grad, “is pretty awesome.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2010 Honor Grads: Parth Shreyas Baxi, Christina Berti, Tom Flynn, Meghan Mary Koennecke, Dylan Owen and Serena Venditto.

Parth Shreyas Baxi
Parth Baxi should have no trouble managing his time when adjusting to college life. He spent his high school years participating in a number of clubs and activities, including the National Foreign Language Honor Society, Mock Trial, Academic Team and varsity tennis.

That’s in addition to serving as treasurer of the National Honor Society, performing in the Mr. GHS Pageant, and participating in Relay for Life and the Hannah Crossley Soccer Fundraiser. He is also a member of the Indian Association of the Catskill Region and is a junior volunteer at Arden Hill Hospital.

Parth will attend Northeastern University in the fall, where he’ll major in biology with the goal of becoming a surgeon. He is the son of Shreyas and Chhaya Baxi.

Christina Berti
Christina Berti knows a little something about commitment. She has studied ballet since she was five years old and has been a company ballet member since 2006. She also studies tap, modern and jazz and plans to keep dancing when she enters college in the fall.

Christina is a member of a number of clubs, including National Honor Society, Mock Trial, Teenage Republicans and Student Voice. She also serves as president of the National Foreign Language Honor Society.

A dedicated volunteer, Christina works with Pets Alive, Relay for Life Team Challengers, Mr. GHS Pageant, Orange Regional Medical Center and the Hannah Crossley Foundation. She dances for Girl Scout and Relay for Life fundraisers, and tutors Goshen Intermediate School students as well as her peers in French.

She will attend SUNY Geneseo to study chemistry and math with a ballet minor, and plans to pursue pharmacy school after college. Christina will continue her volunteer efforts with Relay for Life and animal shelters, and plans to participate in dance team while at college. She is the daughter of Mark and Florence Berti.

Tom Flynn
To say that Tom Flynn is a hard worker is an understatement. In addition to his extra-curricular activities and volunteer work through honor societies, Tom also finds time to work as a freelance graphic designer and a hip-hop deejay.

He is captain of the Academic Team and president of the Young Progressives, and a member of the drama club, National Honor Society, National Foreign Language Honor Society and Youth in Government. He also participated in the spring musical.

Tom will major in film and classics at the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College with the goal of becoming a filmmaker. He is the son of Mary Ford and Pat Flynn.

Meghan Mary Koennecke
Meghan Koennecke doesn’t shy away from leadership, having served as captain of the volleyball team, secretary of her class and secretary of the National Honor Society. She is also a member of the National Foreign Language Honor Society, Student Senate Delegate, Allegro Youth Orchestra and the school musicals.

Meghan volunteers with the St. John’s Youth Group, the Goshen Food Pantry and Relay for Life, and has achieved bronze, silver and gold awards through the Girl Scouts.

She will attend SUNY Binghamton where she will major in biology. Meghan is the daughter of Maura and Scott Koennecke.

Dylan Owen
Dylan Owen is reaching for the stars. For the past four years, Dylan has written and recorded hip-hop music and will soon release his first full-length album. He performs frequently in the local area, including the well-known Bamboozle Music Festival.

In addition to his music, Dylan is class president and has participated in both the musical and drama productions throughout his high school career. He is a member of the National Honor Society, National Foreign Language Honor Society and Youth in Government. He also participated in the Mr. GHS Pageant.

Dylan will attend Cornell University with an undecided major. He is the son of Joseph and Nancy Owen.

Serena Venditto
Serena Venditto was made for the stage. Her musical and theatrical talents landed her the female lead in both “Guys and Dolls” and “The Music Man,” and she was a professional actor in “Dracula: The Musical” at the Lycian Center for the Performing Arts.

In addition, Serena is a member of the drama club, National Honor Society, National Foreign Language Society and the Cultural Diversity Club, where she has served as president and secretary. She volunteers at Arden Hill Hospital and the Lycian Center for the Performing Arts.

Serena will major in music education with voice primary and a minor in music theater at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. She is the daughter of Donna and Greg Venditto.