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Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has announced its valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2018.
This year’s honors go to senior Ibuki Iwasaki, who is the Class of 2018 valedictorian, and Eli Doyle, the salutatorian.
“Ibuki and Eli are two exceptional students,” said the high school’s principal, Christine Austen. “In addition to being at the top of their class, they are both well-rounded, very involved in extracurricular activities and each of them has received numerous accolades to date.”
To say these two enjoyed successes inside and outside the classroom is an understatement.
Iwasaki finished her schooling with a 101.4 GPA while serving as the president of the National Honor Society and a member of the school’s Mathletes team. She’s been a Science Olympiad and Latin Club participant.
She did all this while being an ace on the tennis courts, where she starred on her varsity team since eighth grade, going undefeated in individual matches her senior year.
When she wasn’t drop shotting opponents or participating in clubs, she was winning awards as a violinist in her school’s orchestra.
She scored perfect scores three years in a row at the Level VI New York State School Music Association Festival.
She also tutors English to Japenese-speaking people.
“I’m extremely honored,” she said, “I’ve always aimed for good grades…becoming valedictorian was definitely a goal of mine.”
Like Iwasaki, Doyle exceeded three digits for his GPA, with a 100.8.
He, too, is a Mathletes team member, in addition to being a participant in the Academic Team and an officer of the Student Organization.
Playing tennis and being a stage crew member for school plays, musicals and concerts were passions for Doyle.
During his time in high school, he won several athletic and academic awards. He also earned the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in 2015 and The Robert A. Belfer Family Fellowship Award for Travel and Study in Israel in 2016.
“One of the perks of being in a small school is there is a very cooperative attitude, even among the most competitive of the students,” he said. “This is something we all take for granted, but I wouldn’t have achieved this honor without help and support of my awesome classmates and dedicated teachers.”
Next year Doyle will be heading to Brown University, where he plans to major in applied physics. Iwasaki also looks to major in physics but hasn’t selected a college yet.
She’s been accepted to MIT, among other schools.
Top: Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Class of 2018’s valedictorian Ibuki Iwasaki and salutatorian Eli Doyle. Photo courtesy of the Port Jefferson School District.
