Meet Massapequa High School's Class of 2016 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Massapequa High School recently announced that the Class of 2016 valedictorian and salutatorian are Joseph Prusan and Juliet Remi, respectively.

Prusan may have grown up around attorneys but the law bug hasn’t bitten him. The valedictorian of the 593-member class of 2016, he’s aiming to one day becoming a neuro-radiologist practicing somewhere out west.

He says he was inspired to join the medical field through his experience as a diabetic.

“I have always gotten really good care and was intrigued by my doctors and by articles on the condition and finding a cure,” he said.

With a grade point average of 99.872, Prusan will be heading to the University of California in Los Angeles to major in bioengineering.

During his time in high school, he focused on science research and working on environmental issues while also maintaining a healthy balance between academics and his social life by making time for friends.

Through Massapequa High School’s Science Research Program, of which Prusan was a part of since eighth grade as an advanced science student, he conducted research to see if nylon could prevent rust on metal beads and researched centipedes to see if proteins in their venom can be used as a natural pesticide.

He recently presented his project at the district’s 5th Annual Science Symposium on May 26.

As a sophomore and junior, Prusan was recognized by the Dowling College Long Island Youth Summit Essay Contest. He also enjoyed working on science research in a lab outside of Massapequa High School.

Prusan says he was inspired by both science teacher Dr. Paul Hesleitner for always being “open and honest with him when he asked for advice about his research and his helping to expose him to science and technology so that he thought about the subjects in ways that he never had before" and AP English teacher Robert Hempel, who made the class read the book “Hot, Flat and Crowded” by Tom Friedman, a book about the damages to the environment.

He was a part of a group of students that started the environmental awareness initiative, Aerify 3.6, which promotes environmentalism through activities such as tree plantings and park clean-ups.

He was also involved in Science Olympiads, has been named an Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar of Distinction for his high achievement on AP exams and is a member of National Honor Society.

According to Prusan, his greatest strength is his work ethic and his greatest weakness his tendency to procrastinate.

When he is not in school, he enjoys playing football with friends, traveling with family and volunteering in the pediatric radiology wing at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He is the oldest of four boys who all have similar interests, he says.

Remi, a quiet person who shied away from public speaking, took a chance on an Introduction to Law class her sophomore year that not only transformed her confidence, but set the foundation for her three years in the high school law program and the Mock Trial team.

This year, she is President of the Mock Trial team and is the only member who has a role as a prosecuting and a defending attorney.

With a 99.851 grade point average, Remi will be heading to Colgate to major political science with plans to eventually attend law school and become a trial attorney.

“The best parts of my high school career have been in the court room,” she said. “I’ve learned so much from the Mock Trial team and made incredible friendships. I’ve been to the Harvard Mock Trial seminar twice and have also been a semi-finalist in the New York State Bar Association Mock Trial Tournament two years in a row.”

The Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor says she was inspired by both her eighth-grade social studies teacher Josee Charvet, who studied law and first introduced her to law in her class as well as Daniel Bachman, her Mock Trial advisor and social studies teacher, who she says is her mentor who treats his students with mutual respect and opens opportunities for all of his students.

Remi is a member of National Honor Society and has earned National Silver Awards for her proficiency in Spanish.

She was one of a handful of students who were selected to ask a question at the recent "Evaluation of Presidential Leadership Symposium" at Hofstra University after she submitted an essay that had to address the question, "How have the political party debates informed public understanding of the presidential candidates' leadership qualities and policy positions?"

Aside from her passion with law, she finds inspiration in her older sister, Reneé, who was salutatorian of her college graduating class, studied abroad in college, something Remi. She is now a special education teacher in Hawaii and is going to graduate school for a master’s degree in public administration.

Remi said she has learned how to branch out by her sister’s example.

During her time in high school, she was also involved in the Chief’s Challenge Club, which works toward improving school culture and providing community service and was treasurer of the club for one year, played intramural basketball, soccer and volleyball, volunteered at her church and was a member of National Honor Society.

Remi claims her greatest strength is her strong work ethic and her weakness is that she tends not to ask for help when she needs it.

If she could change anything about high school it would be to get involved earlier and urged upcoming students to “expand their horizons outside their comfort zones; take that random class that you normally wouldn’t consider taking, because you never know where these experiences will lead you.”

Photos courtesy of Massapequa High School