Meet the 2023 vals and sals of Valley Stream Central High School District

As the school year draws to a close, the Valley Stream Central High School district community announces its 2023 valedictorians and salutatorians.

With an advanced course load and multiple after school activities, these students pushed themselves to the top of their academic class.

Hannah Lee, valedictorian of Valley Stream North High School’s Class of 2023, spent her high school career not only excelling academically, but also dedicating herself to various extracurricular activities.

“Time management and communication are very important. Sometimes I have to choose between things because I just don’t have the time,” Lee said. “Being involved in a lot of different clubs can be hard, so it’s important to communicate with other members if I know I’m too busy to get something done.”

She plans to go to Dartmouth University in the fall majoring in mathematics.

Alyssa Garufi is the salutatorian of Valley Stream North. She knew from a very young age that she wants to go into medicine. Over the summer, she volunteered at Northwell Long Island Jewish Hospital; and because she is interested in working with children in the future, she is also a camp counselor for Malibu Beach Camp.

“Don’t be afraid to try new things,” said Garufi, a member of the varsity tennis and badminton teams. She uses the sports for fun and to balance out the rest of her school responsibilities. Garufi has been accepted into the BS/MD program at Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education.

At Valley Stream Central High School, Michaela Sinclair is the valedictorian of Valley Stream Central High School’s Class of 2023. She has thrown herself into the world of STEM throughout her education and it has paid off. She participated in MITES (MIT Introduction to Engineering and Science) as well as the Columbia Science Honors Program. Sinclair is currently a member of the New York Academy of Science and is also an active member of Central High School National Honor Society.

“Take risks and focus on your own journey,” Sinclair advises her fellow graduates. It has worked out for her as she plans to attend Harvard University this fall to study chemistry.

Then there’s Steven Huang of   Valley Stream South High School who rose to the top of the academic ladder as its valedictorian. The community service-oriented senior encourages others to find a cause worth serving.

He is co-president and committee chairman of the Valley Stream South Key Club, which is focused on volunteerism. He also served as Lieutenant Governor of the New York District of Key Club and earned a Key Club International Global Leadership Certificate.

Huang is also the co-founder of “The Elevate Project” which is a student-led platform to connect young leaders around the world. The project provides volunteer opportunities to middle and high school students who may not have access and encourages leadership in young minds.

He plans to attend Columbia University in the fall majoring in biology and wants to minor in political science and psychology.

Ibrahim Quadri is Valley Stream South’s salutatorian. He is focused on his research surrounding “The Ability of Vitamin E to Improve the Locomotor Fitness, Reproduction, and Metabolic Respiration of Nicotine-Induced D.”
He tested his experiment on fruit flies. Quadri placed first in the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, and later went on to place third at the National Science and Engineer Fair with his experiment.

Quadri is also the first chair cellist for Valley Stream South’s chamber orchestra and led his section this year. Quadri has been accepted into the BS/MD program at Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education.

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