The Sidney Central School District has announced its valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2021.
The valedictorian for the Class of 2021 is Dylan Neer, and the salutatorian is Kaitlin Bookhout.
Valedictorian
Dylan Neer is a highly decorated and focused student, who has been active in many extra-curricular activities throughout high school.
He’s earned many awards academically through his high school days, including being a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute medalist. He’s also won the University of Rochester Bausch and Lomb Science Award, Director’s Award for Leadership, The Instrumentalist Magazine Merit Award, Musicianship Award, Outstanding Achievement Award for Academic Excellence (2015-2020), Freddie Green Award for Music, Crescendo Award for music, Math Regents Endorsement, Science Regents Endorsement and has been on the Superintendent's list every quarter since he came to Sidney in seventh grade.
Outside of academics, Neer is a member of the National Honor Society and serves as an officer in the Tri-M music honor society. He’s also the secretary for the executive student council, and is part of the marching band and jazz band.
When not in school, Neer enjoys the outdoors where he backpacks, hikes, camps, bikes, kayaks, and has started cross-country skiing. He also has earned a high red belt in Taekwondo.
Beyond Sidney, he plans to attend SUNY Oneonta to major in English this fall. Neer is the son of James and Kara Neer.
Salutatorian
Kaitlin Bookhout is a driven student who excels in the classroom and on the fields, constantly challenging herself.
She’s very active in the school community, serving as co-president of the Tri-M music honor society, as well as president of the National Honor Society. She is also the senior class president and a fellow in the Sidney Central School Alumni Association. Bookhout also is secretary of SSADD and is vice president of Interact.
On top of that, she’s a three-sport athlete, playing field hockey, basketball, and softball.
Academically, she has received the Elmira Key Award, Wells College 21st Century Leadership Award, Math Regents Endorsement, and the Science Regents Endorsement. She attended the Cornell Women in STEM Conference, has been recognized for academic excellence and achievement, and was selected for the DAR Good Citizenship Award, and Sidney’s Scholar Recognition Award. She’s also consistently been a MAC scholar athlete and a member of the Superintendent’s List. Bookhout has also been enrolled in college-level classes since eighth grade.
Bookhout plans to major in Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, and is the daughter of Todd and Diane Bookhout.