Valedictorian, Salutatorian Named at Suffield High School

SUFFIELD, CT — Joseph Longo and Marissa Guzzo have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Class of 2018 at Suffield High School.

Longo, son of Lisa Longo, has been very active at Suffield High School throughout his four years. Along with attending Suffield, he also attends the Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science. He has been a member of student council for four years, serving as Treasurer for two years, and is currently the Student Senate President.

Longo has been a member of the National Honor Society for two years, where he is also the Treasurer. He has been a class council representative at GHAMAS as well. He has been a member of the school’s “A” Team, a group of students which meets with administrators to cultivate a better school environment. In addition, he has been on the Wildcat Advisory Group, a group of students which helps lead Freshman Orientation.

Longo has been a part of the Math Team, Academic Quiz Team, Spirit Squad and Writing Center, and was on the varsity boys tennis team.

He has received accolades and awards for many notable achievements. He was a 2017 National Merit Scholarship Finalist, was named AP Scholar with Distinction, and received a Certificate of Achievement in honor of being a Chick-fil-A Leader Academy Scholar. He has received the Excellence in Advanced Placement Statistics Award, Excellence in Pre-Calculus Award, the PSAT Award, and the Capitol Area Mathematics League Award. He also received the Advanced Placement U.S. History Award, the University of Rochester Award, and the Yale Book Award. He was chosen for the Rotary Youth Leadership Award in 2016, and was a semifinalist for the Connecticut Governor’s Scholars Program in 2017.

Longo has volunteered at Expanding Horizons as a teaching assistant, has been a counselor at the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation summer camp, has worked on a pasta dinner fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project and has worked on the Boston Marine Corps 5K Honor Run.

He plans to attend college in the fall and will major in Business.

Guzzo, daughter of Kim and Paul Guzzo, attends Suffield High School and the Greater Hartford Academy of Math and Science. By doing so, she is able to take advanced math and science classes while at the same time being able to participate in her town and school community.

She is a member of the World Language Honor Society and National Honor Society. In NHS, she has been involved in numerous fundraising projects and also helped advertise to promote important events within the society. Within the NHS, she volunteers her time by tutoring students in multiple subjects.

She is also part of SHS Wildcat Advisory Group, where she is a peer mentor for incoming 9th graders. Other groups she is involved with are the Capital Area Math League, American Mathematics Competition Team and Physics Bowl. She is also a member of Suffield High School Student Council, Giraffe Club, Best Buddies and Academic Quiz Team, as well as a Morning News Anchor on the school's morning announcements.

Guzzo received a scholarship to the National Summer Transportation Institute at UConn in 2016. She has received various awards, such as the Society for Science and the People Research Digital Badges Recipient, the U.S. Department of Education Presidential Scholars Award, the Emperor Science Award Winner with Harvard Cancer mentorship, the Dr. Rick Conard Biological Research Award and the National Society for In Vitro Biology Award, as well as numerous other awards.

Guzzo helps out in the community at the Ronald McDonald House, is a Suffield Parks & Recreation Enrichment Camp Counselor, and volunteers at Sacred Heart Church.

She is interested in pursuing a career in Biology/Psychology/Economics in the fall.

Photos courtesy of Suffield High School

To sign up for Suffield breaking news alerts and more, click here.