Garden City High School is proud to announce James Nagler and Elaine Wang as the Class of 2024 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.
During his tenure at Garden City High School, James has earned numerous academic awards. He is an International Science and Engineering Fair sole first-place Grand Award Winner, AP Scholar with Honors and first-place winner in the Congressional App Challenge in the fourth district of New York for an app that he designed, coded and implemented at a local public school. James was awarded a US Navy & Marine Corps Special Award for innovations in STEM. In summer 2023, James was one of only 62 high school seniors in the United States accepted into the Research Science Institute, held on the campus of MIT. He was recently named a National Merit Scholarship Finalist.
Outside the classroom, James is an active member of the Garden City community. He has volunteered thousands of hours for a local nonprofit educational organization KidOYO, bringing his love of computer science and coding/engineering to underserved communities. He has volunteered at Garden City’s STEM summer camp, Camp Invention as well as the Garden City Library helping with educational classes. He is an All-County band participant and received a score of 100 on the All-State Alto Sax NYSSMA exam and plays tennis on the varsity tennis team.
James plans on to continue his academic career at MIT in the fall, pursuing a combined degree in computer science and electrical engineering. Contemplating how Garden City Schools has contributed to his success, James noted, “I am so thankful for so many things but the science research program I’m especially grateful for. The teachers have been the most influential in my life, from Mr. Esposito, who taught my ninth grade biology class and continued to mentor me throughout my years here. As well as Dr. Slater who I’ve had for physics the past two years, which has helped to inspire my desire to study electrical engineering in the future.”
Salutatorian Elaine Wang's exceptional academic prowess, leadership skills, and dedication to extracurricular activities have set her apart as an outstanding student and community member.
Elaine's academic excellence has been recognized through numerous honors and awards, including being a Candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, a finalist of the National Merit Scholarship Program, and achieving a perfect score on the PLTW Aerospace Final. Her outstanding performance in piano, mathematics competitions, and participation in prestigious summer programs at Rice University and Johns Hopkins University further highlight her exceptional talents and dedication to continuous learning.
Throughout her high school journey, Elaine has been actively involved in various activities and has consistently demonstrated excellence in all her endeavors. Serving as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the ECHO - GCHS Student Newspaper during her junior and senior years, Elaine showcased her editorial skills and leadership abilities. Her contributions to the Math Team as President in her senior year and Vice President in her junior year, as well as her participation in Science Olympiads, World Language Literary Magazine, and Speech & Debate Club, reflect her diverse interests and commitment to academic excellence.
In addition to her academic achievements, Elaine has dedicated herself to serving her community. She volunteered as a certified tutor for low-income middle and high school students through Upchieve Tutoring, where she accumulated over 100 hours of tutoring. She also served as a volunteer teacher assistant in STEM & Rocketry classes and Culinary Camps at the Garden City SCOPE Summer Program.
Elaine will continue her studies at Cornell University’s College of Engineering. Speaking on her appreciation for Garden City, Elaine said, “I appreciate the resources that were offered here, AP class options, research opportunities and a wide variety of extracurricular and community service opportunities through which I have gained valuable skills and friendships.”
The district congratulates James and Elaine for achieving top academic honors and wishes them nothing but success and happiness in the next step in their academic journeys.
