CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley High School has named the top students for the class of 2026. 

 

Valedictorian Anna Thurston and salutatorian Alexis Warner will speak at graduation ceremonies on Friday, June 5, at 6 p.m. in the school gymnasium. 

 

Thurston, daugther of Thomas and Julie Thurston of Cheshire, has taken Advanced Placement and honors courses, including receiving a Presidential Award in AP World History. In addition to the Superintendents' Award, she has received the Rensselaer (N.Y.) Polytechnic Institute Medal, a first-degree certification in chainsaw and first place in a General Dynamics engineering competition. 

 

During her time at Hoosac Valley, she has served three years on the Student Council, as secretary of the National Honor Society chapter and participated in Portrait of a Graduate and World of Difference. Thurston has been involved with Leo Club for five years, serving as secretary, treasurer and president, and a member of the stage crew for high school productions, and stage manager for "Seussical the Musical."

 

She was a member of the school's volleyball team, medaled in figure skating at the Bay State Games and holds a black belt in taekwondo. She has volunteered on trips to the food bank and in town cleanups in Adams. 

 

Thurston plans to attend the University of New Hampshire's Honors College to major in mechanical engineering. 

 

Warner is the daughter of Corey and Laura Warner of Cheshire. She also took AP and honors courses, earning an AP Scholars Award and a Sage Colleges Student Sage Award.