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BEDFORD, N.Y. — Fox Lane High School has named its 2012 valedictorian: Kurt Wasserman of Pound Ridge, who will be attending the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in the fall.
While Wasserman graduated with a grade point average of 98.37 to earn the title, he does not fit the profile of the strictly studious valedictorian, especially considering one particular detail.
“I love rap music. Lil Wayne mostly. Childish Gambino …” he said. “I feel like people probably think I like classical or something like that, soft rock, but no,” he said, laughing.
From rap music to biology to humanitarian pursuits, Wasserman is a young man of varied interests and passions. He has an affinity for science: He spent last summer in New York City working at a genetics lab at Rockefeller University studying the role of the protein importin in the circadian rhythms of fruit flies.
When it comes to community service, Wasserman started a school chapter of Habitat for Humanity and went on a number of service trips with Bridges to the Community.
Wasserman is also an athlete, making the varsity swim team as an eighth-grader and progressing to captain as a senior. His swimming talents took him to the state competition twice and sectionals four times.
Wasserman said he plans to study international relations at Georgetown next year, perhaps focusing on international health.
“I could see myself possibly shifting to something like international politics because I’m going to be in D.C.,” he said.
Wasserman, who is also co-president of the National Honor Society, said he likes to observe how different cultures interact. “They look different on the surface, but there’s this underlying humanity in everything, and that really interests me.”
When it comes to leaving Pound Ridge for D.C., Wasserman said he has many friends he will miss. He said that his constant interactions with people at Fox Lane have been very important for his personal growth. “There are so many different types of people and they’re all good at different things,” he said.”You can learn from everyone.”
Wasserman will speak at graduation June 21, which will be held at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah.
The school also announced Jordan Federbush was named this year’s salutatorian.
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