2023 VALEDICTORIAN and SALUTATORIAN
North Shore High School Valedictorian and Salutatorian Announcement
The North Shore School District is very proud to announce the names of the two members of the Viking Class of 2023 who have been named this year’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Each of these students has devoted many long hours and an enormous amount of dedication and hard work to their studies at North Shore to receive this high recognition. The valedictorian of the graduating class is the student with the highest weighted grade point average, while the salutatorian of the class of 2023 has received the second-highest weighted grade point average.
Congratulations to Ava Bartoli, the Valedictorian of the North Shore School District. Ava began her North Shore roots as a student at Glenwood Landing School. Ava’s academic achievements include recipient of the Harvard College Book Prize and the Rensselaer Medal Award. She has been a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (National Math) Honors Society, Rho Kappa (National Social Studies) Honors Society, and the Science National Honor Society. Ava’s athletic achievements are remarkable. She is on the starting line-up for our Varsity Lacrosse Team and was awarded All-Conference Honors in 2021, Honorable Mention All-County 2022, and Honorable Mention Academic All American 2022. Ava also plays for the Long Island Top Guns travel team which was ranked in the top 10 nationally. In addition to lacrosse, Ava is a starting guard for the Varsity Basketball Team earning Honorable Mention All-County 2021 and 2022 as well as Academic All-State Team 2022. Because of her excellence in both academics and athletics, she has earned an Academic All-State recognition, the NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete Award, and Honorable Mention Academic All-American.
Her volunteer work includes Toys for Tots and Island Harvest where she has helped with both toy and food drives throughout high school. During the summer, Ava is a camp counselor at the YMCA where she was recognized as Counselor of the Day, twice.
Congratulations to Ruben Shonik, the Salutatorian of the North Shore School District. Ruben was an elementary student at Sea Cliff School. Ruben currently is a student at Juilliard Pre-College, where he studies with Pablo Rieppi and Ian Sullivan of the New York City Ballet, world-renowned marimba soloist Eriko Daimo, and timpanist Jonathan Haas. He plays in the Pre-College Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble. Ruben was recently accepted into the 2022 All-State Music Festival, where he will be playing principal Timpani. He has been accepted into and played in the All-County honor band/orchestra at the Tilles Center and played in the NYSBDA (New York State Band Directors Association) Honor Band. He is Principal Percussionist of the North Shore High School Wind Symphony and Captain of the Drum Line. He is also in the Jazz Band, Pep Band, Jazz Quartet, and performs in the Northwinds Symphonic Band. Ruben’s academic achievements include the Principal's Award for Academic Excellence, George Eastman Young Leaders Award, Cradle of Aviation Space Environmental Science Award, and the African American History Award. He is a member of the Rho Kappa, National Honor Society, World Language Honor Societies, and is the Co-President of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. In addition, he volunteers every summer to play percussion/drumset in the pit orchestra for the Port Summer Show.
North Shore High School Principal Eric Contreras said, “We are incredibly proud of Ava and Ruben. They are superbly talented individuals who embody the values, aspirations, and opportunities of our school and district. Throughout their years at North Shore, we have celebrated them as musicians, artists, athletes, linguists, and leaders. In their time at North Shore High School, they have pursued their individual passions and talents, and the process enriched the lives and experiences of everyone in all spaces. We now take the opportunity to capstone their achievements as Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Bravo, Ava and Ruben.”
“Congratulations to Ava and Reuben on this extraordinary accomplishment. They are such talented leaders both in and out of the classroom that have garnered national and county accolades in their respective athletic and musical endeavors. Beyond their academic and extracurricular accomplishments, they are wonderful people who set a positive example for their peers,” stated Director of Counseling, Mr. Dan Doherty.
Please join us in congratulating both Ava Bartoli and Ruben Shonik for their hard work at the North Shore Schools. The Class of 2023 is an extremely talented one and we are just so proud of them all.
We wish them both the best of luck now and in the future discovering their dreams.
Article and photos by Shelly Newman