New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R,C - New Suffolk) recently held three Valedictorian and Salutatorian ceremonies with Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni (District 1), Senator Dean Murray (R,C- Brookhaven), and Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (District 4) in recognition of the 1st Senate District’s top academic students. The events were hosted by Southold Jr./Sr. High School, Hampton Bays High School and Shoreham-Wading River High School to celebrate the students' achievements and congratulate them and their families on their impressive academic accomplishments and achievements.

                   “Congratulations to all our Valedictorians and Salutatorians. The hard work and dedication that these extraordinary students have shown throughout their academic careers is a testament to their ability and determination to succeed. I wish them all the best in their future endeavors and congratulate them, and their parents on their significant academic accomplishments,” said Senator Anthony Palumbo. 

            Assemblyman Schiavoni said, "As an educator for more than 30 years, I have had the privilege of watching young people grow into accomplished leaders, scholars, and citizens. It was an honor to join Senator Palumbo in recognizing the Valedictorian and Salutatorians of the East End. Their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence have set an inspiring example for their classmates and our entire community. I congratulate them on this remarkable achievement and wish them continued success as they embark on the next chapter of their academic and professional journeys."

            "These Valedictorians and Salutatorians represent the very best of our schools and communities. Their academic achievements are the result of years of hard work, dedication, perseverance, and support from their families, teachers, and mentors. It was truly an honor to recognize and celebrate their accomplishments alongside my colleague, NYS Senator Palumbo. Congratulations to these exceptional students and I wish them continued success in the next chapter of their lives. The future is bright with them leading the way!" stated NYS Senator Dean Murray, 3rd Senate District.  

            Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay said: “It was a joy to spend the afternoon celebrating the remarkable achievements of this year’s Valedictorians and Salutatorians alongside Senator Palumbo, Senator Murray, local educators, families, and students. These students have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and academic excellence, and they should be incredibly proud of all they have accomplished so far. As they begin their next chapter, I encouraged them to stay curious, embrace new opportunities, and not be afraid to follow paths that may lead somewhere unexpected. Some of life's most meaningful experiences come from trying something new and remaining open to possibilities. Congratulations to each of these outstanding students and thank you to Senator Palumbo and his staff for hosting such a wonderful event recognizing the bright future of our community.”

            The following Class of 2026 students earned the rank of Valedictorian and Salutatorian for their school district. Congratulations to:

North Fork:

Greenport                             Lucas Kohl                Shepherd Odell

Mattituck-Cutchogue          Jay Tian Yi Chen      Ryan A. Harned

Shelter Island                       Elliot Schack             Madison Sobejana

Southold                                Elizabeth Estrada      Nathan Steinfeld

Riverhead                             Aidan Foss                Oliver Earl

South Fork:

Bridgehampton                   Sascha Gomberg        Luis Penafiel

East Hampton                     Griffin Beckmann      Charles Stern

Hampton Bays                    Taylor Meyers            Dennis Williams

Sag Harbor                         Madeline Quinn          Lily Caplin

Westhampton Beach          Brady Schultz             Maiya Boughal

Brookhaven:

Center Moriches                   Alexander Gentile        Clara Tebbens

Comsewogue                          Annmarie Kosak          Dillon Order

Eastport-South Manor         Andrew Santangelo      Michell Zheng

Longwood                              Casey Muchirahondo    Diego Joaquin Moreno

Miller Place                            Stephen Ye                   Anthony Galfano

Mount Sinai                            Dylan Kaplan               Tyler Izzo

Port Jefferson                         Max Kronberg              Narin Karakurum

Rocky Point                            Valentina Bruno           Peter Chen Lee

Shoreham-Wading River       Olivia Pesso                 Ray Hidaka

Three Village                           Eric Zhong                   Kate Herrnstein