Congratulations North Shore 2024 Valedictorian & Salutatorian
Congratulations to North Shore's Valedictorian, Sofia Martini, and Salutatorian, Claire Tao. Both students spoke yesterday at the 2024 High School Commencement Ceremony and were celebrated by their beloved families and friends as well as everyone at the North Shore School District who was in the audience.
Valedictorian, Sofia Martini
Sofia Martini took the podium at the 2024 North Shore High School Commencement Ceremony while family, faculty, and her peers watched with joy and admiration.She stated, “It is my honor to speak with you today as we celebrate the graduation of a truly remarkable group of individuals. While it is with conflicting sadness and excitement that we will be parting from this district that has become our second home since kindergarten, our countless triumphs and feats over our journey at North Shore make these years nothing short of commendable …”
Later in her speech, Sofia said, “In conclusion, I challenge you, as high school students today and college students tomorrow, to be the difference maker in our society. The world needs us. We need to be the people who build businesses, the people who fight injustice, the people who cure diseases, the people who create art, and the people who lead like lions. Please join me in applauding the Class of 2024 – the fearless leaders of tomorrow!”
Congratulations to Sofia Martini, the Valedictorian of the North Shore School District. Sofia’s academic achievements include recipient of the Harvard College Book Prize, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal, Bausch and Lomb Science Award, Long Island Science Congress Honors Award (junior and sophomore year), Junior Award for Excellence in Social Studies, American Citizenship Award (sophomore year), and Excellence in Mathematics Department Award (freshman year). She is president of National Honor Society, president of Mu Alpha Theta, and a member of the World Language Honor Society and Rho Kappa. Sophia’s athletic achievements are also outstanding. She has participated in the Science Research Program and her research attempts to explore genomic diversity and potential virulence factors in the genomes of various Histophilus somni strains, which is a gram-negative bacteria that causes systemic disease in bovines. Her goal is to pursue a career in the healthcare industry.
Sofia is also a Varsity Scholar Athlete and has played on the Varsity Soccer and Lacrosse teams since eighth grade and freshman year respectively. Her team recognitions include Varsity Soccer All-County (junior year), Varsity Soccer All-County Honorable Mention (sophomore year), and Varsity Lacrosse All-Conference (junior year). In addition, Sofia received the Community Service Merit Award (freshman, sophomore, and junior years) and has volunteered at the local library and in PAL Lacrosse clinics.
Salutatorian, Claire Tao
Claire Taostood at the podium as the Salutatorian of North Shore High School and said, “My high school journey has had its ups and downs, but was overall immensely fulfilling, empowering, and inspiring. I’ve learned so much from all of my teachers, and truly believe that this community was what really allowed me to achieve my potential…”
Claire concluded by stating, “…It is all of us that make this experience special, and this place has truly become something more than a school – to me, this is a tight-knit community, one that I will look back at fondly in the years to come.”
Congratulations to Claire Tao, the Salutatorian of the North Shore School District. She recently was recognized as a National Merit Semifinalist and a member of the National Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta (National Math Honors Society), She is also fluent in Mandarin. During her high school years, Claire has been actively involved in science and has performed her science research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine focusing on glioblastoma and immune system receptors. Claire’s goal is to pursue a career in medicine and to find a target for glioblastoma. She has also worked at a physician’s clinic and a physical therapy clinic.
Claire also has been enthusiastically involved in many extracurricular activities including the president of the High School Portfolio Club, vice president of the Micro and Anatomy Club, and a member of Chamber Orchestra and Mathletes!
This year, North Shore High School Principal Mr. Eric Contreras said, “Sofia and Claire are two exceptionally talented students. They have promoted academic scholarship, scientific research, athletic prowess, and artistry in multiple domains inside and outside the high school. They are celebrated and respected by everyone. As high schoolers, they already have a spectacular list of storied achievements. They are impeccable examples of students who embody our shared values that permeate their work in all their endeavors. They have pursued diverse and impressive journeys as scholars, athletes, artists and researchers, and their journeys will continue to impress us all in years to come. We are proud to call them our graduates.”
Please join us in congratulating both Sofia Martini and Claire Tao for their hard work at the North Shore Schools. We wish them both the best of luck now and in the future discovering their dreams. The Class of 2024 is an extremely talented group of students, and we are all so proud of them!
Article by Shelly Newman
Photos by Adrienne Daley