Sharon Springs Central School District is proud to announce that Yasmin Issa is the Valedictorian and Ava Jump is the Salutatorian of the graduating Class of 2026. Commencement ceremonies will be held on Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m.
Yasmin Issa, Class of 2026 Valedictorian
Yasmin Issa – Class of 2026 Valedictorian
Yasmin Issa, the daughter of Tareq and Sofia Issa, is the Valedictorian of the SSCS Class of 2026. She has attended SSCS her entire school career.
During her high school years, Issa has been deeply involved in a wide range of activities including serving as class Secretary. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Spanish Club, Youth as Leaders (YAL), Elevating Student Voices, and Girls Varsity Soccer.
Her dedication extends far beyond the classroom. Issa has helped lead food and clothing drives, created a peer reading program focused on kindness and acceptance for elementary students, organized a youth soccer clinic, and served on the Schoharie County Youth Advisory Board. Through an advanced program, New Visions, she also organized a care package initiative for a local nursing home, demonstrating her genuine commitment to caring for others.
One of her proudest accomplishments is being elected State Secretary for FBLA, a testament to her leadership and drive. She credits her parents as her greatest inspiration, sharing that their unwavering encouragement gave her the confidence to pursue her goals and passions.
Issa describes her SSCS experience as “transformative” and offers this advice to younger students: “Learn how to advocate for yourself and the things you care about,” she says. “Your voice matters, and it has the power to bring positive change to your community.”
Issa plans to attend the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the fall, where she will pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. She hopes to become a licensed pharmacist and promote health literacy within her community.
Ava Jump, Class of 2026 Salutatorian
Ava Jump – Class of 2026 Salutatorian
Ava Jump, the daughter of Todd and Stacy Jump, is the Salutatorian of the SSCS Class of 2026. She has attended SSCS her entire school career.
Jump’s high school journey is marked by incredible involvement and student leadership. She served as her class President, and is a member of Student Council, National Honor Society, Math Honor Society and Science Club. She is also President of the SSCS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter, where she also served as a New York State Vice President for District 4. She is a member of the Band, President of Varsity Club and played Varsity Soccer, JV and Varsity Basketball, and Varsity Softball.
Beyond school, Jump has given back through blood drives, food pantry collections, community dinners, AYSO soccer, Little League softball clinics, and clothing drives.
Jump says she is most proud of her experience as a state FBLA officer: a challenging but deeply rewarding role that helped her grow in perseverance, teamwork, and leadership. She credits former teacher and FBLA Advisor Barbara Handy as the person who had the greatest impact on her journey, sharing that her guidance and support made those opportunities possible.
Jump describes her SSCS experience as “supportive” and offers this advice to younger students: “Don’t get too caught up in what doesn’t make you happy. Put your time and effort into what will make you the happiest or most successful.”
Jump plans to attend Johnson & Wales University in the fall to pursue a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts, a path that reflects both her passion and her willingness to follow what truly inspires her.
