Comsewogue High School announced Sydney Carter as the class of 2021 valedictorian and Anthony Lin as class salutatorian.
Throughout her high school career, Sydney has challenged herself in Comsewogue High School’s most demanding college preparatory curriculum. As a result of her efforts, Sydney has maintained an overall grade point average of 104.12.
Photo from Comsewogue School District
Equally as impressive, Sydney has been involved in a wide array of activities including but not limited to Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Indoor Track, Varsity Spring Track & Field, WISE, National Science Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, National Honor Society, Girls Leader’s Club, National Merit Finalist, and participation in SCMEA/selection for All-County this year for flute.
Whether in the classroom or as a participant in one of these activities, Sydney’s moral character, motivational skills, eagerness to help others, teamwork abilities, and determination have been inspirational.
Sydney will continue to make her mark as a chemistry major at the university level.
Anthony Lin has had an outstanding career at Comsewogue High School. He has equally balanced his stellar academic accomplishments with numerous activities in and outside of high school.
Photo from Comsewogue School District
Of note, he is National Merit Commended Student, Renssalaer Medal Winner, AP Scholar with Distinction, President of the National Honor Society, Team Lead and Camp Counselor for Tzu Shao Volunteer Organization, president of the Science Club, has done research at the Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine, Varsity Tennis Captain, Varsity Academic Quiz Bowl Captain, and National Science Bowl Team Captain.
Meet the valedictorians, salutatorians from Cold Spring Harbor, Elwood, Harborfields, Northport and Huntington school districts
Huntington High School held its 157th commencement exercises June 22. Photo by Sara-Megan Walsh
Across the Town of Huntington, hundreds of graduates stepped forward to receive their high school diplomas this week. Among the graduates are those who have excelled academically, achieving consistently high marks to rise top of their class to earn the titles of valedictorian and salutatorian.
Huntington High School Valedictorian Aidan Forbes. Photo from Huntington school district
Huntington High School
Aidan Forbes has been named valedictorian of Huntington High School’s Class of 2018. Sebastian Stamatatos is this year’s salutatorian. The spectacular pair has enjoyed exceptional four-year runs packed with academic and co-curricular success.
“I am extremely proud to be named valedictorian,” Forbes said. “It is the culmination of years of hard work and I couldn’t be happier.”
Forbes and Stamatatos both gave addresses at Huntington’s 157th commencement exercises June 22 in Blue Devil’s athletic stadium.
Huntington High School Salutatorian Sebastian Stamatatos. Photo from Huntington school district
“Aidan is an outstanding student and a very well rounded young man,” Huntington Principal Brenden Cusack said. “His years of hard work have paid off and I am so very happy for him. Sebastian is to be commended as well for this outstanding accomplishment, which apparently has become a family trait.”
Huntington’s top two seniors have captured the respect and admiration of their classmates and teachers. Their transcripts are filled with the most challenging courses the school district offers.
“Aidan and Sebastian have both achieved at the highest of levels academically and have taken complete advantage of all that the district has to offer,” Huntington Superintendent James Polansky said. “As importantly, they recognize the value of service and continue to represent our school community in the finest manner possible. It will soon be time for them to further share their gifts with the world beyond Huntington. I wish them and their families the heartiest of congratulations and all the best moving forward.”
Northport High School Valedictorian Daniel O’Connor. Photo from Northport-East Northport school district
Northport High School
Daniel O’Connor is Northport High School’s 2018valedictorian and said by school officials to be a shining example of the district’s mission— “excellence in all areas without exception” — has put hard work and effort into his high school career.
In addition to being involved extracurricular activities and running cross-country, he has been named an AP Scholar with Distinction, a National Merit Commended Scholar, a 2018 Town of Huntington Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and more. He will be attending Northeastern University in pursuit of a computer engineering degree this fall.
Northport High School Salutatorian Nicholas Holfester. Photo from Northport-East Northport school district
Northport High School salutatorian Nicholas Holfester’s passion for learning and internal drive has propelled him toward excellence throughout his high school career, according to school officials.
