The Ellenville Central School District is proud to announce that Nathan Towne and Jessica McHugh have been named the 2023 Mid-Hudson Athletic League (MHAL) Senior Scholar-Athlete Award recipients from Ellenville Junior/Senior High School. The awards, which are given to two students from each school in the League, are based on academic merit and athletic performance.
Nathan Towne, who ranked eighth in his class, played on the Varsity football, wrestling, and outdoor track & field teams. He earned several athletic honors throughout his time in High School, and captained both the football and the wrestling teams. This year, he was awarded for an Exceptional Senior Game in football, and qualified for the State Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the Discus event.
Nathan is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, and the Art Club. This year, he has served as a mentor for Grade 6 students who are transitioning to the High School next year, and as a tutor with the Spanish Honor Society. Outside of the classroom, Nathan helps with repairs and maintenance at the International Riding Camp in Greenfield Park and volunteers at the Middletown Humane Society.
In the fall, Nathan will attend Alfred University to study Psychology and play football.
Jessica, who ranked 13th in her class, played on the Varsity soccer, basketball, track, and softball teams. She has served as captain of the soccer team since Grade 10, and the basketball team since Grade 11. She played on the Section IX Class B All-Star Soccer team, and has earned 11 Varsity letters during her High School career.
Jessica also participates in the Chamber Singers and the Students Against Violence in Our Schools Club. In addition, she is a member of the National Spanish Honor Society. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering as a referee in the Youth Soccer League, and has been doing so since Grade 8.
In the fall, Jessica plans to attend SUNY Purchase, where she will major in Chemistry and play soccer and basketball. She would like to become a teacher and, eventually, a high school principal.
Ellenville seniors Jessica McHugh (left) and Nathan Towne proudly display the 2023 Mid-Hudson Athletic League (MHAL) Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards they both earned.