June 14, 2023

Watertown - Academic leaders of the Immaculate Heart Central Class of 2023 are Emily L. Bombard, of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapter of the National Honor Society and has a cumulative average of 90.78. Additionally, she has achieved an average of 90 in the Culinary Arts program at BOCES and was recently inducted into Valedictorian, with a cumulative grade point average of 98.32, and Katharina R. Probst, Salutatorian, with a cumulative grade point average of 98.27.

Valedictorian
Emily L. Bombard, the daughter of Lance and Jennifer Bombard, Chaumont, has been named Valedictorian for the Immaculate Heart Central School class of 2023. Emily was chosen as president of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapter of the National Honor Society, has served as a peer tutor throughout high school, and participates in the IHC Faith Community Service Program. She has been on the High Honor Roll for all four years of high school.

Bombard has received the following awards: Dick & Fern Kobel Memorial Scholarship, Air Force Math & Science Award, Heart of Evangelization Recognition, Suzanne M. Grappotte Memorial Scholarship, Lemoyne College Heights Award, and the Rensselear Medal Award (RPI), US Marines Distinguished Athlete Award, Sisters of St. Joseph Awards in both English and Science, First place for the Scholarship for Academic Excellence, the Clarence “Boots” Gaffney Award, and the Diocesan Outstanding Student Award, also known as the Bishop’s Award.

Bombard is a scholar athlete who served as team captain for multiple years and earned varsity letters in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. On the basketball court, Emily was part of the Section Three all-tournament team and a four-year Frontier League All Star. In soccer, she was also a Frontier League All Star, All-North Honorable Mention and named to the All-Section team.

In addition to her faith-based and athletic activities, Emily has been active in student government and currently serves as Vice President of the IHC Class of 2023. She was a member of the Cavalier Yearbook staff and the Whiz Quiz Team, participated in the Tri-County Art Show, the JCC Spaghetti Bridge Competition, and placed second last year and third in this year’s New York State Mathematics League.

Bombard will be attending Jefferson Community College this fall where she plans to study psychology with the intention of becoming a social worker or school psychologist.

Salutatorian
Katharina R. Probst, the daughter of Verik Probst and Wendy Probst, Theresa, has been named Salutatorian for the Immaculate Heart Central School class of 2023. Miss Probst is a member of the National Honor Society where she serves as Vice President and is President of the school’s chapter of Rotary Interact. In college coursework, she has earned 34 credits with a 4.0 GPA while taking classes in Emergency Medicine, Psychology, German, English, Statistics, and Government.

She has held various offices in student government through all four years of high school and has also participated in Whiz Quiz, yearbook, varsity golf, student theater, Odyssey of the Mind, and is an IHC Mystery Player. She was awarded the George Eastman Young Leader’s Award, Air Force Scholar Athlete of the Year Award, 2nd place for the Scholarship for Academic Excellence, Margaret Wiley Memorial Health Sciences award, and the Sisters of St. Joseph Award in Physical Education.

On the soccer field, Katharina was a 2x First Team All-State soccer player, 2x All North MVP, and 4x team captain. She finished her high school career with 117 goals and 30 assists. Miss Probst also played club soccer with the Black River Valley Soccer Academy, Syracuse Development Academy, and the Empire United. She was a 4x USYS Olympic Development Program Eastern Region Player.

Probst is a founding member of Boy Scout Troop 65G where she recently became the troop’s first Eagle Scout and has been named New York State’s VFW Scout of the Year. Miss Probst is an EMT with both the Indian River Ambulance Service and Gouverneur Rescue Squad and a volunteer firefighter with the Plessis Volunteer Fire Department. She has earned her NY and National EMT certification and her NYS Advanced EMT certification.

Probst will attend the University of Rochester in the fall where she will major in Biology and play soccer. She hopes to become a doctor specializing in emergency medicine in the Armed Forces.

Outstanding Vocational Leader
Josalyn S. Pertl is this year’s Outstanding Vocational Leader for the Immaculate Heart Central Class of 2023. Josalyn is a member the National Technical Honor Society.

Pertl serves on student council as treasurer of her class and is very active in her parish, working with the RCIA and Vacation Bible School programs. She also participated in the March for Life in Washington DC. Josalyn has earned a varsity letter in tennis and academically has earned the following awards: NY State Comptroller Award, Jreck Sub Winning Attitude Award, and the Sisters of St. Josephs Award in Religion.

Pertl spends a lot of her time interning and working at her family’s restaurants, Spokes on the Square, Spokes on the River, and Spokes on the Green. She has a very strong work ethic, has a high attention to details, can successfully manage both kitchen and serving duty, and she often fully runs catering events.

Pertl has found her passion in life. She plans to attend the Culinary Institute of America for Hospitality Management.