Teaneck Valedictorian Reflects on the Last 4 Years

Patrick D’Onofrio found out he was valedictorian of Teaneck High School’s 2013 graduating class while comparing grade point averages among friends earlier this school year.

“I never really thought about (being valedictorian),” D’Onofrio said.  Instead, he chalks it up to taking, and excelling in, honors level classes since his freshman year. 

As D’Onofrio heads off to Boston College in the fall, he is going to miss showing his Highwayman spirit at Teaneck’s basketball and volleyball games, and the close group of friends he has made in the time he has spent at Teaneck public schools. 

“My cousin, she went to a school where there were a lot of cliques,” D’Onofrio said.  “In Teaneck High School I really feel like everyone knows each other and that makes me very comfortable here.”

D’Onofrio will be entering Boston College without an intended major, but is leaning toward psychology, a subject he grew fond of after taking Teaneck High’s Advanced Placement Psychology course and a class in economics.

“I thought it would be more mathematic based,” D’Onofrio said of his economics course. “But luckily it’s more of a social science, as far as from what I learned, and it really interested me.  So, understanding that I really love learning about people and how they think really helped me decide.”

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