With only a few weeks remaining in the 2024 school year, the top two seniors for the Geneva City School District have been named.
Elisabeth Porschet is the Class Valedictorian. She attributes her success to good role models and living in a family of readers.
“My parents are librarians, so I’ve always been around books,” said Elisabeth, who is this year’s Geneva High School valedictorian. Her father, Jonathan Porschet, is a library media specialist at Geneva High School and Geneva Middle School. Her mother, Christine Porschet, is a library media specialist at Marcus Whitman Central School.
Elisabeth also names her brother, Abe, among her role models. A Geneva High alumnus, Abe is currently studying at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Elisabeth plans to attend Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. In addition to Elisabeth’s family, Geneva High science teacher Melissa Marquart and English teacher George Goga have heavily impacted the valedictorian’s plans. “I had a really great experience in AP bio with Ms. Marquart,” she said. “I’ve had a great time with Mr. Goga — I’ve had him for the last three years.”
Despite her success, there are a few things Elisabeth says she would do differently. “I would tell my younger self — I think I was worrying about the wrong things — to chill but also stress more,” she said. “It’s okay that you’re bad at physics, and worry about the things you’re good at,” she added with a laugh. Also, she added, “be less afraid of asking questions.”
Sophia Cosentino, Salutatorian
Sophia Cosentino’s future plans involve palm trees and a career in sales and interior design. She plans to attend Rochester Insitute of Technology for a Master of Business Administration in global business management and marketing with a minor in real estate.
Sophia is the daughter of Jessica Cosentino and Louis Cosentino. Her sister, Olivia, is a junior at the high school. She takes a relentless approach to her studies and to anything else she sets her mind on. “Honestly, a lot goes to the competition of it, proving — to myself mostly — that I can do it,” said Sophia. “I like to push myself.”
She has a list of teachers she would like to thank — too many to name for fear of leaving someone out, and one who must be mentioned, Debra Collins, her high school art teacher who retired two years ago. Sophia advises incoming students, “Make the most of it because, in hindsight, there’s so much more out there; it’s just a little tiny blip of your life, and it’s going to go by quickly.” But perhaps most importantly, she says, “Put out the energy you want to receive back; trust yourself and the universe that things are going to be okay and work out.”
Geneva will hold its graduation on June 21st at the Smith Opera House.
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