Meet the Corcoran High School Class of 2025 Valedictorian and Salutatorian!

Corcoran Valedictorian – Brigid Burns

 
What are your plans after graduation (what college, what interest in terms of major)? I will be attending Mercy University, where I plan to play lacrosse while studying Business and Financial Accounting. I’m interested in working in the field of law or doing something relating to criminal justice.
 
What activities have you been involved in outside of class/outside of school? I played lacrosse for 12 years, soccer, cross country, I was a competitive Irish dancer for 12 years, and I volunteer as a coach and referee for girls lacrosse.
 
What has been the best part of your high school career and why? The best part of high school has been making new friends, spending time with my friends, and the memories I’ve made with the people I’ve gone to school with.  
 
What was your proudest moment in high school? Being named Valedictorian was probably my proudest moment! I found out at the end of junior year that I was in the running. I knew it was there, so I kept persevering and didn’t give up when I saw the finish line.
 
What are you most looking forward to about college? I’m most excited about meeting new people and exploring my major – being focused on what I want to do in the future. I’m looking forward to having new experiences and building new relationships.
 
What’s the best thing you’ve learned over the course of your time in the SCSD? The best thing I’ve learned through my time in the SCSD has been working in collaboration with so many types of people. My time here has given me a broader view of the “real world” – how people act and what they’ve been through. I feel like other schools may not give students the perspective or the opportunities that we have here in the city!
 
What advice would you give to other students as they continue their studies here? Persevere through hard times. It is cliché, but if you can dream it, you can do it. Keep working toward what you want, and it will happen.
 
What is something major you hope to achieve in life? I hope to get a job that I’m proud to have and that I like doing. Ultimately, I hope to be happy with myself. I want to feel like I made a change or an impact – on someone, or in life.
 

Corcoran Salutatorian – Shannon Smith

 
What are your plans after graduation (what college, what interest in terms of major)? I will be attending the University at Buffalo, where I plan to major in Mechanical Engineering. I have always loved to build things and figure things out. I have fun problem solving, and I like math – it’s hard and interesting to me. My dad encouraged me to look into Engineering as a major, and from the first moment I learned about Mechanical Engineering, I knew it would be a good fit for me.
 
What activities have you been involved in outside of class/outside of school? Soccer (4 years), lacrosse (4 years), Indoor Track (3 years), Bowling, helped out with sound in the school plays and musicals.
 
What has been the best part of your high school career and why? The best part of my high school experience was figuring out who I am as a person and learning that I’m much stronger – both physically and mentally – than I ever thought I was. School is not my favorite place to be, by a long shot, but it has showed me who I am; without my high school experience, I wouldn’t be who I am today.  
 
What was your proudest moment in high school? My proudest moment in high school was watching me and my friends grow together as people.
 
What are you most looking forward to about college? I’m most looking forward to studying something I’m interested in, trying new things, and meeting new people.
 
What’s the best thing you’ve learned over the course of your time in the SCSD? The best thing I’ve learned is that people come from all different backgrounds; and sometimes, you have to put yourself in their shoes to understand how to help them or work with them.
 
What advice would you give to other students as they continue their studies here? Try your best, and ask for help if you need it!
 
What is something major you hope to achieve in life? I hope to be successful and live a life full of experiences.