The William Floyd School District is pleased to recognize the valedictorian and salutatorian for the William Floyd High School Class of 2025 – Alice Chen and Rachel Chen, respectively.
Alice Chen – ValedictorianValedictorian Alice Chen (104.5 weighted grade point average) will be attending Harvard University in the fall, where she will be majoring in chemical and physical biology with a minor in government (pre-law for patent law).
While excelling in academics, Alice was highly involved in various extracurricular activities. As a junior, she was part of a team that won the Y-USA National Changemakers Competition to address needs in entrants’ local communities.
This proposal, ranked first out of 80 entries nationwide, received a $5,000 grant to combat nitrogen pollution on Long Island with rain gardens filled with native plants. Alice, along with a team of her peers, has been working with the high school Environmental Club, the Stony Brook University Science Technology Entry Program and the Carpentry Club for the construction of the gardens.
The goal is to educate youth on the importance of caring for the environment and solving problems.
Alice Chen, WFHS Class of 2025 valedictorian.
Alice was also involved in the perennially successful YMCA Youth and Government program, a state mock government program in which students create and debate legislative issues with the culminating conference taking place in the NYS Legislative chambers in Albany each March. Alice was elected to two statewide leadership positions during her tenure with Youth and Government, including being selected to serve as the public defender during the junior year conference and as attorney general for the senior year conference. She was also involved in the YMCA National Judicial Competition, a competition for high school students in the model judicial components. Alice served as a four-time nominated NYS attorney, one of only nine students selected from approximately 700 Youth and Government delegates from across New York State. She competed against more than 200 delegates and was among one of New York’s highest-rated justices. She was also selected as a delegate for the YMCA Conference on National Affairs, the federal equivalent of the Youth and Government state program. Just one percent of state Youth and Government participants from across the nation are selected to participate in this program each summer.
In addition to her work and interest in government and politics, Alice served in various leadership roles with the Floyd Robotics Team 287, including as safety captain and head of design as a sophomore, and media captain during her junior and senior years. During her time with Team 287, they won two industrial design awards and one quality award, along with placing fourth out of 48 teams and placing third overall in the double-elimination bracket. The team was also a two-time regional finalist in 2024.
Alice also participated in the Stony Brook University Science Technology Entry Program serving as the Long Island Nitrogen Plan Lead during her sophomore, junior and senior years. In this role, her team won the Long Island Water Quality Challenge and received a $2,100 grant to implement rain gardens on the grounds of William Floyd High School. She also served as the president of the Tutoring Club, presiding over and managing 30 tutors who helped students in chemistry and SAT prep.
Alice is graduating with the AP Capstone distinction on her high school diploma, a prestigious designation earned by scoring a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research, and a 3 or higher on four additional AP exams of her choosing. She is one of only 10 students at William Floyd to receive this designation.
Alice has attended William Floyd schools K-12 including Moriches Elementary School and William Floyd Middle School.
Rachel Chen – SalutatorianSalutatorian Rachel Chen (102.12 weighted grade point average) has committed to the University of Virginia and plans to major in health science or biology. Rachel excelled in academics throughout her time at William Floyd, and also participated in numerous extracurricular activities and volunteer service both in school and out of school.
Rachel Chen, WFHS Class of 2025 salutatorian.
Rachel served as a student Emergency Medical Services (EMS) volunteer with Shirley Ambulance, in which she had the opportunity to ride with veteran EMS providers and receive hands-on training and education in the emergency services field. Rachel also served on the Junior Leadership Council with Northwell Health, a student leadership opportunity for students to garner experience in healthcare through a variety of patient experience and exploration programs.
Rachel also served as a youth hospital volunteer with Long Island Community Hospital/NYU Langone, where she greeted and helped patients in the emergency department and patient floors. She also helped meet patients' needs by providing them with pillows, blankets, activity packets and other necessary items. She also assisted the patient relations manager with making gift baskets and stocking the volunteer cart. In this role, she also worked with a pet therapy dog to provide emotional support for patients.
Additionally, Rachel served in various leadership roles in several student organizations including the William Floyd High School Medical Club, the National Honor Society, Student Government and the Foreign Language Honor Society (proficient in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish). Rachel served as president of the William Floyd High School Medical Club, which provides in-school and out-of-school opportunities for students to learn from members in the healthcare industry including field trips to various locations including Stony Brook Medicine, Northwell Health, Peconic Bay Medical Group, and provide in-school donor registry drives, and participate in community service opportunities including collection and donation drives. She was also the vice president of the National Honor Society and the corresponding secretary for Student Government. Rachel was also a member of the NYS Science Honor Society, as well as the Stony Brook Science Technology Entry Program. She also participated in the award-winning Youth and Government program, earning Best Bill honors at the 88th annual conference.
Rachel also participated in the Long Island Water Quality Challenge in which she submitted research essays regarding possible solutions to improving local water quality (STEP Long Island Nitrogen Plan) with the William Floyd STEP Club. The winning team received a $2,100 grant to implement rain gardens on the grounds of William Floyd High School. She is also a two-time published author in the Young Writers USA competition.
Rachel is graduating with the AP Capstone distinction on her high school diploma, a prestigious designation earned by scoring a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research, and a 3 or higher on four additional AP exams of her choosing. She is one of only 10 students at William Floyd to receive this designation.
Rachel’s William Floyd journey began in fourth grade at Moriches Elementary School. She also attended William Floyd Middle School.