The Ellenville Central School District (ECSD) is proud to announce that Joshua LaVerdure is the valedictorian of the Class of 2026 and Scott Ramos is this year's salutatorian. These outstanding students have earned the top two honors through exceptional academic dedication, diverse participation and leadership in extracurricular pursuits, and a commitment to making the most of their time at Ellenville Junior/Senior High School.
Joshua, the son of Robert and Brenda LaVerdure of Ellenville, leads his class with a weighted grade point average (GPA) of 98.191. He will receive an Advanced Regents diploma with Mastery in both Science and Math. Over the course of his high school career, he completed seven Advanced Placement (AP) and college-level courses, including AP World History: Modern, College Biology I and II, Pre-Calculus, Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) American History, AP United States Government & Politics, Calculus I, and College English. In addition, he sat for independent AP exams in Biology and Pre-Calculus.
Joshua has also been an active member of the school's Music program, performing with the District Choir, and making a memorable appearance in this year's school musical, Footloose, as Cowboy Bob. Outside of school, he works as a line cook. A turning point for future career decisions came in Jennifer Schoonmaker's Advanced Biology course. "It kind of just resonated with me," Joshua said. "I just decided to go with it…see where it goes." In the fall, Joshua will attend Harvard University, where he plans to study Biology, with an intention to pursue Medicine.
Scott, the son of David and Heather Ramos of Ellenville, earned his rank as salutatorian with a weighted GPA of 97.887. He will receive an Advanced Regents diploma with Mastery in Science. He completed nine AP and college-level courses, including Global History I/Pre-AP, AP World History: Modern, Pre-Calculus, SUPA American History, AP United States Government & Politics, Calculus I, College Biology I and II, College English, and Spanish 4. He credits both Ryan McIntyre's AP World History course and Brian Fediuk's Technology classes as among his most memorable classroom experiences. Scott also earned the New York State Seal of Biliteracy after delivering a presentation in Spanish, a distinction that recognizes students who have demonstrated proficiency in English and at least one other language. Another notable accomplishment was presenting "A Big Fracking Problem" at the Jr/Sr High School College Biology Symposium, where he shared his next-level research with fellow students and teachers as part of his college-level coursework.
A certified lifeguard, Scott spends his summers working at the Ellenville Public Pool—a role that reflects both his sense of responsibility and his love of staying active. Speaking of staying active, Scott competed as a Varsity Soccer player and captain, earning recognition as team MVP, and participated in Track and Field. In the fall, Scott will attend Providence College, where he plans to explore his interests before declaring a major.
Both students reflected on the qualities that helped them succeed. Joshua emphasized the importance of showing up: "Really the best advice I can give is to just come to school in the first place. You miss a day, you're going to miss something." Scott offered a complementary perspective, encouraging younger students to maintain balance. "You can't take it so seriously that it overwhelms everything else. Focus, but stay balanced."
Jr/Sr High School Principal Carl Pabón spoke warmly of both honorees. "I'm honored to have had the opportunity to know Joshua and Scott," he said, describing them as intellectually curious and guided by integrity, with focused mindsets and hearts that are sensitive to the needs of others. Of Joshua, he said, "His free spirit and passion for learning is infectious. He is going to have a tremendous impact in the field he is planning to study." Scott, he added, is "a forward-thinking, humble, and solutions-driven individual who will shine in whatever field he plans to study."
The ECSD congratulates Joshua LaVerdure and Scott Ramos on their formidable achievements and wishes them every opportunity in the future.