Influential GN students become valedictorians

John Santa

Although they have consistently resided atop their respective classes, Matthew Peterson and Brian Rosenfeld said they never thought seriously about serving as the valedictorians of Great Neck’s high schools.

But for Peterson, a Great Neck North senior, and Rosenfeld of Great Neck South – actually receiving the honor has provided the perfect ending to their high school years.

“I was just so excited,” Rosenfeld said of being named Great Neck South High School’s 2012 valedictorian. “It’s really an honor in somewhere like Great Neck where there are so many talented students. It could really go to anyone.”

For Peterson, being named Great Neck North High School’s 2012 valedictorian was equally as humbling. He said the “positive” response from his classmates upon being named Great Neck North’s top student made the honor much more special.

“It was really nice that people were really happy for me and positive about it as opposed to in the past when people were really bitter about it,” Peterson said. “I’m really excited about it.”

Peterson graduated atop Great Neck North’s senior class with a GPA of 98.4.

In addition to his academic prowess, Peterson was the president of Model Congress and vice president of the Adopt-a-Dream club.

“He’s just remarkably well-centered, good-humored and quite determined,” Great Neck North High School Principal Bernard Kaplan said of Peterson. “He’s just a great human being. He’s a remarkable student, obviously.”

An accomplished musician as well, Peterson plays the clarinet. He is the president of the Tri-M Music Honors Society, the vice president of the Chamber Music Society and has been found in the pit for various musical performances staged at Great Neck North.

“We are extremely proud of him,” Matthew’s mother Barbara Peterson said. “He’s worked extremely hard and he works very hard at everything he does.”

Peterson will next year attend Duke University where he plans to major in political science.

“He’s been very active in many different ways,” Barbara Peterson said. “He used to do sports. He was on the junior varsity tennis team and was captain, so he’s very well rounded. He’s always looking for people to be fair, whether it’s teachers to administrators, kids to kids, whatever.”

Outside of school, Peterson was an intern in state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel’s office. He said that experience, in accordance with his tutelage at Great Neck North, will serve him well in the next phase of his academic career.

“I just really wanted to be active, to improve the school and make the experience as enjoyable as it could be for everyone,” Peterson said of his time at Great Neck North.

“I just really loved high school,” he added. “I got to play music and I got to do interesting clubs with my friends. It really wasn’t a chore for me. I enjoyed it.”

For Rosenfeld, who graduated from Great Neck South with a 98.0 GPA, the experience in high school was similar.

Rosenfeld was co-editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper and its world language magazine. He was also co-vice president of DECA and Great Neck South’s government club.  

“It’s been surreal, really, going to high school it was something I never would have expected,” Rosenfeld said of being named valedictorian. “I put in work and try to do my best. Having this come out of that, was really just a good side benefit. I guess it shows you the value of hard work.”

But during his time at Great Neck South, Rosenfeld was never alone.

Brian’s fraternal twin brother, Josh, was named Great Neck South’s 2012 salutatorian.

Josh Rosenfeld worked in conjunction with his brother as co-editor-in-chief of their school’s newspaper and world languages magazine. He was also co-vice president of the government club, treasurer of student government and worked with his brother to establish their school’s table tennis team.

“They really provide enormous leadership in the school because they’re so enthusiastic,” Great Neck Sough High School principal Susan Elliott said. “They are genuinely enthusiastic about what they’re doing. They wouldn’t ask anyone to do something they wouldn’t do themselves.”

And that work has paid off, as next year Brian Rosenfeld will be attending Princeton University to study public and international affairs. Josh Rosenfeld will next fall be enrolled at Yale.

“We’ve both been very supportive of each other and very proud of each other’s accomplishments,” Josh Rosenfeld said.

To be named valedictorian and salutatorian was a great honor for the Rosenfeld brothers.

“It really was a great way to cap off high school throughout the past four years,” Josh Rosenfeld said. “We have been very fortunate to be in a district and a school where our teachers have really supported us.”

But, Elliott said Great Neck South was equally as privileged to have the Rosenfeld twins. She said their legacy at the school will be felt for years to come.

“They are the nicest, they are the most amazing kids, I have ever met,” the principal said.

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