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NEWS
Your NewsMag
GRADUATION 2019 | Vol.6 No.5
TOP OF THEIR CLASS
Meet The Valedictorians And Salutatorians JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL Valedictorian Jordan Pitti
Future plans: Attending the Wharton Business School at University of Pennsylvania major in business, technology and engineering Extracurriculars: Captain, Kennedy High School varsity football (senior, junior); varsity football (senior, junior, sophomore) - starting offensive running back and defensive end; captain and starting quarterback - Kennedy junior varsity football (freshman); captain, Kennedy High School varsity basketball (senior); varsity basketball (senior, junior, sophomore); Kennedy junior varsity basketball (freshman), Student Ambassador, Student Council, Tutors For a Cure Awards/Honors/Societies: Valedictorian, Kennedy Cougar Pride Award, Kennedy Football Scholar Athlete Award, National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award, Kennedy Football Citizenship Award, AP Scholar with Honors, National Honor Society, Spanish Seal of Biliteracy Award Academic Achievements: 5 (highest score) on all AP Tests (Physics, English Language and Composition, US History, Global History), 1510 SAT Score (800 Math, 710 English), 790 SAT Subject Physics, 790 SAT Subject - Math Level 2, 750 SAT Subject – U.S. History Support shout out to a mentor/ teacher/coach/admin: Melissa Ranallo (guidance counselor), Sara Gant (High School BC calculus teacher), Jennifer Sapir (High School English teacher)
Salutatorian Whitney Sussman
Future Plans: Furman University, Duke Scholar (full tuition scholarship and research stipend recipient) major in health sciences on a pre-med track with a minor in Spanish. Extracurriculars: Varsity kickline (co-captain), Science Olympiad Club (secretary, treasurer, and vice president), spring varsity track & field member, Chamber Orchestra Club (first chair violinist), JFK Student Ambassador, Tutor for Tutors for a Cure program. Academic Achievements: Regeneron
From left, Calhoun valedictorian Senya Huda, Calhoun salutatorian Jessica Lin, Kennedy valedictorian Jordan Pitti, Kennedy salutatorian Whitney Sussman, MAP valedictorian Brianna Ottofaro, MAP salutatorian Matthew Alexander, Mepham valedictorian David Collins and Mepham salutatorian Gabriela Daza. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT STS Scholar, National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar, National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Tri-M Music National Honor Society. Completed three years of graduate-level research, "The Role of Clock Genes and Hormones in Small Intestinal Glucose Uptake," which won national recognition and title as a Regeneron STS Competition Scholar. His preliminary research was published my junior year in high school by Nova Science Publishers, and the research that was recognized by Regeneron was just recently published by the American Journal of Physiology. He is also an active participant in charity and community events through JFK's Student Ambassadors Club. Support Shout-Out: “I would like to thank all of the teachers I have had throughout junior high school and high school, for you have each shaped me into the driven person I am today. In particular, my Advanced Science Research
teacher Mrs. Barbi Frank has provided me with tremendous guidance on an scientific and personal level; she has shown me what true dedication and determination is, as well as skills that will definitely benefit me in my undergraduate and graduate studies. Finally, I would like to thank my parents and sister, Julia, for their unconditional love, support, and guidance throughout my time at Kennedy.”
SANFORD H. CALHOUN HIGH SCHOOL Valedictorian Senya Huda
Future Plans: Hofstra University, major in biology Extracurriculars: Medical Club (President/Founder), International Buddy Club (president), Key Club (treasurer), Chamber Orchestra (President), English Honor Society (Secretary), Senior Class club (secretary), Model UN, Math Team, Japanese Culture Club and Science Olympiad Academic Achievements: National, English, Social Studies, Math and Tri-M honor societies. Outstanding Woman in
Science 2015-2019, High Achievement in Biology, Gold Medal National Spanish Examination 2017, 1st place Wordwright at Calhoun High School, Bronze Nassau County Interscholastic Math League, Orchestra Leadership Award, Letter of Commendation National Merit Scholarship, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, Seal of Biliteracy, SAAWA STEM and Community Service Award, Volunteer at Nassau University Medical Center 60 hours Pediatrics and Oncology Departments, Molloy College High School Research Internship Program 2017 and Research Internship at Mount Sinai Hospital 2018 and a semi-finalist for the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Support Shout-Out: “Science teacher Christine Boyce is an amazing teacher who has guided me through the process of working in a professional lab and writing Ph.D. level research papers. She is truly a wonderful teacher who strives to help her students achieve their full potential and pursue their dreams. I cannot [CONT. ON PAGE 9]
