Class of 2018 Top Two – Congratulations Ibuki & Eli!
After 13 years of dedication and perseverance to academics,
extracurricular activities and community outreach, seniors Ibuki Iwasaki
and Eli Doyle have been designated valedictorian and salutatorian,
respectively, of the Class of 2018.
“I’m extremely honored,” Ibuki said, “especially because some of the
valedictorians and salutations in the past were people whom I really
looked up to both in and outside of school. I’ve always aimed for good
grades…becoming valedictorian was definitely a goal of mine.”
Ibuki has earned a 101.40 GPA. She is president of the high school
National Honor Society, a member of the Mathletes team, Science Olympiad
and Latin Club. She has been on the varsity tennis team since
eighth-grade and was undefeated individually in the league this year.
Her list of awards is comprehensive and include being a National Merit
Scholarship recipient, AP Scholar with Distinction, a gold medalist for
three years and a silver medalist for one year on the National Latin
Exam, and a first-place and third-place winner in Science Olympiad
individual events.
Her musical talents include having a perfect score for three years at
the Level VI New York State School Music Association Festival and being
selected for All-County, Long Island String Festival and Suffolk County
Music Educators Associations festivals. Ibuki’s community involvement
revolve around playing violin; she has been a concert mistress in a
youth orchestra and the school orchestra; has performed chamber music at
the pre-college program at Stony Brook University and has volunteered
to perform at the village library and local daycare and nursing home.
She is also tutors Japanese-speaking people the English language.
Last summer, Ibuki interned at Brookhaven National Laboratory in her
first official research experience. Before that, she spent time at a
laboratory at Stony Brook University where her mother is a research
scientist.
As the salutatorian, Eli will graduate with a 100.85 GPA. Like Ibuki, he
challenged himself by enrolling in many Advanced Placement,
college-level and honors courses. Beyond the classroom, he excelled on
the field, playing tennis since ninth-grade and participating as part of
the stage crew for school plays, musical and concerts.
“One of the perks of being in a small school is that there is a very
cooperative attitude, even among the most competitive of the students,”
Eli said. “This is something we all take for granted, but I wouldn’t
have achieved this honor without help and support of my awesome
classmates and dedicated teachers.”
Eli has been a member of Science Olympiad since sixth-grade, on the
Mathletes team, the Academic Team, and a member and officer of the
Student Organization for all four years of his high school career. He
also had the unique opportunity to take part in the prestigious Simons
Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University where he studied
ferroelectric materialism the physics lab.
Eli has received honors from the Suffolk County Junior Tennis League, a
Coach’s Award for Team Sportsmanship and the American Math Competition
Level 10 in 2015. He was also a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer
Service Award in 2015 and The Robert A. Belfer Family Fellowship Award
for Travel and Study in Israel in 2016.
“Ibuki and Eli are two exceptional students,” Principal Christine Austen
said. “In addition to being at the top of their class, they are both
well-rounded, very involved in extracurricular activities and each of
them has received numerous accolades to date. They are on to great
things in the future and I wish them continued success.”
Although she is awaiting word from several colleges and looks to major
in physics, Ibuki has been accepted to MIT, where she is considering
attending. Her post college plans include working in a STEM-related
career. Eli plans to major in Applied Physics at Brown University and is
already considering graduate school.