Rocky Point High School is proud to congratulate Isabella Rooney as its Class of 2024 valedictorian and Sofia Haviland as its salutatorian.
Isabella is honored to be named the top student, calling it a privilege to earn the title in such a phenomenal class of peers.
“Our school is full of so many talented, dedicated and hardworking individuals,” Isabella said. “I could not be more excited and grateful.”
Isabella has taken more than two dozen Advanced Placement, honors and college-level courses while in Rocky Point High School. In her senior year alone, she has taken seven AP classes while dancing and training for more than 20 hours each week.
“It has been extremely difficult to balance studying and homework with the physical and emotional demands of Irish dance,” she said, “but this year has taught me a lot about time management and the value of a positive mindset in achieving one’s goals.”
Isabella is a member of the History Honor Society, Homecoming Float Design team, Math Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Student Council and Yearbook Club.
Isabella’s community involvement includes participation in various back-to-school and toy drives for the Heather N. Kaplan Foundation. She is also involved in the National Art Honor Society’s Mr. Gobbles Charity, the Student Council holiday clothing drive, peer tutoring with the English, Math and Science honor societies, and teaches classes at Inishfree School of Irish Dance, sharing Irish culture through community performances.
Isabella has received numerous school awards including AP Scholar with Distinction, the Mark Twain Literary and Art Contest Prose Honorable Mention as a sophomore, the Mark Twain Literary and Art Contest Poetry First Place honors as a junior and the Mark Twain Literary and Art Contest First Honors and Art First Honors as a senior. She has also been honored as a third-place recipient in the Mid-Atlantic Region in Irish Dance, placed eighth in the country in Irish Dance, 18th in the Irish Dance World championships and honorable mention in the 2023-2024 Suffolk County High School Art Exhibition.
Isabella plans to attend university to study molecular biology. She also looks forward to traveling more after graduation, studying abroad in the United Kingdom or Ireland to further her education and Irish dancing career.
She will leave her fellow Rocky Point High School peers with these wise words: “You will never regret hard work.”
Sofia Haviland takes pride in her accomplishment as salutatorian. “It makes me feel like all of my hard work the past few years has finally paid off,” she said.
When asked about her greatest accomplishment in high school, Sofia noted her role in organizing a clothing swap event as the president of the Human Rights Club, helping to promote sustainability in fashion and discourage the overconsumption of clothing. “This experience taught me the importance of community and working together to create an impact and real change,” she said.
Sofia has taken advantage of many of Rocky Point’s AP, honors and college-level courses, including 12 AP courses and 12 honors courses. She is a member of the high school’s Human Rights Club, where she has served as president for the past two years, and is secretary of the National Science Honor Society. She is a member of the History Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Honor Society and the New York State Math Honor Society. She is also a member of the school’s pit orchestra and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York.
During her high school career, Sofia worked as a pool attendant for Aquatech Management of Long Island and helps at community events, including being a volunteer at the annual Prom Impact organized by Suffolk County Association of Women Police and a volunteer at STEAM nights, both of which she has been involved in since grade 10.
Sofia has racked up an impressive number of awards including the 46th Annual Literary and Art Contest Prose Honorable Mention, AP Scholar with Distinction, Excellent Designation for NCTE Achievement Awards for Writing, National Hispanic Recognition Award, National Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, Principal’s List, and Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program. She has also been selected to both the Long Island String Festival Association Division III Orchestra and the Suffolk County Music Educators Association Division III Orchestra. She looks forward to joining the freshman class at Boston University where she will major in chemistry.
Sofia leaves her classmates and future seniors of Rocky Point High School with the wise words: “Relax, don’t stress over the little things.”
Date Added: 4/29/2024