North Babylon Names Valedictorian, Salutatorian For Class Of 2026

NORTH BABYLON, NY — The North Babylon School District has named Teyla Lopez as valedictorian and Samantha Giraldo as salutatorian of the Class of 2026, recognizing both students for their academic excellence, leadership, and involvement across athletics and extracurricular activities.

Lopez has distinguished herself as both a scholar and student-athlete. She is a three-year member and team captain of the cross-country team, earning All-Sectional honors for her performance. In track and field, she serves as senior captain and has achieved All-League recognition in the 3000-meter event.

Beyond athletics, Lopez is an active member of multiple academic honor societies, including the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, National Language Honor Society and National Science Honor Society. Through her involvement, she has participated in community service efforts such as local races, cleanups and school events, while also contributing to peer tutoring and academic enrichment programs. She has also earned the AP Scholar with Distinction Award.

Giraldo has also demonstrated a strong commitment to academics and extracurricular involvement. She serves as vice president of the National Art Honor Society, where she has completed nearly 25 hours of community service, including creating holiday cards for seniors and supporting school events.

She is also a member of the National Honor Society, participating in fundraisers and outreach initiatives focused on community engagement and service.

In addition to her academic and service achievements, Giraldo has been a member of the girls' varsity cross-country and track and field teams since her freshman year. Through athletics, she has developed leadership, teamwork, and time-management skills while contributing to a competitive and supportive team environment.