Even with a rigorous course load Holfester has excelled and received many awards and honors, including being named a National Merit Commended Scholar, a Rensselaer Medal winner and more. He will be attending the University of Notre Dame to study engineering in the fall.
Harborfields High School
Harborfields High School Valedictorian Emma Johnston. Photo from Harborfields school district
Harborfields’s valedictorian Emma Johnston, who will be attending Brandeis University to study neuroscience in the fall, had a successful high school career.
Along with being involved in many extracurricular activities, Johnston has received many academic awards and honors, such as being named a National Merit Finalist and a National AP Scholar.
Harborfields’ Class of 2018 salutatorian Sarah Katz led a well-rounded and successful high school career. Headedto either the University of Californiaor Berkley to dual major in business and engineering.
Harborfields High School Salutatorian Sarah Katz. Photo from Harborfields school district
She has been awarded many awards and honors, such as Rensselaer Medal Award Outstanding Academic Achievement in Study of Mathematics and Science, awards of academic excellence in English, French and art, and more.
Elwood-John H. Glenn High School
Elwood-John H. Glenn’s Valedictorian Kathryn Browne had a rigorous high school career, excelling in both academics and extracurricular activities. She was named a New York State Scholar Athlete all four years and was awarded multiple academic distinctions, including the Bausch & Lomb Honorary
Science Award.
John H. Glenn High School Valedictorian Katherine Browne. Photo from Elwood school district
She participated in multiple clubs where she assumed mentoring and leadership roles, and also enjoyed involvement in both the varsity track and soccer. Browne will be attending Boston College in the fall, where she plans on studying nursing.
Along with being at the top of her class, Elwood-John H. Glenn salutatorian Catherine Ordonoz-Reyes has been pursuing the family tradition of nursing throughout her high school career—and is a certified nursing assistant.
John H. Glenn High School Salutatorian Catherine Reyes-Ordonoz. Photo from Elwood school district
Along with her rigorous dedication to excellence in her studies, Ordonoz-Reyes has been an active member of her school and community. She has received academic distinctions, such as the National Academy for Future Physicians and Medical Scientist Award of Excellence. She will be attending LIU Post on a full scholarship to study nursing.
Editor’s note: Cold Spring Harbor High School does not formally recognize a valedictorian or salutatorian, but rather has a tradition of speeches given by reflection speakers with four to nine individuals selected each year.
Meet the Class of 2018's valedictorians, salutatorians and honor speakers in Smithtown
Commack High School's Class of 2018 throws their caps skyward in celebration. Photo by Karen Forman
By Sara-Megan Walsh
Across the Town of Smithtown, hundreds of graduates stepped forward to receive their high school diplomas last week. Among the graduates are those who have excelled academically, achieving consistently high marks to rise top of their class to earn the titles of valedictorian and salutatorian.
Commack High School Honor Speaker: Matthew Ciurleo. Photo by Karen Forman.
Commack High School
Honor Speaker: Matthew Ciurleo
GPA: 105.12 (weighted)
College: Harvard University
Major: Economics
Ciurleo served as president of the National Honor Society, a captain of the varsity boys golf team and was a member of both the Boys Scholar Athletic Leadership Club and Italian Honor Society.
Kings Park High School Valedictorian Lina Rohrer. Photo from Kings Park school district
Kings Park High School
Valedictorian: Lina Rohrer
GPA: 106.04 (weighted)
College: Not disclosed
Major: Physics
Rohrer plans on continuing her education by studying physics.
Kings Park High School Salutatorian Keiffer Acoba. Photo from Kings Park school district
Kings Park High School
Salutatorian: Keiffer Acoba
GPA: 105.01
College: Carnegie Mellon
Major: Computer Science
Acoba was named among the Top 300 Scholars in Regeneron’s Science Talent Search, a Coca-Cola Scholar finalist, and a Junior Science and Humanities Symposium Regional finalist. He was vice president of the Independent Science Research, co-captain of the math team,head programmer of the robotics team and president of Science Olympiads.
