Top of the Class 2023

Trey Naselli – Senior Valedictorian

Trey Naselli, the son of Joseph and Nicole Naselli, is the Johnstown High School Class of 2023 Senior Valedictorian.  He is an active member of the William A. Wright Chapter of the National Honor Society, Key Club, International Club, Student Council, Jazz Band, Masterminds, Science Club, Odyssey of the Mind and serves as the Class of 2023 Treasurer.  Trey was Captain of the boys varsity soccer team and cross country running team.  He also participated in Nordic skiing and track and field during this academic school year.  He is a recipient of the National Honor Society Scholarship, Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award, and Clarkson University Leadership Award.  Trey will attend Clarkson University in the fall to major in Chemical Engineering.

Mohammed Patel – Co-Valedictorian

Mohammed Fardeen Patel, the son of Touqir Patel and Shagufta Khateeb, is the Johnstown High School Class of 2023 Co-Valedictorian. He has been an active member in many  extracurricular activities throughout his school years, such as MasterMinds and Science Club and has participated in competitions conducted on and off campus. He was an athlete on Johnstown’s swimming and varsity soccer teams.  He is a current member of the prestigious William A. Wright Chapter of the National Honor Society. He is an active member of the Amsterdam Islamic Center and has been volunteering through the organization. Mohammed will attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the fall to major in Computer and Systems Engineering.

Alex DeMagistris – Senior Salutatorian

Alex DeMagistris, the son of Michael and Nicole DeMagistris, is Johnstown High School Class of 2023 Senior Salutatorian.  He is the President of the Student Council and Secretary of both the National Honor Society and his class.  Alex also is an active member in Jazz Band, Marching Band, Key Club, Science Club, and International Club.  Over the past eight years he has been a part of the Odyssey of the Mind program where he and his team went to the World Finals five times.  On top of that, Alex also is a three sport athlete (soccer, swim, and track) where he received the scholar athlete award every varsity season.  He also is an active member of the Drama Club where he held lead roles and was the dance captain.  Alex will attend University at Buffalo in the fall to major in Secondary Education in Mathematics.

Ayden Swedick – Co-Salutatorian

Ayden Swedick, the son of John and Lisa Swedick, is the Johnstown High School Class of 2023 Co-Salutatorian. He participated in many extracurricular activities throughout his high school years, including as a member of the junior varsity and varsity lacrosse and cross country Nordic ski teams, as well as serving on the Johnstown High School Student Council. Ayden was also an IT intern for the Greater Johnstown School District during the summer of 2022. He has also volunteered in and out of school for the betterment of his community. Ayden will attend Hudson Valley Community College in the fall to major in Engineering Science, and will transfer to another college in the future to pursue a major in Chemical Engineering.

Cameron Arminio is the son of Sue and Scott Arminio.  He will attend the University at Albany to study Business Economics.  Cameron has been involved in National Honor Society, Student Council, International Club, Science Club, Jazz Band, varsity golf, varsity swim, and was a Captain of the varsity lacrosse team, winning a sectional title.  Within the community Cameron has been an active member of the Youth Lacrosse Program, coaching and mentoring the young athletes, and also running concessions, raking leaves around Johnstown, aiding the backpack program, and helping at Axis Strength Training to train the youth.

Tyler Downing, son of David and Lisa Downing, will be attending the University at Buffalo this fall to study Psychology. He has participated in XC running, track, Nordic ski, and soccer during his time in high school, and has been an active volunteer for the Backpack Program. Tyler has been a travel baseball coach for the past five years and dedicates much of his time to various sporting activities. If you took the time to read this blurb, Tyler would like to say thank you and he hopes that you have a great day.

Jayden Elston is the son of Joshua Elston and Ashley Adamson. He will be attending SUNY Albany in the fall to study Psychology. He is the President of the William A. Wright Chapter of the National Honor Society and also the Vice President for the Drama Club. He is involved in many  extracurriculars at school. His favorites include the Drama Club, International Club, Science Club, and Marching Band. He has a passion for soccer and track & field, and was a member of these teams during all four years of high school. He has volunteered to assist with the Backpack Program and gave his time to play his trombone several times for the Veterans Day Ceremony. He would like to thank all of his family and friends for pushing him to do his best.

