Junior-Senior High School Class of 2019’s valedictorian Laura Millar and salutatorian Scott Buzzolani were among 115 seniors from 55 public high schools honored for their outstanding academic achievements at the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents’ annual Celebrating Excellence Breakfast. 

They were joined by their families, Superintendent of Schools Lisa Ruiz and Junior-Senior High School Principal Richard Schaffer.

Superintendent Ruiz, who is also the Celebrating Excellence Breakfast Committee co-chairperson, said the event recognized Long Island’s brightest young men and women who will soon be off to some of the nation’s most prestigious colleges. 

The keynote speaker was Michael Braun, a 2013 graduate of Elmont Memorial High School, who was the 2018-19 student representative on the SUNY Board of Trustees. Braun noted that about 3.6 million students will graduate high school in the United States this year, making the roughly 72,000 valedictorians and salutatorians part of an elite group. He said that sometimes dreams change and success may come in ways they never envisioned, but it’s important for them to take advantages of the opportunities that come about. 

The title of valedictorian and salutatorian, Braun added, represents creativity, intelligence, leadership, perseverance and a drive to always improve.

Superintendents from NCCSS’s Celebrating Excellence Breakfast Committee announced the name of each valedictorian and salutatorian along with their college plans.