Announcing Our 2025 Valedictorian & Salutatorian

St. Joseph High School, southern Connecticut’s premier college preparatory school, is proud to announce that Nicole Bodnarik and Gabriella Pereira are this year’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian respectively.

 

St. Joseph High School is proud to recognize Nicole Bodnarik as the Class of 2025 Valedictorian. A dedicated scholar and compassionate leader, Nicole has spent her four years at SJHS embodying the values of academic excellence, service, and community spirit.

Nicole has earned Presidential Honor Roll every quarter at St. Joes. She was recently recognized with the Harvard University Book Award, the Student Council Representative Award, and the Students Who Make a Difference Award. Her academic prowess is further evidenced by the Academic Excellence Awards in Social Studies, Science, English, and Theology. In addition, Nicole has earned distinction as a College Board AP Scholar with Honor and is a recipient of College Board’s National First-Generation Recognition Award.

Beyond the classroom, Nicole has been a vibrant presence in the St. Joes community. She is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as the Math, English, and Spanish Honor Societies. She has served on Student Council and been involved in a number of clubs, including the Drama Club, Letters With Love Club, The Italian Club, and The Feelings First Club. She holds a leadership position as Vice President of the Women’s Studies Club and contributes to her peers’ academic success as President of the Writing Resource Center.

Nicole will continue her academic journey at Wake Forest University, where she plans to double major in Politics & International Affairs and Economics. Inspired by her lifelong love of history and a transformative experience at Yale’s Model United Nations Conference, Nicole is eager to explore the global opportunities offered by Wake Forest.

 

St. Joseph High School proudly names Gabriella Pereira as the Class of 2025 Salutatorian. Known for her curiosity, compassion, and leadership, Gabi has left a lasting impression on the SJHS community through her academic excellence and thoughtful presence both in and out of the classroom.

Gabriella has spent her four years at St. Joes nurturing a deep love for math and science—subjects that have inspired her future career in engineering. Guided by a longstanding interest in the field and influenced by her father, a civil engineer, Gabriella has explored her passion through job shadowing and hands-on learning. This fall, she will attend Villanova University to pursue a degree in Civil Engineering, where she looks forward to immersing herself in a new academic and social environment.

Gabriella has received numerous accolades, including the Dartmouth College Book Award, the President’s Excellence Award, and the Academic Excellence Award in History. She is a member of the National Honor Society and serves on the executive board of Student Ambassadors. She is also a member of the Math, English, and Spanish National Honor Societies.

During her first two years, Gabriella also played with both the soccer and lacrosse teams. St. Joseph High School celebrates Gabriella and looks forward to all she will accomplish in the years to come.