Plainview-Old Bethpage Names Class of 2026 Valedictorian and Salutatorians

The Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District proudly announces that Mingshen Shi and Soha Jhaveri have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School’s Class of 2026. Both students have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, leadership and dedication to their community.

Mingshen Shi, valedictorian of the Class of 2026, earned a 102.99 GPA while pursuing the most rigorous course load available. Described by teachers as one of the most intelligent and driven students they have encountered in decades, Mingshen has also demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership and service. She serves as a teaching assistant for her violin instructor, helping organize monthly studio classes and mentor younger musicians, and works as an SAT math tutor. Her teachers note that her intellectual excellence, combined with humility and gracious character make her especially deserving of this honor. Mingshen plans to attend Princeton University to study psychology.

Salutatorian Soha Jhaveri earned a 102.75 GPA and distinguished herself as a double-accelerated mathematics student, culminating her coursework with multivariable calculus. She completed a demanding program that included numerous Advanced Placement courses, as well as participation in the AP Capstone and Independent Research programs. As a visiting scholar at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Soha collaborated with physicians on departmentwide research initiatives and contributed to scholarly articles pending publication. She also interned with the Neuroscience and Yoga Conference, translating peer-reviewed research into accessible content for a global student audience, and completed 10 independently designed research projects across mathematics, behavioral science and social science.

In addition to her academic accomplishments, Soha demonstrated sustained leadership and service. She served as vice president of Science Olympiad, mentoring younger students in anatomy, physiology and disease detection, and held an executive board role as tutoring coordinator for the Math Honor Society. Her service includes volunteer work at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and participation as a junior firefighter with the Plainview Volunteer Fire Department. Her honors include recognition at the New York State Science and Engineering Fair, the Long Island Brain Bee and the Long Island Math Fair, as well as designation as a National Merit Scholar semifinalist. Soha plans to pursue a pre-med track and is considering a number of prestigious university options.

The District congratulates both students on this distinguished achievement and is proud to celebrate their accomplishments and the honor they bring to the school community.