Briarcliff High School has named Tamar Honig and Jesse Goodman co-salutatorians for the Class of 2013.

Tamar has a strong interest in writing, currently serving as editor-in-chief of the school’s literary magazine Briars and Ivy, as well as editor for the school newspaper The Briarcliff Bulletin. As co-president of the BHS National Art Honor Society, Tamar’s creativity spans to painting as well, as she enjoys working in a variety of media, including oils and pastels. In fact, she is currently working on a school mural that will be located near the library.

While she has not officially declared her intentions as of yet, Tamar has been accepted into the University of Chicago and hopes to become an international journalist someday, focusing her reporting on human rights issues and developing nations. This past summer she was a counselor at her childhood camp, Camp Kinderland, and she spent two weeks in a French language program located in Montreal. If she does not secure an internship in writing for next summer, she would love to work with animals.

“Briarcliff High is a wonderful school and I’m very grateful to have been brought up and educated here,” said Tamar. “However, I’m excited to move on into the bigger world.”

Jesse in interested in science and engineering, serving as president of the Chemistry Club and having participated in Chemistry Olympiad and the competitive Avogadro chemistry exams. For the last two summers he has conducted research for Intel in California involving carbon nanotubes and bacteria. In his spare time, he tutors a variety of subjects and serves as president of the Spanish Club at BHS. He also plays for the varsity lacrosse team and is an avid skateboarder.

One day Jesse would like to live in Southern California, and has been accepted into Cal Tech as well as University of Michigan so far. Also undeclared, regardless of which school he attends, Jesse will likely major in a field related to chemical or biomedical engineering. Until then he’s working at the local Dunkin’ Donuts to earn some extra money.

“I have loved my time here at Briarcliff High School,” he said. “I would like to send a shout-out to the chemistry department. The teachers have done a great job!”

Briarcliff High School announces that Elizabeth Kanovsky, as its academically top-ranked student, has been named the Class of 2013 valedictorian.

With a strong interest in advanced mathematics, Elizabeth intends to major in math and economics, and while she is undecided as to where she will study next fall, she has already been accepted to the University of Southern California and the University of Chicago.

When she is not securing straight ‘As’ in her subject areas, Elizabeth is performing with the BHS orchestra, playing the cello at NYSSMA and other local concerts and festivals. Another creative talent in which Elizabeth shines is modern dance. As a member of the Steffi Nossen Group in White Plains, N.Y., she performs locally at benefit recitals and for local senior citizens and other good causes. She also serves as president of the BHS Poetry Society and enjoys reading, discussing and critiquing a plethora of different styles, with a personal penchant for Harry Potter books and young authors such as John Green.

“My time at BHS has been really good, and so many teachers have helped me adapt to and learn from the new challenges that students are faced with,” said Elizabeth, who describes herself as a self-driven person who has received tremendous parental support throughout her life.