Meet Meadowbrook Alternative Program Valedictorian & Salutatorian

Top Of The Class... Meet Meadowbrook Alternative Program Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Valedictorian Jenna Friedlander

Jenna Friedlander has a love for learning. While other students are on their phones engaging in social media activities and playing games, Jenna is often found learning a new language or researching the history of person of interest. She strives to be the best, and at the Meadowbrook Alternative Program (MAP), she has demonstrated her ability to be the best. Jenna is an active learner who participates in class more than any other MAP student. Jenna is thoughtful in her responses and is serious about getting her work done in a timely manner at the highest level of quality. This does not only apply to traditional academic classes. Jenna is an artist with a creative mind and classic tastes. Her depiction of Audrey Hepburhn in a piece she completed in art class is nothing short of stunning. She is the highest achieving student at MAP, which makes her the Valedictorian, but there is so much more to Jenna than just high grades.

Beyond her grades and talents, Jenna is a person who gives of herself for others. She is the person that the MAP Principal uses as his unofficial ambassador to the program. When a new student joins MAP, she is paired with them to help the new student make a smooth transition. Additionally, Jenna is involved in leadership roles in school and community-based organizations that help people. As the Vice President of the MAP Key Club, Jenna led the effort to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees this year. She volunteers regularly in the District’s Community Cupboard food pantry that collects and distributes goods to families in the Bellmore-Merrick Community. As a member of the Brookside Buddies, Jenna spends time working with students with developmental disabilities to develop social skills and other functional academic skills. Jenna is also relied upon to be the program student representative for signing official business documents that deposit money for student organizations.

Jenna is a high achiever who has demonstrated herself academically, socially, and has established herself as a responsible member of the MAP community. Next year following graduation, Jenna plans to continue her academic achievement as an honors student at Nassau Community College.

Salutatorian Dara Levitt

Dara Levitt is courageous in his pursuit of learning. The confidence in himself has developed tremendously over a very short period of time while at the Meadowbrook Alternative Program

(MAP). Academically, he is an active participant in class who is both inquisitive and curious in his pursuit of knowledge. He contributes to the school community environment and elevates it to a higher level through his questioning and hard work. He has a history of strong academic achievement prior to coming to the Meadowbrook Alternative Program (MAP), and continued to achieve at a high level thereafter. As a senior at MAP, Dara demonstrated a love of the arts and had a piece chosen for the Bellmore-Merrick Cultural Arts Festival. Beyond his excellent grades and many talents, Dara regularly demonstrates kind-heartedness toward others. He participates in the Key Club and is someone who is always willing to help a fellow student with academic support when they need it the most. He works in the District’s Community Cupboard among other efforts to better the school, District, and society at large.

Dara will continue his academic studies at Nassau Community College next year.