The valedictorian and salutatorian from Palisades Prep High School are two hardworking and positive role models for their peers in the Yonkers Public Schools.
Palisades Prep’s valedictorian for 2019 is William Walls, who will graduate with a 94.83 grade-point average. His favorite teachers are Nikisha Scott in economics/government, and Gregg Sussman in U.S. history and psychology.
Scott brings humanity into the classroom and makes it easier to understand, while Sussman includes interactive projects into his classroom, said Walls, whose favorite subject is physical education. “I love sports and it’s the best thing in life to be active,” he said.
William has taken three advanced placement courses – SUPA forensics, SUPA English and CL EMS – and is a cadet at the Westchester Cadet Squadron. He applied to Manhattan, Mercy, Monroe and Westchester community colleges, and was accepted to all.
Walls will attend Mercy College in the fall and plans to study entrepreneurship and become a motivational speaker. “In the ninth grade I suffered from depression, and to get through it I watched some motivational videos that helped me,” he said. “I want to take a different path in life and I don’t want a typical 9-to-5 job.”
Walls thanks his grandmother and his father for helping him get to this point of achievement in life. “My family had a tough life,” he said. “My grandma was in Poland during World War II and moved to Russia and Germany before coming here… Grandma is still alive and she helped raise me. My dad didn’t make it past the ninth grade and was homeless. But he worked hard to build a better life for me and I appreciate both of them for what they did for me.”
William said he likes “the amazing people” he has met while at Palisades, including his friends and teachers. A word of advice to younger students? “Don’t let anybody tell you what you can and can’t do,” he said. “Live every day like it’s your last, and don’t be good if you could be better, and don’t be better – be your best.”
Salutatorian Rewan Alrabadi will graduate with a 94.73 GPA. Her favorite teachers are Laura, Vushaj in English, Nikisha Scott in economics/ government, and Jessica Frisik in global studies.
“All three teachers are caring and they make sure I’m OK,” she said. “They go the extra mile to make sure I’m learning, but also they are there if I’m having a bad day.” Alrabadi said her favorite subject is English, because “when I’m writing it makes me feel free and calm.”
Rewan has taken four AP courses – Century Honors English, Century Honors global studies, SUPA forensics and SUPA English – and her extracurricular activities include National Honors Society, Teen Society of Youth Organization, and the Junior Docent Program at the Hudson River Museum.
Rewan has succeeded in part by “organizing my life. I don’t procrastinate and I like working on my high school work and this fall my college work and help my family,” she said. Rewan has two sisters, including a twin who also attends Palisades, and a brother.
Alrabadi applied to and was accepted to Pace University, Lehman College, City College, Manhattanville College, Manhattan College, the College of Mount Saint Vincent, Saint John’s University, Monroe College, Mercy College and Westchester Community College.
She will be attending Lehman College in the fall, because “it’s close by and I got a scholarship. CUNY is about diversity and I appreciate that,” she said. “And my family also has to pay for college for my sister, who is also going to Lehman with me.”
Rewan will study pre-medicine and said she hopes to become an optometrist. “It’s a regular 9-to-5 job as a doctor, and its four years more schooling after college, which I can handle,” she said. “You don’t see a lot of high school seniors going into optometry.” Rewan has perfect vision.
She said she likes “the small size of my school. It isn’t hard to know where you’re going and everyone knows each other pretty well,” she said.
Yonkers Partners in Education has been a big help to Rewan, with the after-school programs, College Zone and help with Regents and the SAT, she said.
She also thanked her parents, “who always taught me that education is most important. My dad came to America from Jordan in 1998 and he works nonstop for us,” said Alrabadi. “I want to give back and succeed for what he went through.”
Any words of advice? “You’re almost there,” she said. “It’s all worth it in the end, and keep your goals in mind. Stay on track because hard work and determination is key.”
Rewan’s twin sister, Sewar, also a senior at Palisades Prep, was #3 in GPA and just missed out becoming salutatorian. The academic success of both Alrabadi sisters is a testament to their parents and staff at Palisades.
