One is a filmmaker and another is a Girl Scout Gold Medal recipient. Get to know the more than 130 top seniors from high schools across LI.

<a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/li-life/long-islands-class-of-2026-valedictorians-rtrtcw2u">Also, see this year&#39;s valedictorians</a>.

Long Island

LI Life

LFSAL26_Grid

SALUTATORIAN 
GRACE AKINDAYO 
Hempstead 
GPA: 3.99 (unweighted) 
Activities: Yearbook Club, student government, senior committee, marching band 
College and major: Boston College, biology

Education

Graduations

LFSAL26_ACADEMYCHARTERSCHOOL-HEMPSTEAD

Nassau

Academy Charter School - Hempstead

ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL - HEMPSTEAD

AIAudio - Academy Charter School - Hempstead

Grace  Akindayo

lfSAL26_AcademyCharterSchool-Hempstead

SALUTATORIAN 
NATHANIEL DESTINOBLES 
Westbury 
GPA: 4.02 (unweighted) 
Activities: Yearbook Club, student government, peer tutor, College Board BigFuture Ambassador 
College and major: Rice University, mechanical engineering

LFSAL26_ACADEMYCHARTERSCHOOL-UNIONDALE

Academy Charter School - Uniondale

ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL - UNIONDALE

AIAudio - Academy Charter School - Uniondale

Nathaniel  Destinobles

lfSAL26_AcademyCharterSchool-Uniondale

SALUTATORIAN 
ELIDI LAQUIDARA 
Amityville 
GPA: 101.90 (weighted) 
Activities: National Honor&nbsp;Society, National Art Honor&nbsp;Society, RHO KAPPA Honor&nbsp;Society, Girl Scouts, Drama Club 
College and major: University at Buffalo, SUNY, aerospace engineering

lfSAL26_AmityvilleMemorialHighSchool

Suffolk

Amityville Memorial High School

AMITYVILLE MEMORIAL H.S.

AIAudio - Amityville Memorial High School

Elidi  Laquidara

SALUTATORIAN 
FINN CHATTERTON 
Babylon 
GPA: 104.90 (weighted) 
Activities: Katch at Venetian Shores employee,&nbsp;GET Tutoring Services tutor,&nbsp;Robotics, jazz band drummer, National Honor Society, Science Honor Society 
College and major: WPI, mechanical engineering

lfSAL26_BabylonJuniorSeniorHighSchool

Babylon Junior Senior High School

BABYLON JUNIOR SENIOR H.S.

AIAudio - Babylon Junior Senior High School

Finn Chatterton

SALUTATORIAN 
ROSE ALTSCHULER 
Baldwin 
GPA: 120.00 (weighted) 
Activities: National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, AP Scholar with Distinction Award, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Brown University Book Award, Musicals/Dramas Performing Arts 
College and major: University at Buffalo, biomedical engineering

lfSAL26_BaldwinSeniorHighSchool

Nassau 

Baldwin Senior High School

BALDWIN SENIOR H.S.

AIAudio - Baldwin Senior High School

Rose  Altschuler

SALUTATORIAN 
TATIANNA KRUMMENACKER 
Bay Shore 
GPA: 104.20 (weighted) 
Activities: National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Drama Club, Science Olympiad, jazz band, chamber choir, community theater 
College and major: Binghamton University, undecided

lfSAL26_BayShoreHighSchool

Bay Shore High School

BAY SHORE H.S.

AIAudio - Bay Shore High School

Tatianna Krummenacker

SALUTATORIAN 
SHLOK PAREKH 
Patchogue 
GPA: 103.77 (weighted) 
Activities: Brookhaven National Lab High School Research Program Quantum Networking intern, EduHaven Educational YouTube Channel founder/head creator, BBP Enterprise Club founder of Web Development Team and CEO, Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care volunteer, Science Olympiads building and team coordinator, varsity tennis, National Honor Society tutor/treasurer 
College and major: Georgia Tech, computer science

lfSAL26_Bayport/BluePointHighSchool

Bayport / Blue Point High School

BAYPORT / BLUE POINT H.S.

