News - Ballston Spa Graduation

This is the first year the district has graduated more than 300 students, with 311 students receiving their diploma on Wednesday evening at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

According to Stewart Williams, public information specialist for Ballston Spa Central School District, approximately 85 to 88 percent of graduating seniors plan to go on to pursue a college education, either at a two-year or four-year institution.

This year’s top ten students are valedictorian Jennifer Williams, salutatorian Katrina Krebs, Dan Barner, Harrison Shore, Kristen Kinstrey, Christine Staulters, Amanda Craig, Joshua Torrey, Tani Leigh and Donya Rowe.

Williams, daughter of Stuart and Dee Williams of Ballston Spa, received a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors. Her academic record includes ten AP/UHS courses and two Honors level courses with an overall 97.925 grade point average. She is an AP Scholar, National Honor Society member and a Scholar Athlete.

Williams is extremely involved as a student leader in both school and community activities. She is a dedicated athlete who has been part of three different high school sports teams. Jennifer was part of the varsity swim team and now teaches children swimming lessons and volunteers with Special Olympics swimmers. She is currently one of the captains of the girls’ varsity track team, competing in sprint and field events. Other experiences include being a leader on an Odyssey of the Mind Team (where for the past nine years she has competed in regional and state competitions), a class officer for three years, the high school newspaper’s Hard News Page Editor, a member of the Envirothon Science Club, Interact Club and Theater Club.

She has completed her Girl Scout Gold Award after many years of involvement. She has worked at Skye Farm summer children’s camp in the Adirondacks for several summers and will return as a lifeguard this coming summer. She also has been part of BARC, as a Saturday School assistant teacher.

Her natural aptitude for science and hard work in all coursework has led her to explore the field of Biology and Genetics. After attending a Genetics Update Conference, her participation further strengthened her career aspirations. Her guidance counselor notes “her excellent work ethic and organization, combined with her sincere interest and empathy for others, will make her a success in the field.”

Williams will pursue her studies in the field of Biology and Genetics at the University of Rochester next fall.

Katrina Krebs, daughter of Paul and Wendy Krebs of Ballston Spa, has excelled in the most challenging, accelerated academic program at Ballston Spa High School. Krebs’ academic record includes ten AP/UHS courses and two Honors level courses. Her cumulative GPA is 97.821 and she will receive a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation with Honors.

Krebs has completed five Schenectady County Community College courses and earned an “A” in every one. She is a devoted member of Mock Trial and this year is the Editor in Chief for the school newspaper. Krebs spent one summer participating in the marine studies program at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. During that time she lived in a dorm in Baltimore and also on a research vessel in the Chesapeake.

She also spent two summers living with family friends in the south of France and this past summer she went on a 1,000 mile bike ride. This bike ride was a tour of New York, into Canada, and around Lake Ontario. Krebs made the trip fully loaded with all of her own gear and camped as she traveled. Krebs claims that this trip, “inspired me to help protect the environment and prevent worldwide disasters, such as global warming.”

Next year she plans to study Natural Sciences at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.