James Moore named valedictorian

While Hannibal High School three-sport athlete James Moore has excelled on the field of play, his academic accomplishments have knocked it out of the ballpark. He was recently named the valedictorian of the class of 2024.

James is the son of Kelly Fortino and Chris Moore, whom he credits for his success.

“My parents taught me how important school is and to work hard with anything I do,” Moore said. “I tried to keep that in mind, and I would like to be remembered by my classmates as someone who was a leader in the school and an active member of the school community.”

Next year, Moore will bring that mindset to college, where he will pursue a degree in physical therapy. He said he always had an interest in physical activities and a desire to help people, which made physical therapy an ideal choice. Ultimately, he would like to become a traveling physical therapist so he can see different parts of the country while still working in his desired career field.

Before heading to college, Moore recalled some of his favorite memories as a Warrior. He was involved in varsity football, basketball, and baseball, as well as varsity club, National Honor Society, and OCAY League.

“The Hannibal Central School District has shown me the value of a small, connected community and that you can be successful no matter what,” Moore said.

He is embracing that ambition and positive attitude and encouraged his classmates to do the same.

“For whatever you pursue in the future, have confidence in yourself that you will be successful and give it 100 percent effort,” Moore said.

 

Chloe Kerst named salutatorian

With a commitment to her studies, Hannibal High School senior Chloe Kerst humbly adds “salutatorian” to a long list of accomplishments.

Chloe, the daughter of Shannon and Seth Kerst, attributed her success to her dedication to academics and also credited a strong support system who helped guide her in the right direction.

“My parents always pushed me to do my best and work my hardest,” Kerst said. “I also wouldn’t be successful without my friends, who always supported me no matter what.”

Kerst noted that her support system will be important as she embarks on the next chapter of her life. In the fall, she will pursue a degree in computer science at Rochester Institute of Technology. Eventually, she would like to use technology to create new developments such as websites and games.

As much as Kerst is looking forward to the future, she also took some time to reflect on her high school years. She participated in varsity girls basketball, varsity girls track and field, National Honor Society, travel club and environmental club. Outside of those activities, she also focused on nurturing friendships along the way.

“Hannibal High School has taught me how to be an active part of my community,” she said. “Our school is the center of our town and I’m so glad to have been a part of it. With how close everyone is in our community, it has really helped me with forming tight bonds with others.”

When asked if she had any advice for her classmates, Kerst encouraged them to embrace opportunities. “Live your life to the fullest and take every opportunity that comes your way, because you will never know when your next chance will come,” she said.