AIAudio - Bayport / Blue Point High School

Shlok  Parekh

SALUTATORIAN 
SAMANTHA PANASUK 
East Patchogue 
GPA: 104.01 (weighted) 
Activities: National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Fathom upperclassman secretary (11th grade) 
College and major: Stony Brook University, music

LFSAL26_BELLPORTHIGHSCHOOL

Bellport High School

BELLPORT H.S.

AIAudio - Bellport High School

Samantha  Panasuk

lfSAL26_BellportHighSchool

SALUTATORIAN 
ANTHONY HACKER 
Plainview 
&nbsp;GPA: 108.84 (weighted) 
Activities: Investing Club president, Mock Trial officer, National Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society, National World Languages Honor Society, Bethpage Falcons PAL travel soccer, Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library volunteer 
College and major: Binghamton University, political science

lfSAL26_BethpageHighSchool

Bethpage High School

BETHPAGE H.S.

AIAudio - Bethpage High School

Anthony Hacker

SALUTATORIAN 
ALEXA CHAPARRO 
Brentwood 
GPA: 104.44 (weighted) 
Activities: National Honor Society president, AP Scholar, Science Honor Society, English Honor Society, girls varsity cross-country and track, Athletes Helping Athletes 
College and major: Boston University, biology

lfSAL26_BrentwoodHighSchoolRossCenter

Brentwood High School Ross Center

BRENTWOOD H.S. ROSS CENTER

AIAudio - Brentwood High School Ross Center

Alexa Chaparro

SALUTATORIAN 
MAURICIO MEZZA 
Bay Shore 
GPA: 96.86 (weighted) 
Activities: AP Scholar with Distinction, Math Honor Society co-president, Science Honor Society, Science Olympiad medalist, Green Machine marching band, Stony Brook STEP program, jazz band 
College and major: SUNY Stony Brook, mechanical engineering

lfSAL26_BrentwoodHighSchoolSonderlingCenter

Brentwood High School Sonderling Center

BRENTWOOD H.S. SONDERLING CENTER

AIAudio - Brentwood High School Sonderling Center

Mauricio  Mezza

SALUTATORIAN 
LUIS PENAFIEL 
Bridgehampton 
GPA: 93.28 (weighted) 
Activities: Bridgehampton varsity soccer captain, World Language Honor Society vice president, National Honor Society, student council, Bridgehampton GSA, D.R.E.A.M Teens-Bridgehampton Child Care Center 
College and major: University of Connecticut, exercise&nbsp;science

lfSAL26_BridgehamptonSchool

Bridgehampton School

BRIDGEHAMPTON SCHOOL

AIAudio - Bridgehampton School

Luis  Penafiel 

SALUTATORIAN 
CAROLINA VIEGAS 
Carle Place 
GPA: 102.36 (weighted) 
Activities: Ex-officio BOE member, National Honor Society, English Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, peer mentor, student organization president, varsity soccer 
College and major: University of Richmond, psychology

lfSAL26_CarlePlaceMiddleSeniorHighSchool

Carle Place Middle Senior High School

CARLE PLACE MIDDLE SENIOR H.S.

AIAudio - Carle Place Middle Senior High School

Carolina Viegas

SALUTATORIAN 
CLARA TEBBENS 
Center Moriches 
GPA: 103.73 (weighted) 
Activities: National Honor Society vice president, French Honor Society vice president, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society vice president, ex-officio Board of Education student representative, All-State tenor saxophone, varsity tennis team captain, St. John's Community Service volunteer 
College and major: Tulane University, international relations

lfSAL26_CenterMorichesHighSchool

Center Moriches High School

CENTER MORICHES H.S.

AIAudio - Center Moriches High School

Clara Tebbens

SALUTATORIAN 
ZARIF KHAN 
Centereach 
GPA: 102.4 (weighted) 
Activities: NYSSMA Level 5 Trio 25/26, National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, Tri-M Honor Society, History Club, National Honor Society 
College and major: Stony Brook University, biomedical engineering

lfSAL26_CentereachHighSchool

Centereach High School

CENTEREACH H.S.

