July 2021 Volume 17, Issue 4 2021 OHS Valedictorian & Salutatorian Nathan-Michael W
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SPECIAL ISSUE: SALUTING OUR SENIORS CCITYITY SSCCHOOLHOOL DDIISSTRITRICCTT “Home, School and Community Educating for Life” June - July 2021 Volume 17, Issue 4 2021 OHS Valedictorian & Salutatorian Nathan-Michael W. Gabler while he was in 4th grade. Nathan has been named the Valedictorian was hooked and performed in of the Class of 2021, ranking 1st numerous productions both with out of 149 students. He is the Olean and with Olean Theater son of Jeffrey and Christine Workshop. It was ironic that his Gabler. Nathan has maintained last performance at OHS would his standing on the high bring him back to his beginning honor roll for 16 consecutive and he was cast as Jean Valjean quarters, while also taking in “Les Misérables.” Nathan has numerous college level courses, performed at the Taste of Olean, participating in the Project Lead Theater in the Park and various the Way Engineering Program venues for the National Anthem. and the New Visions Medical Nathan is also active in his Professions Program. He community, offering many hours will graduate Olean with an to work on projects both close to Advanced Regents Diploma home and on the National Scale. with Honors and Mastery in In Olean, Nathan has served on Math and Science. the Olean Youth Court for the Nathan is the Co-President Nathan-Michael W. Paxton Retchless past three years, an assistant of the Olean National Honor coach for DIDI 500, and volunteered for the Olean STAR program, JCC Society, member of French Club, Gabler Kids College Summer Program, umpire for memorial baseball tournaments and the Interact Club. He is honored to have received the John Flynn in Cuba, and continues to give back as an assistant coach for the Olean Engineering Award, the 20-40-60 Point Extra Curricular Award, the 100 Club Wrestling Club. Nathan loves to travel and is extremely proud of the USA. (Earth Science), New Visons Medical Professions Student of the Quarter. For six years, Nathan has traveled to Washington, DC in the spring to serve He did Peer Tutoring, was a Dream It Do It Champion and now an Assistant as an ambassador for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. He also goes Coach and was part of Oak Hill Park clean-up for 2 years. to Washington, DC every other year as a Western New York Ambassador in Nathan has participated in six varsity sports, earning 16 varsity letters, the National Science & Engineering Festival. 17 scholar athlete awards, and was named as All Western New York Scholar Nathan has accepted an offer to attend West Virginia University in the fall. Athlete for Soccer and Diving. He decided to join the Olean Soccer Team He will be joining the Honors College and looks forward to pursuing a dual where he earned a Game Captain, Most Improved Award and scored a degree in both Bio-Medical Engineering and Neuroscience Research. He is defensive goal. He then left the field to enter the pool- another unfamiliar looking forward to the excellent academics, sporting, and arts opportunities place for Nathan. During swimming/diving season, Nathan joined the diving on the West Virginia University campus. squad where he took 3rd place at sectionals. He was a Sectional Qualifier for the three years on the varsity cross country team. Nathan also has been part Paxton Retchless has been named Salutatorian of the Class of 2021. She of the varsity football team for the past two years. Track and field particularly is the daughter of Tim and Lindsay Retchless. Paxton will graduate with an Pole Vaulting is another sporting passion of Nathan’s. He has been a member Advanced Regents Diploma with Honors and Mastery in Math and Science. of the varsity track team for four years. Wrestling has been his long time Throughout high school, Paxton has been a member of Student passion, though. Nathan has been on the varsity wrestling team for six years- Government (Vice President), French Club, Interact Club, National Honor earning himself 2-3rd place Class Tournament finishes, 2-6th place Sectionals Society, girls’ varsity soccer (Captain), and varsity track and field. finishes, and an Invitation to NYS Journeyman Championship Tournament. Within the community, Paxton has been involved in Homeless Huskies, He was a two-time Take Down Award Winner, NYSPHAA Century Team the Olean Sports Boosters Can Drive, Toys for Tots, Oak Hill Park clean- Member, STWOA All-Academic Team, and only Father/Son duo on the up, and a Roswell affiliated student-led fundraiser for cancer research. Century Team from Olean. Additionally, Paxton has been a youth soccer referee for the Olean Soccer Spending time in the athletic arena is only equaled by his love for music Club and a cashier at BJ’s Wholesale Club. and theater. Nathan