They're Top of their class at Seaford High School

Anastasia Perlegis and Ava Caruso have become role models at Seaford High School, achieving top academic honors while inspiring their peers to excel.

Their dedication paid off this year, earning Perlegis the title as Seaford’s class of 2025 valedictorian with a weighted grade point average of 107.46, while Caruso was named salutatorian with a 107.29 GPA.

Nicole Schnabel, the high school’s principal, described the pair as model students who want to continue to show the community what that means. The two students have truly earned their accomplishment, Schnabel said, and now they are paving the way for other people to earn it as well.

“They're just incredible young women, and they are going to shape a lot of the future for us,” Schnabel said.

Both Perlegis and Caruso credit hard work and late study nights for their achievements. Throughout their time at Seaford, Perlegis enrolled in 14 Advanced Placement classes while Caruso took 13 college-level courses.

“You have to make sacrifices sometimes,” Caruso said. “I don't hang out with friends during school days, because you can't manage it with sports and homework.”

Among Caruso’s favorite courses was AP Research, which she tackled in her junior year. Going in, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in environmental science research. Seeing the research process, along with being independent in her studies, was an impactful moment that helped her envision her career.

“It was just my favorite thing,” Caruso said. “I would come home and I'd want to work on my research paper. I wouldn't want to do anything else.”

Perlegis was also in Caruso’s AP Research class, and saw how enthusiastic she was working on her research.

“Ava was the happiest person walking into that room every day,” Perlegis said.

As for Perlegis, she enjoyed AP Biology in her junior year, which cemented her decision to pursue a career in the medical field, hoping to become a pediatric physical therapist. The information in the course stuck with her, and she became fully engrossed in biological studies, because it could be information that would benefit her and others one day.

“If I learn this, maybe it's a step closer to helping somebody else,” Perlegis said. “I'm so focused on it, and I just really want to know more about it.”

Outside of school, Perlegis is involved with her church, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox in Merrick. Her life, she said, centers around the church, which she attended every Sunday growing up. Now, she is a member of the Greek Orthodox Youth of America and an assistant teacher at the Hellenic School at her church.

Meanwhile, Caruso has been involved with several sports throughout her time at Seaford, serving as captain of the field hockey, track and bowling teams. Bowling, she said, stands out for her, because it was the first sport she participated in when she joined in middle school. The experience, she added, made her more comfortable to take the chance and participate in more sports.

“I've formed so many good friendships through bowling,” Caruso said. “My best friends are on the team, and the people who have graduated from the team I still talk to.”

Both Caruso and Perlegis are members of the National Honor Society and National Art Honor Society, of which Perlegis is president. Perlegis is also a member of Leo’s Club, a youth organization sponsored by Lions Clubs International, and was the 2024 homecoming queen. As for Caruso, she is the vice president of her graduating class and a member of Mathletes and Science Club.

Jennifer Pimentel, Perlegis’s guidance counselor, said the valedictorian has always been a motivated student, and knew early on that she was going to be a high achiever at Seaford High School. She takes the initiative to learn, Pimentel noted, which makes it easy for teachers to guide her.

“She's a hard worker, she's dedicated, she's motivated, so yeah, nothing but proud of her,” Pimentel said. “I would definitely say that she's one of Seaford’s brightest scholars in my opinion.”

Sarah Squicciarini, Caruso’s counselor, was not surprised when she heard she was named salutatorian and was excited to tell her during their senior meeting.

“I knew she was going to be a rock star here,” Squicciarini said. “She’s definitely an academic and athletic student who gives a lasting impression on everyone.”

Both Caruso and Perlegis will graduate with an AP Capstone diploma and are looking to complete their Seal of Biliteracy, a national recognition awarded to high school students who demonstrate proficiency in two or more languages.

Both students credit their teachers for pushing them and being accessible when they have questions. Seaford High School, they said, is a place students shouldn’t be afraid to try new things and are given plenty of opportunities to succeed.

“There's a lot of teachers and people that are willing to put in a lot of effort to help you,” Caruso said.