Poland CSD is proud to introduce Noah Lamphere as the Class of 2026 Salutatorian. Noah is the son of Jody and Robert Lamphere. We asked Noah some questions about his time at PCS and his future plans, and here are his answers:
Q1: What is the most important thing you learned from your time at PCS?
“Throughout my time at PCS, I have learned thousands of things in the classroom. However, what came to be most important to me is something that I learned outside of the classroom. This was to always stay true to the people you are closest with, and to find your people. The most important part of growth is to do it with people that you love, so find your people.”
Q2: What extracurricular activities were part of your 9-12 experience at PCS?
“Throughout my time at PCS, I was a part of and captain of the Soccer, Basketball, and Golf teams. At the same time, I participated in Student Council, National Honor Society, and was President of the Varsity Club.”
Q3: What or who inspires and motivates you?
“I am motivated by goals that I set for myself, and also by the goals set by my parents. All growing up, I wanted to be top of my class, and so did my parents. It’s not that a 90 wasn’t good enough; it was the fact that my parents knew that I was capable of more. This always drove me to do my best when it came to school.”
Q4 B: Are there any teachers or mentors who had a positive impact on you?
“I have had many teachers and mentors that have had a positive impact on me; however, there are two that stick out most to me. The first is Mrs. Judd, who was like a second mother to me in the 2nd grade. Between teaching me simple math, to dealing with me crying every day, she was always there for me. Another person who had a positive impact on me was not a teacher, but rather a coach. Mr. Haver and I always had our differences, whether that was me leaving practice upset with how I played, or leaving the game field, knowing I could have done more. However, the best part of playing for him was that he always believed in me. I started playing with him at 8 years old. He put me in the goal, and he never let me leave. He always pushed me to be the best version of myself I could be, and to never give up. That is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Q5: What college will you be attending? What do you plan on studying?
“From PCS, I plan on attending SUNY Cortland, where I will be majoring in Physical Education.”
Q6: What are your career goals or plans for the future?
“From this education, I hope to become a high school gym teacher, while also becoming a coach of either soccer or basketball, bringing great success to my community.”