Top 10 Class of 2024 Bellport High School Seniors Announced

BELLPORT, NY — The top 10 students of Bellport High School's Class of 2024 have been selected, South Country Central School District announced in a news release on Tuesday.

Samantha DeLillo and Jordan Truce will serve as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, and Daniel Lewkowski, as the class essayist. The three seniors earned the top spots through their outstanding commitment to academics, the school district said.

Rounding out the list of seniors are Andie Pedatella, Connor Murphy, Brynn Johnsen, Ella
Steckle, Dylan Knakal, Madeline Budris and Claire Cannella.

DeLillo, an AP Scholar with Distinction graduating with an AP Capstone designation, is a member of her school’s National, Science, Italian, Math, and Tri-M Music honor societies. She also takes part in the clarinet choir, jazz band, and pit orchestra, playing not only the clarinet, but the flute
and the tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone.

She is also the class president, a member of student council, and president of the Future Business Leaders of America club. She belongs to Interact and the Students for Environmental Equity Club and has participated in Athletes Helping Athletes, Special Olympics, Unified Basketball, and Unified Bowling.

Outside of school, she is a competitive dancer and intends to study special education in college. Her advice to underclassmen for success is to “take advantage of every opportunity” and “do everything you can when you can," the news release states.

Truce, an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of her school’s National, Science, Math, and Tri-M Music honor societies graduating with an AP Capstone designation, is also vice president of the Future Teachers of America club and secretary of the Math Honor Society.

She serves as a member of her school’s chamber choir, Interact, and Students for Environmental Equity Club and she plans to study political science in the fall.

She offered the following advice to underclassman: “Make connections with each other and
fellow students," the news release states.

Lewkowski, an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of his school’s National,
Science, and Math honor societies graduating with an AP Capstone designation, is a member of the Italian Club and plans to study sociology in the fall.

His advice to underclassmen is to “prioritize your mental health over grades and don’t over-focus on success," the news release states.