SMETHPORT (EC) — The valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2018 at Smethport Area Junior-Senior High School are keeping family traditions alive.
Valedictorian Emily Treat’s grandmother, Dawn Lord, mother, Susan Treat, and sister, Katie Treat, were all valedictorians of their respective classes at Smethport. Salutatorian Matthew Stratton is the grandson of the late Larry Stratton, a former McKean County Commissioner and salutatorian of the Class of 1956.
Both Emily and Matthew will speak at commencement on Friday, June 1.
Besides excelling in the classroom, these students were also active in various extra-curricular activities and received numerous awards and scholarships Tuesday night at the school’s 38th Annual academic Awards Banquet.
Emily was a senior class co-president, attained the Honor Roll of Distinction, was a Scholar Athlete, drum major, cheerleader, Big 30 Cheerleader, and a member of National Honor Society, student council, marching band, concert band and choir, and show choir. Her sports credits included basketball, softball; volleyball, Club 1890 Volleyball, Synergy Travel Softball, cheerleader, Big 30 Cheerleader.
Among her awards are the Smethport Area Education Association Scholarship and Donald and Audene Johnson Education Trust Scholarship.
Outside of school, Emily was Miss Smethport in 2017.
The daughter of Edward and Susan Treat of Cyclone, Emily plans to pursue a major in early childhood education at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
Matthew is the son of David and Jean Stratton of Smethport.
He will major in environmental resource management at the main campus of The Pennsylvania State University.
At Smethport High, he was in the show choir, a Scholar Athlete, member of the National Honor Society for three years and secretary for one year. In athletics, he achieved MVP honors in football, wrestling, and baseball, was a Big 30 Football All-Star, Frank Varischetti All-Star, two-time Allegheny Mountain League All-Star in football and a member of the Hickory Wrestling Tournament Scholar Team.
At the Academic Awards Banquet, he received the Woody Maynard Award for Outstanding Male Athlete, Guy B. Mayo Award and Glenn Mencer Scholarship.
In the community, Matthew was a 4-H member.
