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Harvard-bound Claire Yang is the valedictorian of Ward Melville High School’s Class of 2022, Three Village Central School District has announced.
An avid writer and musician, Yang played the flute in the All-State Symphonic Band, served as drum major for the high school marching band and participates in Wind Ensemble and the Bluegrass Club.
A student of many and diverse talents, Yang captains the high school’s state champion Science Olympiad team and is vice president of the school’s math team. She has presented research she conducted with Stony Brook University’s Laser Teaching Center at the Optical Society of America’s FiO/LS Symposium.
Additionally, Yang is a five-time National Scholastic Art and Writing Medalist and has placed in the Top 10 at DECA’s International ICDC Competition for two straight years. She is co-president of the nonprofit Mission: Toothbrush, and founded a free online tutoring service during the pandemic. At Harvard, she intends to major in applied mathematics.
Salutatorian: Alexander Lin
Ward Melville’s salutatorian is Alexander Lin, a musician and community minded student who has established himself as one of the most recognized students in STEM-related competitions and organizations.
A member of Ward Melville’s award-winning Science Olympiad Team, Lin is a mathematical prodigy, scoring exceptionally well on the American Invitation Mathematics Exam three times and rising to become the top-scoring student in the New York Math League.
Lin, who will attend Vanderbilt this fall and remains undecided on a major, has conducted research through the Brookhaven National Laboratory’s High School Research Program, working primarily on computer programming and particle physics. Lin plays the cello and was selected to New York’s All-State Symphonic Orchestra, Long Island String Festival, NYSMMA and the New York Youth Symphony.
During the pandemic, Lin initiated an online origami class through the Emma Clark Library. As a teacher’s assistant at a local Chinese school, Lin created lessons and taught chess.
Top photo: Ward Melville High School seniors Claire Yang (left) and Alexander Lin have been named the Class of 2022 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. (Courtesy of the Three Village Central School District.)
