With a GPA of 99.3 percent and the title of valedictorian, Evan Walsh would seem to be a serious student at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School.
But following graduation ceremonies Thursday, June 21, at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Walsh said reaching the milestone didn’t feel quite like he thought it would.
It’s just a very weird feeling, said Walsh. `It doesn’t feel like it actually happened.`
Part of the weirdness was that Walsh, who plans to study physics in the fall at Cornell University, had his physics Regents final exam at 7 a.m. earlier that day.
`I think that put seriousness in the day, to have to get up and take a test,` said Walsh. `But the test wasn’t that hard after all.`
In a flurry of signing yearbooks, saying goodbye to teachers, cleaning out lockers and making party plans, the senior year came to a surprisingly fast close on June 21.
Walsh said his high school career ended with a bang.
`It definitely went by way faster than I ever thought it would,` said Walsh.
Evan’s brother, Brady, is now entering 10th grade.
`He has a long way to go, but it won’t take him long to finish up,` said Evan.
Earning an impressive number of class medals, including ones in French and math, being student government organization president and belonging to many other groups, Walsh said he applied to top colleges and was accepted to about half.
`I originally had Cornell as my fall-back choice, but once I visited the campus, I knew it was right for me,` said Walsh. `It’s a huge campus, lots of hills, and there are 14,000 students. I think I’ll fit right in.`
Which of those 14,000 students will become Walsh’s freshman year roommate is still a mystery.
`It will be strange sharing a room, because even my brother and I have always had our own rooms,` said Walsh. `But I’m sure we’ll get along.`
Walsh will spend the summer athis new alma mater, working in the computer science lab updating and repairing computers. The job isn’t full-time, and will leave Walsh with plenty of time to enjoy the other benefits of high school graduation.
`There are parties, two or three of them, every weekend from now until the end of July,` said Walsh. `I’ll be in the pool nonstop.`
The class of 2007 salutatorian, Elizabeth Allocco, is heading to Columbia University to study neuroscience.
Earlier this year, Allocco was named a national semi-finalist in the Intel Science Talent Search 2007, America’s oldest and most prestigious high school science competition.
Allocco’s project was titled `The Neurocircuitry of Self-Recognition,` and was the result of three years of work in a special BH-BL science research course with teacher Regina Reals. Allocco also spent the last two summers working with Dr. Joy Hirsch, director of the Functional MRI Research Center at Columbia Medical Center in New York City. Her project involved using an MRI scanner to measure adults’ reactions to seeing photos of themselves as infants.
Allocco is breathing a sigh of relief that she won’t be spending this summer, at least, in a research lab.
`It’s going to be great to have time to relax and read the books I want to read,` said Allocco. `This will be my first summer not working, and I plan to hang out with friends.`
On her summer to-do list is reading the `Harry Potter` series, going to SPAC for the ballet and orchestra, walking around downtown Saratoga Springs, and lounging in Congress Park.
One thing she won’t likely be doing is sleeping until noon.
`I’m actually a morning person by nature,` she said with a laugh. `I find it’s the best time of the day for me. But I will have lots of free time that’s not scheduled for anything.`
Allocco credits hard work and the guidance of others for her tremendous success at BH-BL High School.
`I put in a lot of work, but I did get lucky, and I had great teachers who made it fun and easy to learn,` said Allocco. `My high school years were great. It hasn’t really sunk in that it’s all over.`
Allocco said she might be a bit homesick when she moves to New York City for college, but expects the rush of city life will fill in those empty spaces.
`There will be so much to do,` she said. `My parents have been there with me, and the area is really nice around Columbia, and really safe.`
Allocco seems to embody the true sentiments of all graduates, with one foot in the past and one already taking the big step towards the future.
`It is an ending,` she admitted. `But it’s a beginning at the same time, and that’s what I focus on. It’s a time to explore a whole new life. I’m anxious to get there.“
