Top of East Hampton's Class Serve Community While Shining Academically

What sets East Hampton’s Class of 2023 valedictorian and salutatorian apart is not only their dedication to their academic studies and clubs, but also their thousands of hours given to their community.

Valedictorian Nicole Velez, who has excelled in over 17 honors and Advanced Placement courses, has donated over 600 hours of volunteerism alone to the East Hampton Library and the East Hampton Soccer Club, through community outreach via the Key Club and Interact Club and as a teacher’s aide in bilingual algebra. Velez also completed four internships during her time at East Hampton High School, most notably with Immigration Legal Services of Long Island and Bridget Fleming’s congressional campaign. It was here, she said, that she realized exactly what she wanted to do with her life.

“My internships have always held a special place in my heart. Although accolades weren’t necessarily associated with them, they were integral to the development of my passions and future career interests,” the valedictorian said. “The aid I was able to provide community members with during those experiences are unparalleled to anything else I’ve done or accomplished in high school.”

Unsurprisingly, her favorite subjects belonged to the same sphere — history and government, although another course Velez said had a profound impact on her was math teacher Theresa Kraycar’s statistics course.

“I like to say, ‘The closest math gets to humanities is statistics,’ and I really believed it,” Velez said. “Ms. Kraycar, a stellar and unforgettable teacher, made the class an interactive and fascinating yearlong experience.”

As a reflection of her efforts, Velez graduates as a recognized AP Scholar with Distinction who achieved the AP Capstone Diploma alongside an Advanced Designation Regents Diploma with Honors underscoring her mastery in science and mathematics.

“Going through the East Hampton School District has been a pleasure and a luxury, really,” Velez said. “I am incredibly fortunate that our school district is filled with teachers who are passionate about their jobs and truly care about the children they teach, and that our administrators work so diligently to make our days flow smoothly.”

The valedictorian was also honored with the distinction of being a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Ambassador and selected as one of the East Hampton Rotary Youth Leadership school representatives. She has served as president of Interact Club, vice president of Century Club, captain of the varsity soccer team and secretary of Key Club. Velez also represented her district at the Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute, an innovative collaboration with the New York State Assembly. As a participating leader, the senior was elected state governor.

She has also been recognized with the Carson Scholars Fund award, given to students who are dedicated to serving their communities and excel academically; and the University of Rochester Susan B. Anthony Award as a National Hispanic Recognition Program member. The award recognizes those who lead community action committed to understanding and addressing difficult social issues. Velez was also a finalist for the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund and is a proud member of both the National Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society. She studied Spanish, French and Latin.

“Nicole Velez is an exceptional scholar and leader,” guidance counselor Marilyn Marsilio said. “During her time here, she has demonstrated a genuine love of learning, and likewise, has excelled. Nicole has tirelessly sought to deeply ingrain herself within not only the academic community at East Hampton High School but also within its greater offerings.”

The senior said it was a surreal experience to hear a broadcast during the school day that announced she had been named valedictorian. Unbeknown to her, Velez’s family was also in attendance when the news was made public.

“It was that much more special to be surrounded by the most important people in my life,” Velez said. “I teared up a bit, but it was a joyous event all-around. I was, and continue to be, humbled and excited to be the East Hampton Class of 2023 valedictorian. It feels surreal.”

Salutatorian Aryan Chugh has accumulated over 150 community service hours while also being an East Hampton Village Ambulance Association EMT.

Throughout the years, he has also taken on multiple personal projects, spending two years working with a mentor at Stony Brook University conducting research on a novel cancer drug in an effort to help combat metastatic lung cancer, and with LTV to expand voter registration among young and minority voters, holding forums and interviewing local and state officials to help pass the Community Housing Fund referendum.

“Aryan Chugh is a remarkable student, individual and person,” high school counselor Jenna Pierro said. “Aryan has gone above and beyond within the East Hampton School District and community. He has so much to offer, and has a true passion for learning. He is a one-of-a-kind student that you do not come across often.”

The salutatorian was president of the Academic Team, and named its captain; was vice president of the Mock Trial Team; and vice president of the Student Association. He also played lead alto saxophone and was a soloist in the Jazz Band, along with playing a number of varsity sports including football and baseball.

Chugh was a part of the Academic Team that made the playoffs last year, and the Mock Trial Team that reached the Suffolk County semifinals. His jazz band also had the opportunity to perform in front of a packed house at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. The senior also plays piano, and recently finished learning “Vienna” by Billy Joel. But what Chugh said he’s most proud of is being a shining example of kindness and selflessness, the values that the Thomas Cutinella Memorial Foundation Service Award he garnered seeks to highlight.

“Aryan is dedicated and determined,” Pierro said. “He worked extremely hard toward his goals.”

Some of Chugh’s favorite courses include AP biology, AP seminar, AP calculus AB, AP U.S. government and politics and Latin. Chugh was a member of the National Honor Society, National Language Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society, and is also an AP Scholar with Distinction who has achieved the AP Capstone Diploma alongside an Advanced Designation Regents Diploma with Honors underscoring mastery in science and mathematics. He garnered that alongside the National Merit Scholarship commendation.

“Nicole and Aryan are the very definition of stellar students,” said Principal Sara Smith. “They have worked so hard academically, athletically and as student leaders. We are very proud of all they have accomplished at East Hampton High School and have no doubt that they will continue to excel at the college level.”

Chugh also raised money for East Hampton’s Build-On program and traveled to Guatemala over spring break to help construct a school.

“I had the privilege of attending East Hampton High School and learning from the incredible teachers and students in it. I can’t think of anything about this place that I will not miss,” Chugh said. “I have learned so many invaluable lessons here. The best has to be to make the adjustment — a mantra of a personal mentor of mine, East Hampton teacher Matthew Shimkus.”

Velez said one of the most important things she’s learned is to work with others, and not against them.

“Many will tell you the East Hampton Class of 2023 is among the most hard-working and successful that our town has seen in a long time, but that never translated into a competitive feel for students, and for that I am so grateful,” she said.

Chugh has chosen to pursue biology on the premedical track at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He said his grandfather, who was a surgeon and medical professor, and later a psychiatrist until the age of 87, has inspired him.

“I have wanted to be a physician my entire life, specifically a cardiothoracic surgeon,” Chugh said. “I actually made an anatomic poster of the heart and used it as my show-and-tell project in kindergarten.”

Velez will be studying ethics, politics and economics at Yale University.

“I have always been in touch with my identity as a Latina,” Velez said. “I would like to come back to the community once finished with my education and instill change, especially for Latinos on the East End of Long Island.”