DEER PARK, NY — Deer Park School District has named the valedictorian and salutatorian for the Deer Park High School Class of 2026, recognizing two students whose academic excellence, leadership and extracurricular achievements have distinguished them throughout their high school careers.
Ubaid Iqbal was named valedictorian, while Jaidyn Schabe was named salutatorian.
Iqbal, an AP Scholar with Distinction, has built an extensive résumé both inside and outside the classroom. He serves as tutoring chair of the National Honor Society, president of the high school’s Newspaper Club, chief financial officer of his College Virtual Enterprises class, and team lead for product strategy for Reflexion and in the Wharton Global Youth Investment competition.
Beyond school activities, Iqbal works as a finance intern at the Town of Babylon Industrial Development Agency and serves as an assistant general manager for his family business, Go! Calendars, Games & Toys.
This fall, Iqbal will attend New York University Stern School of Business, where he plans to major in accounting and finance.
“I feel awesome, this is definitely one of the most wonderful experiences I have had,” Iqbal said. “It is the highest accomplishment anybody in my family has ever received. It is one of those experiences I want to take as a stepping point; I don’t want to look at it as my pinnacle, but use it as momentum to keep driving forward and pushing myself to be the best I can be.”
Iqbal also shared advice for younger students striving toward academic success.
“Keep your head up high and just keep putting in the work,” Iqbal advised. “Just try to be the best that you can, and then if the cards work out right, you might get the position of valedictorian. But even if you don’t, as long as you’re working hard, you’re still going to succeed in life and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.”
Schabe, an AP Scholar with Distinction and Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program, has also established herself as a leader across academics, athletics and student government.
She serves as the board of education ex officio student member, president of both the Class of 2026 and PEN Society, vice president of finance for DECA, co-vice president of the mock trial team, secretary of the Spanish Honor Society, and is also a member of the National Honor Society and the girls varsity lacrosse team.
Her accomplishments additionally include earning the Girl Scouts Gold Award, receiving honors as a DECA State Career Conference medalist and DECA Regional Competition trophy winner, and being named a recipient of the 2024 Suffolk County Distinguished Youth Award Medal.
Schabe will attend Yale University, where she plans to major in molecular biophysics and biochemistry before pursuing medical school.
“It was four years of effort and hard work, and a lot of studying,” Schabe said. “I am definitely proud of it, but I’m also very thankful because it couldn’t have been done without my friends, family, teachers and everyone who supported me along the way.”
Schabe encouraged younger students to focus on persistence and effort.
“You’re not going to ace every test or do well at everything,” Schabe said. “But effort does go a long way. At the end of the day, I’m proud of myself not necessarily because of being the salutatorian, but because I know the title is a result of me putting in my best effort. So, I feel like that it is definitely to always show up and put in your best effort, whether it’s on a sports field or in the classroom.”
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