Galway Junior/Senior High School Principal Michael Miller is proud to present the Top 10 graduates for the Class of 2020. Congratulations to:
Alex Malanoski, son of Cheryl and Stan Malanoski of Middle Grove is the valedictorian of the Class of 2020. Alex is an Eagle Scout who was the treasurer of Class Office, treasurer of National Honor Society, and a writer and photographer for Eagles Media Center. He was also an anchor and director for GTV. Alex was a two-sport athlete competing in varsity baseball and basketball. He was invited to share his poem “Making it Through the Strife” at Saratoga Performing Arts Center and Adirondack Trust Company’s Festival of Young Artists. Alex will attend Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications to study Broadcast and Digital Journalism. He plans to pursue a career as a television anchor and reporter. His dream would be to work as a national news correspondent.
Kaylee Bagdan, daughter of Lisa and Kevin Bagdan of Amsterdam, is the salutatorian of the Class of 2020. Kaylee was president of the Student Senate; head editor of Eagles Media Center; co-editor of Impressions Literary Magazine; student senate representative for Class Office; and a member of the National Honor Society, Planned Decision Making, and a Student Group in Partnership with Officer Bedell. Kaylee was a two-sport athlete competing in varsity softball and soccer. She was on the Galway PTSA Competition Dance Team and competed as a soloist. She also served as Saratoga County Alternate Dairy Princess. Kaylee will attend Skidmore College in the fall and major in biology and environmental sciences. Her dream is to become a botanical genetics professor.
Rachel Wnuk was an anchor on GTV and writer for Eagles Media Center. She was secretary of Class Office and co-president of the Science Club. She participated in Student Senate, National Honor Society, Prom Committee, Best Buddies, Do Something Club, Drama Club, and Leo’s Club. This year, she was named as one of 10 scholastic award recipients by the Capital District Sports Women of the Year. Rachel received Scholar Athlete honors in soccer, basketball and track and field. She was captain in her junior and senior seasons for soccer and basketball in her junior year. She competed in the New York State Indoor Track and Field Championships in the high jump in 10th grade. She was a WAC Hudson Valley Division Soccer Second Team All Star, WAC All-Star, and News Channel 13 Athlete of the Week honoree. Rachel plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering and possibly volunteer for the Peace Corps. Rachel is the daughter of Amy and Brian Wnuk of Hagaman.
Walter Ellsworth was a member of Class Office, Science Club, Robotics Club, and Republican Club. He ran track and field and participated in Boy Scouts. He will attend Georgia Institute of Technology and major in electrical engineering. He would like to specialize in engineering electric vehicles, Walter is the son of Amy Ellsworth and Peter Ellsworth and stepson of Elaine Ellsworth of Galway.
Anna Gardner was a member of National Honor Society. She competed with the undefeated Galway Varsity Volleyball team that won the WAC Championship, Section 2 Class D Championship, Regional Championship, and finished the season as NYS Semi-Finalists. Anna was a Second Team All-Star. She also enjoys skiing. Anna will attend the University of Vermont and major in sustainable parks, recreation, and tourism. She is the daughter of Judy Koskinen and Jim Gardner of Galway.
Ryan Lovelass was a member of Class Office, National Honor Society, Eagles Media Center, and Robotics Club. He was a two-sport varsity athlete competing in golf and basketball. He helped lead the boys varsity basketball team to its best season in recent years and was recognized on the court with a Section 2 Honorable Mention award. Ryan has a long list of achievements in golf including five time WAC First Team All Star, three time WAC League MVP, two time WAC League Individual Champion, Four Time WAC League Runner-Up, Times Union First Team All-Star. He led the Golden Eagles’ golf team to two WAC Team Championship Titles. Last fall, Ryan won the Class C and Class D Sectional Tournament, securing his second trip to the NYSPHSAA tournament, which unfortunately had to be canceled because of the global coronavirus pandemic. Next year, Ryan will be competing with the Division I Binghamton Bearcats Golf team while pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering in the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering. He is the son of Melissa and Kevin Lovelass of Galway.
Paige Brink was a member of S.A.D.D., Impressions Literary Magazine, and the Do Something Club. She was also a member of the Galway varsity cheerleading team. Paige will attend the State University of New York at Oneonta to study Early Childhood and Childhood Education. She is the daughter of Rebecca and Brian Brink of Middle Grove.
Ruth Reichard was president of the National Honor Society and a director for GTV. She was a member of Class Office, Student Senate, Band, Jazz Band, and Drama Club. She was also a three-sport varsity athlete competing in soccer, basketball, and softball. Ruth will attend the State University of New York at Potsdam in the fall to double major in biochemistry and Spanish on a pre-med track. She is the daughter of Maureen and Richard Reichard of Middle Grove.
Rachel Germain maintained academic scholar status throughout her High School career. She received the Galway Lions Club Citizenship Award in both junior and senior high. She also went to Europe twice as a People to People Student Ambassador. Rachel has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten, and has earned the highest award possible- the Gold Award. She has participated in the Galway PTSA dance program since kindergarten as well. Rachel is a member of National Honor Society, a writer for Eagles Media Center, and an anchor for GTV. She is also the founder and president of the Galway DoSomething Club. Rachel will attend the State University of New York at Oneonta in the fall to pursue a degree in early childhood and childhood education with a liberal arts concentration. She is the daughter of Peggy and George Germain of Amsterdam.
Vanessa Colangelo was lead editor of Impressions Literary Magazine and ran varsity cross country throughout her high school career. She was a member of National Honor Society and had an Art Portfolio Exhibition at the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa. She plans to attend Fulton Montgomery Community College to study digital media arts. She is the daughter of Anthony Colangelo of Galway.