Smithtown High School East honor speaker Matthew Timmel. Photo from Smithtown school district
Smithtown High School East
Honor speaker: Matthew Timmel
GPA: 4.13
College: Florida State University
Major: Business finance, computerscience
Timmel served as president of DECA, senior leader of RYLA, a member of the National Honor Society and played on the varsity boys badminton team.
Smithtown High School West Honor Speaker Kevin Camson. Photo from Smithtown school district
Smithtown High School West
Honor Speaker: Kevin Camson
GPA: 4.08
College: University of Notre Dame
Major: Political Science
Camson served as student liaison to Smithotwn’s board of education; founder and president of Student Pipeline; member of the teen council for the Robin Hood Foundation; founder and leader of Project Smith-Stead; founder of Tables to Enable; a member of the School Start Time Steering Committe; and on track and field.
According to what I recently read, over half of the high schools in the United States are doing away with recognition of the highest achieving students. They are no longer naming valedictorians and salutatorians at graduation. I find that shocking.
No, I was neither valedictorian nor salutatorian at my high school graduation, so that is not the cause of my
disappointment at this latest piece of participation trophy news. No one is hurt if there is no “best.” Everyone feels good about himself or herself, and there certainly isn’t any unhealthy competition, right? Everyone gets the same diploma. Everyone is equal.
How idiotic! Everyone is not equal just because everyone showed up. Some put more effort into the learning process than others. Perhaps some were not as gifted as others but had a greater drive to learn and to excel. Shouldn’t those top students be rewarded with the recognition they deserve? Shouldn’t they be regarded as role models? They will often go on to be the leaders of our country at the end of the day.
Class ranking is also being abandoned. This is just another example of dumbing down America. In our vast and rich continent, our most valuable resources are the education and knowledge, along with the drive and motivation of our population. When we declare that all men (insert “persons”) are created equal, we mean we have equal rights to excel and should be given every opportunity and encouragement to do so.
I did graduate from a highly competitive high school. I had to pass a test to get in, and I had to pass innumerable tests over the years to stay in. We all moaned about how competitive the school was. Our final grades were posted on the main hallway walls at the end of each semester, along with our rank in our class. “So terrible,” we said, “so unhealthy.” But you know what? I worked harder, studied longer, learned more, because I wanted to see my name higher up on those lists.
Englishman Roger Bannister didn’t break the 4-minute mile alone in 1954 at an Oxford University track. He did it because there were two other runners in the race, Chris Chataway and Chris Brasher, who challenged him for the lead. The competition spurred Bannister to give his best and then some. And when he did break the long-standing barrier, the magic 4-minute figure, he thanked his pacemakers, Chataway and Brasher.
Some disagree that winning a prize or trophy of some sort is what we should be encouraging. They say instead we should inspire an internal desire for learning and self-betterment. But if both work together, an external reward system and an internal drive, we have the best combination for success. Take away the external and the fizz goes out of the drink.
We can teach students how to make competition work for them, rather than tell students that competition is bad.Competitors make worthy colleagues. Sometimes they make best friends.
Part of what we supposedly teach in schools is preparation for what we call “the real world.” Now everything about our world is competitive: What school we get into, which college we attend, what job we will be able to beat out the competition for, which of us will get promoted, get pay raises, even who we will marry. Heck, will the hometown team win the ballgame tonight?
Now some people refuse to play the competitive game, and that’s all right too. They get jobs that pay them enough to get by, they don’t aspire to the conspicuous consumption of much of our society, and they live solid lives with perhaps relatively less stress. Not everyone wants to be a record-breaking athlete. Just getting by is enough. They have the right to the pursuit of happiness according to their own wishes. But sooner or later they have to compete for something — or someone. It is the way of the world, and it is a skill that can be learned without damaging our students. The consolation to not being the best is that everyone is special in some way, not that everyone is equal because they all showed up.
