See this year&#39;s valedictorians, salutatorians, and more.

Long Island

LI Life

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One is a five-time state champion swimmer. Another has interned for GE Aerospace. Get to know the more than 150 top seniors from high schools across LI.

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Long Island's Class of 2026 valedictorians

Meet Long Island's Class of 2026 valedictorians

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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>.

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Long Island's Class of 2026 salutatorians

Meet Long Island's Class of 2026 salutatorians

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John Asbury

They don’t look or talk alike. They don’t even study alike. 
But twin brothers John and Joseph Gomes share one thing in common: They are the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChaminadeHighSchool/photos/for-the-first-time-ever-twins-take-the-top-two-spots-congratulations-to-john-and/1421333926691123/">first siblings to finish at the top of their&nbsp;class</a> in the same year at Chaminade High School. 
John, who was&nbsp;born one minute ahead of his brother, has been named valedictorian with a&nbsp;GPA of 99.42. Joseph, with a&nbsp;GPA of 99.29, has been named salutatorian of the all-boys Catholic school in Mineola. 
"Our job is to help these young men become better than they thought they could be, from the moment they join us," Chaminade's president, Brother Thomas Cleary, said Thursday. "Both John and Joseph, in everything they've done ... have far exceeded even that goal of becoming better than we thought they could be." 
The two brothers, both 18 and from Hewlett, have&nbsp;taken most of the same classes during their four years at Chaminade.&nbsp;They said they often helped one another, though their study habits differ: John likes to finish his work and go&nbsp;to bed early, while Joseph often stays up late to study. 
"I know I have my strong subjects I help him in, like physics," Joseph said. "He helps me in a lot of other subjects, and I think we really complement each other." 
Though the two competed academically, John said there was no sibling rivalry between them. Quite the opposite, as they leaned on each other for support, he said. 
"At the end of the day, becoming valedictorian was certainly a goal that I had, and something I am very grateful for," he said. 
Their parents, John and Barbara Gomes, said Thursday&nbsp;they tried to lead by example rather than putting pressure on their sons to do well in school. They said the teens had an innate work ethic, never needing&nbsp;to be reminded&nbsp;to do their homework. 
"They were naturally curious. They were naturally innovative from a very young age," their father said. 
The two also had a built-in support system in one another.&nbsp; 
"That's what's so incredible, is to have a sibling," John Gomes Sr. said. "To have somebody so close to you that when you're supportive, you're there for all kinds of fun times and for difficult times as well." <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Childhood photo of Joseph, left, and John Gomes." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/b9c83831-320f-45b2-a467-a85e1a626ef3" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/b9c83831-320f-45b2-a467-a85e1a626ef3', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/b9c83831-320f-45b2-a467-a85e1a626ef3"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/b9c83831-320f-45b2-a467-a85e1a626ef3/Resized_DSC_0571_160023763820985.jpg?w=400&amp;q=0.3">Childhood photo of Joseph, left, and John Gomes.</a> 
After graduating next month, the twins will head to <a href="https://www.brown.edu/">Brown University</a> in Providence this fall. 
John said he has been interested in geography since he was little and plans to study international public affairs. Joseph said he hopes to study environmental engineering. 
But while their paths may diverge, the brothers said their connection will remain unbroken. 
"There's the bond that twins have," John said. "Certainly, you talk together, you go through the same life experiences together, and honestly, that develops a bond that's so much closer than a lot of other ones that you develop as life goes on. ... That's a really special thing about having a twin."

Education

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Chaminade twins John and Joseph Gomes named valedictorian and salutatorian

Twin brothers named valedictorian, salutatorian at Chaminade

AIAudio - Chaminade twins John and Joseph Gomes named valedictorian and salutatorian


AIAudio - Chaminade twins John and Joseph Gomes named valedictorian and salutatorian

Chaminade twins&nbsp;John and Joseph Gomes were named valedictorian and salutatorian, a first for the all-boys Catholic school in Mineloa.

