WASHINGTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS NAMED 2020-2021 SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Washingtonville High School (WHS) seniors Olivia Brown and Ryan Lerner have been recognized with the 2020-2021 Senior Scholar Athlete Award of the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association for their high level of performance in the classroom, as well as in their chosen sports.

With a GPA of 101.68, Olivia Brown is the class Salutatorian.  In addition to participating in Varsity Swimming/Diving and Lacrosse, she is a member of the National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Foreign Language Honor Society and the WHS Class of 2021 President.  In addition to being named Captain of the Varsity Swim team, Olivia is also the school’s record breaker in 200 Freestyle Relay, a 3x State Championship Qualifier, a 5x Section XI Championship Qualifier.  She earned her Varsity Letter in 7th grade, and has been receiving Scholar Athlete Academic Recognition since then.  

Additionally, Olivia has been a voting member of the Orange County Youth Bureau Advisory Board since the 8th grade.  Alongside fellow board members, she works to allocate funding for youth organizations, participates in community outreach and advocates for positive youth development in Orange County.  In her free time, she volunteers as team manager for the Washingtonville Boys Varsity Swim team and is a certified lifeguard.

Next year, Olivia will attend Boston College, where she will be majoring in Biology.

Ryan Lerner achieved a GPA of 100.14 while participating in Varsity Swimming and Baseball.  In addition to being named Captain of the Varsity Swim team, Ryan is a 2x NYS Qualifier and holds the school record in the 200 Medley and 200 Freestyle Relays.  In the 2020 season, he was Section IX Champion in the 200 Freestyle Relay.  This year, the team earned the Conference & Section IX Swimming & Diving Team Title.  Ryan was named Section IX Champion in the 200 Medley, 200 Freestyle Relays and the 50 Freestyle for the 2021 season.  He is a six-time NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete and has earned 7 Varsity Letters.

Ryan is also a member of the National Honor Society, Foreign Language Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society and has been Class Treasurer since 2017.  He has earned academic achievement for Excellence in Criminal Justice, Excellence in Enriched English (2x) and Outstanding Musician (3x).  He is a member of OCMEA All County Band & Orchestra, Area All-State Band, Yearbook, Viking Aquatic Club and is an iDecide mentor. 

In the community, Ryan has spent time translating Social-Emotional books into Spanish for non-English speaking K-5 students.  He also prepares meals at the Ronald McDonald House as a volunteer.

Next year, Ryan will attend the Honors Program at SUNY Cortland, where he will major in Spanish Education and compete for the Swim Team.