West Babylon Senior High School has announced its valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2020. Erin Thompson has been named the valedictorian, while Olivia Golebiewski is the class salutatorian.
Throughout her high school career, Erin has participated in extracurricular activities including: National Honor Society, Math and Science Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, co-president of Tri-M Music Honor Society, Art Honor Society, vice president of Student Council, president and testing captain of Science Olympiad, Students for Environmental Awareness Club, treasurer of Varsity Club, Leo Club and DECA. She is also an active member of the West Babylon Senior High School music department where she was part of the marching band, concert band, big band, jazz band, symphonic band and orchestra. She served as section leader of marching band and as a mentor for the fifth grade band.
Erin has volunteered her time with Sweetbriar Nature Center, West Babylon John Theissen toy drive, acoustic night fundraiser (Leukemia &Lymphoma Society), Cornell Cooperative Extension – Horseshoe Crab Monitoring, West Babylon Senior High School STEM Night Volunteer, and Relay for Life as event chairperson and team captain.
Erin participated in varsity soccer (grades 9-12) as captain (12), North Babylon/Pride F.C. Club – soccer (grades 9-11) captain (11), she was named Long Island’s Top 100 Girls Soccer Players in 2019, and awarded the All-County and All-League honors for soccer, All-County - varsity winter track and field (grades 9-12) captain (11, 12), varsity spring track and field (grades 10-12) captain (11, 12); and acknowledged on the All-Long Island Girls Track and Field - Second Team. She was named Academic All-County and was recognized as a News 12 Scholar Athlete.
Erin has been awarded many academic achievements such as National AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, AP Scholar with Honor, National Merit Commended Student, Principals’ Quality Achievement Awards in AP Art History, Chemistry, Statistics, Biology, Algebra II and School Leadership, Science Olympiad State, Regional, and Invitational Awards and New York State Scholar Athlete. Erin plans to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall and major in biology.
Boasting a 108.13 GPA, salutatorian Olivia is a National Merit Scholarship qualifier. She has been involved with and served in leadership positions in organizations including: president of the National Honor Society, vice president of Student Association, vice president and medalist for Science Olympiads, state level medalist and two-time regional winner for DECA, treasurer of the Math Club, secretary of the Health Club, SADD, and vice president of Math and Science Honor Society.
On the athletic field, Olivia served as captain and four-year member of the varsity swim team and was a four-year member of the varsity track team. She also spends time volunteering at Good Samaritan Hospital. She will be attending Hofstra University in the fall, majoring in biochemistry/pre-med.