Congratulations 2023 Valedictorians & Salutatorians!
The 2023 Valedictorians and Salutatorians were celebrated during the May 9 Board of Education meeting. We are so proud of these incredible scholars and their accomplishments!
Fairfield Warde High School
Valedictorian
Mary Ryan is a student-athlete who has proven that she can excel at the highest-level courses, compete at an elite athletic level, and be involved in her school and local community. She has consistently worked hard and enrolled in some of the most difficult AP and Honors courses offered. Currently Mary is planning to major in Anthropology with a concentration in Medical Anthropology on a Pre-Med track. She hopes to become a psychiatrist who studies mental health. Mary’s achievements continue to shine outside of the classroom, including a program which she developed to provide swimming lessons to underprivileged children. We wish Mary the best of luck in the fall as she continues her academic career at Brown University.
Salutatorian
Leah Amster has truly stood out for her independence, dedication, intellectual curiosity, and her kind and caring personality. Leah enjoys all areas of study but has a passion for math and science and is hoping to pursue a major in the STEM field. No matter what path Leah ultimately chooses, she has the drive, determination, and intellectual curiosity to be successful. In addition to taking six AP courses this year alone, Leah was named a National Merit Commended Scholar. Outside of the classroom, Leah’s true passion is playing soccer, and she serves as a mentor and leader for children through her work at Wakeman Club. We wish Leah the best of luck in the fall as she continues her academic career at Vanderbilt University.
Fairfield Ludlowe High School
Valedictorian
Elena Ohe is a diligent, committed, and independent student, who has excelled in challenging AP and Honors courses throughout her high school career. In addition to academic achievements, Elena is a standout performer on the softball team and was recognized as an All-League Player. Elena is an active community member, having participated in the Key Club, Circle of Friends Club, Math Honor Society, History Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Latin Honor Society and the National Honor Society. She is also gifted writer and artist and was awarded the Yale Book Prize among other prestigious awards. We wish Elena the best of luck in the fall as she continues her academic career at Yale University.
Co-Salutatorian
Kirit Dhanjal has put his heart and soul into his education. Throughout the past four years Kirit has taken nine AP courses, while maintaining involvement in his community and continuing to be an empathetic peer and role model. Kirit has always known he wanted to go into the medical field and took a course to become an EMT. He also had the opportunity to intern and shadow physicians giving him hands-on experience that further showcased his ability to be compassionate to patients. Additionally, Kirit participates in a variety of clubs such as Ludlowe’s Science Bowl, the Debate Club, Cycling Team and Make-A-Wish Club. We wish Kirit the best of luck on the fall as he attends Union College.
Co-Salutatorian
Nathaniel Thompson has challenged himself by following a rigorous and demanding sequence of honors and advanced placement classes throughout his high school career. While Nate’s academic strength reaches across all disciplines, he is particularly interested in math. He is a member of a small cohort of students who entered high school having skipped two grade levels in the math curriculum, culminating in Multivariable Calculus his senior year. Nate is also a valued member of the Math Honor Society. Last year, Nate was the recipient of the Harvard Book Award, and was named a National Merit semi-finalist. Nate aspires to see the world and has written about traveling to Antarctica, driving on the Pan-American highway, and visiting Japan. We wish Nate the best of luck in the fall as he continues his academic career at the University of Connecticut.