Congratulations to Kathryn Browne, who was named valedictorian of the Class of 2018. Along with being an active member of the school community, which she likens to a family, Kathryn excelled both in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. She was inducted into the National and World Language honor societies, was a member of the Independent Science Research Club and was awarded multiple academic distinctions, including the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award.

The top-ranked graduate also lent her talents to helping others, as she assumed mentoring and leadership roles in Natural Helpers, the Freshman Buddy Mentor Program and the Independent Mentoring Club and actively participated with Habitat for Humanity. Rounding out her busy schedule, she enjoyed involvement on both the varsity track and soccer teams and was named a Scholar-Athlete by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association for each of her four years in high school. She attributes her success not only to her hard work and dedication, but also to the incredible support system provided by her friends, family and teachers.

Reflecting on her time in the district, Kathryn said, “As I look forward to expanding my horizons and discovering more about myself, I know that wherever I end up, or whatever I end up doing, I am so lucky to always have this incredible community to come back to and to call home.”
Kathryn will attend Boston College in the fall to pursue nursing.

Not only has Catherine Reyes-Ordonoz risen to the top as the Class of 2018 salutatorian, she has also been pursuing the family tradition of nursing throughout her high school career and is already a certified nursing assistant. During high school, she received the National Academy for Future Physicians and Medical Scientists Award of Excellence and a New York State Scholarship for Academic Excellence, in addition to being named a three-time recipient of the National Spanish Exam Gold distinction.

Catherine complemented her rigorous dedication to excellence in her studies with altruism. She has been an active member of her school and local community, volunteering as a homework helper, a tutor for both children and adults, and a volunteer at a local clinic. She credits a large part of her success to the exceptional examples of her parents, as well as the values they instilled in her as a child to be determined and look ahead in the face of hardship.

“I will miss home and this community,” she said, “but I’m so excited to begin a new chapter in my life, filled with greater knowledge and new friends and experiences.”

Catherine will attend LIU Post on a full scholarship to study nursing.