Auburn High School announces valedictorian, salutatorian for Class of 2025

Mitchell Homick has been named valedictorian and Matthew Crounse, salutatorian, for the Auburn High School Class of 2025.

Both students recently received the news from Principal Brian Morgan. 

“They are honestly just two great kids, great ambassadors for the school,” Morgan said. “They set a great example for their peers.”
Morgan added that Crounse is, “extremely hard working and very polite, a great kid,” and Homick had one of the highest averages he’s ever seen from a valedictorian. “He's just absolutely brilliant and very humble, very polite, and friendly.” 

For Homick, the announcement meant his hard work paid off.

“I was just excited,” he said. “I was already putting in so much of the work, so I was just excited that it paid off.”

Crounse was happy to hear his efforts had resulted in him being named salutatorian.

“Honestly, I thought I lost the title because I thought I had it my freshman and sophomore year,” he said, “but my junior year wasn't that good. So hearing (the news) that day, it made me feel like the hard work paid off.”

Homick and Crounse said their parents were thrilled for them.

“They were excited for me as well because they know how much I tried,” Homick said.

“I feel like my mom was more concerned about it than I was,” Crounse said. “She said, ‘did you hear the news yet, did you hear the news yet?’ Then I told her I got called down (to the office). She was so happy.”

Both Homick and Crounse credited the departments at Auburn High School that pertain to their future college majors.

“I like the teachers in the AP classes, and I would say social studies and English, those departments really helped me get to where I am today,” Homick said.

“I feel like it's two classes, and that's why I want to do chemical engineering,” Crounse said. “In my sophomore year, I took an engineering class called POE (Principles of Engineering) and that was when Mr. Gilmore did a lot of designing and stuff that I thought was fun, and then my chemistry teacher, Ms. Lehman, made the class really enjoyable. After that everything was just fun to learn about.”

“I think for me it validates the work that all of our teachers do, and it just makes you proud to be able to offer the things that we offer,” Morgan said. “Take advantage of all the great programs and courses. So for us it's this tremendous sense of pride having kids like this here.”
 
Homick said he will likely major in English or political science and is looking at Binghamton University and the University of Rochester for undergrad with intentions of going to law school.

Crounse would like to study chemical engineering or engineering and is looking at the University of Buffalo, Binghamton University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Commencement is scheduled for Friday, June 20, 2025.