As Beyoncé once put it, “Who run the world? Girls.” Those lyrics ring especially true at Peekskill High School this year, where the 2025 valedictorian and salutatorian are women, continuing a proud tradition of female academic excellence. In fact, since 2017, the top two students in Peekskill’s graduating class have been women. 

For 2025, Valedictorian Mireya Rodriguez Ortega and Salutatorian Jemell Acosta led their peers at graduation on June 27 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

For both Ortega and Acosta, the achievement is more than a title. As first-generation Americans, the two have faced their fair share of challenges, both in the classroom and at home. As they progress to the next phase of their studies, Today, they leave a legacy built on determination and serve as proud role models for the younger members of Peekskill’s Hispanic community.

Class of 2025 Valedictorian: Mireya Rodriguez Ortega

For Mireya Rodriguez Ortega, being named valedictorian of Peekskill High School’s Class of 2025 is the result of years of curiosity, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to her dreams.

At 18, Ortega proudly represents both her Guatemalan roots and the Peekskill Hispanic community she calls home. As a first-generation American, Ortega grew up understanding the value of hard work, watching her parents labor tirelessly to support their family.

“It wasn’t easy being a firstgeneration student,” she said. “I grew up in a low-income family, so money was always a concern. However, this became my motivation to keep studying and build a stable future for myself.”

From an early age, Ortega developed a love for learning. “Academics have always been important to me,” she said. “I valued school because I could learn a range of new things that no one else could teach me.”

That passion only deepened over the years. “As I grew older, school began to have a new meaning to me,” Ortega said. “My parents didn’t have the opportunity to study in the U.S. and they have spent all their lives working hard to support me. Because of this, I see education as more than just a way to learn, but as a path to independence.”

Ortega credits much of her drive to succeed academically to her family, especially her three older cousins: Leslie, Shenny, and Kathy. All first-generation Americans themselves, they set the blueprint for success. “Leslie is the oldest and she is about to complete her Ph.D. in sociology, studying abroad in Scotland,” Ortega shared. “Shenny also studied sociology and is now working as an HR [Human Resources] director and is the head of her household. Kathy works as an art teacher and is one of the few Spanish-speaking teachers in her school. They have shown me that no dream is impossible to reach.”

But becoming valedictorian wasn’t a last-minute goal. It was a dream Ortega held onto for years. “I always wanted to be valedictorian,” Ortega said. Teachers helped nurture that ambition early on. “Mrs. Quijada told me one day I would be a scientist at NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Administration]. My teachers helped me see my potential.”

Though she suspected she was near the top of her class as early as middle school, her official confirmation came in her junior year. “I had a conference with my guidance counselor and she confirmed my rank,” she recalled.

Ortega deliberately chose a difficult course load throughout her four years in high school. It included numerous honors and Advanced Placement classes – like AP World History, AP Calculus, AP U.S. Government & Politics, and AP Spanish Literature. Her days were packed with reading, studying, and writing. Her commitment earned her a spot in multiple honor societies, including the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society, and la Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica.

By far Ortega’s favorite class was Chemistry, with Mr. Jonathan Barone. “He explained chemistry in a way that was detailed yet straightforward and easy to understand,” she said. “He is a great teacher and person and I always see him with a smile on his face.”

Outside the classroom, Ortega was equally active, participating in orchestra and school choir, Astronomy Club, Latino Culture Club, and more. Ortega says balancing academics and life meant making sacrifices. “I had to spend countless long nights at my desk,” she said. “My weekday afternoons were spent doing homework. I spent my weekends with my parents and aunt but I still had to continue working in the evenings.”

That hard work earned Ortega several accolades, including the Rensselaer Medal for academic excellence in math and science from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and scholarships like Rochester Institute of Technology’s Presidential Scholarship and Peekskill Rotary Club’s academic scholarship. 

This fall, she will be attending Rochester Institute of Technology, where she plans to major in physics and eventually pursue a master’s degree in astrophysical sciences. “Having enjoyed physics class my junior year, I decided to keep learning about the science behind how everything in the universe interacts,” said Ortega. “I have always been interested in the theory of general relativity and black holes. Science in general has been of interest to me since I was a kid.”

Reflecting on her high school experience, Ortega offers this advice to younger students at Peekskill High School [PHS]: “Make the most out of your time at PHS. Most students can’t wait to graduate, but there are so many things you can do in high school. Stay focused on your studies, but don’t forget to get out into the world and have fun while you still have the free time.”

As for the future, after college, Ortega hopes to pursue a career as an astrophysicist and work as a researcher.

