The Byron-Bergen chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) welcomed 19 new student members to their distinguished company on March 18, 2026. The ceremony also honored two Byron-Bergen Alumni Hall of Fame inductees: the late Dean E. Sharp (1977) and the late Michael W. Kolmetz (1956).
The event began with a welcome and congratulations from District Superintendent Patrick McGee and Jr./Sr. High School Principal Paul Hazard. McGee then presented Sharp’s award to Alicia Brumsted, who spoke on his behalf.
Sharp graduated from Byron-Bergen High School in 1977. During his career in the dairy industry, he owned and bred many prize-winning cattle and won the New York State Young Breed award in 1995 with his wife, Carrie. He remained on the farm until the spring of 2007, when he began working at Semex Genetics. While employed there, he received multiple awards and recognitions. Before his death in 2021, Sharp was an active volunteer with the Byron-Bergen FFA chapter, mentoring students interested in dairy production.
The traditional National Honor Society candle lighting ceremony followed. It acknowledges the high standards of knowledge, character, leadership, service, and scholarship that students in NHS must exhibit. The new members were called individually to receive their honor, and then the group took the NHS pledge.
The ceremony was followed by the second Hall of Fame induction. Kolmetz graduated in 1956. While a student, he participated in soccer, basketball, and baseball, and excelled in track. After graduating, he traveled to California before returning to Bergen, where he worked as a district bus driver for 20 years. Kolmetz owned a water-hauling business and served on the Bergen town council. He founded the Bergen youth soccer program in the 1970s with Denny Zeghdani, and it has become the program that still runs in the summers today. Kolmetz was a vocal advocate for a district soccer stadium, now a point of pride at Byron-Bergen. He has made a lasting contribution to the Byron-Bergen soccer legacy. Superintendent McGee accepted the award on his behalf.
National Honor Society membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments but also challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service. The organization has chapters in all 50 states, Canada, and beyond.
Provided information. Photos by Shabeli Acevedo.
