Burch and Schnaier lead Class of 2023

Seaford High School’s graduation is fast approaching, and at the head of the class of 2023 are Valedictorian Paige Burch and Salutatorian Myles Schnaier.

Both seniors produced the stellar academic numbers necessary to place them at the top, with Burch’s weighted grade point average at 106.64 and Schnaier’s at 105.80.

“I was always aiming for it and trying to work as hard as I could,” Burch said. “But I didn’t expect to really make it this far.”

Burch attended Seaford’s Manor Elementary School, while Schnaier attended Harbor Elementary, before both went to Seaford Middle School and Seaford High. Like Burch, Schnaier was also aiming to be at — or near — the top of his class.

“I just wanted to do the best I possibly could, academically,” Schnaier said. “And wherever that took me, it took me. I didn’t want to have any regrets.”

Both took advantage of Seaford’s academic offerings — by graduation, Burch will have completed 15 Advanced Placement courses, and Schnaier will have completed seven.

They agreed that no student makes it this far without dedicated, passionate teachers. Among those they named were science teachers Janine Cupo and Kevin O’Reilly and Spanish teacher Patricia Foley.

“She’s just been a major influence getting me on the career track that I wanted to get on,” Burch said of Cupo. “Miss Foley is just very kind. She’s a very good mentor and role model.”

Schnaier said, “Mr. O’Reilly goes above and beyond for the students. He would be here for hours after school explaining a topic that I couldn’t really understand. He comes in on weekends sometimes. He’s just a different type of teacher.”

Both Burch and Schnaier are STEM scholars and count science and math — particularly science research, taught by Cupo — as their favorite subjects in high school.

In terms of extracurricular activities and awards, Burch earned the Seaford Seal of Biliteracy, plays field hockey, is the general chair for the Model Congress, is president of the Books and Bagels Club, the Key Club and National Honor Society. She is also a Girl Scout.

Schnaier is also a member of Books and Bagels and National Honor Society and played varsity soccer and junior varsity baseball. Outside of school, he volunteers with the Book Fairies, distributing new and gently used books to under-resourced communities on Long Island.

Deeply immersed in the small but vibrant community of Seaford, the biggest challenge attending college will be not knowing everyone you meet, they said.

“I’m going to miss my family, obviously,” Burch said. “I feel like going from seeing the same people every day since we were like five years old, and then not seeing some of those same people anymore — even the ones that you’re not really close with — is going to be hard.”

Schnaier agreed, adding that he already feels nostalgic for his upbringing in Seaford.

Burch said she plans to attend Cornell University in the fall, with an expected major in chemical biology, leaning toward the research side of the industry. She added that she is already considering going for master’s and doctorate degrees.

Schnaier is deciding whether to enroll at Binghamton University or Brandeis University, and while he’s not entirely sure which career path to take, he’s leaning toward becoming a pre-medical student.

“If not pre-med, maybe somewhere in the math field, such as statistics,” Schnaier said. “But my uncle is a psychiatrist, and I always thought those would be cool footsteps to follow.”

The hard work of these two students has not gone unnoticed by Seaford High School administrators.

“Paige took advantage of research opportunities at Seaford High School, which really does help our students stand apart,” Principal Nicole Schnabel said. “And obviously she is a real standout senior and an asset to what colleges are looking for.

“When Myles came to Seaford High, he was immediately driven to be a very well balanced student,” Schnabel added. “He not only wanted to have solid relationships with his teachers, administrators, classmates, but he wanted to be involved in athletics and extracurricular activities. He’s involved in volunteer opportunities. He really did achieve everything he set out to do.”

Assistant Principal Anthony Murray agreed with Schnabel.

“When you think of what a valedictorian and salutatorian should look like, I think they are the perfect picture of that,” Murray said. “Academically, extracurricular, everything — they have done it all and we are very proud.”