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Young Scholars Top Proctor Class of 2015
Valedictorian, Salutatorian Credit Success to YSLPP
Written By Kevin Montano '16, PR Intern
Proctor's top students are both Young Scholars
Contact - cleogrande@utica.edu
Utica, NY (06/04/2015) - Proctor High School has named its valedictorian and salutatorian for the class of 2015. Trinh Truong has been named the valedictorian and Hilda Jordan has been named the salutatorian. Both Truong and Jordan are part of the Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program (YSLPP), a joint venture between the Utica City School District and Utica College to help students grow, learn and succeed both in the classroom and in the community.Truong, daughter of Trang Le, will graduate with a grade point average of 98.6. She plans to attend Yale University with a dual major in political science and global affairs, with an emphasis in human rights. Active in numerous community organizations, Truong serves as president of the Utica Youth Common Council. She has been involved in Proctor’s Model United Nations delegation and was the first secretary general from Proctor High School in over a decade. Truong also serves on Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi’s youth advisory council and is an intern in the Assemblyman’s office. An outspoken advocate for public education, Truong has helped organize rallies in the Utica area calling for increased education funding.
“I am so incredibly humbled,” said Truong of being named valedictorian. “My mother always taught me to be humble and not to rest on my success and it is those ideals that have helped me achieve so much.”
A part of the Young Scholars since eighth grade, Truong does not feel she would be where she is without them. “Young Scholars is a program that provides great opportunities to young people that many of them may not otherwise be given,” said Truong.
Jordan, daughter of Cecilia Guerrero, carries a 98.5 GPA. Jordan will attend Harvard University dual majoring in mathematics and philosophy. Interested in pursuing a career in law, Jordan is the captain of Proctor’s top-ranked mock trial team, as well as a three-sport varsity athlete. Jordan has also served as president of Proctor’s student council and is the student representative to the Utica City School District Board of Education.
“The personal connections I’ve built through the Young Scholars are so valuable,” said Jordan, who joined the program in eighth grade. “Everyone really cares about your personal well being as well as your academic success. In such a large school it’s so easy to feel like just another statistic but Young Scholars helps you become your own unique individual.”
Since the program began in 1993, 670 students have graduated thanks in part to the Young Scholars program. This year’s class is 40 students strong with 36 of those students planning to attend college in the fall. In addition to Truong and Jordan, Miranda Sasinovic will graduate amongst the top 10 students of the nearly 600-student class of 2015. Other Young Scholars graduating in the top 10 percent of Proctor’s senior class are: Amor Lewis, Ahmedina Mehmedovic, Jasmine Brown, Thar Wah, Ginaya Nation and Jonathan Velasco.
“All of these students have done extremely well,” said Flossie Mitchell, retiring director of YSLPP. “Through the support of their families, their school and Young Scholars, these students have achieved a great deal and are prepared to continue on successful paths.”
Founded in 1993 as a partnership between the Utica City School District and Utica College, the program seeks to help students achieve and succeed in middle school, high school, and beyond. YSLPP works with a carefully selected group of students in grades seven through 12 who have the potential for success but may not achieve their full potential due to various social or economic factors. Young Scholars helps students through academic support, mentoring and tutoring throughout the school year as well as year-round counseling services.
About Utica College – Utica College, founded in 1946, is a comprehensive private institution offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The College, located in upstate central New York, approximately 90 miles west of Albany and 50 miles east of Syracuse, currently enrolls over 4,000 students in 36 undergraduate majors, 27 minors, 21 graduate programs and a number of pre-professional and special programs.
