State Champion Wrestler
Congratulations to Haley Gonzales for a phenomenal wrestling season! Newsday recognized her as an All-Long Island Wrestler, and she earned All-State, All-County, and All-Conference honors. Most notably, Haley made Hicksville HS, Section VIII, and Long Island history by becoming our first-ever NYS Girls Wrestling Champion at 120 lbs, capturing the gold medal this past March. Adding to her incredible achievements, she also won the National Championship at 118 lbs and the Nassau County Championship at 120 lbs.
Varsity Kickline Excellence
The Hicksville High School Starlets have had an exceptional competition season, bringing home a remarkable total of 12 trophies! Their final performance was their strongest, culminating in impressive results at the March 1, 2025, LIDTA Competition #3: 1st place Game Day, 1st place Jazz, 2nd place Pom, 3rd place Team Performance, and a Specialty Award for Superior Showmanship for Game Day.
NYS Scholar Athlete Teams
We commend the following teams for their outstanding academic achievements, earning the NYS Scholar Athlete Team award by maintaining a GPA of 90 or better during the winter season: Girls Varsity Basketball, Boys Varsity Track, Girls Varsity Winter Track, Varsity Boys Bowling, Varsity Girls Bowling, Varsity Gymnastics, Varsity Boys Swimming & Diving, Varsity Winter Cheer, and Kickline.
Gymnastics Success
Senior Alyssa Todaro achieved a significant milestone, competing at the State Championships in Buffalo with the Nassau State team – the first gymnast from our district to reach this level in 10 years. Alyssa was also recognized as a Newsday Top 10 Gymnast for the 2024-2025 season and earned All-County and All-State honors. She is also in the running for All-American!
Academic Excellence Recognized Nationally
Hicksville High School proudly celebrates the achievements of students who have earned national recognition for their academic excellence through the National Merit Scholarship Program and the College Board’s National Recognition Programs.
National Merit Semifinalist
Senior Kim Widjaja was named a National Merit Semifinalist in the 70th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Selected from over 1.3 million entrants, Kim is among just 16,000 students nationwide, representing the top 1% of U.S. high school seniors. This distinction qualifies her for potential scholarship awards this spring.
National Merit Commended Students
Seniors Evan Chun, Om Doshi, Alyssa Garger, and Aashritha Kilambi were recognized as Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Their outstanding PSAT scores placed them among the top 50,000 students nationally.
College Board National Recognition Program
Sixteen Hicksville High School students were recognized through the College Board National Recognition Programs, which honor students for outstanding academic performance on PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP exams, combined with a strong GPA.
The following students received recognition through one or more of the following College Board programs:
National African American Recognition Program – celebrates the academic achievements of African American students.
National Hispanic Recognition Program – honors high-achieving Hispanic students and connects them with colleges and universities.
First-Generation Recognition – acknowledges students who are among the first in their families to attend college.
Congratulations to:
Ahmad Ali (First-Generation)
Brianna Atis (Hispanic)
Daniel Chen (First-Generation)
Julian Gandolfo (Hispanic)
Derick Garay (First-Generation and Hispanic)
Alyssa Garger (First-Generation)
Sisi Goh (First-Generation)
Brianna Goodrich (First-Generation)
Michael Hamidi (First-Generation)
Mandeep Kaur (First-Generation)
Heather Mane (Hispanic)
Lauren Mason (African American)
Isabella Roldan (Hispanic)
Jaskaran Singh (First-Generation)
Hailey Treminio Sempe (First-Generation and Hispanic)
Kimberly Widjaja (First-Generation)
National Writing Competition Winners
Pratheeksha Genesh, a student at Hicksville High School, was named a national winner in the 2024–2025 Just Poetry competition.
Gabriella Barro, a Hicksville Middle School student, was selected as a national winner in the 2024–2025 Young Writers prose competition.
Artistic Excellence with a Message of Peace
Suhani Sharma was named a winner in the Shanti Fund’s Artwork and Writing Contest, and her work will be featured in the organization’s 2025–2026 calendar. Her powerful piece promotes peace and forgiveness as foundations for compassion, understanding, and stronger relationships.
Professional Recognition in Education
On March 28, 2025, Hicksville High School English teacher Amy Mastrocinque presented an insightful English Language Arts professional development workshop, "Language and Power: Helping Students Analyze Influence in Literature and the Real World," at the Long Island Language Arts Council's Spring Conference. Her expertise and contribution to the professional community are greatly appreciated.
Supporting ELLs
Lucy Vieco and Danielle Baker led a session showcasing how to support ELL students in front of 70+ district administrators across Long Island at the L.I. Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network event hosted by Western Suffolk BOCES.
Essay Writing Achievement
Vihaan Singh earned Honorable Mention in the South Asian American Women’s Association (SAAWA) High School Essay Contest for his thoughtful response to the prompt: “Is Artificial Intelligence a Threat to Human Job Security in the Present or Future?”
Exciting STEM Achievements
Building on their regional success, we are thrilled to announce that the Hicksville High School Robotics Team has qualified for the prestigious FIRST Championship in Houston! Their hard work, innovation, and teamwork have earned them this incredible opportunity on the international stage.
Model UN Distinction
Hicksville High School Model UN students participated in the Kellenberg Model UN Conference this January. Aleeza Khan was recognized with the Outstanding Delegate award for her representation of Switzerland.
Mock Trial Victory
The Hicksville High School Mock Trial “Plaintiff Group” secured first place in the competition held on February 5 at the Supreme Courthouse in Mineola.
