Class of 2007 Valedictorian & Salutatorian
Top two seniors honored by education and business communities
 

Port Jervis High School seniors Lucas Behnke and Adam Derkacz were honored May 23 along with the top-ranked seniors from school districts throughout region at the 12th Annual Outstanding Students Recognition Dinner at the Inn at Central Valley.

Sponsored by Orange-Ulster BOCES and area businesses, the recognition dinner is held each year to honor the students who earned the distinction of being named valedictorian and salutatorian of their graduating class.
 

Class of 2007 valedictorian Lucas Behnke achieved this honor by maintaining an overall grade point average of 98.23. A well-rounded student, Lucas earned this distinction while taking the most rigorous courses Port Jervis High School has to offer, participating in a variety of extra-curricular activities, and holding a part-time job.

Lucas has been a dedicated member of the Port Jervis High School football, basketball, and baseball teams since freshman year. In recognition of his demonstrated leadership abilities and impeccable sportsmanship, Lucas was selected by his teammates to serve as co-captain of the Raider varsity football team this past season. He also received one of the district’s top athletic awards - the 2007 Pound-for-Pound Athletic Award.

Actively involved in his school and community, Lucas is the recent recipient of several other distinguished awards – most notably the Port Jervis High School 2007 Kuykendall Award for community service and good citizenship. A member of the National Honor Society, Lucas also won scholarships from the Neversink Chapter of the National Honor Society and the Port Jervis Rotary Club.

In addition to the National Honor Society, Students Council, Lucas participates in BOCES Enrichment, Youth in Government, Peer Leadership, and the Varsity Club. He is also an active and contributing member of the High School Concert Band in which he plays the French horn.

Next year, Lucas will attend Syracuse University where he will major in English and Textual Studies with a minor in Sports Journalism. Lucas is the son of Larry and Toni Behnke.
 

Class Salutatorian Adam Derkacz qualified for his honor by maintaining an impressive grade point average of 96.86. Enrolled in the high school’s most challenging courses, Adam achieves success by embracing challenges and taking hold of every available opportunity.

A dedicated member of the Port Jervis High School cross country and tennis teams, Adam earned the distinction of being named team captain and scholar athlete. Additionally, Adam – who is actively involved in many school clubs and extracurricular activities –is the recent recipient of two distinguished local scholarships. In addition to receiving a Port Jervis Rotary Scholarship, Adam won one of two scholarships presented this year by the Neversink Chapter of the National Honor Society – of which he is a member.

Adam is also member of the Port Jervis High School Student Council, Advanced Peer Leadership, Mock Trial, French Club, and Varsity Club.

This fall, Adam plans to attend Elizabethtown College where he will major in Environmental Science. Adam is the son of Gary and Beth Derkacz.