Wantagh High School Unveils 2020 Valedictorian

WANTAGH, NY — Wantagh High School has unveiled its 2020 valedictorian and salutatorian and in keeping with Warrior tradition, the students were congratulated during the morning announcements.

Travis Minutoli and Athena Yao are the Class of 2020's valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, the district said in a news release.

Minutoli is an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction and is enrolled in the district’s rigorous AP Capstone Program. He's also a National Honor Society trustee, treasurer of the World Language Honor Society and a member of the Science Honor Society.

Minutoli also plays two instruments — saxophone and clarinet — and is not only a member of the school marching band, but secretary of the Tri-M music honor society. Among his other accomplishments: membership in Mathletes and the Italian Club, co-captain of Science Olympiad and service in the Key Club.

And if that wasn't enough, Travis was also voted "most likely to succeed" in senior superlatives.

Yao boasts an impressive resume of her own.

She was recently designated as a National Merit Semifinalist and is a National Advanced Placement Scholar, receiving an average score of 4 on each of her AP exams and scores of at least 4 on eight or more of them.

Yao is also in the Capstone program and serves as tutoring coordinator for the National Honor Society. Additionally, she's a member of the World Language Honor Society and president of the National Art Honor Society.

Among her impressive accolades: Yao recently garnered the Congressional Art Award and the Scholastic Art and Writing Award and is Team A captain of the Science Olympiad team and a Key Club trustee. She also helped found the school's social-emotional and mental health awareness forum Minds Matter Club, is varsity captain of the girls cross-country team, serves as the director of art for Girl Genius Magazine and is also a teaching assistant at the Long Island School of Chinese. And if that isn't impressive enough, Yao has Junior Academy membership with the New York Academy of Sciences, where as a member of an international team of students, garnered the grand prize at the Regeneron and Medidata Genomics Challenge.

"Enjoy the moment and the year to come, because this is a special year for both of you," Principal Carolyn Breivogel said.