An overview of the Great Neck Public Schools Class of 2019 reveals 588 graduates from the district’s three high schools: 281 from John L. Miller-Great Neck North High School, 296 from William A. Shine-Great Neck South High School, and 11 from The Village School.
Graduation ceremonies for North and South High Schools will be held on Tuesday, June 25, at Tilles Center, LIU Post, with North’s ceremony in the morning and South’s in the afternoon. The Village School graduation will be on Monday morning, June 24, at the school.
A look at the valedictorians and salutatorians for North and South High Schools follows. Winners of other significant commencement awards and the student graduation speeches will appear in the weeks ahead. Awards to follow include: Frederic Duclos Barstow, Alan L. Gleitsman, Scott Moss, and Genelle Taney.
Valedictorians
The North High School Valedictorian is Yoel Hawa. The South High School Valedictorian is Michael Lu.
North High Valedictorian Yoel Hawa is a National Merit Scholarship recipient, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and a National Spanish Exam Gold Medal and Silver Medal winner.
As a member of the science research program, Yoel won second place at the New York State Science and Engineering Fair, and third place at the WAC Invitational Science Fair. He is the recipient of several math awards through the Nassau Mathematics Tournament, Nassau County Interscholastic Mathematics League, New York Mathematics League, and ASMA national competition.
Yoel served as President of the North High Student Organization, Co-President of the Math Team, Vice President of the Debate Team, and Captain of the JV Quiz Bowl team. He was Principal Violin in the North High Orchestra, and a four-year member of the track team. Yoel will attend Harvard University.
South High Valedictorian Michael Lu is a Commended Student through the National Merit Scholarship Program and an AP Scholar with Distinction.
As a four-year member of the South High Rebel Robotics Team, Michael participated in FIRST Robotics competitions at the regional and world championship levels. He is a contract developer for 10XBeta, a product design and engineering firm, and he interned at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Michael served community organizations as a technology intern at the Gold Coast-Lake Success Rotary Club, and a volunteer firefighter for the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department. Michael will attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Salutatorians
The North High School Salutatorian is Joshua Rothbaum. The South High School Salutatorian is Chloe Metz.
North High Salutatorian Joshua Rothbaum is a National Merit Scholarship recipient, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar.
Joshua participated in the science research program for four years, during which time he conducted summer research in laboratories at Yale University and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In addition to being named a Regeneron STS Scholar, Joshua is also a three-time Long Island Math Fair Gold Medalist, and he received third place at the WAC Invitational Science Fair.
A clarinetist, Joshua was selected for All-County and All-State performing groups. He was Principal Clarinet of the North High Band and Orchestra; President of the Chamber Music Society; and he performed with the school at Carnegie Hall and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
Joshua served as Co-President of the Math Team, Co-President of the Science Olympiad Team, and Captain of the Quiz Bowl Team. He was a national qualifier in National History Bee and Bowl. He was a four-year member of the tennis team and earned All-County honors for tennis. Joshua will attend Yale University.
South High Salutatorian Chloe Metz is an AP Scholar with Honor, and a National French Exam Gold Medal and Silver Medal winner.
A violinist, Chloe served as Concertmaster/Principal for the South High Chamber Orchestra, and she performed with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra. She was selected for the Long Island String Festival and she performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
Chloe served as President of the History Club, Co-Editor-in-Chief of the school’s Exit 33 Literary Magazine, and a Board Member for the Midnight Run Club. She was a four-year member of the tennis team, and she interned at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. Chloe will attend Amherst College.
Submitted by Great Neck Public Schools.
