AP exams, perfect SAT score for Thole

ic record speaks for itself — he has taken 14 Advanced Placement classes. He enrolled in three his sophomore year, three his junior year, and six in now his senior year, with two other AP independent study courses. The independent study courses take place outside of class, since Thole completes the work on his own time, under the guidance of science teachers.

During his junior year, he positioned himself to be a Presidential Scholar, earning a perfect SAT score of 1600 in December 2021.

Thole’s primary academic interests lie in the science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, field, and he has taken AP courses under the guidance of teachers Valarie Sebastiano, Samantha Gordon, Richard Colavita and Lori Houde. Initially, Thole preferred biology and chemistry, but fell in love with physics due to Gordon’s hands-on teaching approach.

“I figured that I would just kind of be like the ‘Biochem Kid,’ so to speak,” Thole said. “But taking physics with Mrs. Gordon and doing all the hands on activities really made me love the subject. And honestly, it’s one of my abso- lute favorites now.”

But Thole is not just a STEM scholar. He has also taken AP music theory and is an accomplished musician as well, playing euphonium and tuba in school bands. Though his college career will likely be focused on a science, Thole said he intends to continue playing music as well.

Thole has looked at a number of colleges, but has not yet made a decision on one.

“I’m not really looking for the most competitive place,” he said. “I’m looking for a place that has a community where people are just really interested in learning. I’m not looking for a place where everyone wants to be number one and be at the top of everything but, more so, for a place where everyone is really interested in what they’re studying and how to support one another.”

Thole said he is greatly appreciative of his teachers in Wantagh, and specifically singled out Sebastiano, Colavita, Houde and Gordon as those who have inspired him to be great. Marie Malafis, a guidance counselor at the high school, has helped him through it all.

Spousal Refusal - Just Say No

Spousal refusal is a legally valid Medicaid planning option in New York. By way of background, certain income and assets are exempt from Medicaid if there is a spouse. Generally, the spouse at home, known as the “community spouse” may keep about $3,700 per month of the couple’s combined income and up to about $150,000 of the assets or “resources”. Not included in those fgures are any other exempt assets, such as a home (up to about $1,000,000 of the equity only) and one automobile. The spouse who is being cared for in a facility is known as the “institutionalized spouse”.

Many a spouse has advised us that they simply cannot afford to live on the allowances that Medicaid provides. This is where spousal refusal comes in. We start by shifting excess assets into the name of the “community spouse”. He or she then signs a document which the elder law attorney prepares and fles with the county indicating that they refuse to contribute their income and assets to the care of the ill spouse since they need those income and assets for their own care and well-being. Note that you may not refuse your spouse’s own income over the $3,700 per month exemption as it is not coming to you.

Once the “community spouse” invokes their right to refuse, and all of the other myriad requirements of the Medicaid application are met, the state Medicaid program must pay for the care of the institutionalized spouse.

After Medicaid has been granted, the county may institute a lawsuit seeking to recover the cost of care from the refusing spouse. Nevertheless, there are a few reasons why spousal refusal makes sense, even in light of this risk. First, in many instances, the county never invokes this right. Secondly, these lawsuits are often settled for signifcantly less than the cost of care provided. Thirdly, the payment to the county can sometimes be deferred until the community spouse dies. As one county attorney told us when agreeing to such an arrangement, “the county is going to be around for a long time”. Finally, even though the county may seek recovery, it is only for the Medicaid reimbursement rate and not the private pay rate. For example, if the private pay rate is $18,000 per month, which is what you would have to pay, the amount Medicaid has to pay is generally a quarter to a third less. The county may only pursue you for the amount they actually paid.

“I’m lucky to know him,” Malafis said of Thole.

“There’s no fluff to Evan, everything is deep, deep appreciation, deep intellect, deep kindness. He doesn’t speak without thought. You know, he’s just a unique individual. His complete disregard for numbers makes him special, because here’s a kid with a 1600 on the SAT and a 107 average. But he has no real attachment to those numbers — he just wants to learn everything. I could go on all day about him. We are sad to see him go this year, but excited to see what he does.”

Thole’s achievements have not gone unnoticed by administration either.

“What strikes me most about Evan is how humble he is,” Paul Guzzone, principal of Wantagh High, said. “He has every reason not to be humble, with a perfect 1600 on his SAT. If it wasn’t for us talking about him, you would never know, because of his modesty. He’s just such a fantastic young individual with a bright future. He’s a great representation of what our building, our district, and our community has to offer.”

The Presidential Scholars Program

Evan Thole is a candidate for a U.S. Department of Education Presidential Scholar. This program was established in 1964, honoring the most prestigious high school seniors in the country. More information on it can be found at tinyurl.com/ USPresidentialScholars. If selected, Thole would be one of roughly 100 students in the country to earn this honor.