HALL OF FAME - VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN 2006

VALEDICTORIAN
GPA: 108.37 (weighted)
Plans: Defer college until Spring of 2007 for volunteer work in India and then attend Brown University
Major: Classical Studies/Latin

Kirstin Krusell is an Advanced Placement Scholar (she received a grade of 5 on all 3 of her AP exams), was recognized as a Semi-finalist for a National Coca-Cola Scholarship, is the secretary of the National Honor Society and was chosen as Student of the Year in Latin, Art and AP US History. An outstanding Latin scholar, Kirstin tutors other students in Latin and was the captain of the RHS Latin Team.

Kirstin is an accomplished musician and was recognized earlier in the year for attending the All-County Music Festival (cello). She is in the Chamber and Pit Orchestra at RHS. In addition to her musical ability, Kirstin is also interested in the Fine Arts. She took a pre-college class at the School of Visual Arts in NYC and is in the Art Club and the Photo Club at RHS. Kirstin is the Editor of Labyrinth (the high school's literary magazine) and she won a citation in poetry from Adelphi University.

She is a student volunteer for the Riverhead Relay for Life and volunteers for Special Olympics. Kirstin's decision to delay college to do volunteer work in India is reflective of the kind of person she is.

"I will be attending Brown University in the spring of 2007 to major in Classics after deferring for one semester to travel abroad to New Delhi, India in order to volunteer with the non-profit organization Cross Cultural Solutions," she explained. “I want to learn about the world and other cultures, and I'd like to help people in some way while I'm doing that. I hope to work with lower caste women and with orphans while I’m in New Delhi and then do some traveling."

 

SALUTATORIAN
GPA: 106.81 (weighted)
Plans: College of St. Rose, Providence, RI
Major: Liberal Arts (Pre-Law, Education or Other)

Caitlin Buthmann transferred to the Riverhead Middle School from Catholic school in 7th grade. She is an Advanced Placement Scholar and was chosen as Student of the Year in Honors Chemistry and Math B Honors, and is in the Foreign Language Honor Society (Latin).

Caitlin is the President of Leo's Club and a participating member of WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), Key Club and Science Club.

"I'm a Jr. Lector at my church and have been a volunteer for four years at the Central Suffolk Hospital," shared Caitlin. "I plan to continue to do volunteer work in the future. I have learned so much from my experiences as a hospital volunteer that will stay with me forever. I believe that the work I have done these past four years has made me a better person, with more compassion for people, an ever-increasing appreciation for doctors and nurses, and an ability to deal with people on more levels. Although I do not wish to pursue a career in the medical field, my volunteer work has instilled in me a real and sincere desire to help people in some way. Maybe I will work in education, law, or some other field that I cannot guess. Volunteering has shaped both my mind and my heart in many ways."

Valedictorian and Salutatorian share a Latin/Classics Connection

An outstanding Latin/Classics program at the middle and high school produces Latin scholars of the highest caliber as reflected in the District’s outstanding record in state and regional competitions. Both Kirstin and Caitlin, when interviewed, mentioned the influence their involvement in Latin studies has had on them as students at RHS. Valedictorians, Kirstin Krusell 2006 and Erin McKenna 2005, both noted that their classes in Latin/Classics at RMS and RHS were instrumental in their acceptance at two of the most competitive universities on the East Coast (Brown and Harvard).