An overview of the Great Neck Public Schools Class of 2025 reveals 651 graduates from the district’s three high schools: 321 from John L. Miller-Great Neck North High School, 308 from William A. Shine-Great Neck South High School, and 22 from Village School. A look at the valedictorians and salutatorians for North and South high schools follows.
Valedictorians
The North High School Valedictorian is Isaac Xu. The South High School Valedictorian is Ruiqi Liu.
North High Valedictorian Isaac Xu is a National Merit Scholarship finalist and an AP Scholar with Distinction. He was a four-year member of the North High Math Team and served as an officer during his senior year.
Isaac is an active member of the Boy Scouts of America, earning the highest rank of Eagle Scout during his senior year. He has served in leadership positions for Great Neck Troop 10, including Senior Patrol Leader and Troop Quartermaster. Through his work with the Boy Scouts, Isaac has volunteered countless hours for various service activities throughout Great Neck and neighboring communities.
Isaac will attend the University of Toronto.
South High Valedictorian Ruiqi Liu is a National Merit Scholarship winner and an AP Scholar with Distinction. He served as Co-President of the Mathematics Club, Co-President of Academic Outreach, Co-Vice President of Aylus Great Neck Branch, and a member of Key Club. He was a member of the Science Olympiad Team, participated in the South High science research program, and conducted research at the NYU Avalos Lab.
A talented flutist, Ruiqi shared his musical talents as a member of the school’s wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, pit orchestra for musicals and operas, and as a tutor in the Music Buddies program. He was inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society as a freshman and was selected for several honors ensembles throughout his high school career, including the All-State Wind Ensemble, All-County Band, and New York School Band Director’s Association (NYSBDA) Honor Band. He was also chosen to participate in the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Program.
Ruiqi will attend Northwestern University.
Salutatorians
The North High School Salutatorian is Johnathan Ahdout. The South High School Salutatorian is Laura Zhang.
North High Salutatorian Johnathan Ahdout is a National Merit Scholarship winner, AP Scholar with Distinction, Regeneron STS Scholar, Coca-Cola Scholarship semifinalist, and a U.S. Presidential Scholar finalist. He served as President and founding member of the Science Research Club, President of the Computer Science Club, Co-President and Captain of the Science Olympiad Team, Co-Captain of the Quiz Bowl Team, Co-President of TV North Audio-Visual Club, Editor-in-Chief for the Online Sector of the school newspaper, and Senior Class Speaker for the Student Council.
Johnathan was named a Scholar in the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search, the most prestigious math and science competition in the nation for high school seniors. He was a member of the North High science research program and conducted internships with several research facilities, including the Brown Lab and Center for Applied AI for Protein Dynamics at Vanderbilt University, Yazawa Lab at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, and Horowitz Lab at University of Denver. He has presented research at regional competitions and conferences, and he co-authored a paper that was published in a scientific journal.
Johnathan will attend Princeton University.
South High Salutatorian Laura Zhang is a National Merit Scholarship winner, AP Scholar with Distinction, and National Latin Exam Gold Medalist. She served as Captain of the Science Olympiad Team, Treasurer of the Math Team, Co-President of the National Science Bowl and Physics Club, and Executive Director of the Teen Hacks Long Island Hackathon. She was a four-year member of the Varsity Fencing team, which won multiple Nassau County and Long Island Championships during her high school career.
Laura was a member of the South High science research program and conducted research through the Stony Brook Geosystems Engineering Lab and the Stony Brook Garcia Summer Research Program. Her research was presented at regional science fairs, garnering awards at the Long Island Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and the WAC Lighting Research Fair.
Laura will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.