Hampton Bays Valedictorian Among Brightest Honored In Suffolk

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — The valedictorian for the Hampton Bays Class of 2021 was among those who was lauded for her achievements recently.

Hampton Bays High School’s Class of 2021 valedictorian Tara Lauther was among those honored.

On June 3, the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association continued its long-standing tradition of recognizing the highest-achieving graduates, a release from the district said.

Due to the pandemic, the 27th annual celebration of the Class of 2021 valedictorians was presented as a virtual event. School superintendents, valedictorians, and their parents gathered in small groups within their own school districts to view the event and celebrate.

SCSSA President and Center Moriches School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ronald M. Masera hosted the ceremony.

“Some of the most highly regarded schools in the nation are located in Suffolk County,” Dr. Masera said. “To achieve the status of a Suffolk County valedictorian is an extraordinary achievement.”

Th keynote speaker was Jon Gordon, author of several books including “The Energy Bus” and “The Power of Positive Leadership.”

“You have the power to transform the world,” Gordon said. “You decide your future. Be a positive leader and impact the people around you. Remember, the best is yet to come.”

Hampton Bays Central School District Superintendent Lars Clemensen gave Tara a commemorative program, congratulatory video, a certificate of achievement, a copy of “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss and Jon Gordon’s book “The Energy Bus.”

The program and video, which were created especially for the Class of 2021, featured information about each valedictorian’s school district, their formal senior yearbook photos, their colleges of choice, and college majors, the district said.

The SCSSA and their corporate partners also awarded scholarships in every high school in Suffolk County to a "highly deserving" graduating senior planning to pursue a career in education or social services.