Published: June 24, 2008 01:08 am      

Roy-Hart's top 2: Staines is valedictorian; Zayac, salutatorian

MIDDLEPORT — Cole Staines and Jason Zayac left their calculus exam a couple of weeks ago breathing a sigh of relief.

“That test was one of the hardest I’ve ever taken,” Staines said. Zayac agreed, but they both finished the test after spending a little more time than they anticipated.

For Staines and Zayac, meeting an academic challenge is nothing new: Staines is the Royalton-Hartland High School Class of 2008 valedictorian. Zayac is the class salutatorian. Graduation is at 7 p.m. Saturday at the school, 54 State St., Middleport. Both said family and friends were proud of their accomplishment.

“They’re proud of me and happy,” Zayac said.

“They randomly bring it up to people,” Staines said.

While in school, Staines was active in cross country, swimming, tennis and the school musicals. He said he has been involved with tennis and musicals since he was a freshman, he quit swimming so he could have more time with the musicals. He ran cross country as a junior and senior. He said his favorite subject was math.

“Until today,” he joked.

Staines said he plans to attend the University at Buffalo in the fall for biomedical sciences.

Zayac was also involved with cross country, plus he ran track, served as senior class president and belonged to the National Honor Society. He also is active with the youth group at Covenant United Church of Christ in Gasport.

Zayac said he plans to attend the University of Rochester for biology and pre-medical. He would like to get into dentistry, something he was exposed to at an Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services program.

“I took it at Allied Health,” Zayac said. “I really liked it.”

He added math and science, especially physics, were among his favorite subjects, and that the teachers he had were nice and pleasant. What he said was tricky was balancing academics with extra curricular activities.

“Sometimes it is hard organizing,” Zayac said. “It’s non-stop, but I enjoy it.”

Zayac said his brother, Adam, also was salutatorian of his graduating class.

What Staines said he would miss the most about high school was the people and the familiarity students have with one another in a small town.

“It’s the last chance we have to be together,” he said.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick

at 439-9222, ext. 6241.