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Twins named valedictorian, salutatorian at Chaminade

Newsday

Twins make val and sal history

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At Jericho High School, they’re coming up aces. 
The high school's Class of 2026 has 21 valedictorians&nbsp;— a record for the school known for its high-achieving students. The nearly two dozen seniors earned the honor by getting A-pluses in all of their classes during their high school career. 
"It's an incredible achievement," the school's co-principal, Brian Cummings, told Newsday on Monday. "And we’re really proud of them. For them to have this sustained success over years is an incredible accomplishment." 
Jericho High School, which uses an unweighted GPA formula,&nbsp;has <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/graduations/jericho-high-school-valedictorians-numbers-umnaaxzx">become known in recent years for its multiple valedictorians</a>.&nbsp;There were nine&nbsp;in 2025, 13 in 2024 and <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/graduations/jericho-high-school-valedictorians-ex285xua">15 in 2023</a>&nbsp;— the old record, before this year's class shattered it. 
The valedictorians this year range from an aspiring art museum director headed to Princeton University to the founder of a&nbsp;nonprofit dedicated to "empowering women and girls in their healthcare journeys."&nbsp; 
Tommy Yuan, 18, said that to reach the top of his class, he needed to learn how to juggle&nbsp;his studies with extracurriculars like competitive swimming. 
"It's definitely a lot of work ... but it was definitely doable," he said. "Once you get your time all organized and all your activities spaced out, you can really focus and set aside time to study for your tests and your homework." 
Franklin Lee, 17, plans to study artificial intelligence at Stanford University in the fall. He credited the&nbsp;support he received from his fellow valedictorians for his academic success. 
"It's a really nice community," he said. "Being around valedictorians, you kind of get motivation to do the work and also pursue your interests as well." <a class="p-smartembed" data-onecms-id="contentid/0425a2b5-591b-4b53-98d9-70a2a2a8be15" data-onecms-type="storywidget" data-subtype="htmlBlurb" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/0425a2b5-591b-4b53-98d9-70a2a2a8be15', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/0425a2b5-591b-4b53-98d9-70a2a2a8be15">STORYWIDGET: liJERICHO260512_chart</a> 
For Anish Pahari, 18, achieving A-pluses in every class required focus and a good work ethic. 
"It took a lot of discipline and a lot of time and effort," said Pahari, who plans to study math and finance at the University of Virginia. 
Andrew Han, 18, agreed. 
"It has taken a lot of dedication and sacrifice. Whether it's sacrificing your social lives with your friends or sometimes not being able to do as many outside activities, it’s given me self-motivation and support from those around me," said Han, who is headed to Yale University.&nbsp;He said he plans to study global affairs and enter the field of diplomacy. 
Derek Kwong, 17, said being valedictorian was never his goal. But, he said, excelling in challenging classes has built good habits that he will apply to his studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he plans to major in computer science. 
"I think being a valedictorian is a great honor, and even though it's like 20 other kids, I think this really shows like how driven and motivated so many of us are," Kwong said. “I think all my classmates are so motivated, and that really put me in a great position to be successful throughout high school."

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Jericho High School's Class of 2026 has a record-breaking 21 valedictorians

Jericho High's Class of 2026 has a record-breaking 21 valedictorians

AIAudio - Jericho High School's Class of 2026 has a record-breaking 21 valedictorians


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A record-breaking 21 valedictorians are graduating&nbsp;from Jericho High School this year. The seniors earned the honor by getting A-pluses in all their high school classes.

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Record-breaking 21 valedictorians at Jericho H.S.

Jericho

Records of excellence

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The best friends, who are known at South Side High School as the &quot;Dynamic Duo,&quot; are among&nbsp;Newsday&#39;s 2026 Extraordinary Seniors.

