It is with immense pride that Walt Whitman High School was able to recognize and celebrate their exceptional students at the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society induction ceremony on March 27, 2025. Rho Kappa is the only national organization for high school students that recognizes excellence in the field of Social Studies. The mission and purpose of the Walt Whitman Chapter is to acknowledge excellence not only in social studies but also civic engagement, leadership, community service and scholarship. 

We were delighted to welcome 51 new inductees, a record for the Whitman chapter, and honor 35 senior members. These students share a common excitement and enthusiasm for learning about how the past has shaped the world we know today, and using their knowledge of the important contributions of individuals and groups within history to aid in their abilities to contribute to their own communities. To add to the special evening, teachers in the high school’s Social Studies department nominated exceptional seniors for special awards. We celebrate this group of students for their dedication to exemplary leadership, exceptional achievement in Social Studies, and their energetic dedication to community service.

A special thank you goes out to co-advisors Jillian Casey and Ralph Milazzo for making this year’s induction ceremony possible, Social Studies Department Chairperson Dr. James Corcoran, as well as our Social Studies Honor Society Officers, President Sameera Chaudhry, Vice President Julia Dean, Treasurer Samantha Somer, and Secretary Tessa Binsol. 
 

Congratulations to our 2024-2025 Inductees: Andrew Badalamenti, Nicole Bell, Jack Biblow, Tyler Biblow, Adrian Burga, Deisy Cantillo, Emily Cary, Tracey Cesar, Jordan Churchman, Analia Cimadevilla, Camryn Cuozzo, Grace Davis, Anthony DePalo, Mason Diamond, Lauren Dinstell, Samantha Dinstell, Jonathan Duffy, Ibrahim Farooq, Avni Gandhi, Alexander Gillet, Emmaleigh Goldfarb, Harrison Green, Jordyn Nicholls, Ryan Pastore, Ryan Perillo, Gabriel Raynor, Brian Rollman, Kate Sabellico, Lucien Saint Cyr, Angely Saravia, Aryaa Shah, Anish Sharma, Ayaan Siddiqui,Shayaan Siddiqui, Kritz-George Taku, Jade Tintera, Gabriella Varellas, Jaslyne Ventura, JackVollmer, Jake Williams, Ryan Yuen, Grace Davis, Julia Dean, Gracie DeMarinis, Sara Duffy, Shea Gannon, Kathryn Glatzle, Jake Gurba, Emmaleigh Goldfarb, Heather Kowalczyk, Isabel Hassman, Lucas Hill Mendizabal, Jillian Kobel, Dylan Lemke, Nathan Lublin, Shay Lublin, Megan Lyte, Lucia Maniatis, Tatiana Marr, and Justin Martinez.

Congratulations to our seniors members: Katelyn Adams, Lindsay Alms, Melanie Alvarado, Zahara Amorde, Madeleine Bas, Tessa Binsol, Lauren Breaton, Abigail Burkitt, Madison Caiazzo, Derek Caserta, Kimberly Castro Perdomo, Natalie Chinchilla, Luca Cioffi, Erin Conlon, Angelee Cordova Palma, Jessica Cristello, Julia Dean, Gracie DeMarinis, Sara Duffy, Shea Gannon, Kathryn Glatzle, Jake Gurba, Heather Kowalczyk, William Lang, Abigail LaRegina, Haylee Lemke, Samuel Lipson, Sage Lopalo, John Marr, Katherine Nodell, Luke Pedretti, Molly Scavo, Samantha Somer, Diego Torres, and Adriana Yaroshevsky. 

Photo Gallery

Thank you to co-advisors Ralph Milazzo (left) and Jillian Casey (right) and Social Studies Honor Society Officers (left to right) Samantha Somer, Tessa Binsol, Julia Dean, and Sameera Chaudhry.

Senior members walked across the stage to receive their honor society cords to be worn at graduation in May.

New inductees were given certificates by Ms. Casey, commencing their involvement in the prestigious honor society.

Congratulations to Social Studies Award winners Nathan Lublin, Lindsay Alms, Amelia Calvin, Sienna Leaver, Kimberly Perdomo Castro, Grace Davis, Julia Dean, Erin Conlon, Nathan Goldberg, and Jack Marr. The Class of 2025 award winners stood with their teachers who nominated them, as well as the high school administration and BOE President Nick Ciappetta and Vice President Linda LaCara.

Congratulations to the new inductees into the Walt Whitman Chapter of Rho Kappa!

Congratulations and best of luck to Whitman’s senior members!

Teachers, students and their families were welcomed to the South Cafeteria after the induction ceremony for some light refreshments.