HAMBURG, N.Y. — Much of the country is just now hearing the name Kathy Hochul for the first time, after it was announced she will replace Andrew Cuomo as governor of New York. 

But for some in Western New York, Lieutenant Governor Hochul as long been a source of pride.

What You Need To Know

  • Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, set to replace Andrew Cuomo as governor of New York, graduated from Hamburg High School in 1976 
  • School officials say she is a role model for students, proving you can do anything you can set your mind to 
  • Former teacher James Owen is proud to have taught the woman who would become the first female governor of New York
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Michael Cornell, superintendent of Hamburg Central School District, says Hochul embodies the values of the Hamburg High School, where she graduated in 1976.

"If you can't see it, you can't dream it,” Cornell said. “And everybody from Hamburg, every kid in our schools, can look now at what's happening in Albany and look at soon-to-be governor Kathy Hochul and they can see that and they can dream that for themselves.”

Cornell says she's a role model for students, especially the young women in the community.

"Provides for our kids living tangible proof that if you do all those things, work hard, care about each other, overcome adversity, you can do anything you want to do," Cornell said.

Cornell says Hochul will long be remembered in the hallways of the high school.

"In 2017, in recognition of her service, we inducted her into our wall of fame,” Cornell said. “So she is a distinguished alumna of Hamburg High School.”

James "Jim" Owen taught typing at Hamburg High School. Hochul was his student in 1976, and he remembers her fondly.

"She was a very diligent person,” Owen said. “It was a type of good student to have. It made the teacher look good when you had students like, as I would call her, ‘Ms. Courtney.’ ”

Owen is extremely proud of his former student.

"Not often you have your former student become governor,” Owen said. “And there might be something down the road also, she is going to the first female governor of the state of New York.”

He remembers the heartwarming moment when he met her for the first time since she graduated, shortly after she joined Congress.

"Cause you have no idea where your students go and of course sometimes students don’t' remember their teachers, but she did remember Mr. Owen," he said. 

Owen believes Hochul will have a larger impact while representing Western New York and will advocate for smaller communities as governor.

"It's a win-win for the state of New York and for our country because I think she's going to do a great job,” he said.

And of course, Cornell says the future governor is always welcome to visit Hamburg High School again.