Nicole Heneveld can add Salutatorian to the list of roles she's played at Massapequa High School.
Nicole has been president of the school’s International Thespian Society troupe, a member of several choirs and ensembles, and Editor of the school's literary magazine.
She's a member of the National Honors Society and an Advanced Placement Scholar.
And she has been an extraordinary actress for the school's dramatic production.
It's a record that would look great on both a Playbill and a college application and Nicole plans to add to it as she pursues a bachelor of Fine Arts at Adelphi University in September.
She will study writing and theater.
"I hope to get into voice acting," she said. "I love funny voices."
She'll be more serious, but will get to show off her speaking skills Monday when she addresses her fellow members in the class of 2013.
Walking into the guidance office and finding out about the honor was one of the best moments of the year for Nicole.
"They called me down and I walked in and I couldn't understand why everyone was so happy," she said.
But it was nothing compared to the reaction of her family.
"The fact that your family was so happy for you makes you happy. It's a great feeling," she said.
It was also a great memory performing on stage in Massapequa. Among her favorite productions was "Into the Woods" where she got to put her voice to work as the giant.
Her voice boomed throughout the theater and even her friends didn't recognize it.
"I'm 4-foot-11. It was just an incredible experience. people said. 'I couldn't believe you were the voice of the giant,'" Nicole said.
She also had a memorable performance that was not on stage.
She was one of a group of students who took part in a staged DWI crash put together by the school district and local police and fire officials designed to show the dangers of drinking and driving.
Nicole played the mother of one of the crash victims, and gave a chilling performance when she came upon the victims.
She said watching her friends pretend to lie dead at the "crash scene" inspired her emotions.
"We didn't have a script ," she said. "I got really upset. I'm not really a method actress when I saw people lying there I got into it."
Nicole is somebody who throws herself into everything she does and she's thankful the district gave her an opportunity develop her talents.
"The opportunities here are endless," she said. You can find your passion and pursue it.
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