Bellport High School valedictorian Samantha DeLillo was among those honored at the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association’s 30th annual Valedictorians Luncheon at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. The tradition, established by the SCSSA, honored the enviable accomplishments of the county’s highest-achieving graduates from the Class of 2024 and was attended by school district superintendents, high school principals, valedictorians and their parents.

SCSSA President Dr. Timothy Hearney noted that leadership begins with one’s mindset. He advised the graduates to reflect on what matters and to find purpose and meaning in what they choose to do in life. He added, “Leadership is about finding joy,” and encouraged the students to “work hard to find joy in what you do.”

Guest speaker Matthew Cohen, president and chief executive officer of the Long Island Association, defined the group of valedictorians as “people who are going to think out of the box to find solutions.” His heartfelt speech included the advice to “take advantage of all the opportunities offered to you” and to “stick with things, no matter how hard.”

The valedictorians were then called to the stage, accompanied by their school district superintendent and high school principal, to receive a certificate of recognition, the book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss and a journal from SCOPE.

Date Added: 6/24/2024