This year, Jericho High School announced its 13 valedictorians. The school is unique in its recognition of so many students in the position.
Gregory Sloane, Curriculum Associate for School Counseling, explains this process. Jericho staff uses students’ unweighted grade point averages to determine who the valedictorians are.
“Once a student comes into senior year with all A+’s, they are sort of on our radar,” said Slone. “Halfway through the year, we take a look at the grades that they earned in the first and second quarters, and if they maintain that A+, then they are named valedictorians.”
All students who maintain a 4.0 unweighted GPA are honored as valedictorians, regardless of course load or rigor. While weighted GPAs account for Advanced Placement and honors courses, unweighted GPAs do not.
Extracurriculars are not considered in the selection process, although many of the valedictorians are engaged in the school community.
Features on each of the students’ academic success, as well as their extracurricular achievements, are below:
Alex Boyarski is attending Northwestern University this fall and plans on majoring in Communications Studies and minoring in Business Institutions. Boyarski was awarded an Emerging Leaders First Place at the Future Business Leaders of America State Qualifier, as well as a gold medal in the National Spanish Exam. He interned with Josh Lafazan and volunteered with the Children’s Medical Fund. At Jericho High School, Boyarski was the founder and president of Mission Educate, co-vice president of the Research and Heritage Club and treasurer of the Art Club.
Kaitlyn Choi is attending Harvard University to study History and Government this fall. Choi won the National Merit Scholarship. Her community involvement is exemplified by acting as the student representative to the Jericho Board of Education. In addition to serving as the vice president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, Choi is the principal oboist of the All-State Orchestra. She is president of the Model Congress, vice president of the Research and Heritage Club and winner of National History Day.
Anahita Chowdhary is attending Dartmouth College this fall. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National Chinese Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society and International Thespian Society. She also plays on the Varsity Badminton team at Jericho High School. She is a science olympiad and the treasurer of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Additionally, she is the president of the De-stress Bakery nonprofit student business organization.
Alexa Coven is attending Duke University this fall to major in psychology. She is captain of the Jericho Hayettes Varsity Dance Team, as well as the co-president of the Jericho High School Choreography Club. Coven is the founder and creator of Deep Sea Learning which is an online education website. She also founded and serves as president of the Long Island chapter of Kindness Matters 365. She is the president of the Sunrise/Blue Key Kids Club. She is an independent researcher for the Regeneron Science Talent Search Project and volunteers for marine and rainforest conservation in Thailand.
Stephanie Hsu is attending Case Western Reserve University to major in neuroscience this fall. Hsu is captain of the Science Olympiads, the co-president of the Youth Decided x STEAMBites and the vice president of the Latin Honor Society. She received a total of five medals in the 2023 National Latin Exam as well as second place in the 2023 & 2024 Brain Bee. Hsu is a National Merit Finalist and received a bronze medal for the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Elana Kane is attending Cornell University Dyson School of Business this fall to major in applied economics and management. Kane is the national president of the Young Hearts Club, president of Jericho Future Business Leaders of America, president of the Jericho Red Cross Club and vice president of Jericho Choreography Club. She has interned for King’s Crest Global Marketing as well as the Harvard General Neuroimmunology lab. Kane is a Morgan Stanley JumpStart Scholar in finance.
Vivek Kirpalani is attending Princeton University this fall to major in philosophy. Kirpalani is an advocate for the Nassau County Peer Diversion court and a tutor at Bored of Boredom. He is co-captain and co-president for Jericho High School Mock Trial, vice president of Jericho Public Forum Debate, co-vice president of Jericho High School Model Congress, co-vice president of Jericho Peer Tutoring and co-vice president of the Jericho Italian Honor Society. He received an AP Scholar award with distinction and is a National Merit semi-finalist.
Jordan Perlman is attending University of Texas at Austin this fall to major in Plan II and Government. Perlman received a perfect score on the SAT and is a Top-25 New York State Debater. He is the president of Jericho Model United Nation and is the debate team’s all-time leading scorer. He participates in the Jazz Band and Football team. Perlman is an international ambassador for Love Together Brasil.
Sophia Saed is attending the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program at the CUNY School of Medicine this fall to major in Biomedical Science in a 7 year program to receive her BS/MS. Saed belongs to the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. In addition to participating in the Debate Team, Saed is the president of Jericho’s Peer Tutoring, vice president of Medical Minds and treasurer of Model United Nations.
Aaron Sorkin is attending Binghamton University in the fall to major in accounting in the PwC Scholars Program. Sorkin is the president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, vice captain of Jericho’s Mock Trial and treasurer of the regional BBYO. Additionally, he is the founder and president of the Purple Ribbon Foundation.
Allison Tae is attending Yale University this fall to major in History and Music. Tae is the founder of Bridges Through Music, co-president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and treasurer of the National Honor Society. Tae is a violinist in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York. She is a National Merit Scholarship winner and received a US Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award.
Naomi-Yuerong Tan is attending New York University to major in business this fall. Tan is the president of French Honor Society, president of the Jericho Noteworthy A capella group, captain of the Varsity Tennis team and founder of the Musician’s project. She is a Clara Mannes Scholar and belongs to the National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society and French Honor Society.
Kelly Zhang is attending Carnegie Mellon University this fall to study computer science. Zhang is a part of the Diversity Club and Volunteers Club at the high school. She has a US Patent Pending for her music therapy solution using AI and received an honorable mention for the Julia Margaret Cameron Award. Zhang received two gold keys, two silver keys and two honorable mentions for the 2023 Scholastic Art and Writing. She is a 2023 Young Women Science Photographer of the Year and received first place for the global AAPT High School Physics Photo Contest.
