Congratulations to the class of 2023 Honor Group. Below are the bio’s of each student in alphabetical order of their last name.
Breanna Chillemi, daughter of Claudine and Sebastian Chillemi, has maintained a 95 or higher average throughout high school. She has participated in numerous clubs, including Yearbook Club and The Lake Take. In both clubs, she was able to pursue her passion for the arts. Bre has also taken and excelled in five AP courses, including World History, English Language and Composition, United States History, and most recently, English Literature as well as Government and Politics. She has worked at Escape LG since tenth grade, and will continue to work there over the summer. In the fall, Bre intends to pursue a degree in film at Eugene Lang College at The New School in New York City. In the years to come, make sure you don’t leave the movie theater too early or you will miss her name in the credits.
Tiffany Cornelius, daughter of Rod and Kim Cornelius, has been involved in many activities, holding various leadership positions throughout her high school career. She has been treasurer of the class of 2023 from 7th grade through her senior year, and held officer positions in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) such as Parliamentarian, Historian, and Treasurer. Tiffany is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Spanish Club, Business Honor Society, FBLA Honor Society, and the Lake George Chapter of FBLA. She has competed in FBLA state competitions her sophomore through senior years, qualifying for nationals each year. In her sophomore year, Tiffany placed 4th in the state for Banking and Financial Systems, in her junior year she placed 1st in Accounting I, and for her senior year, she placed 1st in Accounting II, and 2nd in Spreadsheet Applications. She has been involved in her community, serving as committee head for the Lake George Jr.-Sr. High School Food Drive for the past three years. While being involved in extracurricular activities, she has maintained Principal’s List each quarter since 7th grade. Tiffany has been very committed to soccer, playing year round, and was pulled up to varsity her freshman year, starting as center defense sophomore year, as well as being a team captain her senior year. She made First Team All-Stars for the Adirondack League in both her junior and senior years. In the fall, Tiffany will be attending Siena College to pursue a major in Accounting.
Darja (Dasha) Coutts, daughter of Uljana Ostapjuk and John Coutts, is the secretary of the Spanish Honor Society as well as an active member of National Honor Society, Spectrum Club, Spanish Club, Yearbook Club, and Creative Writing Club. She is also the editor of The Lake Take school newspaper, where she has developed her skills as both a writer and an editor, something she hopes to pursue in the future. Dasha has treasured her work as a peer mentor, mentoring and forging an incredibly strong and long-lasting bond with an underclassman for the past two years. She has always pursued rigorous coursework, whether that be through the accelerated math and science track, taking a multitude of AP classes, a college-level Spanish class, and working towards the NYS Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish with her presentation on mental health. Dasha has achieved Principal’s List every quarter since 7th grade. She has worked as a Gamemaster at Escape LG since the spring of 2021, and she’ll continue to work there this summer as well. In the fall, Dasha plans to study English at Vassar College and, hopefully one day, you’ll see her on the top of the New York Times Bestsellers list.
Samantha Milan Gorey, daughter of Suzanna Bernd and Benjamin Gorey, has held many leadership positions including Treasurer of Student Council for the past two years, Co-President of Technology Club, Vice President of French Honor Society, Vice President of French Club, and Treasurer of National Honor Society. Additionally, she has been a member of the A Cappella Club, Astronomy Club, Drama Club, Newspaper Club, Rotary Interact Club, and Senior Art Club. Samantha also volunteered through the Rock Solid program and she has remained on Principal’s List every quarter since seventh grade while taking AP and college level courses. She has a passion for music and Irish dance. Besides playing percussion in the school band, she performs with the Saratoga Youth Symphony and dances for the Wild Acre Irish Dancers. Samantha has been a varsity athlete since ninth grade, playing both soccer and softball. Samantha was a Captain of the Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team this year and won NYS Section II First Team All-Star for two consecutive years. Samantha also played travel soccer and softball throughout high school. Samantha joined the Nordic Ski Team this year. She enjoys volunteering by serving as a Warm the Children shopper for the Glens Falls Rotary Club continuously throughout high school and as a guest musician with the Saratoga Preparatory Symphony. She has performed community service with the Lake George Rotary Club, as well as with many other organizations. She earned the Adirondack Area School Boards Association Community Service Award for the 2022-2023 academic year. She participated in the Rotary International Virtual Exchange Program with a student from Japan. Propelled by her new found love of Japan, she became a Rotary exchange student in the summer of 2022, living in Japan for a month and hosting a Japanese student in Lake George. Samantha will further her cultural exploration by taking a gap year to participate in the Rotary Long Term Youth Exchange program, living in Japan for a year and going to a Japanese High School. She will then attend Vassar College, with a double major in Japanese and either Mathematics or Economics.
