Congratulations to the class of 2024 valedictorian and salutatorian

Warwick Valley High School is proud to announce its Class of 2024 Valedictorian, Melina Garby, and Salutatorian, Ava Gell.

WVHS Principal Georgianna Diopoulos shared the news with the two honorees in a private ceremony on Monday, April 15, 2024. Please join us in congratulating Melina and Ava on these auspicious achievements, which speak volumes about their love of learning and their ability to excel in a competitive academic environment.

We look forward to their valedictory and salutatory addresses during the WVHS Class of 2024 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, June 29, 2024.

Scroll down for a Q&A with Melina and Ava.

Ava Gell, Georgianna Diopoulos, Melina Garby 

Melina Garby
WVHS Class of 2024 Valedictorian

Tell us about one of your many achievements during your high school career of which you are particularly proud.

An avid scholar and athlete, Melina said she is proud to be named a 2024 Student-Athlete of the Year. In 2023, Melina was also recognized as a New York State Public High School Athletics Association Scholar-Athlete. To achieve this honor, students must earn/maintain an academic average of 90 or better during their competitive seasons. Additionally, she was named a US Army Academic All-American for carrying a weighted GPA of 100 during her competitive seasons!

What can you share with us about your collegiate and career plans?

Melina will be attending the University of Michigan, where she intends to major in computer science, through U of M’s College of Engineering, while also minoring in Spanish. Her plan is to wait and see what specific career direction her studies will lead her in, but she knows she would like to work in the computer science field. She said she’s looking forward to exploring how she can combine her major with another of her academic interests, such as biology, physics, finance, or chemistry.

What are some of the groups (extra and co-curricular clubs, sports teams, et cetera) that you’ve enjoyed being a part of and which you feel have shaped your time at WVHS?

Melina has loved balancing her academic and athletic pursuits. She has been an active member of both the National Honor Society and the Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society. As a Wildcat standout, she has served as captain of the varsity softball team, the varsity and junior varsity soccer teams, and played both junior varsity and varsity basketball. Melina also served as secretary for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and has been part of the Autism Awareness Club.

Ava Gell
WVHS Class of 2024 Salutatorian

Tell us about one of your many achievements during your high school career of which you are particularly proud.

Ava is proud to be wrapping up her in-depth Science Research Program project, which explores the correlation between dietary tryptophan and serotonin. “I’ve been studying food and mood,” she quips. The rigorous, three-year program begins during a student’s sophomore year. It is offered in partnership with SUNY Albany and recognized by the New York State Board of Regents. Ava said that her project has been incredibly interesting, and I’ve learned so much in the process. 

What can you share with us about your collegiate and career plans?

Ava is headed off to college in the fall and has narrowed her decision to a few of her top schools, Brown, University of Vermont, and Smith College. As suggested by her dedication to the Science Research Program, Ava loves the sciences and has tentatively chosen biology as her major. Why “tentatively”? Because as she puts it, “I love too many things!” That being said, her career aspirations at the moment run the gamut from genetic counselor to librarian to soundtrack composer. “I know those are wildly different things,” she told us with a laugh, “but my point is, whatever career I end up in, my main goals are to help people and to never stop learning.”

What are some of the groups (extra and co-curricular clubs, sports teams, et cetera) that you’ve enjoyed being a part of and which you feel have shaped your time at WVHS?

Ava is a founding member of the American Sign Language Club, and is looking forward to the group signing the Pledge of Allegiance during this year’s graduation. She is an active member of both the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society. Ava has also participated in the French Club, Mental Health Club, and is part of the National Federation of Temple Youth outside of school. She is also a proud 10-year Omer, as both an Odyssey of the Mind competitor and coach. The elementary school Odyssey team she coached this year placed 6th in all of New York State during the recent state tournament. 

Congratulations, Melina and Ava!