VOORHEESVILLE — Despite her busy high school schedule — which included music, sports, and academics — Madison Rose Canfora got eight hours of sleep each night.

“My parents made me,” she said. “I’m successful because of them.”

Her father, Michael, is a CPA and serves on the Voorheesville School Board. Her mother, Adrienne, is a “stay-at-home mom,” said Madison. She credits the care she and her young brother, Luke, receive from their mother with their success.

“I had a really positive experience at Voorheesville,” said Canfora. She praised both the small size of the school and the wide variety of classes. She also praised her teachers.

Canfora said she fashioned her salutatory to be “upbeat and short.” The speech centers on this advice: “Do what you love and the rest of the pieces will fall in place,” she said. There is much that Canfora loved at Voorheesville.

She was president of the Science Olympiad team and enjoyed being with “kids who are passionate about science.” The team went to the state championships twice where she enjoyed meeting “the best of the best.,” Canfora said.

Her accomplishments are diverse. She swam distance events for the Guilderville swim team and  is qualified as a lifeguard. This summer, she’ll teach in the Voorheesville Learn to Swim program.

Canfora plays both piano and flute and was in the school’s band and chorus. Madge Devine taught her to play the piano. “She’s all about enjoying the instrument,” Canfora said of Devine. “We play duets together; it’s fun.”

Canfora has chosen to go to Duke University in North Carolina. Although she said it will be tough to be so far away from her family, she was attracted to Duke because of “the balance between social life — they are really nice kids — and academics.” She said, “It’s not cutthroat or arrogant like other campuses.”

Although Canfora hasn’t chosen a major, she plans to take pre-medical courses.

“I find health issues fascinating,” she said. “I’m interested in global health.”

She may play her flute in Duke’s pep band if her schedule permits and she’ll continue “working on Spanish,” said Canfora. She said the language will be useful when she pursues humanitarian work in developing countries.

“I’m a people person,” Canfora concluded. “I want to be in the science field and to interact with people.”