Suffolk County’s Class of 2015 Valedictorians Honored (click on photo to enlarge)
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Suffolk County’s valedictorians posed for a group photo during the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association Luncheon.School superintendents, administrators and parents acknowledged and honored the highest achieving students of Suffolk County’s Class of 2015 during the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association’s 21st annual Valedictorian Luncheon, held at the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch Hotel in Hauppauge.
The celebratory event was punctuated with music provided by the Islip High School Jazz Ensemble, who performed under the direction of Steve Campanella.
Congratulating the students on their hard work and academic achievements were Dr. Roberta A. Gerold, SCSSA president and Middle Country School District superintendent of schools; Susan A. Schnebel, SCSSA president-elect and Islip School District superintendent of schools; Dr. Charles T. Russo, SCSSA vice president and East Moriches School District superintendent of schools; and Lars Clemensen, SCSSA secretary and Hampton Bays School District superintendent of schools.
Keynote speaker Roger Tilles, a member of the New York State Board of Regents, encouraged the valedictorians to always put things in perspective, develop a backbone, become proactive and involved, use imagination and creativity to propel forward, and find a job that matters.
“Love what you do and feel that it matters,” Tilles said. “There is no greater fun than that.”
Each valedictorian was called to the stage to receive a certificate and gift of recognition. During their acknowledgment, the universities they plan on attending were announced, along with their intended majors. The impressive and prestigious list of schools included Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Duke University, Fordham University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Villanova University and Yale University. The SCSSA and its corporate partners also awarded 10 scholarships to graduates planning to pursue a career in education or social services.
This was the only event in which the Class of 2015 valedictorians were honored together, and it was a truly memorable occasion for all in attendance.
Commack HS - Valedictorian: Scott Massa
Hauppauge HS - Valedictorian: Emily Linko,
Kings Park HS - Valedictorian: Zachary Marcone
Smithtown HS East : Brian Righter
Smithtown HS West - Rebecca Chang
Photo provided by the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association