Dobbs and Irvington Valedictorians, Paving the Road to Success

Thinking of class valedictorian usually conjures the image of a student who sits in the front of the classroom, always ready with the correct answer.  But tomorrow's graduating classes of Dobbs Ferry and Irvington High Schools will feature number-one students who have much in common: athletic prowess, humility, love of learning and a willingness to seek help when they don't have all the answers. 

"I have always developed strong relationships with teachers," Jacob Lowy, Dobbs Ferry High School's valedictorian, said. "During the first few weeks of a school year, I pick up on something taught in class and come to my teachers during the extra help period after school. I use a question as a jumping-off point into what's usually a much longer and more in-depth conversation."

Neither Lowy nor Rebecca Macies, Irvington's valedictorian, set out on a quest to earn the highest grades; yet both achieved the prestigious distinction through pure love of learning.

"I love to know things and how things work," Macies, who will attend Cornell University in the fall, said. "I have always loved reading and will read any book I can get my hands on."

In fact she says this passion, though seemingly enviable, has at times gotten in the way. "I read the 'New York Times' Book Review almost every week, and can get pretty distracted by it. I always feel compelled to go to the library and check out at least two of the books they feature," she said. "I've paid enough in overdue book charges at the Irvington Library to have a wing built in my name."

That's something Macies and Lowy also share: great senses of humor.

"When I was a kid, my dad and I would play 30 minutes of baseball together and then do 30 minutes of math problems," Lowy said laughing. "It was bonding for us—it never occurred to me math wasn't something most people think of as fun." 

Echoing her son's sentiment, Julie Lowy added: "I remember once when Jacob was younger we literally had to order him to stop doing homework and come watch George Carlin on TV."

Macies, a swimmer, active environmentalist and Midnight Run organizer, was also self-motivated throughout high school.

"Her mother and I never put any pressure on our children," Joe Macies, Rebecca's father, said. "Her interests are so diverse. Greek, Latin, English—but what she really wants to pursue is marine biology."

Macies gets excited looking through the Cornell's course catalogue, thinking about how much new knowledge will soon be within reach.

"I plan to major in environmental studies, but I will also take classes from a variety of departments," Macies said. 

Lowy, who will enroll at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, has equally diverse academic interests.

"I will probably major in political science in college," Lowy said. "But I will also definitely continue with math and science, which I love."

Lowy interned with New York Senator Charles Schumer one summer and discovered a true passion for politics.

"I worked directly with the Senator's chief-of-staff, and thought that was definitely a job I wouldn't mind having," Lowy said.

Then he took a college-level summer course in political science with a 25-year-old doctoral student and decided, "The academic route could also be fun."

During the course of his high school career, Lowy realized he would need to cut down on some of his activities in order to excel--and maintain his sanity.

This year he was captain of the soccer team, a member of the selective Greater Westchester Youth Orchestra, president of the Model United Nations team and editor of the student newspaper…only.

"I used to play baseball and run track," he said. "But that became too much."

Though Macies and Lowy would have been strong applicants for any top college, both made their choices ultimately based on lifestyle—not rankings necessarily, though both will attend great schools—but because of where they envisioned themselves happiest.

"Rebecca had a tough choice between Cornell and Columbia," Joe Macies said. "But she chose Cornell because she wanted to be in the outdoors." In addition to swimming for Irvington Macies is a competitive sailor, something she hopes to continue in college.

Lowy arrived at his choice because of Haverford's overall philosophy.

"It's an academically rigorous school, but there's an unwritten rule that student's don't talk about grades," Lowy said. "It's about learning and living." 

Reflecting on their high school careers, Macies and Lowy remember the teachers and the community.

"I had a lot of trouble writing my speech for graduation," Macies said.  "I started it from scratch many times, trying to find its focus. In the end, I decided to write about school-wide activities that brought everyone together."

Describing his speech, Lowy emphasized the special environment in which he and his classmates have all been taught to question everything and explore new ideas.

"What's really important to know about my speech is that I didn't want to talk at all about me," Lowy said. "I wanted to emphasize the Dobbs Ferry community that serves as the foundation for the people we have become. It's a small community--in which I've known everyone since kindergarten--and in which I never feel judged."

Irvington's sense of inclusiveness and strong community affected Macies in a similar way.

"I have tons of friends here and there are so many people who know me well. It will be hard to leave everyone," she said.

But like all great stories with happy endings—Macies' favorites are Jane Austen romances—the paths of class valedictorians are not always smooth, easy and clear.

"There were times when it did become too much," Lowy said, mentioning first the pressure of junior year and physics class. Then he added: "During sophomore year I went on a trip to Mexico with my synagogue. We went to a Mayan community, and were there to build houses but also to connect with the people. When I got back I felt culture shock, and had mixed feelings about myself and my goals. I realized then that I couldn't do everything, and didn't need to to be happy with myself."