In some ways, Secaucus High School's top two students this year are a study in contrasts. Priya Patel, this year's somewhat laid-back valedictorian, with a grad point average of about 4.12, said she has come far by watching the world around her and learning from it. But Andriana Ramirez, the salutatorian with a grade point of 4.01, seems to have embraced the world, overcoming her shyness. For most of high school, both girls saw a lot of each other through numerous extra-curricular activities like the yearbook staff and math club. Ramirez also was involved in sports, while Patel was not. At the school's literary magazine, Ramirez tended to get involved with the more creative aspects, whereas Patel favored editorial. Neither girl saw the other as competition in seeking the top honors at the school. "We've been friends since fifth grade," Patel said. "Actually, I really think don't about it that much," Ramirez said. A quiet valedictorian Patel, a girl who has been in the Secaucus school system since the fifth grade, says she went through school observing things. Her parents moved to Secaucus from West New York. Her father is a businessman, her mother, a pharmacist. Patel will be attending Rutgers university in New Brunswick where she will major in pre-med. She intends to be a pediatrician. She said Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor, has inspired her. "I feel as if I'm a pioneer myself," she said. "I'm the first person in my family to take up medicine." Being born in India in a region southwest of Bombay contributed to this pioneering sense, she said. She likes Indian interpretations of western music, and finds herself strongly connected to her culture. "I love reading," she said. She is particularly fond of historical fiction, and fascinated with the period leading up to the American Revolution and with the first settlers, the Puritans. She enjoys El Greco's religious painting. "I'm always been quiet," she said. "When I first came to high school, it took me time to get close to people. It still does." She said she has been an observer all her life, someone that studied the world herself. "That's how I get to know people," she said. Because so many teachers had an influence in her development, it was hard for her to pick one who influenced her most. "I've had a close relationship with all my teachers," she said. When she got frustrated about something, she sought out her younger brother, Saurin. Sometimes, she took walks around the town, especially to Trolley Park, and often found herself waving to senior citizens seated on the porches of the houses. This is something she said she would miss, as well as her work in the theater and her visits to the library and the track. "I feel as if I have one foot in the present and one foot in the future," she said. Salutatorian got to know herself Although born in Secaucus, Ramirez moved to West New York for a time before moving back to Secaucus in time to attend first grade. Her mother is an accountant, and her stepfather is a salesman. Ramirez will be attending Drew University in the fall with an undecided major, although she said she will be taking up a minor in writing. "I think I'd maybe like to run my own magazine or something dealing with writers," she said. While she said she has done numerous creative projects during her time in high schools, she also said she has lots of opinions that need a venue for expression. She said she likes Shakespeare; Hamlet in particular, but non-fiction is the kind of writing that most intrigues her. She writes a lot of non-fiction and has been inspired by work in non-fiction writing, both in traditional print journalism and on television. Ramirez said her role models vary and that she said many come from music and art, with performers like Billy Joel and Madonna influencing her as well as the work of surrealistic painter Salvador Dali. For Ramirez, numerous things stand out about high school, but the biggest thing she got out of her four years here was getting to know herself. "I was shy when I came to high school," she said. "I was scared of everything. But while I was here I grew into another human being." She became extroverted and found herself capable of talking to anyone - although she said her best friend Christine Flanagan helped, and so did one of her teachers, Fred Ponti. "While I was in high school I discovered a lot about myself and how not to be afraid," she said. Unfortunately, for her, she will be moving out of town shortly, something that has her a little sad. "I'm going to miss this town a lot," she said. "I know when I was a kid I used to complain about how boring it was and how I wanted to leave it. But the town has grown on me and I know that in 20 years from now, I'll remember this town and what I did as a child here. There is a magic to this place that I'm going to miss." Graduating academics get awards Academics took center stage last week as the high school issued the scholarships and awards received by students in this year's graduating