TOP OF THEIR CLASS Meet The Valedictorians and Salutatorians

TOP OF THEIR CLASS Meet The Valedictorians And Salutatorians

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

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)

KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL 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 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.”

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 thank her enough for everything she has done for me over the past three years.”

CALHOUN HIGH SCHOOL Salutatorian Jessica Lin

Future Plans: University of Pennsylvania with a major in architecture

Extracurriculars: Newspaper Editor in Chief for “Hoofbeats,” Secretary General for Model UN, Historian for Student Council and member of International Buddies Club.

Academic Achievements: AP Scholar with Distinction; National, Art, English, Spanish, Math, Science and Social Studies honor societies and Honors Award at the Long Island Science Congress for her Advanced Science Research at MIT. Volunteer-Splashes of Hope, a nonprofit charity dedicated to transforming the environments of children's hospitals, healthcare centers by painting murals and ceiling tiles. Coca Cola Scholarship recipient, earning a $20,000 scholarship. She mentioned her involvement in community-based organizations as the incentive to apply and was one of only 150 high school seniors nationwide awarded this.

MEPHAM HIGH SCHOOL Valedictorian David Collins

Future Plans: Binghamton University Scholars Program with a major in mathematics

Academic Achievements: President of the Science National Honor Society, Vice President of Spanish National Honor Society, Member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (Math) Honor Society, International Thespian Honor Society and History Honor Society, NYS Senate Liberty Medal recipient, Youth Hero Award recipient, Good Deed Awards recipient, an AP Scholar with Distinction, Editor in Chief of school newspaper, lighting technician for the drama club. He conducted autism research at the Eden II Genesis school in East Meadow for his three-year Advanced Science Research project. His study was called "The Effects of Cooperative Video Gaming on Socialization in Students with Autism." The results were so positive that the school decided to implement an after-school video gaming clinic, which he helped set up using the framework of his research.

Support Shout-Out: “I would like to thank science teacher Jeannette Spargifiore for being an incredible science teacher and research mentor to me for the past four years, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her.”

MEPHAM HIGH SCHOOL Salutatorian Gabriela Daza


Future Plans: Undeclared Extracurriculars: Kickline captain, president of the Class of 2019, Spanish Honor Society president, member of Athletes Helping Athletes 


Academic Achievements: National Hispanic Recognition Program Honoree, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, English Honor Society, French Honor Society, Math Honor Society. Monthly school board representative, reporting on happenings at the building level.


Support Shout-Out: “Thank you kickline coach and social studies teacher Kerry Dennis for pushing me to be my best self these last four years! I wouldn’t be me if I never knew you.”

MEADOWBROOK ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM Valedictorian Brianna Ottofaro

Future Plans: Farmingdale State College, majoring in criminal justice, law enforcement technology


Academic Achievements: Student Representative of her school’s community cupboard
Honor Roll 9th-12th, Good Deeds Award recipient, MAP Ambassador, Honor Roll 9th-12th, volunteering at the community cupboard and the North Merrick Library

MEADOWBROOK ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM Salutatorian Matthew Alexander

Future Plans: NYIT Extracurriculars: Vice President of Key Club, Student Board of Education representative for MAP, Student Advisory Council Member for Nassau County District Attorney's Office

Academic Achievements: Proclamation from Sen. John Brooks (8th Senate District), Honored at Merrick Kiwanis Student Recognition Night for "Outstanding Service to School and Community," and Certificate of Recognition from Legislator Steve Rhoads (19th District) for "Outstanding Service to School and Community.

Support Shout-Out: “Thanks to Principal Susan Ellinghaus, school psychologist Dr. Joseph Netto and the MAP faculty for allowing me to see myself in new ways I could have never imagined and allowing me to reach my full potential.”