1. William Sherburne, Valedictorian

William Ashton Sherburne is honored to graduate as the Valedictorian of the Cairo-Durham High School class of 2023. Throughout his high school career, Billy has been a part of the varsity soccer team, participated on the varsity volleyball team, and the varsity tennis team. Academically, Billy has been a high honor roll student during his four years at Cairo-Durham High, conquering several AP, college, and honors courses during this time. As a result, he has received several academic awards, including the Frederick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony Awards from the University of Rochester, the St. Michael’s Book Award for Academic Achievement and Social Conscience, as well as the National Rural and Small Town Scholar Award. Additionally, Billy has been an active member of the drama club performing in various musicals over the years, such as Les Miserables, Cabaret in the Attic, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and West Side Story. His knack for dying on stage was revealed in Les Miserables and came to full fruition in West Side Story.  He also wrote and directed an original screenplay performance of Masterpiece.  The music department has played a large role in his high school career as he has been involved in band, chorus, jazz band, handbell choir, and marching band, and attended NYSSMA and All-County for vocals and trombone, as well as All-State for trombone.  Moreover, Billy has been involved in several clubs at Cairo Durham, helping found CDTV, defeating Mrs. G in the Board Game Club, and is currently the President of the National Honor Society. Outside of the classroom, he is a member of Boy Scout Troop 42 where he has earned his Eagle Scout rank, and is a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow. Additionally, he works part-time at McGrath's Pub and enjoys reading, hiking, writing stories, and playing guitar.  Billy plans on attending DePaul University in the fall and majoring in Cinema and Television Studies. 

2. Antonio Brooks, Salutatorian

Antonio Brooks is the Salutatorian for the Cairo-Durham High School graduating class of 2023. During the four years of high school, Antonio participated in JV and varsity soccer, varsity volleyball, tennis, and multiple music related programs such as NYSSMA (band and chorus), marching band, All-County Band and Chorus, and Area All-State Chorus. Antonio was also a member of the Cairo Durham Drama Club, playing Naphtali in 2022’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Riff in 2023’s West Side Story. He was recognized in the areas of science, math, English, and social studies, receiving multiple awards for having one of the top class averages in AP Biology, AP Literature, AP Language, AP European History, AP Government, AP Calculus, AP World History, and AP U.S. History. In his free time, he enjoys training in martial arts and studying philosophy. Most importantly, he spends his time studying the Bible in hopes of spreading its message to everyone around him. In the fall, Antonio plans to attend Cornell University and study bioengineering. In the future, Antonio would like to travel the world and experience its wonders. The more he learns, the happier he will be.

3. Sadie Hall

Sadie Hall plans to attend SUNY Oneonta this upcoming fall, where she is going to study mathematics.  While in high school she was a triathlete on the soccer, basketball, and softball teams for all four years of high school.  She was also a member of the National Honor Society and a class officer.  She was a predominant member of the music program, participating in NYSSMA for both voice and instrument, marching band, musicals, band, chorus, musical theatre, women’s choir, jazz band, area-all-state choirs, and all-county ensembles.

4. Connor Shields

No biography submitted.

5. Gianna Helmedach

Gianna Helmedach is honored to graduate fifth in her class. During the four years of high school, Gianna was an active member of the music department, participating in the High School Band, High School Chorus, Women’s Choir, Jazz Band,  Handbell, and Drama Club, through which she has participated in six musical performances. Last fall, Gianna had the unique opportunity of attending the NYSSMA, All County, and Area All-State festivals. She has also played Varsity Soccer and Softball, where she was named captain for both sports during her senior year. Additionally, she is President of the Class of 2023 and a member of both the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Her academic achievements can be seen in the various academic awards she received from her AP and college courses during high school. During Gianna’s junior year, she received the Wells College Medical Sciences Scholarship. As a senior, she was accepted into the New Visions Medical Program, where she was able to shadow various departments at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. After high school, Gianna plans to attend SUNY Oneonta and pursue Biology Pre-PA. Eventually, she hopes to become an Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant.

6. Gavin Warner

Gavin Warner is a proud top-ten graduate of Cairo-Durham’s class of 2023. Over the years, he maintained high honor roll status while taking college, AP, and honors courses. Gavin is a recipient of several academic awards and scholarships including the University of Rochester Scholarship for Innovation and Information, the Siena Presidential Scholarship, and the St. Francis Scholarship. He was recently recognized at Columbia-Greene Community College for his dedication and received the Certificate of Excellence award in recognition of outstanding academic achievement in “College in the High School” coursework. Gavin has spent countless hours participating in a variety of Cairo-Durham activities. He has been a member of the varsity golf and tennis teams and plans to continue playing both sports in the future. He has also been a member of the music department playing trumpet in the concert, jazz, and marching bands. Yearly, Gavin participated in the high school play and is appreciative of those experiences. Gavin would like to thank his family and teachers for their support and guidance. He wishes his classmates well as they embark on new adventures. Gavin will be attending Siena College in the fall where he will be majoring in biology.

7. Lily Johnson-Cole

Lily Johnson-Cole is an honor graduate in the Cairo-Durham High School graduating class of 2023. During her four years of highschool she participated in National Art Honor Society and a variety of musical productions. She received recognition in the areas of Science and Art and was rewarded with the Alfred University Scholarship Award and the Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award. In her spare time, she likes to create art, crochet, and bicycle. In the fall, Lily plans to attend Alfred University. In the future, she would like to work creating sets for theatre productions.

8. Wyatt Handel

No biography submitted.

9. Nolen McCabe

Nolen McCabe is honored to be graduating ninth in the Class of 2023. He has maintained a high honor roll average along with being in both AP and College level courses over his four-year academic career. This led to receiving multiple awards in the music, history, and English departments. Continually he won the Sage Student Scholar, Pere Marquette Scholarship, and the Dean's Scholarship from many universities. Over his high school career, he has participated in many school clubs including Interact Club, SADD, Sources of Strength, Mock Trial, Model UN, and Student Council. While actively participating in multiple clubs, Nolen has participated in five musicals as a lead role, while doing multiple NYSSMA, All-County, and Area All-State festivals. Additionally, he played varsity soccer for three years, varsity track for two years, and volleyball for one year. In his free time, Nolen loves to play music and sports, and constantly engulfs himself in the outdoors. After graduation from high school, he will attend the University of Buffalo to study Economics BA. 

10. Dean Parmelee

Dean Parmelee is the 10th Ranked Student for the Cairo Durham graduating class of 2023. During his four years of high school, Dean was a member of the JV basketball team during his freshman and sophomore year. He received recognition from Cairo Durham by being voted Student of the Month in his freshman and senior year. In his spare time, he likes to be active and productive as well as enjoy the outdoors with his Girlfriend. In the fall, Dean plans to attend SUNY New Paltz and study Astronomy. With this degree, he plans to become a research scientist or a Professor at a university.