class. Leading the list was Valedictorian Priya Patel, who received a Paul Amico Scholarship, Secaucus Supervisor's Association Scholarship, Science Department Award, English Department Award, World Language Department Award, Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar Award, Presidential Academic Excellence Award and U.S. Marines Scholastic Excellence & Distinguished Athlete Award. Salutatorian Andriana Ramirez received a Foreign Language Club Scholarship, Kiwanis Scholarship, Secaucus Supervisor's Association Scholarship, Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar Award, Presidential Academic Excellence Award and Outstanding New Jersey Scholar/Athlete Award. Melissa Dargan received the Citizenship Award this year. This student award is presented for outstanding performance in the areas of service, leadership and character and is presented to a senior who exemplified the type of student who gives of himself, or herself, to the extent that the school has benefited from his or her efforts, achievements and overall presence. Dargan also received a PBA George Rennie Scholarship and Fine Arts Award. Latoya Bartley received a Frank Verdiramo, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, The Garden State Concert Band's George M. Holley Memorial Scholarship and Instrumental Music Department Award. Michael Collins received a Patriot Booster Club Scholarship, Ray Messina Memorial Scholarship and Secaucus Elks Scholarship. Michael Falco received a Patriot Booster Club Scholarship, Ray Messina Memorial Scholarship and U.S. Marines Scholastic Excellence & Distinguished Athlete Award. Christina Flanagan received a PBA George Rennie Scholarship, Hudson County School Boards Scholarship and U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award. Marina Kravchuk received a PBA George Rennie Scholarship, Foreign Language Club Scholarship, Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar Award, Presidential Academic Excellence Award and New Jersey Scholar/Athlete Award. Christy Krieger received a PBA George Rennie Scholarship and two Clarendon School PTA scholarships: the Sophie Kohler Memorial Scholarship and the Past Presidents Scholarship K&S Social & Athletic Club Joseph Robert Bator Memorial Scholarship. Greg Lentini, Jr. received a Community Actors Scholarship Theater Scholarship, the K&S Social & Athletic Club Joseph Robert Bator Memorial Scholarship, the Secaucus Band Parents Association Scholarship and Instrumental Music Award. Hilary Makarski received a PBA George Rennie Scholarship, Ralph M. Guma Sr. Memorial Scholarship and The President Edward Tomasi Memorial Scholarship. Gina Prospero received a PBA George Rennie Scholarship, two Clarendon School PTA scholarships (the Sophie Kohler Memorial Scholarship and the Past Presidents Scholarship), the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Scholarship and the Business Department Award. Michael Wurst received a Paul Amico Scholarship, Social Studies Award, Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar Award, Presidential Academic Excellence Award U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award and New Jersey Scholar/Athlete Award. Catharine Bonin received a PTSA Scholarship. Christina Cocucci received a Patriot Booster Club Scholarship. Guang Han Deng received a Math Department Award and Hudson Area Math Alliance Award. Michele Harper received two Huber Street PTA Scholarships: Grace Rouse Memorial Scholarship and Mrs. Elenor Delaney Past President Scholarship and Secaucus Hudson Lodge No. 72 Scholarship. James Just received a Community Actors Scholarship Theater Scholarship, Coral Music Award and Physical Education Award. Koren Kalogera received a Secaucus Band Parents Association Scholarship. Allison Kearney received a Graphic Technology Award. Valerie Kowalewski received a Patrick Walker Memorial Scholarship and Patriot Booster Club Scholarship. Thomas Malanka received a PBA George Rennie Scholarship. Erin Monaghan received a PBA George Rennie Scholarship. Anthony Napoli received a Frank Verdiramo, Jr. Memorial Scholarship and Hudson County Council of PTAs Scholarship. Gina Occhipinti received a Secaucus Education Association Scholarship. Melissa Pablos received a Physical Education Award. Dilip Patel received a Presidential Academic Excellence Award. Melissa Reilly received a Secaucus Education Association Scholarship and Italian Community Center Italian Award. Jonathan Rennie received a PBA George Rennie Scholarship. Sana Shaikh received a Secaucus Public Education Foundation Scholarship. Jamie Torrejon received two Huber Street PTA Scholarships: Grace Rouse Memorial Scholarship and Mrs. Elenor Delaney Past President Scholarship. Bora Yu received an Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar Award. Paul Yun received a Kiwanis Scholarship and Presidential Academic Excellence Award. Steven Zambrano received a Family and Consumer Sciences Award. Dora Marra won this year's Alumni Award and Susan Pirro won the Community Honor Roll Award.