Sara Kassal, daughter of Michael and Susan Kassal, is the president of National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, Astronomy Club, and French Club. She is also the co-president of Technology Club and is involved in Jazz Band and Rock Solid. Sara is first in her class and is a recipient of the Rensselaer Medal Award from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Computing Medal Award from Rochester Institute of Technology, and is a University at Buffalo Steven B. Sample Distinguished Honors Scholar. Sara is a member of Reality Competitive Dance Team and has been dancing since she was three years old. She’s performed in many shows and productions and has also choreographed for her team, winning several personal awards. In the fall, Sara plans to pursue aerospace engineering at the University at Buffalo Honors College.
Daniel Nichols, son of Ellen and Dan Nichols, is Student Council president of his class and a member of the National Honor Society and French Honor Society. He is enrolled in the P-TECH Early College High School program hosted by Hudson Valley Community College. Danny has maintained his status on the Principal’s List every quarter in high school and has maintained his status on the Dean’s List of HVCC for every semester as well. He has spoken at Cornell University as a delegate for the New York Youth Institute, where he presented his research about food insecurity. Danny has pursued a rigorous high school pathway by taking as many AP classes as he could at Lake George while balancing his college courses at HVCC. Over the summer, Danny will work as a line cook at Mezzaluna’s Restaurant. Danny’s intent is to pursue a master’s degree in Cyber Security at Rochester Institute of Technology through their Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree program.
Samantha Tennyson, is a highly motivated student and was not afraid to blaze her own unique path throughout high school. Sam took the initiative to advance herself by doubling up on math and science courses and by the start of her senior year, she had already completed all Regents science and math courses, as well as AP Calculus. This past summer, Sam interned at the Neural Stem Cell Institute in Rensselaer, NY and completed her research paper “FGF2 Discs in Media to Produce Quality Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Cultures”, where she would then go on to compete at the Greater Capital Region Science and Engineering Fair and win the Linda Austin DNA and Science Technology Award. Sam was able to split up her senior year taking some college courses at SUNY Adirondack and continued her internship one day a week. Sam will graduate high school having completed 4 AP courses and 36 college credits awarded from both SUNY Adirondack and SUNY Albany combined. Sam has always been a performer. She has been involved in gymnastics for the past 14 years, graduating as a level 8 gymnast for the Saratoga Springetts competitive team. Not only has she continued her passion for performing through programs like band, chorus, and A capella, but also in musical theater where she most notably played Morticia Adams in the Lake George Drama Club rendition of The Addams Family. Using her background in music, theater, and dance Sam achieved Performing Art Scholar status at RIT. Next fall, Sam will start her accelerated degree program, BS in Biomedical Engineering/MS in Science, Technology, and Public Policy, with a concentration in tissue engineering on a pre-med track at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Breanna Chillemi, daughter of Claudine and Sebastian Chillemi, has maintained a 95 or higher average throughout high school. She has participated in numerous clubs, including Yearbook Club and The Lake Take. In both clubs, she was able to pursue her passion for the arts. Bre has also taken and excelled in five AP courses, including World History, English Language and Composition, United States History, and most recently, English Literature as well as Government and Politics. She has worked at Escape LG since tenth grade, and will continue to work there over the summer. In the fall, Bre intends to pursue a degree in film at Eugene Lang College at The New School in New York City. In the years to come, make sure you don’t leave the movie theater too early or you will miss her name in the credits.
Tiffany Cornelius, daughter of Rod and Kim Cornelius, has been involved in many activities, holding various leadership positions throughout her high school career. She has been treasurer of the class of 2023 from 7th grade through her senior year, and held officer positions in Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) such as Parliamentarian, Historian, and Treasurer. Tiffany is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Spanish Club, Business Honor Society, FBLA Honor Society, and the Lake George Chapter of FBLA. She has competed in FBLA state competitions her sophomore through senior years, qualifying for nationals each year. In her sophomore year, Tiffany placed 4th in the state for Banking and Financial Systems, in her junior year she placed 1st in Accounting I, and for her senior year, she placed 1st in Accounting II, and 2nd in Spreadsheet Applications. She has been involved in her community, serving as committee head for the Lake George Jr.-Sr. High School Food Drive for the past three years. While being involved in extracurricular activities, she has maintained Principal’s List each quarter since 7th grade. Tiffany has been very committed to soccer, playing year round, and was pulled up to varsity her freshman year, starting as center defense sophomore year, as well as being a team captain her senior year. She made First Team All-Stars for the Adirondack League in both her junior and senior years. In the fall, Tiffany will be attending Siena College to pursue a major in Accounting.
Darja (Dasha) Coutts, daughter of Uljana Ostapjuk and John Coutts, is the secretary of the Spanish Honor Society as well as an active member of National Honor Society, Spectrum Club, Spanish Club, Yearbook Club, and Creative Writing Club. She is also the editor of The Lake Take school newspaper, where she has developed her skills as both a writer and an editor, something she hopes to pursue in the future. Dasha has treasured her work as a peer mentor, mentoring and forging an incredibly strong and long-lasting bond with an underclassman for the past two years. She has always pursued rigorous coursework, whether that be through the accelerated math and science track, taking a multitude of AP classes, a college-level Spanish class, and working towards the NYS Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish with her presentation on mental health. Dasha has achieved Principal’s List every quarter since 7th grade. She has worked as a Gamemaster at Escape LG since the spring of 2021, and she’ll continue to work there this summer as well. In the fall, Dasha plans to study English at Vassar College and, hopefully one day, you’ll see her on the top of the New York Times Bestsellers list.
