Port Jeff's valedictorian celebrated at superintendent’s luncheon

From Port Jeff Schools: Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Annalisa Welinder was among Suffolk County’s highest-achieving students from the Class of 2019 who were honored by school district superintendents, administrators and parents during the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association’s 25th annual Valedictorian’s Luncheon, held at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook on May 30.

Congratulating the students on their hard work and achievements were members of the SCCSA Board of Directors and keynote speaker Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini who spoke of education’s vitality to the security of local communities and nation. Annalisa, who will attend Stanford University in the fall, was called to the stage to receive a certificate and gift of recognition.

In her closing remarks, SCCSA president-elect Bernadette Burns told the students, “Your high school is not the place you’ve gone to; it’s the place you go from.” She also encouraged the valedictorians to listen to others, be considerate, think beyond themselves and to never forget that little acts of kindness will be remembered long after the act itself.”