The Walton Central School District has announced its valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2023.
The valedictorian is Makara MacGibbon and the salutatorian is Gianni Marano. Each is scheduled to speak during the annual graduation ceremony, which is scheduled for June 24.
Valedictorian
A highly active student, MacGibbon has excelled academically while remaining involved with athletics and clubs at Walton CSD.
Consistently on the Superintendent’s List, MacGibbon has received academic awards in trigonometry, Spanish 3, 3D sculpture, AP psychology, anatomy, forensics, pre-calculus, and Spanish 4. She’s also been recognized as the MAC scholar-athlete for soccer and basketball.
A member of the National Honor Society, she also is involved with FBLA and the travel club. She also serves as a class officer.
Athletically, MacGibbon has played varsity basketball for five years and varsity soccer for four. She earned the MVP for basketball in 2021.
Outside of school she’s a member of the This n’ That Country Crew 4H Club, and was awarded the winning reserve master cattle showman at the Delaware County Fair.
MacGibbon, who plans to serve in the Army Reserves for six years while attending college to study psychology, is the daughter of Matt MacGibbon.
Salutatorian
Marano has challenged himself academically and has also been active in clubs at the school.
As a consistent student on the Superintendent’s List, Marano is a member of the National Honor Society and has received academic awards of excellence and achievement in a multitude of classes. He’s also received the Superintendent’s Award.
Marano serves as the band treasurer, and is also active in student council, all-county band, NYSSMA, and area all-state. He’s the treasurer for the national Honor Society.
He’s also had the chance to see Hamilton twice, and is a self-proclaimed No. 1 fan of Phil Collins and a “silly goose.”
The son of Karla and John Marano, he has plans to likely major in history in college. He is undecided on which college.
Honor graduates
Walton has also announced its top honor graduates and they are as follows:
Elizabeth Richards (daughter of Loraine and Ron Richards), Rachel Trimbell (Daughter of Chad and Karena Trimbell), Faith Lambert (daughter of Shiloh and Jacob Lambert), Caden LeBarge (son of Chris and Wendy LeBarge), Meyer Little (son of Molly and Ty Little), Abigail Seguare (daughter of Tina and Eric Seguare), Heidi Decker (Daughter of Carol and Elmer Decker), Graydon Dutcher (son of Graydon and Carolyne Dutcher), Noah Sovocool (son of Dan and Stacie Sovocool), Daxtin Nichols (son of Brent and Sara Nichols), Charlotte Bayne (daughter of Angie and Chris Bayne), Jacqlyn Gransbury (daughter of Cory and Haley Gransbury), Kaitlin Wood (daughter of Kyle and Kellie Wood), Havyn Merwin (daughter of Matt Merwin and Mandy Lambrecht), Kerenna Jacobs (daughter of Jeremy Jacobs and Lisa Seward), Laci Frank (daughter of Derrick Frank and Crystal Barringer), Natalie McClenon (daughter of Daryl and Morgan McClenon, and Vikki Desmond), Abigail DelBalso (daughter of Jolie and John DeMeo, and David and Maggie DelBalso), Adara Allen (daughter of J.R. Allen and Meaghan Condon), and Jayven Mason (son of Donna and Jack Mason).