Roksana Amid and Keilyn Zavals
Natalia Piasta, 17, is the salutatorian of Glen Cove High School’s class of 2025, ranking second out of 297 graduating seniors with a weighted grade point average of 105.89. An AP Capstone diploma recipient and an AP Scholar with Distinction, Piasta completed 12 Advanced Placement courses, and is already charting a path to a career in chemical engineering. This fall she will attend the University of Connecticut.
“I was always a technical person,” she said. “I thought I’d be a computer science major, but when I took chemistry, I realized how much I loved it.”
Piasta was drawn to UConn not just for academics, but also for the breadth of opportunities. “It’s a big experience, a big school,” she said. “They have lots of clubs and organizations, and I know I can make strong connections there.”
She describes chemical engineering as a versatile and interdisciplinary field. “There are so many jobs I could do — climate change, machinery, food industries,’ Piasta said. “I’m not sure exactly what I want to do yet, but I know I have options.”
That openness to explore has been central to her academic journey. In a science research class, she created an independent project on moss and lichen, collecting and analyzing samples. She also worked as a draftsman for her father’s company, LICO Contracting, adjusting cabinetry designs and learning the technical precision required in engineering-based roles.
“It was tedious, difficult work,” Piasta said. “But it gave me a real sense of what adults do, compared to my earlier summer jobs like working at a snack bar.”
Her achievements extend well beyond the classroom. She was a varsity cheerleader for four years, and a member of the Mu Alpha Theta math honor society, Rho Kappa, the National Honor Society and the Science Honor Society. She also took part in DECA and her favorite club, the Ski Club.
Piasta has remained closely connected to her Polish heritage. Fluent in Polish, she spent weekends as an assistant teacher at the Paderewski Polish School in Glen Head, working with children ages 3 to 5 on basic language skills and cultural lessons.
“I wasn’t doing much formal teaching, just helping with the alphabet, playing with them and making sure they were comfortable,” she said. “It was such a fun experience.”
Piasta was born in the United States, but her parents, Anna and Wojciech Piasta, are from Poland. At home, Polish was her first language.
“My parents only spoke Polish when I was little,” she said. “I didn’t start speaking English until around 3 or 4, but once I got to kindergarten, I picked it up right away.”
She attended the Paderewsky school through eighth grade, and earned a scholarship from the Polish National Home for her academic performance and volunteer work. She is planning to travel to Poland for the first time this summer to visit members of her extended family.
“I haven’t used Polish as much in the last few years,” she said. “But I’m hoping being there will bring it back.”
Another major influence in Piasta’s life is her younger sister, Gabby, 8, who attends Gribbin Elementary School. Natalia lights up when talking about their relationship.
“She’s my built-in best friend,” Piasta said. “I help her with her homework, I babysit her in the summer, and now she’s even doing cheerleading and dance like me.”
At the senior awards ceremony in May, Piasta received the RXR Garvies Point Scholarship, a $5,000 award recognizing her academic excellence and leadership. She said she may pursue a master’s degree in chemical engineering in the future, but remains open to exploring other areas of science and technology.
Glen Cove High School Guidance counselor Kristen Schnall praised Piasta’s intellect and integrity. “Natalia’s academic prowess is equally as impressive as her maturity and humility,” Schnall said. “Her relentless dedication and commitment to her studies is unmatched. I’m excited to see the impact that she will leave on the world of chemical engineering.”
