Garden City High School Names Its Graduating Class Valedictorian

GARDEN CITY, NY — Garden City High School has announced its Class of 2024 valedictorian and salutatorian.

James Nagler is the school's valedictorian. He earned various academic during his four years at Garden City High School, including an AP Scholar with Honors and first place in the Congressional App Challenge for an app he designed, coded and implemented.

Nagler received a US Navy & Marine Corps Special Award for innovations in STEM. Last summer, he was one of only 62 high school students nationwide accepted into the Research Science Institute.

Outside of the classroom, Nagler is an All-County band member and plays for the varsity tennis team. His academic career continues this fall at MIT, where he'll pursue a combined degree in computer science and electrical engineering.

“I am so thankful for so many things but the science research program I’m especially grateful for. The teachers have been the most influential in my life, from Mr. Esposito, who taught my ninth-grade biology class and continued to mentor me throughout my years here," Nagler said. "As well as Dr. Slater who I’ve had for physics the past two years, which has helped to inspire my desire to study electrical engineering in the future."

Salutatorian Elaine Wang's academic excellence includes a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship Program and notching a perfect score on the PLTW Aerospace Final.

Wang is also gifted in piano and mathematics, as she took part in competitions and prestigious summer programs at Rice University and Johns Hopkins University.

"I appreciate the resources that were offered here, AP class options, research opportunities and a wide variety of extracurricular and community service opportunities through which I have gained valuable skills and friendships," Wang said.

She will continue her studies at Cornell University’s College of Engineering.