Schools
Cinnaminson Girls at the Top of Their Class
Jessica Snyder and Shivani Patel are this year's valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.
Jessica Snyder and Shivani Patel have earned high honors at Holy Cross High School. Snyder has been given the distinction of valedictorian and Patel has received the honor of salutatorian.
Both will be giving speeches at today's graduation.
When asked about being her school’s valedictorian, Snyder said that it was “kind of weird."
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"It’s weird that I actually am valedictorian," she said.
Patel, however, said, “It feels the same whatever rank you are in. In the higher levels, it is competitive but everyone is everyone’s friend.”
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Snyder will be attending Dickinson College in the fall and Shivani Patel will be attending New York University. Both will be biology majors and plan on medical school.
Snyder expressed enthusiasm to go Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, but she said she would miss Holy Cross.
“I liked it a lot,” Snyder said. “There are so many different events: prom, homecoming, lots of sports, I swim and play lacrosse.”
Her main extracurricular activities were Student Council, Key Club, the National Honor Society, and volunteering at Habitat for Humanity. Snyder wishes to continue in a student leadership position and at Habitat for Humanity in college.
Salutatorian Shivani Patel also expressed enthusiasm for Holy Cross. She said that her time there was “pretty successful” and said, “I’m happy I studied and had a lot of friends.”
Patel was involved with Lancers for Life, the Special Olympics, French Club, Key Club, basketball, tennis, track, field hockey, volunteering on the maternity ward of a hospital, and was the National Honors Society president. Patel wishes to continue with tennis and volunteering in college, and hopes to join a cultural club to “get in touch” with her roots.
Both Snyder and Patel started at in first grade. Upon their graduation from there in 2007, Patel was at the top of her class while Snyder was second.
After going through the college process, Patel and Snyder shared some advice. “Start early, remember how long it takes,” Snyder advised.
Patel said, “Get all your stuff done. It’s better than procrastination. Going through the college process isn’t really that bad.”
The seniors will graduate tonight at 6 p.m. on the school's football field.
