Top rank a ‘big honor’ for grad

When Daniel Frumento found out in April that he was named the valedictorian of Holy Trinity High School’s class of 2014, he was almost at a loss for words.

“I was really emotional,” he said, “because this is something I worked really hard for. It’s a really big honor for me.”

With a 102.7 grade point average, Frumento, of Valley Stream, is at the top of his senior class. He and his 345 classmates will graduate on Friday, where Frumento will get to make the big speech.

He attended Wheeler Avenue School, then Long Island Lutheran before moving on to Holy Trinity for four years of high school. He said he chose the high school, located in Hicksville, because of its friendly atmosphere and wealth of activities. “I really like the accepting environment,” he said of Holy Trinity. “It gave me the opportunity to pursue a lot of different aspects of myself.”

Frumento took part in the musical theater program, playing the part of Pirelli in “Sweeney Todd” and Christopher Belling in “Curtains.” He said being on stage is one of his true passions.

He was also a member of the Select Choir, performing at numerous events including the Eisenhower Park Christmas tree lighting, the Mercy Ball hospital fundraiser and at the Barclay Hotel. The pinnacle of his young singing career, he said, was a choir competition at Disney World. He credits his choral teacher at Wheeler, Gregory Hart, for fostering his talent.

Additionally, he was a member of the yearbook club, serving as editor-in-chief his senior year, numerous honor societies and the dance company. Frumento also challenged himself academically, taking eight Advanced Placement courses. Among his favorites were his government, U.S. history, chemistry and calculus courses. He also enjoyed electives in criminology and economics.

“It’s one of a kind here at Trinity,” he said. “You’re getting a great education and you’re getting great teachers who love what they do.”

Frumento said he learned the value of hard work from his grandfather, and that meant a lot of nights and weekends studying. At the same time, he made sure not to neglect his social life. “It’s hard to balance everything,” he said.

He was part of a big brothers and sisters program to mentor freshmen at Holy Trinity, and was a Eucharistic minister at the school as well as at his church, Our Lady of Peace in Lynbrook.

In the fall, he will be heading to Georgetown University. It has been his dream to go there since he first visited the campus six years ago, and again last year. He plans to study government.

“Just being in the Washington, D.C. area opens so many doors,” he said. “You’re exposed to so many different cultures and ideas and new people.”

Frumento said he would like to be involved in campaigns and enjoys the contentious atmosphere of politics. His dream job would be press secretary for the White House.

From participating in Wheeler Avenue’s floor hockey program as a child, to performing on stage at Holy Trinity in his teenage years, Frumento said he values all of the experiences that have made him into the person he is today. After doing some community theater in Amityville this summer, he will begin his next journey a few hundred miles to the south.

In his last act as a high school student, he will have a few words of wisdom for his fellow graduates, words that he tries to live by “Don’t let other people tell you who you are,” he said. “You have to define yourself.”