AIAudio - Centereach High School

Zarif Khan

SALUTATORIAN 
KAMILA SARMIENTO ROMERO 
Central Islip 
GPA: 108.72 (weighted) 
Activities: Stage Crew assistant technical director, Action Committee chief operative officer, Fempire CEO/founder, Computer Science Honor Society co-president, varsity girls lacrosse, Keep Islip Clean junior commissioner, Math Club vice president 
College and major: Harvard, mechanical engineering

lfSAL26_CentralIslipHighSchool

Central Islip High School

CENTRAL ISLIP H.S.

AIAudio - Central Islip High School

Kamila Sarmiento Romero

SALUTATORIAN 
JOSEPH GOMES 
Hewlett 
GPA: 99.29 (unweighted) 
Activities: Social Studies Club, Culinary Club, Sodality 
College and major: Brown University, environmental engineering

lfSAL26_ChaminadeHighSchool

Chaminade High School

CHAMINADE H.S.

AIAudio - Chaminade High School

Joseph Gomes

ACADEMIC LEADER 
MADELEINE MARTUFI 
Smithtown 
GPA: 104.54 (weighted) 
Activities: French Honor Society president, Tri-M Music Honor Society co-vice president, FASTA president, National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, peer leader, Lynch Ballet Company member 
College and major: Stony Brook University, health science premed&nbsp;(Honors College)

lfVAL26_CommackHighSchool

Commack High School

COMMACK H.S.

AIAudio - Commack High School

Madeleine Martufi

SALUTATORIAN 
DILLON ORDER 
Port Jefferson Station 
GPA: 103.74 (weighted) 
Activities: AP Scholar with Distinction, class president, DECA president, varsity basketball, tennis captain, Athletes Helping Athletes, By the People History transcriber 
College and major: Cornell University, neuroscience

lfSAL26_ComsewogueHighSchool

Comsewogue High School

COMSEWOGUE H.S.

AIAudio - Comsewogue High School

Dillon Order

SALUTATORIAN 
MADISON HOLZMACHER 
Bohemia 
GPA: 104.58 (weighted) 
Activities: Model United Nations Club president,&nbsp;stage srew,&nbsp;Science Olympiad - building event manager,&nbsp;350+ hours of community service at Connetquot Public Library, tennis team captain, badminton team, chorus and orchestra member 
College and major: Duke, biomedical engineering

lfSAL26_ConnetquotSeniorHighSchool

Connetquot Senior High School

CONNETQUOT SENIOR H.S.

AIAudio - Connetquot Senior High School

Madison Holzmacher

SALUTATORIAN 
ALIYA MANSURI 
Valley Stream 
GPA: 96.03 (weighted) 
Activities: Not provided 
College and major: New York Institute of Technology, life sciences

lfSAL26_CrescentSchool

Crescent School

CRESCENT SCHOOL

AIAudio - Crescent School

Aliya Mansuri

SALUTATORIAN 
JAIDYN SCHABE 
Deer Park 
GPA: 109.84 (weighted) 
Activities: P.E.N. Society president, senior class president, Girl Scouts Gold Award recipient, DECA vice president of finance, Mock Trial co-vice president, Spanish Honor Society secretary, girls varsity lacrosse 
College and major: Yale University, molecular biophysics and biochemistry

lfSAL26_DeerParkHighSchool

Deer Park High School

DEER PARK H.S.

AIAudio - Deer Park High School

Jaidyn Schabe

SALUTATORIAN 
ANDREW ZHAO 
Levittown 
GPA: 102.76 (weighted) 
Activities: Marching band section captain 2 years, jazz band, saxophone soloist 2025, pit orchestra 1st clarinet, Key Club 
College and major: New York University, engineering or physics

LFSAL26_DIVISIONAVEHIGHSCHOOL

Division Ave High School

DIVISION AVE H.S.

AIAudio - Division Ave High School

Andrew Zhao

lfSAL26_DivisionAveHighSchool

SALUTATORIAN 
EITAN CORONEL 
Woodmere 
GPA: 98.15 (unweighted) 
Activities: Einstein Montefiore Summer High School Research Program Summer 2025, AP Scholar with Distinction, College Bowl captain, Mock Trial captain, Devarim HaYotzim editor, DRS Business Insider editor, flag football team captain 
College and major: Yeshiva University, pre-medicine

LFSAL26_DRSYESHIVAHIGHSCHOOL

DRS Yeshiva High School

DRS YESHIVA H.S.

