Sewanhaka honors valedictorian, salutatorian

Sewanhaka High School’s 2011 valedictorian is Armaghan Behlum. Since leaving his native country, Pakistan, with his family when he was 3 years old, he has conducted research in microbiology, been named an AP Scholar, and was named to every departmental Honor Society.

Behlum served as president of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, treasurer of the Model United Nations program, and editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, The Chieftain. He plans to attend Harvard University in the fall, and study biomedical engineering.

Mahelia Bissassar is the 2011 salutatorian at Sewanhaka High School, where she conducted independent science research in behavioral science. She was inducted into the National Honor Society, as well as the English, Math, Social Studies, Foreign Language and Science honor societies.

Bissassar was involved in several extra-curricular activities, including Women in Science, the Key Club, TAG and the Recycling Club, and held leadership positions in FCCLA and SPICE. She is also a published writer, and has spent time volunteering at the Long Island Jewish Hospital and the Elmont Memorial Library.

Bissassar is planning to attend Stony Brook University, and become a physician.