Islip HS Announces Valedictorian and Salutatorian Of 2023

ISLIP, NY — The Islip School District officially announced its top two students of the Class of 2023.

Connor Autera and Nelson Chan, students at Islip High School, were named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.

Autera, who earned a 105.38 weighted GPA, serves as vice president of the school’s student government and is a member of the Business Academy, an event coordinator for the school’s peer mentoring group and a Special Olympics volunteer.

An AP Scholar with Distinction, he will graduate with an AP Capstone Diploma. A triple-sport athlete and mainstay on the varsity baseball team, he earned the Triple “I” Award and was named Class of 2023 homecoming king.

Autera will attend the Darla Moore School of Business Honors College at the University of South Carolina, majoring in finance.

“I feel proud of myself,” Autera said. “I never really expected to be valedictorian, butI’m happy I did it.

Chan, who earned a 104.81 weighted GPA, is a member of the National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, and Science Olympiad and robotics teams. An AP Scholar with Distinction, he will graduate with an AP Capstone Diploma.

“I also feel proud,” Chan said. “I don’t know if I deserved it, but at least I got here by putting in a lot of dedication.”

Chan will attend Stony Brook University, majoring in computer science.

“I am exceedingly proud of your achievements,” Principal Dr. Lara Gonzalez told the students. “You are wonderful examples. It’s a really important milestone, not only in your lives but in your families’ lives, and for us, too.”