AIAudio - DRS Yeshiva High School


AIAudio - DRS Yeshiva High School

Eitan  Coronel

lfSAL26_DrsYeshivaHighSchool

SALUTATORIAN 
NARIN KARAKURUM 
Port Jefferson 
GPA: 101.92 (weighted) 
Activities: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories cancer researcher, Gold-tier National Latin Exam Award winner, Board of Education representative, student organization president, Drama Club actor, A-Capella chamber choir, Gold-Tier Presidential Volunteer Service Award 
College and major: Yale University, molecular biophysics and biochemistry

lfSAL26_EarlL.VandermeulenHighSchool

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School

EARL L. VANDERMEULEN H.S.

AIAudio - Earl L. Vandermeulen High School

Narin Karakurum

SALUTATORIAN 
CHARLES STERN 
Amagansett 
GPA: 105.62 (weighted) 
Activities: Silverware Project self-made initiative, summer math tutoring president, varsity football team captain, Concerned Citizens of Montauk intern for 6 summers, Science Research-Gobler Lab, Math Club president, National Merit letter of recommendation 
College and major:&nbsp;University of Pennsylvania, finance

LFSAL26_EASTHAMPTONHIGHSCHOOL

East Hampton High School

EAST HAMPTON H.S.

AIAudio - East Hampton High School

Charles Stern

lfSAL26_EastHamptonHighSchool

SALUTATORIAN 
ANGEL MAI 
East Islip 
GPA: 108.62 (weighted) 
Activities: Ex-officio student board member, Science Honor Society co-president, Class of 2026 vice president, student government secretary, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, World Language Honor Society 
College and major: St. John's University, nursing

LFSAL26_EASTISLIPHIGHSCHOOL

East Islip High School

EAST ISLIP H.S.

AIAudio - East Islip High School

Angel  Mai

lfSAL26_EastIslipHighSchool

SALUTATORIAN 
EMILY ZHENG 
East Meadow 
GPA: 109.80 (weighted) 
Activities: National Honor Society president, Math Honor Society president, Jack Kent Cooke College scholar, biochemistry research at Indiana University summer science program, News 12 Scholar Athlete, All-County and 3-time&nbsp;National Qualifier for track and field, behavioral sciences research with LISEF Grand Award 
College and major: University of Pennsylvania, biochemistry and&nbsp;economics

LFSAL26_EASTMEADOWHIGHSCHOOL

East Meadow High School

EAST MEADOW H.S.

AIAudio - East Meadow High School

Emily Zheng

lfSAL26_EastMeadowHighSchool

SALUTATORIAN 
VICTORIA SCHAEFER 
East Rockaway 
GPA: 105.62 (weighted) 
Activities: National Honor Society vice president, Class of 2026 vice president, student council, Scholastic Art Award, senior band president, Art Club president, Key Club 
College and major: Molloy University, biology, Pre-Medicine

LFSAL26_EASTROCKAWAYJUNIORSENIORHIGHSCHOOL

East Rockaway Junior Senior High School

EAST ROCKAWAY JUNIOR SENIOR H.S.

AIAudio - East Rockaway Junior Senior High School

Victoria  Schaefer

lfSAL26_EastRockawayJuniorSeniorHighSchool

SALUTATORIAN 
MICHELL ZHENG 
Manorville 
GPA: 106.59 (weighted) 
Activities: Mu Alpha Theta president, Science Research Program researcher, Coding Club team captain, Math Olympiads team captain, World Language Honor Society secretary, varsity tennis 
College and major: University of Michigan, nuclear engineering

lfSAL26_Eastport-SouthManorJuniorSeniorHighSchool

Eastport-South Manor Junior Senior High School

EASTPORT-SOUTH MANOR JUNIOR SENIOR H.S.

AIAudio - Eastport-South Manor Junior Senior High School

Michell Zheng

SALUTATORIAN 
YALISAH LOZADA 
Elmont 
GPA: 101.26 (weighted) 
Activities: AP Scholar with Distinction award 2025, AP Capstone diploma, class of 2026 president, Model United Nations student mentor, Key Club event supervisor, jazz choir, choir 
College and major: Stony Brook University, oncology, pediatrics

Long Island's Class of 2026 salutatorians

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