Meet Jonathan Law High School's Graduating Class Leaders

MILFORD, CT — Fran Thompson, principal of Jonathan Law High School, is pleased to announce the valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2020.

Valedictorian: Madeline Papcun

Ranking first in a class of 201, Madeline Papcun will serve as Valedictorian for the Class of 2020 at Jonathan Law High School. During her time at Law, Maddie successfully completed one of the most rigorous courses of study available to her, including eight Advanced Placement courses
(Calculus, English Literature & Composition, Environmental Science, Psychology, English Language, Human Geography, Statistics, and Government & Politics). She was named an AP Scholar by The College Board in the fall of 2019.

Maddie has received numerous academic awards during the past four years, including the notable Yale Book Award in her junior year. She also received the President’s Gold Medal for academic excellence. She was a member of the National Honor Society and served this year as the vice president of the Keyette Club. She served as captain of the Girls Cross Country team in the fall and earned the SCC Scholar Leader Award in 2019. Maddie also found time to give back to the school community, participating in the Forever Friends Club, serving as secretary.

Having contributed more than 200 hours of community service in a variety of venues, Maddie will graduate ‘With Distinction’ this year.

Papcun will attend the University of Connecticut in the fall where she plans to pursue a degree in social work.

Salutatorian: Arunika Shee

Arunika Shee will serve the Jonathan Law High School Class of 2020 as its Salutatorian. Ranking second in a class of 201, Arunika has demonstrated excellence in her courses throughout her entire high school career, including the successful completion of 11 Advanced Placement courses (Calculus BC, Chemistry, English Literature & Composition, Psychology, AP Research, Biology, English Language, Human Geography, Physics, AP Seminar, and Government & Politics), as well as a deep reservoir of honors level coursework.

Arunika has received a wide variety of academic awards, including the coveted St. Michael’s College Book Award in her junior year for her outstanding academic achievement and social conscience and was named a semi-finalist as a Connecticut Governor’s Scholar. She received the STEM Excellence Medal for outstanding performance in mathematics and science from Fairfield University and Sikorsky Aircraft.

An active member of the school community, Arunika served as president of the Science Club, working with school advisors to arrange for the club’s participation in the UCONN State Science Olympiad, as well as the Brown University Olympiad. She also served as secretary of the National Honor Society and was a member of the Girls JV Cross Country team.

She has volunteered at the John B. Pierce Laboratory in New Haven, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Milford Hospital, and the American Red Cross, (to name a few) as well as several other community-based ventures (Milford Public Library, Registrar of Voters, and tutored students at Kumon in Milford.

Shee will enter the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) in the fall where she plans to pursue a degree in science/engineering.