Garden City High School Names 2021 Valedictorian And Salutatorian

GARDEN CITY, NY — Garden City High School announced Ian Bailey and Jenna Matarazzo as class of 2021 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Both seniors are high-achieving students who will graduate having completed nine Advanced Placement courses. They have each earned numerous recognitions and taken on a rigorous schedule academic and extracurricular opportunities.

Bailey is a National Merit Finalist, president of the National Honor Society, member of the National Spanish Honor Society and an accomplished athlete. He is a varsity soccer player and has volunteered at school supply drives for the Mary Brennan INN. Bailey has also served as a high school representative for the Village of Garden City’s Environmental Advisory Board since his sophomore year and is considering science or engineering as potential areas of study in college.

Matarazzo is a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars, treasurer of the History Club and vice-president of the German Club. She is principal violist in her section of Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra and tutors students in music as well as other subjects. She was awarded for her essay in the AAW National Writing Contest run by the National Council of Teachers of English last year and won first place at the American Chemical Society’s Chemagination science research competition in 2019. Matarazzo is concentrating on increasing education about STEM careers as she strives for her Girl Scouts Gold award. She created the high school’s Medical Club, for which she serves as founder and director, and is developing a tutoring program to enhance STEM opportunities for minority groups. She also plans to work with the district to incorporate a STEM curriculum component that educates specifically about careers. She plans to study neuroscience in college.

Bailey and Matarazzo are both science research participants who separately studied different aspects of vaping and its dangers. Bailey was named an International Science and Engineering Fair Finalist for two consecutive years in 2019 and 2020, and Matarazzo was part of a team that won second place in the Medical Marvels competition. They have each taken their findings beyond the classroom to help broaden awareness about the topic. Bailey worked with Principal Kevin Steingruebner on vaping education programs and presented to the PTA and at the high school’s Athletic Code Presentation, while Matarazzo's group, which worked with Steingruebner and former principal/current Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Leadership Development Nanine McLaughlin while developing their project, spoke at the Garden City Public Library.

Both students attributed their success in high school largely to the staff members that have supported them over the years.

“Garden City High School has incredible teachers that I’m surrounded by and there are a lot of opportunities here,” Bailey said.

“I feel so many of my teachers genuinely care for their students,” said Matarazzo.