Val, Sal Chosen For Westhampton Beach High's Class Of 2019

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Westhampton Beach High School has announced this year's valedictorian and salutatorian.

Chris Bender has been named valedictorian and Frank Lapinski, salutatorian for the Class of 2019.

The two seniors earned the top spots in their class through their "outstanding commitment to academics," the district said.

Chris has achieved a number of academic accomplishments during his tenure at Westhampton Beach High School, including being named a National AP Scholar, a National Merit Commended Scholar and the soon-to-be recipient of an AP Capstone diploma, the district said. He is also a member of the National, Math, Science and Foreign Language Honor Societies, serves as co-president of the Interact Club, and is a two-sport athlete on the varsity football and lacrosse teams, the district added.

He plans to attend Williams College in the fall. He has not yet declared a major.

Frank, the district said, "has an equally impressive academic track record."

He is an AP Scholar, a member of the National, Math, Science and Foreign Language Honor Societies, president of his school’s mock trial team, co-president of the Interact Club, co-captain of the varsity quiz bowl team and chief financial officer of the school’s Virtual Enterprise team. In addition, he plays the saxophone and performs with his school’s jazz ensemble and pep and pit bands. Outside of school, he participates in the Riverhead Youth Court, district officials said.

Lapinski intends to study either business or engineering in the fall. He has not yet decided on a college.