BERNE — Andrew Bub, Berne-Knox-Westerlo’s salutatorian, grew up in a family that stimulated his head and schooled his heart.

His father, David, is a teacher — of social studies at Schenectady High School. His mother, Dawn, works in the medical clinic at Capital City Rescue Mission. His older sister, Ashley, a BKW graduate, is in nursing school, and his younger brother, Corey, is in seventh grade at BKW.

His parents also nourished his soul. They are Christians and Andrew Bub has already chosen his career — to be a youth pastor.

“I grew up in the church,” said Bub. “I was around 12 when I started to make it my own — it was my thing, not just something my parents made me do.”

He was particularly inspired by Bobby Gambelunghi, a youth pastor. “He helped me grow as a person,” said Bub. “He showed me the life I want to live.”

In the fall, Bub will be a student at Houghton College in western New York where he will study theology with a focus on youth ministry.

He’s getting a head start on his career this summer, working as a counselor at Camp Pinnacle, a Christian camp in the Helderbergs.

Bub went to Pinnacle as a kid and “fell in love with it,” he said. Last summer, he worked there as a counselor in training, and this summer he has a paid job as a full-fledged counselor. “It’s as much fun for the staff as it is for the kids,” he said.

Campers choose among classes in subjects like archery, canoeing, or guitar. “We weave the Bible into everything we do,” said Bub. “We also have Bible studies and chapel services.”

Last year, Bub taught guitar at the camp since he enjoys playing himself. He comes from a musical family. His father is a drummer and his mother plays the piano.

“I play worship music at church,” said Andrew Bub.

He attended the Helderberg Christian School through the third grade and, in fourth grade, moved to the BKW elementary school in Berne.

“He has always excelled at school and worked very hard,” said his father.

Bub enjoyed his years at BKW, where he had a 95 average in high school, he said. “The kids are really nice. We don’t have huge drug problems or gang problems,” he said, comparing it to what he’s learned from his father about Schenectady High School.

“The teachers are awesome,” he went on about BKW. “You get to know them well.”

One of the reasons he chose Houghton for his college, said Bub, is because “it’s a really small school; it’s what I’m used to.”

Bub also likes playing sports. He was on BKW’s varsity baseball team for four years.

And he played goalie for a Bethlehem youth hockey team. “My dad played ice hockey with my uncle. And my two older cousins played and I wanted to be like them,” Bub recalled. “I started and never stopped.”

In his salutatory address at the BKW commencement ceremonies, Bub “incorporated a lot of quotes by famous hockey players,” he said. “By the third one, people started laughing.”

Beside the humor, though, he had an important message, “I charged everyone to stay the same person but become all they can be,” Bub said.

Of being a goalie, the last one to stop a sometimes brutal puck, Bub said, “I love the pressure. That’s when I’m at my best.”