Meet your 2011 Greenport High School Val & Sal

Anthony Nichols, Valedictorian

GPA: 97.645

Anthony is a member of the National Honor Society and captain of the varsity baseball team. He describes himself as “a bit of a geek” because of his passion for computers.

It was “exciting” working up to being named valedictorian and, with the final results, “It was worth it,” he said. Still, learning of the honor, he admits it hasn’t set in yet.

He describes himself as “pretty good at dealing with the stress” of staying at the top, but said, “If I let it get to me, it’ll hold me back.” He knows he’s a big fish in a small pond heading to a college where he’ll be competing with students all at the top of their games, but believes this will motivate him to perform even better.

He’s going to Western New England College, in Springfield, Mass., in September to major in computer engineering, because it’s a field that offers a lot of future job possibilities, he said.

His advice to his classmates will be to make the best out of all the opportunities they’re given in life.

Emily Demarest, Salutatorian

GPA: 96.193

Emily is a member of the National Honor Society, president of the Student Council, treasurer of her senior class and a representative from the school to the Southold Town Youth Bureau. She was chosen to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program on a fully paid scholarship this spring. The program is designed to develop and enhance students’ leadership skills.

She is on the staff of the Quill, the school newspaper, and the yearbook and plays varsity volleyball.

“It’s good to balance it out,” she said about the demands of academia and extracurricular activities.

“I’ve worked so hard, and it paid off,” she said about being chosen class salutatorian.

In September, Emily will attend Cazenovia (N.Y.) College as an interior design major. She knows she’ll miss her family when she leaves for college, but is looking forward to the experience, she said. As for the competition she’ll face from other students in her college community, she’s unfazed. “No one is exactly like me,” she said.

Her speech to her classmates will be to appreciate what they’ve had in Greenport.