Extraordinary Seniors: Seniors Alex Banilower and Luke Schauf

'They are both perfection in their own right, but together they are extraordinary'

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Meet 10 extraordinary Long Island high school seniors

A chimpanzee attack survivor, a football player turned cheerleader and more: Meet 10 Extraordinary Seniors

AIAudio - Meet 10 extraordinary Long Island high school seniors


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LI's Class of 2026 college commitments

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Nicholas Grasso

Hempstead High School senior Melva Ramirez Zavala dreamed of attending college in Washington, D.C., the home of her maternal grandparents. Thanks to two life-changing scholarships, her dream will come true&nbsp;— but the news comes with a bittersweet edge. 
Ramirez, who plans to study nursing at The Catholic University of America, said her grandfather died recently, before he could learn of her good fortune. 
“I still have my grandmother, and I’m just a big family person, that’s a big reason why I’m going,” Ramirez, 17,&nbsp;told Newsday. “I’m very happy that I’m still able to kind of be there for him because he always wanted a nurse in the family.” 
The Hempstead High&nbsp;salutatorian earned a full-ride scholarship worth $332,864 to&nbsp;Catholic University. She has also been named a Gates scholar, a prestigious award given annually to a select number of "outstanding" low-income students. <a href="https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship">The scholarship</a>&nbsp;covers any expenses for undergraduate recipients — from tuition and books to food and housing — not paid for through&nbsp;other financial aid sources. 
For Ramirez, she said the scholarship will allow her to buy laptop and fund other personal expenses, and even cover therapy should she seek it. 
“Gates has a very heavy focus on mental health,” the 4.0 GPA student said of the scholarship established by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. “They know that school can be very pressuring so they also want to take care of that.” 
Her father, Erick, noted it will also help&nbsp;pay for another important expense: “They will pay for her to come home [between semesters].” 
The teen's father&nbsp;recalled how “my wife cried” when they learned of their daughter's achievement several weeks ago. 
“We are very happy,” he told Newsday. <a class="p-smartembed" data-attr-caption="Ramírez with her parents, Erick Ramírez and Melva Zavala." data-attr-credit="" data-attr-has-caption="true" data-attr-has-credit="true" data-attr-q="0.3" data-attr-w="400" data-onecms-id="contentid/779164a2-8f05-4df1-a0a4-93075f33e553" data-onecms-type="image" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/779164a2-8f05-4df1-a0a4-93075f33e553', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/779164a2-8f05-4df1-a0a4-93075f33e553"><img src="/image-service/alias/contentid/779164a2-8f05-4df1-a0a4-93075f33e553/liGATES26060610.jpg?w=400&amp;q=0.3">Ramírez with her parents, Erick Ramírez and Melva Zavala.</a> 
<h3>'Powerhouse' student</h3> 
Ramirez is the second student from Hempstead in as many years to be named a Gates scholar. Last year, Academy Charter High School senior Adinsson Goris also received the coveted scholarship,&nbsp;for which tens of thousands apply. <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/adinsson-goris-academy-charter-gates-scholarship-f1vq84df">Goris previously told Newsday</a> he planned to study computer science at New York University. 
Social studies teacher Dina Platt choked up as she recounted experiences with Ramirez in her 10th grade AP World History course, as well as her AP U.S. Government and Politics class this year. 
The teacher, speaking before an awards ceremony at Hempstead High on Thursday,&nbsp;said she'd come to know the teen as “kind,” a “powerhouse” and “a super consistent student.” 
Platt said earlier this year, Ramirez “really took the lead in the discussion” with half the class during a group project that divided them into the two chambers of Congress and forced them to decide what to fund. 
“She’s a thinker, a problem solver,” Platt said. “She usually has great, insightful questions about the application of the Constitution and how things play out in real life to really grasp what’s going on.” 
This year’s valedictorian, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYaIp_MR8UK/">Anjali Mishra</a>, said Ramirez, whom she’s called a friend since they met in AP Biology in 10th grade, “envelops everyone in her brightness” when she speaks&nbsp;but does not shy away from taking charge. 
“We meet people who maybe struggle with their work, and she’s more than willing to help them understand,” Mishra, 18,&nbsp;said. “With her friends, she’s not just kind, but a leader. She’s able to step out of that kindness and say ‘everything’s not fun and games, we actually have to focus on our work.’ ”&nbsp; 
Outside of class, Ramirez has played varsity tennis, served as president of the photography club, held positions on various academic honor societies and worked at an Aéropostale location to save money for college. 
She envisions a career as a neonatal intensive care unit nurse before becoming a nurse practitioner, after witnessing the line of work up close. 
“My own sister was a premature baby&nbsp;and also my own cousin, so I was very inspired seeing the nurses in the hospital,” Ramirez said. 
She currently volunteers at NYU Langone Hospital in Mineola as part of their lavender team, which offers snacks, a sense of calm and a listening ear to staff in need of mental health support during their day. 
“We visit all floors: Pediatrics, ICU units, emergency departments,” she said. “That also reassured me being a nursing major and seeing my future in nursing. Nurses work very hard and nursing is very intimate. You are the one helping and you know your patient.”

