Massapequa High School Announces Valedictorian And Salutatorian

MASSAPEQUA, NY — Massapequa High School seniors Jack Devenish and Devin DiMascio were called to Principal Barbara Lowell’s office in late September. They both left with huge smiles, as they were told they are the top two graduates of the class of 2021.

“I had no idea right until the moment they told me,” said Devenish, the valedictorian. “I’ve never been that surprised and shocked. It was pretty great.”

DiMascio said she always has been getting good grades but didn’t realize they were good enough to become salutatorian. Now, she hopes this honor earns her admission into a prestigious college. She plans to study medicine to become a neurologist and is looking at more than a half-dozen colleges in the northeast.

Devenish wants to study aerospace engineering with aspirations to do automotive design and currently has a list of about 10 schools he is exploring. His top choices area Georgia Tech and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Once acceptances start coming in, he plans to do campus visits to see which school suits him best.

The two students have challenged themselves with numerous Advanced Placement and college-level courses. Devenish particularly enjoyed AP Research in which he did a project on the relation of ethics to autonomous vehicles.

While the two have devoted countless hours to their academics, they have also explored other interests to round out their educations. Devenish is a member of the Car Care Club, French Club, varsity tennis team, and National and Tri-M Music honor societies. He has served as class president since sophomore year. His musical abilities playing the viola have led to selections to Long Island String Festival Association and Nassau County Music Association All-County ensembles. Outside of school, he is a member of the Long Island-based Gemini Youth Orchestra.

DiMascio is president of the Forensic Science Club and a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions and Health Care Explorers, the latter of which has allowed her to visit local hospitals to learn about various careers in the medical field. As a member of the science research program, she studied super conductivity. She is also passionate about animal rights and has volunteered for the ASPCA’s regional advocacy field team.

Since beginning their educations – Devenish on Massapequa’s south side at Birch Lane Elementary School and DiMascio up north at Lockhart Elementary School – they have both found their paths to success. Devenish never lets “the size of a challenge scare me” and DiMascio has a competitiveness that has driven her to do her best.

“We are so proud of how hard Jack and Devin have worked to achieve these high distinctions within their class,” Lowell said. “They have earned so many accolades and they serve as roles models at Massapequa High School.”