Troy High School is pleased to announce the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Class of 2026!
Jiarui Xiao, Valedictorian
Jiarui has pursued the most rigorous academic program available to him throughout high school. He has enrolled in every honors, college-level, and AP course that could fit into his schedule each year and has gone above and beyond by independently self-studying to take 3 additional AP examinations. Not only has Jiarui earned 57 college credits through Hudson Valley Community College, Russell Sage College, and SUNY Adirondack while in high school, but he will also graduate with an Associate in Science Degree in Mathematics and Science from Hudson Valley Community College, along with his High School Diploma. During his senior year, Jiarui was selected for and participated in the New Visions medical program, where he engaged in intensive, real-world clinical work. When he is not at New Visions, he spends his time on the Hudson Valley Community College campus taking additional college mathematics courses or at Regeneron completing a 54-hour internship. His willingness to seek out and succeed in advanced coursework reflects the dedication that truly sets him apart.
Jiarui’s extracurricular record complements his academic accomplishments. He has been a committed athlete, participating on the JV Soccer Team and Varsity Tennis Team. He is a member of the Varsity Masterminds/Academic Quiz Bowl team, where he specializes in math and science questions. He also serves as president of our Math Honor Society, demonstrating leadership and a desire to cultivate a strong math culture among his peers. Jiarui has been a member of Regeneron STEM Academy since 10th grade, Key Club since 11th grade, and was inducted into National Honor Society for his senior year. Besides sports and clubs, Jiarui has competed in multiple academic competitions including the M3 Math Challenge, where he served as team captain, and the Siena Programming Challenge. Outside of school, Jiarui volunteers through an online tutoring platform. He has achieved a ranking in the top five percent of tutors, indicating not only mastery of subject matter but also an ability to communicate complex ideas effectively to others.
Jiarui’s leadership skills were recognized when he was awarded the University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award during his junior year. In addition, Jiarui was one of only twenty students nationwide selected for the mathROOTS MIT PRIMES summer program.
This summer, before leaving for school, Jiarui secured a paid internship with Regeneron which is an honor worth mentioning, as this is a highly competitive application pool. All of Jiarui’s hard work and accomplishments have been recognized with a full scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he will attend this fall with a major in Chemistry and Biology and a Minor in Mathematics while on a Pre-Medical track.
Jackson Murray, Salutatorian
Jackson is the Salutatorian of the Class of 2025. This honor is not surprising to those that have witnessed Jackson’s hard work, ingenuity, and academic prowess. Jackson has earned 32 college credits through Hudson Valley Community College and the STEM New Visions honors program through Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Jackson has taken advantage of the opportunities at Troy High, taking a multitude of honors, AP, and college level coursework. As a junior, Jackson was selected for the Rochester Institute of Technology Science and Math Award, given to a student with superior grades in science and math classes. As a senior, he earned the Seal of Biliteracy, an award recognizing high school students with proficiency in two or more languages by graduation.
Jackson is a dedicated member of the Troy High community outside of the classroom. He has been an active member in Math Honors Society, National Honors Society, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field, and Varsity Soccer. His leadership skills have been recognized in the classroom and the field, as he was selected to be the captain of his soccer team this year. Outside of the school, Jackson has been an avid member of club soccer and has been a soccer coach for the Special Olympics for the past three years.
Jackson will be attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, majoring in Architecture.