by ANNA SUMNER ’25
Updated 11:50 a.m. EDT, 25 April 2025
At the chapel on March 31, Noah Harley and Esther Tse were announced to be the valedictorian and salutatorian for the class of 2025. These positions are based on the students with the highest GPA at the end of the fall semester senior year.
Senior Noah Harley, the valedictorian, is double majoring in Physics and Biology, with a Math minor. He has a wide range of activities on campus, including being a part of Sigma Zeta, the President of Ski Club and on the disc golf team. He was at a national disc golf tournament when the chapel announcement was made.
“It’s kind of nice,” he stated. In reaction to the announcement, he said, “It’s definitely an honor, and it feels good because I put a lot of work in four years.”
Senior Esther Tse, the salutatorian, is a Business Administration and Integrated Marketing major, with a Music Performance minor. She plays trumpet in the wind ensemble, is the Assistant Resident Director for the townhouses, works with intramural sports, and works with Admissions and the visit office.
Tse only realized she was the salutatorian during that chapel, when her major was said. “I’m definitely shocked, but I’m definitely honored too,” she said in reaction to the announcement.
David Davies, Provost and Dean of the Faculties, said he was impressed with how active they (the valedictorian and salutatorian) have been with different organizations on campus, and how well-rounded they are as students. He added that it is one of Houghton’s strengths, and that “this is a space that allows students to explore what they are interested in”.
Tse described her experience at Houghton as “transformative and also kind of life-changing”. While she stated there were moments of challenge, she believes that she has grown in both her faith and in confidence.
Harley said that he’s found his time “a really good experience”, and that he has also grown during his time at Houghton. “I’ll miss the atmosphere here.”
After graduation, Harley will be going on to study at Ohio State University’s atmospheric science program, at their five-year PhD track. He cited his professors as being especially helpful, and stated that it was “surreal” when he received the email for the program.
He also said that he will miss the lake effect snow.
While Tse is unsure of her exact plans, she is hoping to serve others and be a leader in whatever God provides for her to do next, ideally in her fields of business and marketing.
To the class of 2025, she hopes that everyone is “not too stressed to figure out what life is like after college,” and that “they are not alone in this.” ★
