Salem High School Honors Top Students at Awards Ceremony

Salem High School's auditorium filled with pride Wednesday as the school district celebrated students who've turned hard work into real achievement.

Principal Todd McLaughlin welcomed students, families, and community members to the annual Academic Award Ceremony. The district's highest-achieving seniors received golden honor chords to wear at graduation, a visible symbol of years of dedication to their studies.

The ceremony honored students across multiple categories. Abram Walker took home the Letha Astry Award, while Sean Hoffman received the "Heads Above the Rest" Award for outstanding achievement. Ty Tonkinson earned recognition from the Eastern Star Masonic Temple.

Several students received scholarships to support their next steps. Emmy Kemats was awarded the Rich Washinko Memorial Scholarship. Eva Rand received the Brooks Award Senior Scholarship from presenter Deanna Sell.

Luke Stevens earned the Dr. Joseph Shivers Harvard Book Prize, presented by Interim Superintendent Jamie Kemats. Emily Lewis received the Charles E. Burchfield Visual Art Award from Board of Education President Brittany Maniscalco, celebrating excellence in creative achievement.

Class of 2026 President Cheyanne Buday led attendees in the pledge of allegiance. The ceremony also included a moment of silence for recently passed superintendents Sean Kirkland and Dr. Joe Shivers, honoring their legacy of supporting student success.

The Ripple Effect

Award ceremonies like this one do more than celebrate individual achievement. They send a powerful message to younger students that hard work gets noticed and rewarded. When schools publicly honor academic excellence alongside athletic achievements, they reinforce that learning matters just as much as scoring touchdowns.

These scholarships also create real opportunity. For many families, financial support makes the difference between attending college or delaying dreams. Community-funded awards like the Rich Washinko Memorial Scholarship and Brooks Award keep the legacy of local leaders alive while opening doors for the next generation.

Salem's ceremony proves that small communities still value education deeply. When neighbors show up to applaud students they've watched grow up, it strengthens the bonds that make towns thrive.