Mattituck High School

KATHERINE HOEG

VALEDICTORIAN

GPA: 100.04 (weighted)

College plans: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Major: undecided

Talented athlete: Katherine committed to playing lacrosse at UNC/Chapel Hill during her sophomore year after having played on Mattituck’s varsity team since seventh grade. She was team captain for four years, reaching 500 career points and 300 career goals. She received Academic All American Honors and is a four-time All County player, two-time All Tournament player and three-time Under Armour tournament selection, playing in the Under Armour All American Senior Game. She also played with the Long Island Yellow Jackets for six years.

On the basketball court, Katherine was captain for two years and on the varsity team for five. She earned All County, Academic All County, All State and Player of the Year distinctions.

High achiever: Katherine has been named to the high honor roll every marking period since seventh grade, was runner-up in the Rube Goldberg competition in AP physics and is an AP Scholar with distinction.

Getting involved: She is a member of the National Honor Society and assists at the annual Turkey Trot 5K and the Mattituck wrestling tournaments.

Parting words: “I always wanted to make a difference in this community and it ended up making a difference in my life. Mattituck is unique in its traditions, people and learning and I am blessed to have grown up in this town.”

JACK DUFTON

SALUTATORIAN

GPA: 99.5190 (weighted)

College plans: Amherst College

Major: biology

High honors: Jack was on the high honor roll all 12 quarters, named an AP Scholar with distinction, a NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete, recipient of the Suffolk Zone Award, a two-time Student of the Month and a member of the National Honor Society. Outside the classroom, Jack has tutored, made blankets for cancer patients, written cards for soldiers overseas and worked on Habitat for Humanity homes.

Natural runner: Jack has run varsity track since eighth grade and plans to run in college. He was first-team All League in cross country; All League in the mile, pentathlon and 800-meter races; and All Division for the pentathlon. He broke the record for the 800-meter run and pentathlon, competed in the New York State Track & Field Championships, finished fifth in the state for small schools and was recognized as an Academic All County runner. In addition, he helped start a winter track program.

Big dreams: Jack hopes to become a surgeon, something he’s wanted since he was young. His aspiration was confirmed after he spent a summer interning at Eastern Long Island Hospital. He is currently working with his friend Yianni Giannaris to create a prosthetic hand made of artificial muscle.

“I would definitely like to thank ELIH for giving me that amazing opportunity and the rest of the community for the numerous opportunities they have provided me,” he said.

Parting words: “Honestly, Mattituck has been great. It’s a great community to be in. I’m a competitive guy, I would say, and I am graduating with a competitive group of kids.”