For the third consecutive year, Kinney Drugs has partnered with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association to award a $1,000 scholarship to one male and one female student-athlete from Section III and Section X. The scholarship recognizes outstanding citizenship and academic achievement.
This year’s Section X recipients are Hayden Amo of Madrid-Waddington Central School and Raelee Downs of Morristown Central School.
Student-athletes are nominated by a teacher, school counselor, classmate, parent or employer based on their involvement in school and the community. Amo was recommended by his employer, Skaggs Family Farm, while Downs was nominated by her guidance counselor, Sarah Belile.
Male Recipient
Hayden Amo
Amo was a well-rounded student, excelling academically, athletically and artistically, while also maintaining a job at Skaggs Family Farm. He worked seven days a week, caring for animals and performing manual labor, often after school or late in the evening.
He participated in soccer, basketball, baseball, track and field, and was a member of the esports team. Amo was named a WWNY-TV 7 Arts All-Star and was actively involved in the band, chorus, marching band, Tri M Music Honor Society, drama club, varsity club, Stardust singing group, school productions and stage band. He also served as vice president of both his freshman and senior classes, as well as the National Honor Society.
Amo volunteered at local festivals and community events. He graduated with an Advanced Regents diploma with mastery in science and earned Magna Cum Laude honors with a GPA between 93 and 94.
He will attend SUNY Potsdam this fall to major in environmental science.
Female Recipient
Raelee Downs
Downs was a standout student at Morristown Central School, taking multiple college-level and advanced Regents courses. She was a two-time New York State basketball champion and participated in basketball and softball, National Honor Society, student council and the athletic association.
She held several leadership roles, including treasurer of the National Honor Society, class treasurer, student council treasurer, and previously served as class vice president. Downs also represented students on the Morristown School Board.
Outside of school, she worked at the school spending evenings and last summer as a student custodian, deep cleaning classrooms, bathrooms and cleaning the landscape. She also has experience in child care during weekends and summer months.
Downs graduated with a GPA of 95.91 and will attend SUNY Canton this fall to pursue a degree in nursing.
