Massapequa recently had the pleasure of announcing Bridget Keegan as it’s Class of 2015 Salutatorian.
It isn’t uncommon for Keegan to greet, chat and laugh with many of her classmates as she walks down the hall between classes, which at times, she confesses, has nearly caused her to be late. But this friendly, highly responsible student with perfect attendance wouldn’t let that happen. Focused and determined, she has long been on course to graduate at the top of her class, using motivation as her greatest strength to propel her. With a 99.404 weighted grade-point average, she is heading to Harvard University in the fall to study molecular and cellular biology as a pre-med student.
“I’ve always been strong in the sciences; I really love learning how things work,” said Keegan. “I’m thinking about becoming a pediatrician because I love helping people and love being around kids.”
The first in her family to pursue a career in medicine, Keegan credits Kathleen Frontino, her 11th grade Advanced Placement (AP) Biology teacher, for her career decision.
“She was a phenomenal teacher who made the learning environment feel like a home away from home,” said Keegan. “We studied different aspects of biology in depth and had a lot of hands-on experience with labs.”
Keegan continued to feed her curiosity about the field by interning for eight months at Massapequa Pet Vet.
“I loved working there. I felt involved in the daily procedures and gained first-hand experience with medicine by shadowing appointments and surgeries,” she said.
An AP Scholar of Distinction, Keegan excelled in a host of AP courses across the curriculum, is a member of the Society of AP Scholars and National Honor Society, earned honors for proficiency in Spanish and was on the Principal’s Honor Roll throughout her high school career.
As President of Key Club, she brought holiday joy to children at the Long Island Head Start program in Amityville and took part in other community service activities to help those in need. She logged in more than 120 hours of service over the past four years and earned a citation from Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano for outstanding community service.
Keegan also participated in Science Olympiads and Mathletes, volunteered as an assistant at Camp Invention, a science–based camp run by the school district, a Teen Wellness Trainer as part of the Health and Wellness Club and was involved in a multidisciplinary service project called “Catch a Wave for Winthrop” to benefit sick children at Winthrop Hospital. Outside of school, Keegan plays piano and is fond of playing contemporary music and pieces found on soundtracks from video games.
Her impetus for success, she said , is the example her parents set.
“My mother came to this country from Guyana at the age of 23 with $20 in her pocket,” said Keegan. “She worked as a nanny, put herself through college and worked in insurance where she met my father. They both motivated me to work really hard and I took what they said to heart.”
Even through the devastating loss of her father when she was in sixth grade, Keegan pushed on as a top student in her class by “focusing on what I had to do,” she said.
Through all her accomplishments, including her acceptance into Harvard, she has maintained a modest, humble composure, a quality admired by some of her closest friends.
As she sets her sights on the future, Keegan looks forward to “being around people who share a love of learning” and becoming involved in the many opportunities that are available at Harvard.
“My favorite part of high school was all the incredible people I got to know, both teachers and students, and the great friendships and bonds I formed,” she said.
As she graduates, Keegan offered some parting words for underclassman.
“Enjoy your time in high school. While it is important to focus on your studies, don’t forget to set aside time to get involved with extracurriculars; do things you love and spend time with friends and family.”
—Submitted by Massapequa Public Schools
