Gorton High School Valedictorian Abigail Garcia, left, and Salutatorian Rania Khan
By Dan Murphy
Congratulations to Gorton High School’s 2024. Valedictorian Abigail Garcia and Salutatorian Rania Khan
Valedictorian Abigail Garcia will graduate with a 102.17 GPA. One of her favorite teachers is Medical Assisting-Clinical teacher Dr. Mike Wszolik. “He gets us really involved with the class and I learned a lot about the medical field, which I am interested in pursuing as a career.”
As for her favorite course, it’s hands down medical-assisting, clinical. Her favorite course is medical-assisting, clinical.
One of Abigail’s many extra-curricular activities is her work with YPIE, Yonkers Partners in Education. “I have been a YPIE scholar since my freshman year, I heard about it from my brother. They help you with choosing a major and it was fun to hang out with other students and get the help you need for AP.”
Garcia has completed 12 AP and College Link courses. She applied and was accepted to more than a dozen colleges and universities, and has narrowed it down to three: Vassar College, Skidmore College and the University of Connecticut.
She plans on pursuing a career in the medical field. “I’m not sure if I want to go to medical school but once I am in College I will decide.
Garcia said that she has known for some time that she wanted to work in the medical field. “That is one of the reasons I went to Gorton. They have a medical program and health care is such a growing industry.”
Who helped her get to this point of academic achievement? “Everyone, but my parents also helped me. My teachers at Gorton always encouraged me to continue to push myself to do my best. They recommended higher level classes and gave me the support I needed.”
Abigail has been ranked #1 at Gorton since her freshman year. “I’ve worked hard but others have worked to push me to maintain my ranking.”
Any advice for young students? “Achieving academic excellence has always been my first priority. But finding a balance between academic, extracurriculars, community service and quality time with friends is important for growth and success.”
Gorton HS Salutatorian Rania Khan will graduate with a 100.53 GPA. One of her favorite teachers is also Dr. Mike Wszolek. “I had his classed for two years. It helped me get hands on experience in the medical field. I have known that I was interested in the medical field since middle school. And that is still my desire.”
“Dr. Mike was always interesting and took us to the next level of learning, setting us up for success. He is very supportive.”
Rania’s favorite course at Gorton was AP Psychology. “I found it very challenging and very interesting. It combines humanitarian and biological sciences, which are two of my interests. I enjoy learning about how people think and why they are a certain way.”
Rania also used YPIE’s resources. “One of the major’s is after school science research program that I have attended since my freshman year. I don’t think that I would be that successful in science without it. For the first year or two we did basic scientific methods and wrote a paper. Once I had a topic, I began doing research on my own and that’s how I won the Regeneron Award in science.
In January, Rania became only the second student from the Yonkers Public Schools selected as a top 300 semi-finalists for the National Regeneron Science Talent Search
Her Project Title was, “Combined Sewer Overflow Neutralizing Agent Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCl) Ramifications on the Vitality of the Tetraselmis Population Within the Hudson River.”
“I learned a lot, we have many science research competitions and submitted in depth papers with detailed findings. I didn’t plan on getting into the top 300.”
Rania will be attending Wesleyan University, ranked in the top 20 colleges in the country, located in Middletown Connecticut. “My science research teacher recommended it and the financial package was great. It’s not that far away from home and when I visited, I found the students passionate about academics. And the social environment is nice. It was everything I was looking for.”
She plans to double major in Biology and Neuroscience. “It will help me be more prepared for medical school. I want to become a Neurologist, but I am still not sure. I am also really interested in advocating for patients and human rights advocacy.”
Rania said that “Gorton Guidance Counselor Ms. Russo pushed me hard to get to the next level. And my other teachers kept on top of me. My parents also pushed me to do good and make them proud.”
Rania said that she wanted to be Valedictorian since freshman year, and there has been a friendly rivalry of sorts between her and Abigail. “We were remote in freshman year for COVID, but in my sophomore year I would monitor my grades every day.
Advice for aspiring Valedictorians? “Work hard the road to success has many turns but don’t give up because it’s all worth it in the end.”
