Meet The Wantagh High School Valedictorian And Salutatorian

Graduation is months away, but Wantagh High School announced Samantha Minars and Andriana Patmanidis as the class of 2019’s valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Keeping with Warrior tradition, the students were congratulated during the morning announcements, and while accompanied with parents and faculty, took an official photo in front of the school sign as it flashed the good news.

“Enjoy the moment and the year to come,” Principal Carolyn Breivogel said to the two. “This is a special year for both of you.”

Minars is treasurer of the National Honor Society and a member of both the World Language and science honor societies. She was recently designated as a National Merit Semifinalist, is an Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor and a recipient of the Oberlin College Book Award for excellence in science. In addition to playing varsity tennis and badminton, she participates in extracurricular activities as treasurer of the Science Olympiad team, a peer leader and member of the Class of 2019 organization. She is also a counselor with Camp Achieve during the summer and assists with her family’s annual Haunted House Charity project to benefit the International Red Cross and UNICEF. She plans on studying biomedical engineering next fall.

Patmanidis is co-president of the National Honor Society and a member of the science and World Language honor societies. She was recently designated as both an Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor and as a National Merit Scholar Program Commended Student. She is also the recipient of an AP Capstone diploma and the Rensselaer Medal for excellence in science and mathematics from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Patmanidis is an avid artist and, in addition to taking digital/graphic art and AP 2D graphic design, has participated in the Olympics of the Visual Arts competition for three consecutive years. Other extracurricular activities include tutoring peers, Mathletes competitions and holding the positions of Team A captain and president of Science Olympiad, as well as vice president of International Outreach. Another interesting fact is that Greek is her first language. Patmandis plans on pursuing a career in either biomedical engineering or pre-med next fall.

Photo courtesy Wantagh School District