has been in the Band and Section Leader for four years. Paxton has received honors including the 20-point award, JCC Part-Time He has also been a member of the Orchestra for three years and participated Student Dean’s List Award, CCAA Girls Soccer 1st Team, Varsity Girls in Houghton String Fest numerous times. Singing is Nathan’s forte and has Soccer Coach’s Award, All-Western New York Scholar Athlete, and was been fortunate to have been a member of the Select Choir and a member nominated for the New York State Academic Excellence Award. of the Bel Canto for three of his years. He was selected to go to Area-All Paxton will attend the University of Pittsburgh in the fall, majoring in State Tenor for three years and was delighted to participate virtually in the Pharmacy with a guaranteed acceptance into the PharmD program. NYSSMA-All State Vocal Competition this year. Olean introduced Nathan to the world of theater by casting him as Gavroche in “Les Misérables” Brynn Ackerman Olivia Bean Lydia Brant Kaura Chahal Zoey Clayson Class of 2021 Honor Graduates Brynn Ackerman is the daughter Club, and has participated in Art Zoey Clayson is the daughter of of Michael and Kimberly Ackerman. Club, the GSA, Chorus, Student Brian and Tracie Clayson. Zoey has Brynn has played volleyball for six Council, and was a member of the played the violin since fourth grade. years and has participated in track as Olean Theater Workshop and National In eighth grade, she joined the Olean well. Brynn was a member of Student Honor Society. Lydia will attend High School Color Guard Team and Council and French Club. Brynn was Keuka College this fall and major joined Thirst Project in tenth. Zoey also a member of National Honor in Occupational Therapy. She hopes was a member of the National Honor Society and Treasurer of Senior to become a pediatric Occupational Society and was Co-Student Director Advisory Council. Brynn plans to Therapist at a school. of “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Les attend West Virginia University to Miserable.” Outside of school, she is study Psychology with a minor in Kaura Chahal is the daughter of a member of Trinity United Methodist Business. Dr. Puneet and Colleen Chahal. She Church. Zoey enjoys hanging out has participated in the Hugh O’Brien with friends and going for bike rides Olivia Bean is the daughter of Youth Leadership Program and the in the summer. She will attend St. James and Andrea Bean. Olivia was Society of Women Engineers Summer Bonaventure University this fall and a member of the National Honor Program, completed all three years will have an undeclared major. Society and was involved in the of Project Lead the Way, and was a Student Advisory Council. She has member of National Honor Society. been a member of the Select Choir, Kaura has been dancing with Ski Club and Spanish Club. Olivia Neighborhood School of Dance has participated in the girls’ varsity since age 3 and has earned multiple tennis team for the past four years, and awards as a competition dancer. has had the opportunity to compete in She has been a dance teacher’s the All-County Tennis competition. assistant for six years and served as She has also participated in Pi Day, the Ballet 1 teacher for the 2020- Homeless Huskies, Oak Hill Park 2021 season. Kaura has been an clean-up, and the Olean Sports Booster active member of Band throughout Can Drive. Outside of school, Olivia high school, serving as Drum enjoys skiing and playing the guitar. Major and head of Percussion for Olivia will be attending the Rochester the past two years. As a registered Institute of Technology to major in Girl Scout, Kaura attended Camp Astrophysics. 7 Hills for twelve summers, completing the CIT program in Lydia Brant is the daughter of 2019. This summer she has been Emily Brant and Melissa Carr. Lydia hired as a Junior Counselor at was a student in the New Visions camp. Kaura will attend Clarkson Education Program at the Olean University in the fall, majoring in Career and Technical Center. She Aeronautical Engineering was the President of the OHS Film Olean City School District Newsletter 2 Jason Copella Kaden Cruz Keon Cruz Sara Cutler Caroline DeRose Class of 2021 Honor Graduates Jason Copella is the son of Scott activities, he helped clean Oak Hill Leaders Award, the Daughters of the and Gretchen Copella. He was a Park. He was a member the National American Revolution Good Citizen Captain of the Varsity Football Team Honor Society. He volunteered at Award, the 20-40-60 Point Award, the and participated in varsity track the Eldred Fire Department with his Cattaraugus County Youth Citizenship and field. Jason was a member of grandfather. He participated in a sport Award, and was selected as a WNY the National Honor Society and has every year while in high school, and Section VI Scholar-Athlete.