As we wind down our school year, the Student Council recognizes outstanding students and staff for their contributions to our school.  As in the past, our last month honorees are the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the Class of 2019 and our retirees.  With this class, we have two valedictorians. Their cumulative grade point average is identical.   Our Valedictorians of the Class of 2019 will be forever remembered not only for their excellence in the classroom but for their contributions to our school and community.  They are outstanding role models.

Our first co-valedictorian is Mr. Gabriel Margaca who finishes with a cumulative grade point average of 4.524. Gabriel Margaca was born in Newark, New Jersey as the son of two Portuguese immigrants. He’s grown up in the City of Newark and has lived in single parent household for a good portion of his life. He will be the first person in his family to go to college, and will be doing so at an Ivy League College, Dartmouth, in Hanover, New Hampshire. He was accepted on a full scholarship through the Questbridge Scholarship program. At Dartmouth he plans to major in classical studies, and intends to study abroad in both Italy and Greece. In addition to being a Questbridge Scholar, Gabriel is also a part of the Cooperman College Scholars program. Gabriel has also revealed himself to be a distinguished leader in the past 4 years, as the President of Student Council and Vice-President of the National Honor Society.

Our next co-valedictorian is Ms. Natalie Fernandez who also finishes with a cumulative grade point average of 4.524. Natalie Fernandez was born in the borough of Queens, New York but raised in the mountainous farmlands of her parent’s home country in the Dominican Republic. That is to say she grew up in a completely different environment than the rest of her peers that were born in the United States. Growing up in the Dominican Republic taught her the real essence of hard work and family bonds.  When it came to choosing a college Natalie focused on finding a college that would become her home away from home but that would also challenge her to her fullest potential. Natalie is now proud to be part of the University of Notre Dame freshman class of 2023 as a QuestBridge College Prep and College Match scholar.  She has surpassed many milestones, both as a scholar and individually in her family as the first child to be enrolled in college. Her future was in part paved by all the roles she has taken head on throughout her high school years, not only being part of clubs like Student Council, Model UN, and Robotics but also a student leader for all of them.