High School Science Olympiad Success
Hicksville High School’s Science Olympiad teams achieved an impressive third-place finish at the Regional Competition and went on to place Ninth in the State Competition—demonstrating excellence in science, engineering, and teamwork.
Middle School Science Olympiad Achievement
Hicksville Middle School’s Science Olympiad teams earned Fourth Place at the Regional Competition and placed 15th out of 40 teams at the State level—an outstanding performance among top schools across New York.
Air Trajectory, 6th place: Veer Jaggi, Antonios Tsirigos
Codebusters, 10th place: Jay Pharma, GiGi Goh, Aman Aenugu
Crime Busters, 6th place: Luke Van Bell, Antonios Tsirigos
Entomology, 8th place: GiGi Goh, Eason Liu
Potions and Poisons, 5th place: Saanvi Ahuja, Luke Van Bell
State Olympics of the Visual Arts
The HS art department is celebrating some impressive wins at the State Olympics of the Visual Arts in Saratoga Springs! Congratulations to the following: High School student Julian Gandolfo for his commercial and ads for our soda company; Ms. Andolina for 2nd place in Graphic Design; Mr. Mateyunas for 2nd place in Painting and 3rd place in Photography; Ms. Hagedorn for Drawing; and Ms. Biedenbach for Sculpture.
HMS Robotics Team Earns Top Honors
In March, our Robotics team competed with great success, with team Meteorites Squared earning the Robot Design Award #1 Finalist recognition! This achievement reflects their creativity, collaboration, and engineering skills. A big thank you to Ms. Temps for her incredible dedication and leadership.
HMS Students Shine in "Let it Flow" Mental Health Initiative Poster Contest
We are excited to share that several of our students participated in the "Let it Flow" Mental Health Initiative Poster Contest, and three of them have been selected as winners! Congratulations to Jasmine Kaur (1st place), who will receive a $250 prize, and Brianna Barquor (3rd place), who will receive a $100 prize. Both will also receive an Award Certificate. Additionally, Jeanette Pinto has earned an Honorable Mention award for her outstanding work. As part of their recognition, these talented artists’ posters will be featured in the Let it Flow Art Exhibit at the Islip Arts Council from April 1st to April 16th, helping to spread their messages to a wider audience.
Latinos In Action Success
On Saturday, March 1st, Janet Suarez-Lovett presented at the New York State Association for Bilingual Education (NYSABE) Conference in Saratoga, New York, along with Dr. Jose Enriquez, Founder of Latinos in Action, on the success of the program at Hicksville Middle School and Hicksville High School.
New York State PTA Contest Winner
Insiya Ali, a third-grade student at Dutch Lane Elementary, was named one of 12 statewide winners in the New York State PTA Contest. Insiya entered the contest with a video on the theme “Why Reading is Important for Your Health and Wellness,” showcasing her creativity and communication skills.
NYSSMA All-State Honors
Four Hicksville High School students were selected to participate in the prestigious NYSSMA All-State Festival held in Rochester, New York, this past December.
Owen Chan performed in the All-State Piano Showcase
Matthew Kilfeather-Bonello was named an alternate for the All-State Choir
Lauren Mason was selected for the All-State Wind Ensemble
John Ryan Chaplin was selected for the All-State Symphonic Orchestra
These students earned their places through exemplary solo performances at the Spring 2024 NYSSMA Solo Festivals.
2024 District Holiday Card Winner
Julian Gandolfo was selected as the winner of the 2024 District Holiday Card Contest. His artwork was featured on the official Hicksville Public Schools holiday card, sharing his talent with the entire school community.
Valedictorian: Kailash Thayavally
Kailash Thayavally excelled both academically and through his leadership roles. He was a member of multiple honor societies, including the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society, and Science National Honor Society, where he served as Vice President. He also served as President of the Science Olympiad Club and was a dedicated member of the Robotics Team. Outside of school, Kailash shadowed physicians, researched multiple sclerosis, and co-founded NextGenInspires, a nonprofit focused on teaching STEM to students.
Salutatorian: Mandeep Kaur
Mandeep Kaur also made significant contributions in and beyond the classroom. She held officer positions in several organizations, including Tech Chair of the Thespian Honor Society, Corresponding Secretary of the National Honor Society, and Secretary of the National English Honor Society. She was also a member of the Spanish, Math, and Social Studies Honor Societies. In addition to participating in clubs like the International Outreach Club, FBLA, and Astronomy Club, Mandeep served as Class Treasurer for four years. Outside of school, she volunteered weekly at her Community Religious Center and tutored students in grades 3–9.
American Sign Language Community Engagement
ASL students Riley Blitz, Sanaa Haroon, and Kylie McLaughlin extended their classroom learning into the community by hosting American Sign Language classes for children at the Hicksville Public Library each month. Most recently, they led a back-to-school-themed session, where participants learned new signs, played interactive games, and took part in themed crafts, promoting inclusivity and communication through sign language.
Hicksville High School Announces Class of 2025 Top Ten
Hicksville High School proudly announced the Class of 2025 Top Ten students, celebrating their exceptional academic achievement and dedication throughout their high school careers.
Daniel Chen, John Ryan Chaplin, Mandeep Kaur, Brianna Atis, Kimberly Widjaja, Sissi Goh, Isabella Roldan, Kailash Thayavally, Aayush Butala, and Eliza Aamir.