City School District of New Rochelle Announces New Rochelle High School Class of 2025 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
New Rochelle High School (NRHS) has named Elena Coelho Adams its Class of 2025 Valedictorian and Eva Kan Aggarwal its Salutatorian. The two seniors earned the highest grade point averages (GPA) in their class and were just 0.01 points apart, with Valedictorian Coelho Adams at 106.18, and Salutatorian Aggarwal at 106.17. Their GPAs exceeded 100 because of extra credits earned through Advanced Placement courses.
Both students were named National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists this fall, in recognition of their outstanding scores on their PSAT tests. They have both received many honors and accolades throughout their academic careers at NRHS and participated in a variety of extracurricular activities.
“I am honored to receive this accolade after many years of hard work. Throughout my education, I am and have been so thankful for my teachers’ tireless effort and my family’s support,” said Coelho Adams. “I am so happy to be recognized alongside Eva; I cannot think of anyone more deserving!”
“Receiving this recognition is extremely surreal. I am so happy that all the effort I have put into my coursework throughout high school has come out to something substantial, and that I can share this experience with one of my closest friends, Elena,” said Aggarwal. “I am extremely grateful for all the academic opportunities and support provided by my teachers and especially my guidance counselor, Ms. Nunez.”
Coelho Adams is the co-president of the Math Honor Society and is in the National Honor Society, Columbia Science Honors Program, and PAVE visual arts. She is president of the Book Club, co-president of New Rochelle United Science Exploration, and a volunteer English teacher for Brazilian students. She has earned the New York State Seal of Biliteracy in English and Spanish and English and Portuguese and has participated in the Columbia Science Honors program for three years. Elena has won many awards, including the Rensselaer Medal, the bronze award in the International Genius Olympiad Finalist in Science, the National Hispanic Recognition Award, the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Humanities Award, and has twice placed third and once placed second at the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair. Elena plans to study mathematics and physics in college. She is still exploring which college she will attend.
Aggarwal has been a dancer with the pre-professional division of the Steffi Nossen Dance Company since her freshman year and is President of the dance company where she began dancing in the second grade. She is a volunteer teaching assistant for students in grades 5-12. Her leadership credits include Co-President of the Math Honor Society and Vice President of the Chinese Honor Society. She is a member of the National Honor Society, was an Ignite Mentor in her junior year, and has won the Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology from the University at Rochester. She has earned the New York State Seal of Biliteracy in English and Chinese. Eva plans to study mechanical engineering or industrial design in college.