East Rockaway High School Names Best In Class For 2023 Graduation

EAST ROCKAWAY, NY — East Rockaway High School has named its top students for the Class of 2023.

Clare Acuti is the class valedictorian, while Julia Walsh is the school's salutatorian.

Acuti is a long-standing member of the National Honor Society, serving as president during her senior year.

She has had no shortage of awards, including 22 "Student of the Month" honors for Science, AP Calculus, AP Biology and AP World History.

Acuti won the prestigious "Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award" for her accomplishments in science and math classes.

She served as vice president of the Tri-M Music Society and received All-State honors. Acuti also shines in sports, as a member of the varsity and junior varsity volleyball team and varsity badminton team. She plans to study neuroscience.

Walsh's academic honors include the George Eastman Young Leaders Award and the Precalculus Accelerated Math Departmental Award. She was named "Student of the Month" multiple times for her success in AP Government, AP World History, Science, English, among other subjects.

She served as president of the Student Council during all four years of high school.

Walsh has served as a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, performing with the jazz band and chorus in district musicals.

She also enjoyed being a member of the varsity and JV softball teams, and was captain of the varsity and JV volleyball teams, where she has been recognized as a New York State Scholar-Athlete.