Valedictorian and Salutatorian
Valedictorian: Shane Zamidar
Shane Zamidar has earned the honor of Valedictorian through his exceptional academic achievements and dedication to leadership, innovation, and service. Throughout his time at Hewlett High School, Shane has distinguished himself both in the classroom and through his involvement in a variety of academic and extracurricular organizations. He served as team captain and head engineer of the Robotics Club, treasurer of Model Congress, secretary of the Senior Math Team, and treasurer of the Community Garden Club. He was also a three-year member of Science Olympiad, performed as lead tenor saxophonist in the Jazz Ensemble, and demonstrated leadership through Scouting America as a patrol leader and quartermaster.
In addition to his many extracurricular accomplishments, Shane has consistently demonstrated a passion for STEM, problem solving, and collaboration. His commitment to academic excellence, combined with his leadership and willingness to serve others, has made a lasting impact on the Hewlett High School community.
Shane will attend the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he plans to major in Physics. His intellectual curiosity, strong work ethic, and passion for scientific discovery position him for continued success as he begins this exciting next chapter of his academic journey.
Salutatorian: Darren Chen
Darren Chen, the Class of 2026 Salutatorian, has distinguished himself through exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and a passion for innovation. Throughout his time at Hewlett High School, Darren has made meaningful contributions to the school community, particularly through his involvement in STEM programs. He served as treasurer of Key Club and as an engineer and secretary for the Robotics Club, helping lead his team to a FIRST Tech Challenge Long Island Championship and earning the prestigious FIRST Control Award, sponsored by Arm, Inc.
Darren's commitment to academic excellence has been recognized through numerous honors, including being named a 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search Top 300 Scholar and earning the AP Scholar with Honor Award. He also showcased his business and leadership skills by placing second at the New York DECA State Career Development Conference.
Darren will attend Stanford University this fall, where he plans to major in Mechanical Engineering. His dedication to academics, leadership in extracurricular activities, and passion for engineering and innovation position him for continued success as he begins this exciting next chapter.
