POTSDAM -- Potsdam High School has named two students as 2019-20 co-valedictorians and two students at their co-salutatorians.

Leon is the son of Thomas Lufkin and Petra Kraus.

As a sophomore and junior, Leon won the silver medal at SLU’s Pi Mu Epsilon math competition two years in a row. In his junior year, Leon also won the Evergreen STEM Scholarship from the Northern New York Community Foundation and the Rensselaer Medal from RPI. Leon is a National Merit Scholarship winner and received perfect scores on his Chemistry, Math I, and Math II SAT subject tests, ACT, and five AP exams, for which he became an AP Scholar with Distinction. Leon is also one of WWNY-TV’s academic all-stars.

Leon’s academic interests have taken him beyond PHS’s campus to The Clarkson School, where he is also a student in Clarkson’s Honors Program. Since 10th grade, he has been performing research at Clarkson University using statistics to better understand rheumatoid arthritis. He has presented and won awards for this research at local and regional high school and undergraduate conferences.

Beyond his academic interests, Leon is also an avid swimmer. He has been a member of the boys varsity swim team since its founding two years ago and holds eight school records. He also holds the Section X record in the 100 breaststroke and qualified for the state championship twice, where he made finals in his senior year. He has also been a member of the USA Swimming club team Northern TRIBS Swimming since fifth grade, where he has qualified for the Eastern Zone Swimming Championship two times, earning two silver medals. He has been a captain and volunteer swim instructor on his club team throughout high school.

Leon will be attending Yale University in the fall, where he hopes to major in applied mathematics. He hopes to use math and statistics to better understand complex systems in the natural world and effect positive change in people’s lives.

Co-Valedictorian Katherine Betrus

Katherine is the daughter of Anthony and Kristen Betrus.

[img_assist|nid=281140|title=Betrus|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=200|height=254]Katherine is very honored to be given this title as a reflection of her lifelong love of learning, PCS said. She is thankful for her outstanding teachers who encouraged her to become an open-minded and enthusiastic student. She is also very thankful for her parents, family members, and friends.

Katherine has been very academically involved throughout her years at Potsdam High School. She took many AP and Honors classes, and she earned college credit during her senior year at the Clarkson School. She also is involved in National Honor Society and Model United Nations.

Katherine also participates in many extracurriculars. She is a year round athlete, having participated in volleyball, indoor track, and outdoor track all four years of high school. She is also a member of Environmental Club and Key Club, and has contributed to the Drama Club as a crew member and as a pit orchestra member. Katherine has a passion for music as well. She plays the violin, viola, and piano, and is a proud member of the Potsdam High School Orchestra. She is also involved in several music groups and competitions throughout the greater community, including Area All State and the Orchestra of Northern New York Young Artist Competition.

Katherine is excited to be attending Middlebury College in the fall. She will be studying neuroscience. She hopes to pursue a career that will help children like her brother who have cognitive developmental disabilities.

Co-Salutatorian Ashwin Ajit

Ashwin is the son of Ajit Achuthan and Sulapha Peethamparan.

[img_assist|nid=281038|title=Ajit|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=200|height=255]Ashwin always looks to take advantage of any academic opportunities available to him. He was accepted to an apprenticeship position at the Naval Research Lab in Washington D.C. during his sophomore year under the SEAP program. Instead of following the traditional high school plan, he spent his junior and senior years at The Clarkson School to further explore his interest in STEM. He is an undergraduate researcher at the TARS Lab organized by Dr. Natasha and Sean Bannerjee. His research has helped him win multiple academic awards at the national and international levels, including the Best Student Paper award at the IEEE AIVR 2020 international conference, and the Barry S. Goldwater Scholarship for Clarkson University.

In addition to his academics, he has been a member of the Potsdam Community Band since 6th grade, and has performed several NYSSMA solos throughout middle and high school. His last solo landed him a position in the NYSBDA state honor band.

After high school, Ashwin plans to further his education in the fields of computer science and mathematics. He will be attending Cornell University’s College of Engineering in Ithaca, New York. He aims to eventually get a Ph.D. and become a faculty member at a reputed university.

Co-Salutatorian Sophia Janoyan

Sophia is the daughter of Kerop and Maria Janoyan.

[img_assist|nid=281039|title=Janoyan|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=200|height=289]Sophia has a strong passion for math and science and this past year attended the Clarkson School, an early college program at Clarkson University. Sophia has held leadership positions in a variety of clubs, including Treasurer of Environmental Club, Secretary of Key Club, Varsity Club Officer, and General Secretary of Model UN. She has also been a peer tutor and member of National Honor Society.

Sophia also enjoys music and has been involved with the Concert Band and Jazz Band throughout high school. Additionally, she has performed with numerous musical groups outside of school, ranging from the local Potsdam Community Band to the NYSSMA Conference All-State Band for oboe.

Along with her passion for academics and music, Sophia has been a dedicated PCS athlete. She has been a four-year member of the Varsity Soccer team and was a captain this past year. She also participated in both Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field for four years as a sprinter and jumper, qualifying for the NYSPHSAA Championships all seven seasons of her career.

This upcoming fall Sophia will be attending Cornell University where she plans to major in chemical engineering. She attributes her success to her supportive family and teachers and is thankful to have grown up in such a caring community.