Friday, October 30, 2026
Ariana Bridges and Mahiya Vira have been named North Shore High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian for the 2026-27 school year. Both seniors are involved in multiple extracurricular activities and hold leadership positions at North Shore.
Bridges, originally from Minnesota, started at North Shore in ninth grade. The valedictorian is head of operations for the high school’s robotics club, managing finances and social media as well as promoting STEM education in the community. She is also the president of both the chess and French clubs.
Since her freshman year, Bridges has done several research projects, including a quantum computing project and defining and graphing political ideologies. She is a member of the school’s select dance team and said she was a more competitive dancer until eighth grade, when she decided to focus more on research.
“I find a thing I find interesting, or a problem or a question, and I just do a lot of research on it,” she said. “I spend hours upon hours just combing through literature and reading articles.”
Bridges advanced to the second round and came in third at the New York Science and Engineering Fair this year with her quantum computing project, which required her to teach herself Python coding. She said that her curiosity and independence, as well as the impact, are what make research so interesting to her. She added that she has always stayed informed on current events, and seeing suffering and injustice were what drove her to want to make an impact.
“I wouldn’t accept the idea that you can’t do anything,” Bridges said. “I refuse to accept that things are how they are, and that’s how they’re always going to be.”
While being valedictorian was not a specific goal of hers, Bridges said she always wanted to work hard in high school to create more opportunities for herself in college. She added that being named valedictorian was a surprise and that finding out was a “great feeling.”
“I’ll be excited, but seeing people who watched me sort of go through this whole high school process, like my best friends and my parents,” Bridges said, “that’s been the most rewarding part of it all.”
Bridges is a candidate for the International Baccalaureate diploma, an advanced high school diploma requiring students to take six subjects at the IB level and complete additional papers and projects.
One component of the IB diploma is the extended essay, which requires students to independently write a 4,000-word research paper on a topic related to an IB subject. Bridges completed her history-based essay this summer, writing about perspectives on the causes of the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
Despite her research and other activities, Bridges said she still tries to find time socialize. She added that “saying no” is an important part of how she avoids burnout and getting overwhelmed.
“I’m very lucky in that I have such supportive friends and such a great family that people will listen to me when I say ‘no,’” Bridges said.
Bridges is applying to universities primarily in France, England and Austria, planning to study politics, philosophy and economics. She said the interest in going to college outside the United States comes from enjoying change.
“I think it’s probably because I moved around a lot when I was a kid,” Bridges added. “But I just love the challenge of having to put myself in a new situation and adapt and grow.”
Vira, this year’s salutatorian, plays both sports and an instrument while also focusing on her studies. She started playing tennis when she was 4 and has been on North Shore’s varsity team since eighth grade, serving as a co-captain her senior year.
For 13 years, Vira has done different forms of Indian classical dance. She began with Bollywood when she was 3 and later switched to Bharata Natyam, rooted in temple traditions and spiritual expression.
“Dance has created such a big community for me,” Vira said. “I’ve met so many people, and just it’s been very, very important to me, and also, connecting me to my culture and heritage.”
Vira started playing the clarinet when she was 7 and is now principal clarinetist in North Shore’s symphonic band and serves as secretary in Tri-M Music Honor Society.
This year, Vira is taking IB and Advanced Placement classes. She said that she was surprised to be named salutatorian but working hard has always been a focus for her. She added that family is a driving force, with her parents being supportive of her education and instilling in her and her brother, Aaryan, values of hard work.
“I’ve definitely work very hard all four years, but it wasn’t something I was really going for,” Vira said. “So, it was really nice and exciting, and that’s made my parents proud.”
Vira named science as her favorite subject, adding that she particularly enjoyed taking AP biology. She said that she plans to pursue biomedical engineering in college, describing herself as always having been “a very hands-on person.” She recalled building Legos with Aaryan and added that baking is one of her hobbies.
Another factor Vira said sparked her interest in biomedical engineering is her food allergies.
“I’ve gotten to witness some of the medical side and being a patient and just seeing different medical technology,” she said, “and that’s always drawn an interest for me.”
High school Principal Eric Contreras praised Bridges and Vira for their accomplishments.
“Ariana and Mahiya are two exceptionally talented students,” he said in a news release. “They have promoted academic scholarship, scientific research, athletic prowess, and artistry in multiple domains inside and outside the high school.”
