Music a passion for North’s top grads

Tiandra Ray was absent from school the day that guidance counselors told juniors of the class rankings. Everyone knew before she did that she was leading her class, poised to be the top graduate the following year.

Ray kept up her marks and is the valedictorian of Valley Stream North High School’s class of 2011. The Elmont resident has a 103.18 grade point average. This year’s salutatorian is Daniel Monahan, of Malverne, who graduates with an average of 101.5.

For Ray, she attributes her success to simply working hard, and noted that she faced some stiff competition. “I wasn’t going to be upset if I didn’t get it,” she said, “but it’s an honor to be valedictorian. There’s a lot of smart people, a lot of well-rounded people, so it was really anyone’s game.”

In the fall, Ray will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She wants to study architecture and would like to design environmentally friendly buildings. After taking a summer class in architecture at Columbia University last year, she knew that was her calling.

Monahan, who said he has always been more interested in learning than grades, will attend Boston University. He is looking forward to going to school in a big city. “You’re never going to run out of people to meet,” he said.

He would like to study computer science, and will likely focus on software engineering. Monahan says his particular area of interest is artificial intelligence.

Ray is also looking forward to meeting new people, as well as the additional opportunities that college provides. But she will miss the people at North High School and its sense of community. This year’s graduating class is less than 200 students. “I’m going to miss knowing everybody,” she said.

Music and theater were a big part of her life at North High. She was in the drama club, performing in six musicals and four plays. She also started an a-cappella group called the 7-10 Downbeats.

“I’m a big music person. Music is my first love,” Ray said, noting that she plays the violin and sings. Two summers ago, she did a benefit concert in her backyard to raise money for computer hardware and software for an educational organization that provides tutoring for children of stable hands at Belmont Racetrack.