Bellport High School has announced the top 10 students of the Class of 2026. Leading the group are Gabriel Andre and Samantha Panasuk, who will serve as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, and Joselyn Jara Lopez, the class essayist. The three seniors earned the top spots through their outstanding commitment to academics. Rounding out the list of high-achieving seniors are Orion Beadle, Alana Cornacchiulo, Meaghan DeLillo, Brenden Fitzgerald, Ethan Hillard, Sara Repper and Noel Rivera.
Andre made history as Bellport High School’s first National Merit Commended Scholar. He is also an AP Scholar with Distinction and earned a prestigious AP Capstone Diploma. He serves as president of his school’s Science Honor Society, vice president of the Math Honor Society and vice president of the Math Club, a position in which he led his team at the Hofstra Long Island Math Fair and earned himself a silver medal. He also serves as captain of Quiz Bowl, secretary of the French Club, and is a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society.
In addition to his academic achievements, Andre is an accomplished musician. He holds an All-County title for cello and has performed in festivals held by the Long Island String Festival Association, New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education and New York State School Music Association. He also plays cello in his school’s chamber and pit orchestras and keyboard with the jazz band.
Outside of school, Andre has participated in Brookhaven National Laboratory’s STEM Prep and Bridge to Research summer programs.
He plans to attend college in the fall to study biomedical engineering.
Equally impressive is Samantha Panasuk, an AP Scholar with Distinction who has earned an AP Capstone Seminar Research certificate. She is a member of her school’s Math, English, Science, Spanish and National honor societies, as well as Tri-M Music Honor Society. Additionally, she is a writer for her school’s literary magazine, Fathom, and participates in girls track. She is also an accomplished flutist who performs with her school’s flute choir and has participated in NYSSMA and SCMEA festivals on flute and piano.
She plans to attend Stony Brook University in the fall to study music.
Jara Lopez is an AP Scholar with Distinction and will graduate with an impressive AP Capstone Diploma. She serves as vice president of her school’s Science Honor Society and is a member of the National, Math, English and Italian honor societies, as well as the Italian Club.
She plans to study nursing in the fall.
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