GMU Valedictorian Olivia Held and Salutatorian Theodore Sharkey.

GILBERTSVILLE – The Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School District is proud to recognize Olivia Held as valedictorian and Theodore Sharkey as salutatorian for its Class of 2021, which will graduate together on campus at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 25.

GMU’s 2021 Graduation Ceremony will be an invitation-only event. Those who attend must follow all of the COVID-19 protocols and procedures that are in place on June 25. More details regarding the ceremony are forthcoming.

Valedictorian Olivia Held

GMU Class of 2021 Valedictorian: Olivia Held is an outstanding, hardworking, young woman who is kind, trustworthy and determined. Olivia has excelled academically throughout high school and will graduate with college credits for completing Tompkins Cortland Community College courses such as Accounting, Principles of Biology, Pre-Calculus and Spanish III.

GMU’s Senior of the Month this past March, Olivia has earned several academic awards through her persistence and determination to thrive in everything. In addition to regularly appearing on GMU honor rolls, she has received the University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award, the Russell Sage College Award, and a nomination as the alternate for the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Program.

Olivia also has been selected for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, the Catskill Area School Study Council Leadership program and the National Honor Society. She has held leadership positions, too, as Student Council President and Class President.

Olivia is a three-sport varsity athlete (basketball, soccer, softball) who was involved with the district’s award-winning mentoring program and musical performances. She also has volunteered at Superheroes in Ripped Jeans and Gilbertsville Art workshops.

Olivia plans to attend Binghamton University in the fall. She is the daughter of Noelle daSilva and Ken Held, both of Gilbertsville.

Salutatorian Theodore Sharkey

GMU Class of 2021 Salutatorian: Theodore Sharkey is an outstanding young man who is empathetic, driven and detail-oriented. Teddy’s academic endeavors this year featured dual enrollment at GMU and the Allied Health New Vision program at DCMO BOCES, the latter an intense, immersive and integrated environment offering high school and college credits.

GMU’ Senior of the Month for January, Teddy is a National Honor Society member who has participated in a plethora of extracurricular activities such as mentoring, Drama Club, Community Clean-Up Days. He has excelled in many challenging advanced and college-level courses at GMU and seems to be a part of just about everything the school has to offer.

The Student Council treasurer and Symphonic Band president also has performed music for Area All-State, New York State School Music Association Solo Festivals, All-County Band, All-County Chorus and Jazz Band.

Teddy, who also works at Angela’s in Norwich, plans to attend Ithaca College this fall. He is the son of Mary and Robert Sharkey of Mount Upton. Kevin Nial. UV-GMU finished with a five-player score of 488.