Rockville Centre resident is at the top of her Waldorf School class

June 10 marked the 52nd commencement of the graduating class of The Waldorf School of Garden City where Rockville Centre resident, Olivia Paone, was named Class of 2011 Valedictorian. Olivia plans to attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in the fall. She was named a Bowdoin Faculty Scholar of the Class of 2015, the highest award given to an incoming freshman. The award, given to only a select group, is based on significant academic achievements, extra curricular activities and strong character. The award comes with a special stipend to be used to pursue learning opportunities beyond the classroom, such as independent research, public services positions, career-related internships or study abroad.

Olivia has studied piano for 10 years and violin for eight years. A recipient of the George V. Rose Music Scholarship in High School, she was a strong member in the Waldorf Orchestra, Quartet Group, Singers and Madrigal Choral Group, which came in third place at the National Heritage Festival. 

Varsity soccer and Varsity basketball captain, Olivia has received the coaches award for two years and was named the I.P.P.S.A.L. All-League Athlete. Olivia also played in the Rockville Centre Girls Basketball League, and was the recipient of the Irving Matloff Sportsmanship Award.

At Waldorf, Olivia has been an active member as class vice president, student council, high school ambassador, and was involved in Model UN, Yearbook and Community Service clubs. She also sings at the St. Agnes family Mass and is a volunteer at Winthrop University Hospital. She was awarded a Community Service and Academic Excellence Award by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano.

In addition to studying French in high school, Olivia also attended the German-American School in Garden City, where she received both silver medal and honorable-mention awards. In addition to being a host foreign family to a German student, Olivia was an exchange student in Reutlingen, Germany where she attended school and worked in her host family’s store on the weekends. Olivia spends her summers in Rome visiting family and the last two summers studied Italian at the Dante Alighieri Language Institute.

Olivia has been at the Waldorf School since the first grade and enjoys traveling and downhill skiing.