Class of 2025 Salutatorian: Jemell Acosta

Jemell Acosta, Peekskill High School’s Class of 2025 Salutatorian, is heading to Wesleyan University in Connecticut this fall on a full scholarship through the QuestBridge National College Match program. She plans to double major in Chemistry and Molecular Biology with the goal of becoming a cosmetic chemist. Her dream is to work for a health-conscious makeup company that avoids harmful chemicals often found in commercial beauty products. 

“I want to work with a makeup company that kind of fits with my morals,” Acosta said. “A lot of big-name brands are not using the most high quality ingredients for the products we put on our faces. This can lead to long-term effects.”

Her love for chemistry began during high school, thanks in large part to retired teacher, Michelle McCaffrey. “Normally, when I tell people that I’m going to major in chemistry – they look at me like I have three heads,” she said. “I really liked the way Mrs. McCaffrey taught. She was a very funny teacher and I kind of fell in love with chemistry through her.”

Acosta, who attended the Peekskill City School District (PCSD) from kindergarten through twelfth grade, has enjoyed a successful academic journey. She maintained high honor roll status every quarter throughout high school and was a part of the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society. 

She credits her academic drive to natural competitive spirit rather than a pursuit of titles. “Being in the top five percent was never something that I aimed towards. It was kind of something that just happened,” she said. “But naturally, I am a very competitive person, so it would be like friendly competition. If I saw someone in my class doing better, I would try to achieve the same level of success. I’ve always just been like that.”

Acosta’s résumé reflects that motivation. During her time at Peekskill, she received the Ronald Reagan Leadership Award, was named an AP Scholar with Distinction, and was a semi-finalist for the Gates scholarship.

One of her latest academic highlights came earlier this year at the 2025 Westchester Engineering and Science Fair (WESEF), where she and her research partner Megan Flores earned a silver medal and a $75 prize. Their project, “Social Media Influencers’ Effect on Middle Schoolers’ Dietary Choices,” surveyed students to determine how they reacted to posts by male and female celebrities promoting both healthy and unhealthy foods.

“We made a Google Form and we chose specific celebrities with an equal number of men and women and then we put healthy foods and unhealthy foods in an Instagram post so they could choose to like, dislike, or keep scrolling or comment,” she explained. “We found that females were more inclined to react positively to both unhealthy and healthy posts from celebrities. We hypothesized that may be due to the media targeting female audiences more than they do male audiences.”

Beyond WESEF, Acosta participated in several internships, including the New York Stem Cell Foundation’s immersive program, where she created a cell culture, learned about induced pluripotent stem cells, and explored gene editing. In summer 2023, she worked with the Teatown Environmental Science Academy (TESA); she presented on pharmaceutical contamination in water systems, after learning the statistical software R. These experiences, she said, solidified her love for lab work and clarified her scientific goals.

At school, Acosta balanced her academic and research interests with extracurricular involvement. She held leadership roles as president of both the Science and Spanish Honor Societies. She served as photographer and sports editor for the Yearbook Club and was a member of the Drama Club. In addition, Acosta was an active member of the Vocal Forte and orchestra. Acosta was also team captain of the varsity cheer team.

For all her accomplishments, Acosta remains grounded and grateful. She says her mother, Gertrudes Hernandez, is her greatest role model and source of strength. “The unwavering support of my mother inspires me to dream high and accomplish my goals,” Acosta said in a Q&A with PCSD. “Her winning war against single parenthood of two children shows her sheer will and determination. Her steady mindset I wish to adopt and the years of experience she holds in her hand I wish to gain. Carmen [Gertrudes] Hernandez is my icon.”

Despite her hard work, Acosta says her salutatorian status came with sacrifices and struggles with comparison culture. “I would go on LinkedIn and see other students starting nonprofits or affording expensive programs, and it gave me impostor syndrome,” she recalled. “Looking back, I would tell myself to stop comparing myself so much. Everyone has their own journey.”

Her advice for younger students: don’t get lost in planning every detail. “Savor every moment that you have, and it’s okay to not have a plan all the time. Life is going to throw obstacles at you anyway, so you kind of have to be flexible and let go of that plan in some cases.”

As the ninth consecutive female salutatorian from Peekskill High School, Acosta says she feels proud to carry on the tradition.“I’m very orgullosa [proud]. It’s nice to see that evolution, especially because if we’re thinking about education from its origin – it was meant to only be for men, so seeing women kind of conquering that idea and just overachieving more than their male peers, is nice to see.”

When asked what she will miss most post graduation, Acosta didn’t hesitate, “I’m going to miss being around my friends especially because we’re all going to different parts of New York and other states.”

In the future, Acosta plans to study abroad during her college years, with Spain, France, and Italy on her list. Her long term goals include earning a Ph.D., working in research for a cosmetic brand, traveling, and buying a home down the road. 

Next month, Acosta will begin her next chapter at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. If her time in Peekskill is any indication, Jemell Acosta is bound to leave her mark far beyond her hometown.