Carle Place High School recently named Sarah Laga and Thomas Monahan as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the graduating Class of 2015. With 13 years of excellence under their belt, these students have consistently exhibited strong academic rigor, as well as leadership at all levels.
With an interest in pursuing international affairs and Spanish, Laga is president of the Spanish Honor Society and was chosen for the Brady Green Junior Travel Award along with 23 other students nationwide to visit Spain for a week last year. She has taken nine Advanced Placement courses and earned the title of AP Scholar with Distinction for her high marks on those exams. She is captain of the volleyball and track and field teams and has been designated an All-Conference volleyball player this year. Laga serves as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, as well as secretary of society records in the Math Honor Society and parliamentarian in the National Honor Society.
She is also a member of the key club, mock trial team and orchestra. Laga enjoys volunteering through the key club, as well as tutoring in her spare time. She has also earned the George Washington University Math & Science Award and the Dartmouth College Book Award.
Also an AP Scholar with Distinction, Monahan has taken eight Advanced Placement courses. He is captain of the spring track team and has served as stage manager for school plays and musicals. Monahan is vice president of the SPARC club, president of the National Honor Society, vice president of the Math Honor Society and captain of the math team. In addition, he plays the saxophone in the school band, is a member of the Science Olympiad and participated on the mock trial team and has been active in the Boy Scouts for the last six years.
Monahan has earned the rank of Eagle Scout and enjoys volunteering in various community activities. He has earned the Rennsselaer Medal and the Building Bridges Award. He intends to major in biomedical engineering at college in the fall.
