May 13, 2004

Valedictorian, salutatorian named for YSHS Class of 2004

When the Yellow Springs High School Class of 2004 graduates on June 3, two young men will receive special honors. Aaron Zagory has been named class valedictorian and Alex Melecki, salutatorian.

In an interview Tuesday, Aaron and Alex reflected on their experiences growing up in Yellow Springs, and their future plans. Next fall, Aaron will study philosophy at Stanford University, and Melecki will pursue pre-law at Notre Dame.

While they’re ready for the world beyond the village limits, both Aaron and Alex say they’ll look back with fondness on the years they spent growing up in a tiny town.

“No one is faceless here. You know everyone’s name,” Alex said. “It teaches you how to treat people with respect.”

Both young men said that many Yellow Springers know who they are and they have experienced strangers coming up to praise them for, in Aaron’s case, his soccer play, or, in Alex’s, his appearance in the YSHS One Act plays. It can feel a little unsettling to be known so well, but overall, it feels good, they said.

“A lot of people know me who I don’t know,” Aaron said. “It makes me feel a part of a community.”

Aaron was 5 when he moved to town with his parents, Miho and Conrad Zagory, and his sister, Jessica. The family moved from Japan and he didn’t speak a word of English, said Aaron, who offered a thank you to Mills Lawn kindergarten teacher Becky Brunsman for taking him on.

“It’s hard enough to deal with kindergartners, much less one you can’t communicate with,” he said.

But he caught on quickly, Aaron said, and his years at Mills Lawn were good ones. Especially, he believes he carries with him his teachers’ emphasis on respect for others and the importance of kindness.

While Aaron attended Mills Lawn, Alex was a student at the Antioch School through the sixth grade. When he was 3 he had moved to town with his parents, Mark Melecki and Maureen Dawn, and his sister, Devinne.

The unstructured learning environment at the Antioch School taught him valuable lessons, Alex said. “It helped me to be an individual,” he said. “It taught me to find ways to do things not inside a structure or paradigm.”

In high school, Aaron and Alex have kept up a lively schedule of activities. Aaron has been on the soccer, football and swimming teams and also took part in Mock Trial, Alchemists, Quick Recall, TEAMS, Model UN and School Forest. He’s a member of the National Honor Society, was chosen as a representative to Buckeye Boys State and served as class president.

Alex was a member of the YSHS golf team and participated in Mock Trial, School Forest, Quick Recall, TEAMS and Model UN. He is also a member of the National Honor Society.

Alex said that the Mock Trial team played a pivotal role in his high school experience, and he now plans to pursue a career in law.

“It gave me a direction,” he said. “I found something I really enjoy.”

Both students singled out YSHS history teacher Joyce McCurdy, who also serves as the Mock Trial and Quick Recall advisor, as someone who positively influenced them, especially in her desire to make history relevant to their lives. Aaron also singled out YSHS French teacher and guidance counselor Dave Smith.

Both teachers “take an active interest in students beyond their papers and tests,” Alex said.

The young men also offer praise for YSHS Principal John Gudgel.

“He’s the caring heart of the school,” Alex said, adding that he also appreciates Gudgel’s sense of fun and humor. “He really cares about us, like most of the teachers in the school,” Alex said.

They also express their gratitude to their peers.

“The most clichéd thing I could say is also the truth,” Alex said about the Class of 2004. “They’re the best class ever.”

Family support has been critical as well, they said.

“My mom and dad have been great about supporting me but staying out of my way. They trusted me,” said Alex, who added, “And thanks in advance for paying for college.”

Both Aaron and Alex plan to stay in Yellow Springs and work during the summer before they head off to Palo Alto, Calif., and South Bend, Ind., respectively. And while they will enjoy their last few months in the village before college, they’re ready to go.

“Yellow Springs is a nice place,” Alex said. “But I need to see other parts of the world.”

—Diane Chiddister