By Dan Murphy
Congratulations to the 2026 Yonkers Middle -High School Valedictorian, Isabel Dourmashkin, and Salutatorian, Kium Hwangbo. Valedictorian Isabel Dourmashkin will graduate with a 104% GPA.
Isabel’s favorite teacher is IB Math teacher Ms. Pasqualini. “On top of being a great math teacher, she approached math in a different way. She also gave great advice and was always someone I could go to.
Isabel’s favorite subject is Math. “I’ve always loved Math because there is one right answer. It’s like a puzzle that you have to figure out, and it always comes easily to me.
Isabel played on the YMHS Volleyball team as Captain for three years. “Our team did great. We won the City Championship and were put in a higher league, and still did well. We went to the playoffs and reached the quarter finals in the sectionals.”
“When I joined the Volleyball team, I was new to the sport. I made so many friends. It’s a communicative sport; you are always talking about where the ball is.
Isabel will be attending Tufts University in the fall. “I got in through early decision in December. I want to be a teacher, and they have a 4+1 program that will allow me to earn my Master’s in my 5th year and go straight into teaching. I also love the Boston area; there is so much to do. Plus, I wanted to go to a big school, meet new people, and explore the opportunities. I would love to come back to Yonkers to teach.”
Who helped you get to this level of academic success? “My parents and my two older sisters. They were a great inspiration and gave me great advice.”
When did you start to pay attention to the rankings? “I’ve always been #1 since my freshman year, but it didn’t become important until this year. There is a friendly competition between the top 30 students in our school. Everyone is so smart, and we were all putting in the work.”
Isabel said she enjoyed “the diverse groups of people in my school. Being surrounded by many different ethnicities, cultures, religions, and people with a wide range of thinking. I am so grateful to be in this environment because of the immense amount I can learn from my peers and their individual experiences.”
Any advice for future Valedictorians? “Follow your passion, even when it seems the whole world tells you otherwise. Put the hard work in for yourself but give yourself grace in times of difficulty.”
Salutatorian Kium Hwangbo will graduate with a 103.74% GPA. “I didn’t really care about the rankings; I just came here to learn. It started getting more serious for me in junior year, and I tried a bit harder to get to #2, and it worked.
Kium’s favorite teacher is IB Physics teacher Mr. Thiessen. “He was a very influential mentor to me. He was the head coach of the robotics team and a very good friend. He passed away earlier this year.
Einstein said that experience is the best teacher, and Mr. Thiessen gave us the freedom to think for ourselves. He lets you make mistakes but always comes in and helps.”
Kium’s favorite class is AP Chemistry. “It was the first time I was really challenged, and at first, I didn’t do my best. I then realized that I had to take it seriously, and my teacher taught me the rigor required and the importance of being prepared.
Kium was the captain of the Robotics team and helped rebuild the club. “At first, I had no interest in robotics, and I didn’t join until my junior year. I was disappointed in how things were being run. I had a long conversation with Mr. Thiessen, and we decided to bring back the community outreach that the club had before COVID.
“We taught middle school students about robotics and business, and we partnered with the Yonkers Police Athletic League for a summer camp. We got funding from the PAL, the Mayor’s office, and a future grant from the NYS Assembly. It’s safe to say our Robotics club will continue to expand.
Kium will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. “I was deciding between Duke and UPENN. Penn was closer to home; I can take the Amtrak back home. I love my mother’s cooking.
“I will be studying molecular life sciences with a double major in Biochem and Biophysics, and I can self-matriculate into a master’s program in four years. There are hundreds of labs in Philadelphia where I can work in the summer and conduct research.
UPENN also has the Wharton School of Business, which I am interested in, to help me learn to create a startup company. Let’s see where life is going to take me.”
Who helped you achieve academic greatness? “My family, but especially my mother. I don’t know if I would survive without her food. My teachers were also supportive and gave good advice.”
Any advice for future Salutatorians? “Having a genuine passion for learning is far more important than any title or rank. Push yourself to your absolute limits, you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish!”
Congratulations.
