WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES 2024 CLASS LEADERS

The valedictorian of the Watertown High School Class of 2024 is Olivia

Marie Urf, daughter of Dr. Ed and Mrs. Laticia Urf. Olivia has excelled
in Advanced Placement Biology, Advanced Placement Chemistry and
Advanced Placement US History. Additionally, she has achieved
excellence in a variety of SUNY Jefferson EDGE courses, including Pre-
Calculus, Calculus, English 101, English 102 and Medical Terminology.
Olivia is a participant of the New Visions Health Program.
Olivia is a 7 NEWS Academic All-Star. She is the chairperson of the
Northern New York Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy
Council, president of the National Honor Society, recipient of the
Clarkson University Leadership Award, and a student representative of
the Noon Rotary. During her academic career, Olivia has competed in
Varsity Swimming and Diving, Varsity Volleyball, Varsity Lacrosse, the
YMCA Blue Sharks Swim Team, and she is a Section 3 Scholar Athlete. Olivia is a member of the WHS
Jazz Band, the WHS Wind Ensemble, a Section Leader for the WHS Select Choir, a participant in Bi-
County Band, and a member of the NYSSMA All-State Conference Mixed Choir. Olivia is a member of
Stage Notes, Lyric Theatre and has appeared in various Watertown High School musical productions,
most recently as Lady of the Lake in ‘Spamalot’. In her spare time, Olivia works as a lifeguard, and
volunteers for the WHS Booster Club, the WHS Talent Show, Tree Watertown, as a swimming instructor,
the Color Run, and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
This fall, Olivia will enter Stony Brook University’s Early Assurance Scholars for Dental Medicine
Program and Honors College. Upon completion of her baccalaureate studies, she will enter Stony Brook
University’s School of Dental Medicine, where she will specialize in Pediatric Dentistry.
Olivia’s grade point average is 99.10.

The salutatorian of the Watertown High School Class of 2024 is Maya Rosemarie Voss, daughter of Mr.
Roger and Mrs. Jennifer Voss. Maya has excelled in Advanced Placement Biology, Advanced Placement
Chemistry and Advanced Placement US History. She has achieved excellence in SUNY Jefferson’s EDGE
courses, including Spanish 4, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, English 101,
English 102 and Medical Terminology. Maya is the recipient of the Seal
of Biliteracy in Spanish and was a participant in MASH Camp at
Samaritan Medical Center and Carthage Area Hospital. Maya is a
student of the New Visions Health Program.
Maya is the secretary of the Northern New York Community
Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council. She is a member of the
National Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society, and a
student representative of the Noon Rotary. Maya is the vice-president of
the Environmental Club, president of the World Language
Ambassador’s Club, and a recipient of a CARE Award. Maya completed
a summer job-shadowing program at the Car-Freshener Center for
Women and Children, as well as an internship in Samaritan Medical
Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She is a past participant in Clarkson University’s Project
Challenge in Aviation and was appointed to SUNY Jefferson’s President’s List. During her academic
career, Maya competed on the Varsity Tennis Team, and she was a member of Stage Notes. In her spare
time, Maya works as a nanny and serves as a volunteer for the Blue Sharks and Tree Watertown.
This fall, Maya will enter Queens University in Kingston, Ontario where she will study Health Sciences.
Upon completion of her baccalaureate program, she plans to attend medical school to become a
neonatologist.
Maya’s grade point average is 98.64.

The Outstanding Vocational Student of the Watertown High School Class of

2024 is ThaJarie Krystal Gaskin, daughter of Dawn Rogers and stepdaughter
of Kissan Dawkins. ThaJarie has excelled in Spanish, Introduction to Sports
Medicine, Psychology, Animal Science, and her BOCES courses in Early
Childhood Education. While at BOCES, ThaJarie was awarded multiple
Outstanding Technical Student Awards, as well as Professionalism Awards in
both her junior and senior years.
ThaJarie is a member of the National Honor Society and the National
Technical Honor Society. Within the Watertown City School District, she has
served classroom internships at both Sherman Elementary School and H.T.
Wiley Intermediate School. ThaJarie achieved Scholar Athlete designation all
four years of high school. She is the team captain of the Varsity Cross
Country Team and competed in sectionals for Cross Country and Outdoor
Track. Additionally, ThaJarie is a past recipient of the Watertown Cross Country Outstanding Attendance
Award.
ThaJarie plans on entering college to major in elementary education with a dual certification in special
education.
Her grade point average is 95.