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Hempstead High School senior Melva Ramirez Zavala named Gates scholar

LI high school senior named Gates scholar, gets $332G college scholarship

AIAudio - Hempstead High School senior Melva Ramirez Zavala named Gates scholar


Darwin Yanes

This Friday, high schoolers across the country will make one of the most pivotal choices of their young lives. 
Known as College Decision Day, May 1 marks the deadline for many students to commit to the colleges they plan to attend in the fall.&nbsp;The yearly tradition is often marked with high school seniors attending class in clothing from their future alma mater. 
Newsday spoke with six teens from across Long Island about the colleges they chose and how they made their selection. Their responses varied, from affordability to academics, but all expressed optimism for the&nbsp;future. <a class="p-smartembed" data-onecms-id="contentid/133ccaf1-59aa-414a-9bc0-81a66a5de0b8" data-onecms-type="storywidget" data-subtype="htmlBlurb" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/133ccaf1-59aa-414a-9bc0-81a66a5de0b8', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/133ccaf1-59aa-414a-9bc0-81a66a5de0b8">STORYWIDGET: LIDECISION260503_grid</a> 
<h3>Here are their stories:</h3> <a class="p-smartembed" data-onecms-id="contentid/827dc532-1f0e-45e0-ac98-a66bcf050846" data-onecms-type="storywidget" data-subtype="profileCard" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/827dc532-1f0e-45e0-ac98-a66bcf050846', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/827dc532-1f0e-45e0-ac98-a66bcf050846">STORYWIDGET: LIDECISION_pc1</a> 
When Vasyl Datsyuk visited the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta, he said he fell in love with the city's&nbsp;green spaces, shops and overall walkability. The college's high educational standards also impressed him.&nbsp; 
"It’s a very good school," he said.&nbsp;"Very rigorous in academics, which is what I was looking for." 
Another major factor that drove his decision, he said, was the university's co-op program, in which students gain work experience related to their major by alternating between full-time study and at least three semesters of full-time paid work. 
Datsyuk said Georgia Tech offered him an $88,000 scholarship over four years. He has applied for other scholarships and financial opportunities for engineering students. 
Georgia Tech tuition for out-of-state&nbsp;students is around $54,286 annually, according to&nbsp;the institution’s website. 
"I’ve definitely taken the opportunity to apply to as many scholarships and try to get as much money for myself as possible because college is very expensive," Datsyuk said. 
The teen, who plans to study aerospace engineering,&nbsp;has participated in his school's&nbsp;science research program and recently presented some of his findings at a&nbsp;plant and animal genome conference in San Diego. 
Datsyuk is also a member of the school’s thespian society and&nbsp;science Olympiad, and plays in the jazz band. <a class="p-smartembed" data-onecms-id="contentid/83860d1d-23d6-4940-aad1-4234ec1be1e1" data-onecms-type="storywidget" data-subtype="profileCard" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/83860d1d-23d6-4940-aad1-4234ec1be1e1', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/83860d1d-23d6-4940-aad1-4234ec1be1e1">STORYWIDGET: LIDECISION_pc2</a> 
When it was time to apply to college, Olukemi&nbsp;Akingbade&nbsp;said she only applied to three state schools. 
Akingbade&nbsp;knew she wanted to remain in New York, but not on Long Island. She wanted a diverse, tight-knit community like the one she knew in Hempstead, and she wanted&nbsp;a school that prioritized public health education, she said. 
"I thought I'd be able to come back and give back to my community, and kind of represent them and be able to alleviate some of the issues that plague the communities here,"&nbsp;she said of her chosen field of study. 
Affordability was top of mind as well. 
