1. Ally MacGiffert, Valedictorian

Ally MacGiffert is graduating as the Valedictorian of the Class of 2022. Through her years at Cairo-Durham High, she has participated in multiple sports such as Varsity soccer in 9th and 10th grade and as a senior was a member of the Varsity Cross-Country (where she was named MVP), Indoor and Outdoor Track teams. In addition, Ally has been an active member of the drama club at Cairo-Durham, participating in 7 musicals over the years. The music department has played a big role in her high school career as she has been involved in band, chorus, jazz band, women’s chorus, handbell and she has attended NYSSMA and All-County for both vocals and the alto saxophone. Ally has been involved in Interact club and SADD at Cairo-Durham as well as being a member of National Honor Society, holding the position of secretary her senior year, and secretary for the Class of 2022. Her academic achievements can be seen in the various academic awards she has received from the AP and college courses she has taken as well as receiving the University of Rochester Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award and the Clarkson University High School Leadership Award. During her senior year, Ally had the honor of earning the NYS SEAL of Biliteracy along with 4 other peers from her Spanish class. As a senior, she attended the New Visions Medical Program where she had the unique opportunity of shadowing in Samaritan Hospital every week, obtaining firsthand experience in the medical field. In the fall, Ally plans on attending Binghamton University majoring in biology on a pre-med track with a minor in Spanish. 

2. James Mutinsky, Salutatorian

James Mutinsky is honored to be graduating as the Salutatorian of the Cairo-Durham Class of 2022. Throughout his high school career, James has been part of the school's varsity basketball team, track and field team, and soccer team-of which he was captain his senior year. Academically, James has been a high honor roll student throughout his four years at Cairo-Durham High, participating in several AP, college, and honors courses during this time. Due to his involvement in these courses, he has received several academic awards, including the George Eastman Young Leaders Award for the University of Rochester and the Clarkson University High School Achievement Award. Additionally, in his senior year, James was one of the five recipients of the NYS Seal of Biliteracy for Spanish. James has also been involved in several musical groups at the school, including the marching band for which he plays saxophone, and the musical stage crew, famously being the head of the camel in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". Additionally, he has participated in both NYSSMA and All-County for band and chorus. Moreover, James has been involved in several clubs throughout his time at Cairo-Durham, including the school's National Honor Society, for which he currently serves as President. After high school, James plans to attend Siena College with a major in biology on the pre-veterinary track. 

3. Hannah Esslie

Hannah Esslie graduates 3rd in the Cairo-Durham Class of 2022. She has played Varsity Soccer for six years, being named 2nd Team All-Star once and 1st Team All-Star four times as well as an All-State Recognition. She has committed to play collegiate soccer at Buffalo State College where she will be a Biology Major in the Honors Program. Hannah has been a high honor roll student throughout her entire high school career, earning many other academic merits as well. Some of these merits include the University of Rochester Xerox Award and the Alfred University Scholar Award her Junior year. Hannah also received the Student of the Month award in June of 2021. In her time at the Doane Stuart School, Hannah was the President and Founder of the Biology Club as well as a member of Key Club. Recently, Hannah has worked with Hudson Valley Premier Soccer as an Assistant and Camp Coach while she pursues her United States Soccer Federation D License. In early 2021, Hannah founded the Hudson Valley Crusaders, a semi-professional women’s soccer team in Saugerties, New York. This program earned her a Letter of Recognition from New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey. Hannah plans on attending graduate school beyond undergraduate to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy. 

4. Kyra Byrne

Kyra Byrne is honored to be graduating fourth in her graduating class of 2022 at Cairo-Durham. All throughout high school Kyra participated in Varsity Soccer and Varsity Softball. She has been involved in the Interact Club by helping with the Backpack Program. Kyra also was the treasurer of band, the treasurer of her class, and held the position of treasurer for National Honor Society for her senior year. Kyra participated in band, marching band, chorus, jazz band, women’s choir, and handbell choir. She attended NYSSMA and All-County festivals for voice and alto saxophone all four years of high school. Kyra was invited to and attended the Area Allstate festival for voice in 2021. Kyra loved to take part in the Drama Club, participating in 7 musicals in her whole school career at CD. Over the years she has received multiple awards for AP, honors, and college level courses along with the Russell Sage scholarship award. This year Kyra earned the New York State Seal of Biliteracy, being a part of the second class to be honored at Cairo-Durham. She loves to spend time with her family and friends. Kyra plans to attend Maria college for Nursing in the fall in hopes of becoming a Labor and Delivery nurse.

5. Angela Cooper

Angela Cooper was honorably ranked fifth in the Cairo-Durham Class of 2022. In her four years of high school she has participated in four years of volleyball and one year of Track & Field, as well as keeping a high honor roll position each year as well. During her junior year, she received the Elmira Key College Scholarship award and got accepted into UAlbany’s New Vision program Pathways in Education. In this program, she was given the opportunity to learn how to be a teacher and shadowed the half-day pre-k teacher (Tracy MacGiffert) in Cairo-Durham elementary school every other Tuesday. Angela also tutored the Stem high school kids at Hudson Valley Community College every other Thursday. Angela doesn’t have set plans for college yet, but she hopes to one day become an elementary school teacher or do something in the athletics field like be a coach.

