Families and classmates filled the lobby as Autumn Strobach and Adam Elkashef were congratulated by VCHS Principal, Dr. Russell Burns on achieving the award of Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively for the Class of 2024.
Autumn Strobach, Valedictorian
Autumn Strobach is a participant in the MedAcheive program hosted at Touro Medical School in Middletown. MedAcheive empowers high school students interested in the medical field to begin their journey of becoming physicians.
Autumn has been recognized by the National Society of High School Scholars, is the secretary of the National Honor Society, and is a member of the National English, Social Studies, Science, Math, and Music Honor Societies. Autumn has also served as a Freshman Orientation leader.
Autumn has been a member of the Varsity Tennis, Track and Field, and Softball teams and has been recognized as a Section IX Scholar-Athlete in all three sports. She has served as captain of the Varsity Tennis team. She has also been a member of the Blackhawks and Angels Fastpitch travel softball teams. In 2022, Autumn was recognized for having the #2 NYS highest batting average.
Autumn volunteers as a lector in her church, as a teacher’s helper at Berea Elementary, and as an assistant coach for Little League softball. She has worked in the community at Eat This Bakery, Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge, and Strada Grill while also umpiring for Montgomery Little League.
Autumn is the daughter of Kenneth and Deborah Strobach.
Adam Elkashef, Salutatorian
Before he graduates from high school, Adam Elkashef has two science courses from Harvard already completed in chemistry and philosophy. Adam was part of a research team at Harvard investigating “Characteristics of Enzyme Responsive Active Emulsion Droplet Systems by Laser-Based Magnetic Levitation Devices.”
Adam is part of the MedAcheive program at Touro Medical College. He has completed an internship shadowing a pediatrician at his practice and another through Mentoring in Medicine where he completed biomedical research.
Adam also completed the ACS Climate Change Advocacy Workshop. He advocated for House Representatives Bills 132 “Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act” and 178 “Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act” in his local district.
Adam received the Merit Level of the 2023-24 National Community Service Award by Innerview this past fall and is a Commended Student in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. He also received the College Board’s National Rural and Small-Town Recognition Program Award and has received the College Board’s AP Scholar with Honor Award.
Adam is a member of the National Honor Society, and the National Science, Social Studies, and English Honor Societies. Adam holds the position of Business Manager of the Spanish Honor Society. Adam is the Secretary of the National Math Honor Society. Adam is part of the Science Olympiad competitive team and serves as its vice president and treasurer. Adam is also part of the VCHS DUSO Math League Team representing Valley Central in competitive algebraic, geometric, and upper-level math questions. Adam is fluent in three languages, English, Spanish, and Arabic. He is also interested in computers and built a gaming computer from collected parts that successfully ran.
Adam is a competitive swimmer swimming with the Viking Aquatic Club and the Varsity Boys Swimming/Diving Team. He served as captain of the team this year. Adam has earned recognition as a Section IX Scholar-Athlete. He is the founder and president of the Valley Central High School Water Polo Sporting Club. Adam is a third-degree black belt and instructor in Tae Kwon-do. Adam is a certified lifeguard and works as a lifeguard at the Valley Central Pool.
Adam volunteers with the Town of Montgomery Ambulance Corps and Garnet Health Center. He recently volunteered with a health program in Ghana. Adam has volunteered as a tutor at VCHS and through schoolhouse.world. Adam has also volunteered in multiple Hudson Valley Islamic Community Center missions.
Adam is the son of Tawfik and Taghreed Elkashef.
Congratulations to Autumn Strobach and Adam Elkashef for your success and achievements throughout high school. Certainly, there are many more accomplishments ahead for them both. Autumn and Adam will deliver their speeches at the 2024 Valley Central Commencement Ceremony on June 29, 2024.