While tuition for University at&nbsp;Albany is about $7,000 per year, additional fees along with room and board pushed the price tag to about $28,000. Akingbade said financial aid helped lower the cost to about $16,000. 
At Hempstead High,&nbsp;Akingbade said she was a member of the&nbsp;school's bowling and badminton teams. She was part of the National Honor Society and the school's creative photography club. 
As she looks forward to her next chapter, she credits her father,&nbsp;Olukunle&nbsp;Akingbade, who is originally from Nigeria, for inspiring her to seek independence in Albany. 
"I thought that it would be necessary for me, not only in my educational journey&nbsp;but also in my personal growth journey, to expand my viewpoint outside of Long Island," she said. <a class="p-smartembed" data-onecms-id="contentid/077d8473-013a-4bda-ae27-f66f77566180" data-onecms-type="storywidget" data-subtype="profileCard" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/077d8473-013a-4bda-ae27-f66f77566180', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/077d8473-013a-4bda-ae27-f66f77566180">STORYWIDGET: LIDECISION_pc3</a> 
Katherine Abrams cast a wide net in her search for a college, applying to 20 schools. 
Ultimately, the choice came down to two:&nbsp;Adelphi University in Garden City and the University of Miami. The Florida school offered her&nbsp;a $50,000 scholarship.&nbsp;Adelphi, where tuition is upward of $52,000 annually,&nbsp;offered her nearly a full ride, she said. 
The additional costs she would have had to pay for room and board at the University of Miami were the deciding factor. 
"This was just the best decision for me and my family to be able to support them, support myself and get an education at a reasonable cost, so I won’t have to live in student loan debt," Abrams said. 
The senior said she was also enticed by a program at Adelphi that allows eligible students to complete their fourth year at New York University's&nbsp;College of Dentistry before&nbsp;being admitted into their dental program. 
Abrams said she hopes to follow in the footsteps of her mother, Elizabeth,&nbsp;who is a dentist with her own practice. 
"I go and shadow her a lot," she said. "I get to see her lifestyle, what her every day is like and that appeals to me a lot. I truly feel like think I found my passion in that." <a class="p-smartembed" data-onecms-id="contentid/7324e771-2313-4cac-9bf4-b9362ec016e4" data-onecms-type="storywidget" data-subtype="profileCard" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/7324e771-2313-4cac-9bf4-b9362ec016e4', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/7324e771-2313-4cac-9bf4-b9362ec016e4">STORYWIDGET: LIDECISION_pc6</a> 
Ever since Genry Salvador Sorto was a child, he has enjoyed taking&nbsp;things apart to learn how they work. 
"I was always more interested in how something came to be and how it worked together rather than what it became," he said. 
As he got older, he noticed he had a flair for design as well. 
Salvador Sorto is a member of his school's stage crew, where he was the creative design lead for its production of "Little Shop of Horrors" earlier this year. He was tasked with designing a carnivorous plant for the musical. 
His goal is to work for&nbsp;the <a href="https://sites.disney.com/waltdisneyimagineering/">Walt Disney Imagineering team</a>, which&nbsp;is "the creative force behind Disney parks, attractions, and resorts, blending art, technology, and storytelling," according to Disney's website. He said he wants to work on movies, specifically in&nbsp;practical effects — special effects made physically, like puppets or animatronics. 
"I want to design these machines to work and bring them into reality," he said.&nbsp; 
After applying to almost 20 colleges, Salvador Sorto found out his first choice — New York University — had accepted him. He said he picked the school for its rigorous academics and connections to the entertainment industry. 
Salvador Sorto, whose parents came to the United States from El Salvador, said getting into his first choice university is a dream come true for him and his family. 
