An overview of the Great Neck Public Schools Class of 2022 reveals 644 graduates from the district’s three high schools: 307 from John L. Miller-Great Neck North High School, 328 from William A. Shine-Great Neck South High School, and nine from The Village School. A look at the valedictorians and salutatorians for North and South High Schools follows.
Valedictorians
The North High School Valedictorian is Sahar Tartak. The South High School Valedictorian is Jansen Wong.
North High Valedictorian Sahar Tartak is a National Merit Scholarship winner. She served as president of the North High Student Organization (S.O.), president of Model Congress, and founder/president of the Child Foundation Club. In the area of performing arts, Sahar was a vice president of the North High chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, treasurer of the A Cappella group, and a member of the Junior Players theatre troupe. She was active in the North High DECA chapter throughout her high school career, serving as a chapter officer and earning several first and second-place honors at regional, state, and international DECA competitions. Sahar was elected as president of the New York DECA Executive Council for the 2021–22 school year and she won first place at the 2022 International DECA Competition. Sahar will attend Yale University.
South High Valedictorian Jansen Wong is a National Merit Scholarship winner, an AP Scholar, and he earned perfect scores on the SAT and in three different subject areas of the SAT II. He served in leadership roles for several South High academic teams that earned regional, state, and national honors, including president of the Envirothon team, president of the Science Bowl Team, and captain of the Science Olympiad Team. In addition to team awards, Jansen also earned individual awards in Science Olympiad challenges, several subject-specific Olympiad competitions, and the Nassau County Math Tournament. Other executive board roles included treasurer of Student Government and founder/president of the Physics Club. Jansen was a member of the South High Math Team, Orchestra, and Programming Club. Jansen will attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Salutatorians
The North High School Co-Salutatorians are Kevin Khadavi and David Zeng. The South High School Salutatorian is Ross Williams.
North High Co-Salutatorian Kevin Khadavi is a Commended Student through the National Merit Scholarship Program, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and a medalist in the National Latin, National Greek, National Classical Etymology, and Medusa Mythology exams. He was the founder/president of the North High Classics Club, team captain and first-place winner in the New York State Junior Classical League, and a voting delegate and team captain in the National Junior Classical League. He served as Secretary General (president) of the Model United Nations Club and won awards at several Model UN conferences. Kevin was a member of the North High DECA chapter and a finalist in the International DECA Competition. He was also the founder/captain of the school’s Euro Challenge Team. He served as co-president of the North High chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and was a member of North High’s winning team in the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society’s Young Musicians Innovation Challenge. Kevin will attend Stanford University.
North High Co-Salutatorian David Zeng is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and a National Spanish Exam silver medalist. He served as co-captain of the Math Team, vice president of the Astronomy Club, treasurer of the Chess Club, and a member of the Debate Team. He was president of the Science Olympiad Team and received honorable mentions at the WAC Lighting Invitational Science Fair for multiple science research projects. He served as co-president of the North High chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and was selected to participate in competitive music festivals hosted by the Long Island String Festival Association (LISFA) and the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA). He also served as a concertmaster when the North High Symphony Orchestra took the stage at Carnegie Hall. David will attend New York University.
South High Salutatorian Ross Williams is a National Merit Scholarship winner, an AP Scholar, and a National Latin Exam gold medalist. He also received awards through the American Classical League and National Junior Classical League. Ross was an active member of Theatre South throughout high school, serving as captain of the Improv Troupe and participating in South High’s musicals, one-act productions, and winter plays. Passionate about programming, Ross was president of the Programming Club, program leader of the South High Rebel Robotics Team #2638, and he co-founded a computer programming school known as the Great Neck Teaching Academy. Ross volunteered with organizations and spearheaded fundraisers for Island Harvest and the Junior League of Long Island Clothing Drive. Ross will attend Case Western University.
—Submitted by the Great Neck Public School District
