Meet Radnor HS Class Of 2018 Valedictorian, Salutatorian

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA – The Radnor Township School District is often lauded as one of the best districts in the state and nation. And as the 2017-2018 year comes to an end, two graduating Radnor High School students have been named the class of 2018 valedictorian and salutatorian.

Niles Huang and Alex Leonardi will address their classmates as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, at the Radnor High School Class of 2018 commencement ceremony on Wednesday, June 13 at Temple University's Liacouras Center.

John Roesch, Radnor High School Class of 1972 and sound effects artist, will present the keynote address at the Class of 2018 commencement ceremony.

Among Roesch's numerous credits are movies "Moana," "Beetlejuice," "Dunkirk," and "The Hangover," as well as video game franchises "God of War" and the "Batman: Arkham series." He has worked on 16 films that received the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing or Best Sound and has earned 20 Golden Reel Award wins and nominations.

Huang, who is attending University of Chicago in the fall, and Leonardi, who is Harvard bound come the fall, have a long list of accomplishments and accolades between the two of them

Below are highlights of both Huang and Leonardi's academic career, courtesy of the Radnor Township School District:

Niles Huang, Valedictorian

Niles Huang is co-president of the Radnor High School Math Club and participates in the Annenberg Science Symposium. He plays clarinet in the RHS Band and is a member of the school's Ultimate Frisbee team.

He earned the Yale University Book Award his junior year, presented to a student with outstanding character and intellectual promise who is active in extracurricular activities. He also received the Rensselaer Medal Award and Middlebury College Latin Award.

Niles enjoys competing in math competitions as a member of the Lehigh Valley Math Team and has participated in the American Regional Math League, Harvard-MIT Math Tournament and Princeton University Math Competition.

A Boy Scout since 6th-grade, Niles has served as a Den Chief and Troop Historian for junior Cub Scouts. He is classically trained in piano and enjoys computer programming, spending time outdoors and philosophy.

Earlier this year, Niles was one of only 511 students in the world to earn every point possible on an AP Exam, an accomplishment he achieved on the AP Computer Science A Exam.

Niles is interested in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer science. He will attend the University of Chicago this fall.

Alex Leonardi, Salutatorian

Alex Leonardi is president of Radnor Model United Nations, captain of Radnor Hi-Q and a member of the Radnor Ethics Bowl and National Honor Society.

He received the Harvard Book Award his junior year, presented to the outstanding student who combines excellence in scholarship with achievement in other fields, and earned Gold, Silver and Bronze medals on the National German Exam. He also received the Bausch and Lomb Science Award and Middlebury College German Award.

Alex was recently named a 2018 U.S. Presidential Scholar semifinalist, one of 630 students nationally, and one of only 18 in Pennsylvania, to advance to the final round of the competition.

Alex can speak Farsi and Italian, has a Black Belt in Taekwondo, Karate and Aikido and is an instructor for Karate Adapted for Autism (KAFA). He also enjoys playing guitar, computer programming and playing chess.

Alex is interested in studying economics and business and will attend Harvard University.

Congratulations and good luck to Niles, Alex, and the rest of the RHS class of 2018!

Images via Radnor township School District