Westhampton Beach High School Names Val, Sal For Class Of 2025

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WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — Westhampton Beach High School has named the Class of 2025's valedictorian and salutatorian.

Nicholas Borruso and Matilda Buchen have earned the valedictorian and salutatorian honors , respectively.

The two seniors earned the top spots in their class through their outstanding commitment to academics, the district said.

Borruso and Buchen have achieved several academic accomplishments during their tenure at Westhampton Beach High School. Both were named AP Scholars with Distinction by the College Board for their Advanced Placement exam scores, earned AP Capstone seals on their diplomas, and are members of the school’s National, Math and Science honor societies.

Additionally, Borruso is a National Merit Commended Student and vice president of his school’s robotics team, for which he inaugurated a mentor program for robotics in the middle school. He is also co-editor-in-chief of the school’s Seascapes publication, a member of the varsity golf team and Key Club, and a science research student.

He recently placed first in the environmental category in the Junior Sciences and Humanities Symposium semifinals for his research on the effects of forever chemicals on zebrafish. His research was conducted during the summer as part of a Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University, where he served as a fellow in Dr. Howard Sirotkin’s lab in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior.

Outside of school, he volunteers in a local emergency department. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he raised $1,800 to 3D-print and donate 1,000 pieces of personal protective equipment to health care facilities. He is also a peer tutor.

Borruso plans to study neuroscience on a pre-med track in the fall.

Buchen is a recipient of the New York State Scholarship for Academic Excellence and a member of the school’s Interact and Debate clubs. She also serves as historian of the National Honor Society.

She holds numerous awards as a varsity doubles tennis player. She is a state and county doubles champion, a three-time All-State athlete, and a five-time All-County and All-Division athlete.

Additionally, she earned the New York State Sportsmanship Award twice, was named a "Top 30 on Long Island" tennis player and was selected for the Long Island girls tennis team twice. In addition to serving as captain of her tennis team, she has managed the boys varsity tennis team.

Outside of school, she serves as a lieutenant of the Westhampton Beach Junior Ambulance and volunteers at a local animal shelter and at East End Hospice. She also holds an internship at the Hamptons Dentist.

Buchen plans to study biology or chemistry in college with the goal of becoming a dentist.