RHS Valedictorian Samuel Roque, left, and Salutatorian Beyonce CarbucciaBy Dan Murphy
Congratulations to 2023 Roosevelt High School Valedictorian Samuel Roque and Salutatorian Beyonce Carbuccia. Samuel Roque will graduate with a weighted GPA of 100. His favorite teachers are Roosevelt are Math teacher Marisa Signore, Science teacher Deisy Acevedo and English teacher Celin Jagessar.
“They taught me inside and outside of school. I have a great relationship with all three of them –during school they helped guide me, and gave me confidence in my ability to do my best.”
His favorite courses are Pre-Calculus and any science course. “I have always been astonished at science, and the new things we learn and how scientists have helped us with new discoveries and experiments. And Pre-Calc is a class that I enjoy learning every day.”
Samuel has completed 11 College link courses at Roosevelt. His extracurricular activities including serving in the Boy Scouts, and playing on the Yonkers Force Football team. “I got involved in the Boy Scouts in the 2nd grade and have stayed involved. It helped me connect to my community and help people. We did clean ups and helped feed people who needed it. It’s good to give back to the people of Yonkers, who have given us so much.”
Roque has been on the Yonkers Force Football team for two years. “Football has helped give me the mental and physical toughness for my transition into high school and now into college. He has also been a participant in My Brother’s Keeper for the past two years. “It’s a great way to highlight the good things in our community but also examine ways that we can do better.”
Roque has also been involved in the Yonkers community by working at the Homefield Bowling lanes and Grassy Sprain Pharmacy. He is a very good bowler, with a 200 average.
Who helped him achieve this success? “My Mom. She helped me do everything. There was a time, from 4th grade to 8th grade, where I showed up to school and behaved but didn’t do any homework. I didn’t have the motivation to do my best. My Mom helped me change that, and turned on the switch inside me to work hard, stay after school, ask for extra credit. And I never looked back.”
Samuel comes from a diverse background of Dominican on his father’s side, and Russian, Polish, German on his mother’s side.
He plans on majoring in Computer Science and Computer Engineering in college. “I’ve always been interested in technology since I was a kid. There is endless knowledge that you can absorb.”
Roque was accepted into 18 colleges. He will be attending Allegheny College in Pittsburgh. He was placed on the waiting list at Notre Dame University, and hopes to continue to play football in college. My dream is to play for LSU. I play on the offensive line and continue to train. Some players are bigger than me, but its more about your heart.”
Roosevelt HS Salutatorian Beyonce Carbuccia will graduate with a weighted GPA of 98.91. Her favorite teacher is Frank Meade, who teaches English and Public Speaking, and her favorite course was Public Speaking with Mr. Meade.
“He is always finding fun and innovative ways of teaching and has his course will help me when I give my graduation speech as Salutatorian.”
Beyonce didn’t know that she was in the top few students until “the end of my junior year. One of my teachers told me, and I was #3. I studied hard because I wanted this achievement.”
Who has helped her get to this point of achievement? “My Dad. We had a deal that I would get a new pair of sneakers if I made the high honor roll or principals list.” Beyonce was born in the Dominican Republic and her great grandfather came to America from Italy.
Carbuccia has completed 12 College Link courses and has played on the Girls Softball team. A recent summer internship at a Law Firm helped her decide her future profession. “I want to be an attorney. Lawyers are superheroes and are always able to help people when they are in trouble.”
After narrowing down her final college choices to Iona, Fordham, and Mt. Saint Vincent’s, she will be attending Fordham in the fall. “Fordham will challenge me academically, and I wanted to stay close to home.” She hopes to go to Law School at Columbia University.“These past four years have flown by so fast. It went too quick, but I have accomplished so much.”
Both Beyonce and Samuel were helped by YPIE, but Beyonce was able to increase her scholarship and financial aid package to Fordham with the help of Ms. Freidman at YPIE. “I was stressed out because I thought I couldn’t afford to go to Fordham. But I applied for a new financial aid package, and I got it.”