Samantha Milan Gorey, daughter of Suzanna Bernd and Benjamin Gorey, has held many leadership positions including Treasurer of Student Council for the past two years, Co-President of Technology Club, Vice President of French Honor Society, Vice President of French Club, and Treasurer of National Honor Society. Additionally, she has been a member of the A Cappella Club, Astronomy Club, Drama Club, Newspaper Club, Rotary Interact Club, and Senior Art Club. Samantha also volunteered through the Rock Solid program and she has remained on Principal’s List every quarter since seventh grade while taking AP and college level courses. She has a passion for music and Irish dance. Besides playing percussion in the school band, she performs with the Saratoga Youth Symphony and dances for the Wild Acre Irish Dancers. Samantha has been a varsity athlete since ninth grade, playing both soccer and softball. Samantha was a Captain of the Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team this year and won NYS Section II First Team All-Star for two consecutive years. Samantha also played travel soccer and softball throughout high school. Samantha joined the Nordic Ski Team this year. She enjoys volunteering by serving as a Warm the Children shopper for the Glens Falls Rotary Club continuously throughout high school and as a guest musician with the Saratoga Preparatory Symphony. She has performed community service with the Lake George Rotary Club, as well as with many other organizations. She earned the Adirondack Area School Boards Association Community Service Award for the 2022-2023 academic year. She participated in the Rotary International Virtual Exchange Program with a student from Japan. Propelled by her new found love of Japan, she became a Rotary exchange student in the summer of 2022, living in Japan for a month and hosting a Japanese student in Lake George. Samantha will further her cultural exploration by taking a gap year to participate in the Rotary Long Term Youth Exchange program, living in Japan for a year and going to a Japanese High School. She will then attend Vassar College, with a double major in Japanese and either Mathematics or Economics.
Sara Kassal, daughter of Michael and Susan Kassal, is the president of National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, Astronomy Club, and French Club. She is also the co-president of Technology Club and is involved in Jazz Band and Rock Solid. Sara is first in her class and is a recipient of the Rensselaer Medal Award from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Computing Medal Award from Rochester Institute of Technology, and is a University at Buffalo Steven B. Sample Distinguished Honors Scholar. Sara is a member of Reality Competitive Dance Team and has been dancing since she was three years old. She’s performed in many shows and productions and has also choreographed for her team, winning several personal awards. In the fall, Sara plans to pursue aerospace engineering at the University at Buffalo Honors College.
Daniel Nichols, son of Ellen and Dan Nichols, is Student Council president of his class and a member of the National Honor Society and French Honor Society. He is enrolled in the P-TECH Early College High School program hosted by Hudson Valley Community College. Danny has maintained his status on the Principal’s List every quarter in high school and has maintained his status on the Dean’s List of HVCC for every semester as well. He has spoken at Cornell University as a delegate for the New York Youth Institute, where he presented his research about food insecurity. Danny has pursued a rigorous high school pathway by taking as many AP classes as he could at Lake George while balancing his college courses at HVCC. Over the summer, Danny will work as a line cook at Mezzaluna’s Restaurant. Danny’s intent is to pursue a master’s degree in Cyber Security at Rochester Institute of Technology through their Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree program.
Samantha Tennyson, is a highly motivated student and was not afraid to blaze her own unique path throughout high school. Sam took the initiative to advance herself by doubling up on math and science courses and by the start of her senior year, she had already completed all Regents science and math courses, as well as AP Calculus. This past summer, Sam interned at the Neural Stem Cell Institute in Rensselaer, NY and completed her research paper “FGF2 Discs in Media to Produce Quality Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Cultures”, where she would then go on to compete at the Greater Capital Region Science and Engineering Fair and win the Linda Austin DNA and Science Technology Award. Sam was able to split up her senior year taking some college courses at SUNY Adirondack and continued her internship one day a week. Sam will graduate high school having completed 4 AP courses and 36 college credits awarded from both SUNY Adirondack and SUNY Albany combined. Sam has always been a performer. She has been involved in gymnastics for the past 14 years, graduating as a level 8 gymnast for the Saratoga Springetts competitive team. Not only has she continued her passion for performing through programs like band, chorus, and A capella, but also in musical theater where she most notably played Morticia Adams in the Lake George Drama Club rendition of The Addams Family. Using her background in music, theater, and dance Sam achieved Performing Art Scholar status at RIT. Next fall, Sam will start her accelerated degree program, BS in Biomedical Engineering/MS in Science, Technology, and Public Policy, with a concentration in tissue engineering on a pre-med track at Rochester Institute of Technology.