6. Arden Farnsworth-Moore

Arden Farnsworth-Moore is honored to graduate sixth in her class. She has maintained high honor roll in her four years at Cairo-Durham High School and has challenged herself with several honors and AP classes. Arden has participated in numerous clubs and activities including National Honor Society, Interact, SADD, Student Council, Drama club, and National Art Honor Society, of which she was the president. Arden has performed in the school musical for 6 years and attended NYSSMA her freshman year. She plans to attend Lesley University in Cambridge, MA to pursue a career in illustration and animation arts. 

7. Robert Lampman

Robert Lampman is honored to be graduating seventh in his class.  Throughout high school Robert participated in varsity soccer, and basketball, and was a captain of both in his senior year.  Robert also decimated his gym class in badminton each and every day throughout the unit.  During his four years at Cairo-Durham he was on high honor roll while taking all Advanced Placement and Honors courses.  As a result he earned the Rensselaer Medal Scholarship for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy.  He along with four of his peers received the New York State Seal of Biliteracy which recognizes proficiency in both Spanish, and English.  Robert helped to tutor middle school students as part of the National Honor Society in which he is Vice-President.  In his free time Robert enjoys snowboarding/skiing, hiking, golf, and tennis.  In the coming years Robert will attend Siena College in Loudonville as a biology major on a pre-med track. 

8. Olivia MacGiffert

Olivia MacGiffert is graduating with honors and ranked eighth in the CDHS Class 2022. She has been an active member of the Cairo-Durham Drama Club, participating in 7 High School Musicals. Her active involvement in the music department has provided her with opportunities to participate in All-County Chorus ensembles for 6 years and All-County Instrumental ensembles for 4 years. The growth that she experienced through 6 years of NYSSMA Chorus Festivals and 4 years of NYSSMA Instrumental Festivals on the Clarinet, led to the opportunity to participate in an Area All-State Festival in Fall 2021. In addition to her musical experiences at Cairo-Durham, Olivia has been an active member of the Art Department and is a member of the Art Honor Society. Through her years at Cairo-Durham, Olivia participated in varsity soccer in 9th and 10th grade, Varsity Track and Field in 9th-12th grade and Cross Country as a Senior. She earned the Coach’s  Award for Indoor Track in her senior year and Outdoor Track in her Junior Year. Olivia is a member of the National Honor Society, the Interact Club and SAAD organization at Cairo-Durham. She earned High Honor Roll Awards for all 4 years of High School, as well as the Rochester Institute of Technology Innovation and Creativity Award in 2021. Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, Olivia attended the New Visions Visual and Performing Arts program in Troy. She plans on attending SUNY Oneonta, majoring in Fine Arts and Minoring in Theater in the Fall of 2022.

9. Mikayla Khadijah

Mikayla Khadijah is honored to be graduating ninth in her graduating class of 2022 at Cairo-Durham. Throughout High School Mikayla participated in Varsity Indoor Track and Field her 9, and 12 grade year where she was named MVP her senior year.  As well as Outdoor Track and Field where she has been able to break and set 8 school records between the two seasons her senior year. Mikayla is an active member of the National Honor Society. She has been on high honor roll throughout her whole high school career. This has earned her to receive “The Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award”, to the University Of Rochester. Mikayla over the years has also received credit from AP and college courses. Mikayla loves spending time with her family and listening to music. She plans on attending Suny Plattsburgh where she will be a part of their Honors Program and majoring in nursing to receive a Bachelor's degree and her registered nurse license. Then enroll into a CRNA program to then become a Nurse Anesthetist.  

10. Mckayla Mudge

Mckayla Mudge is honored to be graduating tenth in the Cairo-Durham graduating class of 2022. Mckayla has been the Class President all four years of high school, helping coordinate prom, fundraisers, trips, and more. Throughout her high school career she has also played three different sports: Varsity Basketball, Soccer, and Softball. She was captain of the Girls Varsity Basketball team her junior and senior year, named MVP both seasons, and named a Second Team All-Star her senior year. Mckayla was also named MVP of the Girls Varsity Softball team her junior season. Mckayla was also involved in High School band and chorus her freshman and sophomore year. She participated in All-County and NYSSMA for vocals. Along with her involvement in sports and music, Mckayla has taken multiple honors, college level, and AP courses, while maintaining a position on high honor roll. Her academic achievements have been recognized in a number awards of school academic awards, the Russell Sage scholarship, and the National Future Medical Leaders Award. Furthermore, this year Mckayla had the honor of earning the New York State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, along with 4 of her classmates. In the Fall, Mckayla plans on attending Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the Doctor of Pharmacy Program, with the ambition of becoming a travel pharmacist. She was awarded with an academic distinction scholarship and plans to study abroad as much as possible.

11. Lillian Labounty

Lillian Labounty is honored to be among the top of her class. Throughout high school, Lillian has participated in numerous college level and AP courses and has pushed herself academically to maintain placement on the honor roll and high honor roll. Due to her academic achievement, in her junior year she was granted a scholarship to St. Michaels College in Vermont, though she plans to pursue a career in STEM through SUNY schools. During her time at Cairo-Durham, Lillian has also participated in numerous clubs including Chorus, S.A.D.D. and the National Art Honor Society. In the near future, she will be attending Columbia-Greene Community College and later pursue a higher degree in biology and environmental science.