Augustus “Gus” Fagan is the son of Louis and Meredith Fagan. He will attend RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) as a member of the Honors Program to study Humanities, Computing, and Design. Gus has been involved in many school activities including varsity soccer (Capt.), Nordic ski, and track and field. He is also President of the Science Club, and an active member of MasterMinds, National Honor Society, and International Club. He has been the recipient of various awards including the Coaches Award and Most Dedicated,  the AP Language and Composition Award, the Chemistry Award, the Spanish 4 Award, and the RIT Presidential Scholarship for Academics. As a senior, he had the lead in the fall play and was an ensemble cast member in the musical. His volunteer work involves the NOAH Meal program, and highway and community cleanup. Gus also works on his grandparents’ farm during the summers.

Donald Long is the son of Michael and Stephanie Long.  Donald participates in a wide of variety of clubs in school such as, but not limited to, International Club, Key Club, Drama Club, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Marching Band, Masterminds, Science Club, Odyssey of the Mind, and holds officer positions such as the Public Relations Officer for the National Honor Society, the Vice President of the Student Council, and the President of the Class of 2023.  Donald also participates on the school’s track team and is the Co-Captain of the swim team.  Outside of school Donald volunteers as an alter server for his local church and taught as a Catechist last year.  Donald will be attending Clarkson University in the fall to pursue his Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering.

Ayaka Sasaki is the daughter of Tadahiro and Miho Sasaki. She will attend Sophia University located in Tokyo, Japan in the fall. Ayaka is the President of Student Council, the Vice President for WAW National Honor Society and the Baronet Yearbook Club, and the Secretary for Science Club. She is also an active member in the International Club, Jazz Band, and Marching Band.

Ayaka was involved in varsity field hockey, basketball, track and field, cross country running, and Nordic ski throughout her high school career. She was the Captain of the field hockey team her senior year and was awarded the Coach’s Award and Most Outstanding Player, and was chosen for the Foothills Council First Team All-Stars twice and New York’s All-State Team during her varsity field hockey career. She also earned the Coach’s Award  for Nordic skiing and the Scholar Athlete Award for field hockey, basketball, and track and field. Academically, she received the Pre-Calculus Award her Junior year and was on the high-honor roll all four years. Outside of school, she has volunteered in Catholic Church food distributions, Veterans Day Ceremony, Earth Day City Clean Up, Odyssey Competitions, referees youth field hockey, and has made beds for dogs in shelters. She would like to thank her parents and her sister, Kanako, for always supporting her. Lastly, she would like to thank her closest friends and the “PG Rager” for always giving her a shoulder to lean on.

Nicole Eleanor Simon, the daughter of Shari and David Simon, is in the top ten of the Johnstown High School graduating class of 2023. She is a member of the National Honor Society, International Club, and Jazz Band. Nicole participated in varsity field hockey and lacrosse and was selected as a captain her senior year. In 2022 she participated in the NYSBDA Honor Band and NYSSMA All-State Honor Band. She volunteers through her clubs, musical elements for the community, and coaching youth girls lacrosse. Nicole will attend Utica University this fall as a nursing major.

Alyssa Whitbeck, the daughter of Steve and Connie Whitbeck, will attend Utica University to study Criminal Justice. During her high school career she was a member of Student Council, International Club, National Honor Society, and Art Club. She has been a member of the varsity volleyball team where she received the Most Dedicated Award and was part of the Scholar Athlete Team two years in a row. She has also been a member of the varsity track and field team, where she received the Most Improved Award and was part of the Scholar Athlete Team two years in a row. She also served as the track and field treasurer for two years in a row. She has received the Earth Science, Geometry, Algebra 2 and Studio Art awards, and the Student of the quarter for Health and Earth Science. During her junior year she was the recipient of the LeMoyne Climbing the Heights Award and during her senior year she participated in the Foothills Council Student Leadership Workshop at FMCC.

Claire Anderson, Kaelyn Byrnes,, Vincent Ecker, Amia Hall,, Olivia Kilmer, Ally Salamack, Alexis Smith, Kyle Stegel, Adam Sweet
Chloe Williams