MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR · COPIAGUE

Katelyn Agtuca is first in her class at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School. Skya Cham is second. On October 16 the Copiague School District named them valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2027, along with the eight classmates who make up the top ten.

It is October of their senior year. Graduation is months away, and these ten already know where they stand.

In the order the district published them, the top ten are: Katelyn Agtuca (valedictorian), Skya Cham (salutatorian), Veronica Karwowska, Christie Arce, Alexa Blanco, Laila Mederos, Melanie Robertson, Paola Gonzales, Alexandra Kaleka and Kasper Sztabinski.

The district said the ten stood out for academic achievement, leadership, character and dedication, and that they balanced their classes with extracurricular activities, leadership roles and community involvement. It did not say which clubs, teams or causes. That is the part we would most like to hear about.

Principal Joseph Agosta said that making the top ten “reflects years of hard work, commitment and perseverance.” He added that the students “have challenged themselves academically while making meaningful contributions to our school community,” and that the school looks forward to “celebrating their continued success throughout their senior year.”

The same hallways have produced neighbors worth knowing before. Last week’s Meet Your Neighbor, Jeanine Guelee, is a Copiague High graduate. She is now working toward a law degree and a social work master’s at the same time. A class rank is a snapshot of where someone stands in October. What these ten do next is the longer story.

If you are one of the ten, or you cheer for one of them, write to us. We would like to introduce them in their own words.

Source: Copiague School District, “Leading The Class Copiague’s Top 10 Students,” October 16, 2026