"It's me doing what I have to do to make their dream of me going to college come true," he said. <a class="p-smartembed" data-onecms-id="contentid/65fb9ed5-7f0a-46f5-bb5f-8f5f364cf16a" data-onecms-type="storywidget" data-subtype="profileCard" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/65fb9ed5-7f0a-46f5-bb5f-8f5f364cf16a', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/65fb9ed5-7f0a-46f5-bb5f-8f5f364cf16a">STORYWIDGET: LIDECISION_pc4</a> 
One of the biggest challenges Arsen Hrabko faced when his family came to the United States from Ukraine was learning English, he said. 
"The way you learn the English language is speaking it, speaking it with other people, making connections and learning the material," he said. 
Four years later, Hrabko is at the top of his graduating class, having been named&nbsp;salutatorian. He is a member of the school's math club and plays an active role in the newspaper. 
Hrabko has committed to attending Stony Brook University in the fall. 
He said the cost of attending the college, where in-state tuition is&nbsp;$7,070, played a factor in his decision.&nbsp; 
He also appreciated the academic opportunities offered at the school. 
Hrabko said he originally wanted to study programming but switched to electrical engineering because of concerns about the <a href="https://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/long-island-college-2025-tdivh4z5">impact of artificial intelligence</a> on jobs in computer science. 
He said he would&nbsp;like to learn more about working on small devices like phones and watches. 
"I really enjoy making small projects, like from 5 voltage to 12 voltage," Hrabko said. <a class="p-smartembed" data-onecms-id="contentid/107c8c47-defa-4f3a-8ace-4dda6237fc82" data-onecms-type="storywidget" data-subtype="profileCard" href="javascript:window.parent.actionEventData({$contentId:'contentid/107c8c47-defa-4f3a-8ace-4dda6237fc82', $action:'view', $target:'work'})" polopoly:contentid="contentid/107c8c47-defa-4f3a-8ace-4dda6237fc82">STORYWIDGET: LIDECISION_5</a> 
Natalee Cortina said she developed a passion for the arts in elementary school. As a high school student, she has been a member of her&nbsp;school’s chorus and band, where she plays the flute. She also participates in the school’s plays and musicals. 
"It’s been my entire life," she said. 
But when she took an AP physics course, she said she found a new passion. 
"I love how ... intuitive it is," she said. "I can actually apply it to the real world, and it helps me understand things." 
Cortina is part of her school's <a href="https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/wise/about_us/welcome.php">Women in Science and Engineering</a> program, which gives participants a chance to learn from Stony Brook University students. 
Cortina said she applied to about a dozen colleges, with a focus on theater. In addition to writing essays, some schools required her to submit audition tapes, she said. 
As she narrowed down her choices,&nbsp;Northwestern University's&nbsp;friendly and welcoming campus interested her, she said. The Illinois school's concentration in theater and its academic flexibility were also appealing. 
"I didn’t want to fully commit to one field of study because I’m passionate about multiple things," Cortina said.

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College Decision Day: How these Long Island students picked their future schools

Cost, connections, close to family: How LI students picked their future colleges

AIAudio - College Decision Day: How these Long Island students picked their future schools


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10 years later: See what 10 Long Island 2016 valedictorians are up to now

What are they up to now? See where life has taken these 10 LI 2016 valedictorians

AIAudio - 10 years later: See what 10 Long Island 2016 valedictorians are up to now


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Complete coverage: Long Island 2026 high school graduations

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