For the Nicks, it’s their time

Nick Faranda and Nick Liuzzi met in Cub Scouts, when they were young students at Seaford Harbor Elementary School. Now, more than a decade later, they are graduating from high school as the top members of their class.

Faranda, 17, is the valedictorian of Seaford High School’s class of 2016. Liuzzi, also 17, finished less than a point behind and earned the honor of salutatorian. Both are preparing their graduation speeches for the ceremony on June 26.

The pair, who first had class together in fourth grade, received letters at their homes earlier this year, announcing their respective rankings. “I didn’t even tell my parents,” Faranda said. “I let them read the letter themselves.”

He said that being at the head of the class was never his goal, and he never realized he was in the running for it. Faranda explained that it is just his nature to put his full effort into everything he does. “It’s not like I set out to be valedictorian,” he said. “I was just going about my normal business. If I do something, I have to do it 100 percent.”

Liuzzi said he knew he had a shot at one of the top two spots, yet the news still came as a surprise. He has dealt with several medical issues over the past few years, including a collapsed lung and multiple surgeries for inflammatory bowel disease. He was in the hospital when the letter arrived, and his parents brought it to him. “It was a nice, positive moment,” he said. “I was pretty excited. I didn’t think I would be as excited as I was.”

Faranda will attend Marist College in Poughkeepsie, and he hasn’t yet decided on a major. “I have no idea,” he said, adding that he hopes the school’s wide array of programs will help him find his passion. “I feel like college has many more options that I haven’t explored in high school.”

He said that after spending the last 13 years attending school in Seaford, it will be a different experience going away to college and being on his own for the first time. Faranda admitted he has some nerves, but believes he is ready to make the jump.

“People say college is the best experience in your life,” he said, “and I want to experience that.” Faranda added that he plans to join some clubs as a way of making new friends.

Liuzzi will head to the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., where he will study mechanical engineering and music production. “It’s an excellent school, plus it’s really close,” he said, adding that he plans to live on campus and come home most weekends.

He said that high school is a much more sheltered environment than college, and he is ready to take the next step. “Being able to explore so many more opportunities, it’s going to be a great experience,” he said.

Making the most of high school

Although they know the options are greater in college, the pair still experienced a lot at Seaford High School. Faranda took eight Advanced Placement courses and Liuzzi took five.

Faranda said his favorite courses included A.P. literature and composition, A.P. history, and computer and motion graphics. He said he particularly enjoyed the classes that allowed him to be creative. In terms of extracurricular activities, he was president of the National Honor Society, vice president of Freshman Mentors and treasurer of the Key Club and Mathletes.

“There’s still a good variety of things you can do here,” he said. “I just wanted to dip my toes into everything and get a feel for what I like.”

Liuzzi enjoyed his A.P. biology class, and was president of the Robotics Club and Mathletes. He also sang with the Barbershop and Select choirs, and was selected to several honor societies.

“School is so much academics,” he said, “and I think it’s important to step outside of that.”

The Robotics Club is where he made his biggest mark. In addition to being named MVP of the FIRST regional competition at Hofstra University earlier this year, he composed the winning song in the musical theme contest, earning his team $1,000.

Liuzzi has done volunteer video production for all the schools in the district, sold snacks at concerts to raise money for BRAVO, an organization for parents of choral students, and tutors other students.

Faranda has done community service with the Honor Society and Key Club, including working at a soup kitchen, tutoring special-needs students, participating in charity walks and doing cleanups at the Tackapausha Preserve.

Principal Scott Bersin has high praise for the two students who will represent the school at graduation. He said Faranda is “the epitome of how hard work, matched with talent, will lead to success,” and Liuzzi is a student with tremendous talent who had to overcome obstacles to maintain a level of excellence.

“He set goals and he wasn’t going to let anything, including serious outside health obstacles, stand in the way,” Bersin said of Liuzzi.

“It’s been a big part of my life over the last three years,” Liuzzi added of his health issues, which caused him to miss many days of school. He said that the ability to succeed despite these obstacles will likely be the focal point of his graduation speech.

Faranda is still working on his, and said he hopes to make it both funny and inspirational — a speech that people will remember.

Bersin looks forward to hearing their words of wisdom. “Both are incredibly kind young men who have terrific senses of humor and offer so much more than the academics,” he said. “We could not be more proud of them.”