Sachem North High School 2024 Valedictorian And Salutatorian Announced

LAKE RONKONKOMA, NY — Sachem Central School District officials recently announced the valedictorian of Sachem North High School as Avi Talsania, and Ryan DeSimone as the salutatorian, according to a news release.

Talsania has demonstrated a passion for academics, especially science research, and during his high school years, he participated in the Columbia Science Honors Program and the science research program at High School North.

This past year, he completed research as part of the Garcia Summer Research Internship Program at Stony Brook, as well as at Yale University’s Haskin Laboratories and he has taken numerous Advanced Placement courses and was named a National Merit Commended Scholar for his achievement on the PSAT exam.

Talsania is involved in several extracurricular activities at High School North, including serving as the founder and president of the HOSA chapter for future healthcare professionals and placed in the statewide HOSA competition.

He additionally serves as a co-president of the DECA club, and qualified to attend the international DECA competition as a junior, and is an accomplished flautist who was named an alternate for the All-State festival.

He is involved in the greater Sachem community, spending hundreds of hours of shadowing experience at several medical offices, including Desire Dental Care, Eye Vision
Associates, New York Cancer and Blood Institute, and Mid-Suffolk Neurology and Sleep Medicine.

He also serves as an outreach administrator and volunteer coach at the North South
Foundation.

DeSimone is a well-rounded student and is actively engaged in the school community, demonstrates academic excellence and high achievement in several Advanced
Placement courses, earning him acceptance into various honor societies, as well as the
National Society of High School Scholars.

He is a recipient of an AP Capstone Diploma, is an AP Scholar with Distinction, and is a member of the Sachem robotics team, Interact Club, and DECA club, in which he was named a regional winner for business services marketing.

He is an advanced piano and clarinet player and has performed in multiple statewide NYSSMA festivals, while also being a member of the jazz band at High School North, and outside of the classroom, he dedicates time to benefit the community.

He is a Sibshops facilitator, providing guidance in a recreational setting for young siblings of
children with special needs, and works as a camp counselor at Hidden Pond Day Camp, supervising children while fostering friendships and providing a safe environment.

His service has impacted the greater community, and in 2023, he expanded upon his AP Research paper to contribute to a local rally for the state's budget.