As the Peekskill High School Class of 2026 prepares to cross the stage at the Westchester County Center in White Plains on Friday, June 26, two students stand at the head of their class — not only because of their scholastic achievements but because of the journeys that brought them there.

For valedictorian Lenita Esteves and salutatorian Josh Molina, graduation marks the culmination of years of perseverance, service and dedication to their school and community.

Following a family legacy

For Lenita Esteves, academic excellence has become something of a family tradition.

The senior has spent all 14 years of her education in the Peekskill City School District, growing up alongside her two older sisters, who made district history in 2023 when one graduated as valedictorian and the other as salutatorian. Now, Esteves has added her own chapter to the family story.

“It’s been a lot of work,” Esteves noted, “but I’m very happy I was able to get to the same level as them.”

Yet she insists the motivation was never about competing for a title. “I wasn’t really too focused about having perfect grades or being at the number one spot,” she said. “But I’ve always been diligent about being able to get my work done and being completely immersed in my academics.”

Her work ethic, she says, comes directly from her parents, immigrants from Goa, India, who built a life for their family in the United States. 

“They’re some of the most hardworking people I’ve ever met,” Esteves said.

Throughout high school, Esteves balanced a demanding academic schedule with an impressive list of extracurricular commitments. She served as Student Council president, represented the Class of 2026, performed with Vocal Forte and City Singers, played in the String Orchestra, and held leadership roles within the Peekskill Drama Company.

Whether she was managing backstage operations for a fall play or performing onstage in a spring musical, she embraced every opportunity.

“I love the performing arts,” she said. “It’s taught me confidence and helped me learn how to present myself not only on stage but in other leadership roles.”

One of her favorite productions was “Once on This Island,” which she performed this spring. “The music was beautiful,” she said. “It really connected with me.”

Discovering a passion for mathematics

Despite her many accomplishments, deciding on a future career path was not always easy.

Like many high-achieving students, Esteves explored numerous interests before realizing that mathematics was the common thread connecting many of her strengths.

While preparing college applications, she began noticing a pattern. “A lot of the classes and activities I excelled in related to mathematics,” she said. “It challenged me to think outside the box, and I realized it was something I wanted to pursue.”

This fall, she will attend Princeton University, where she will major in mathematics.

More recently, an internship through the district’s WISE program helped her discover another potential calling: teaching.

Working alongside middle school math teacher Amelia Silverman, Esteves spent several months helping students learn new concepts and gain confidence in the classroom.

“It gave me this amazing connection with students,” she said. “I realized I have a passion for teaching.”

Although she has not fully decided what career she will pursue, becoming a mathematics educator is now among her strongest possibilities.

A student who never stopped showing up

Josh Molina’s path to salutatorian looked different, but it was driven by many of the same values.

Molina has spent his entire life in Peekskill and credits persistence, family support and mentorship for helping him achieve one of the highest academic honors in his graduating class.

When he learned he had earned the title of salutatorian, he was thrilled.

“I was extremely happy,” he said. “I had been working hard with my counselor to boost my GPA… taking college courses and going after school to review my work with teachers. To my surprise, my hard work had paid off.”

Molina’s achievement is particularly noteworthy because he is the first male student to finish among the top two graduates of Peekskill High School since 2016. For much of the past decade, female students have earned the school’s highest academic honors, making Molina’s accomplishment a break from that longstanding trend.

Throughout high school, Molina balanced academics with a lengthy range of responsibilities. He performed in orchestra, volunteered with theater productions, served as vice president of the Class of 2026, participated in fundraising efforts, and worked part-time at the Bear Mountain Inn.

Among those experiences, the Peekskill Drama Company left the greatest impression.

“Working backstage and having to move sets around during musicals, I learned to always take initiative and do what is necessary without being told.”

Those lessons carried over into his job and everyday life, helping him develop confidence and leadership skills that extended far beyond the theater.

Inspired by family and determined to build a future

Like Esteves, Molina draws much of his inspiration from his family. His mother, who immigrated from Ecuador, remains his greatest role model.

“She has faced countless problems and obstacles and has managed to overcome every one,” Molina said in a Q&A with the Peekskill City School District. Hearing about her struggles, he says, motivated him to work hard and strive for a better future.

As a first-generation college student, Molina admits the college process often felt intimidating. But support systems made all the difference.

Through Latino U College Access (LUCA), mentors helped him navigate applications, essays and deadlines. As a result, he earned one of the nation’s most prestigious college opportunities: recognition as a QuestBridge National College Match Scholar.

This fall, Molina will attend Boston University on a full four-year scholarship, where he plans to major in mechanical engineering.

His fascination with engineering began with cars. A family friend who regularly repaired his mother’s Subaru sparked his curiosity about how machines work.

“I admired the way that he was able to find issues in the car and quickly repair them,” Molina said. “I wanted to have a similar skill.”

Today, Molina dreams of working in the automotive industry and hopes one day to contribute to the design of advanced vehicles, perhaps even Formula racing cars.

Looking ahead while giving back

Though their futures are taking them in different directions, both students share a deep appreciation for the community that helped shape them.

For Esteves, Peekskill’s diversity and strong relationships with teachers and classmates are what she will miss most.

“It taught me to consider different perspectives,” she said. “I’m very grateful to have grown up here.”

Molina echoes that sentiment and hopes younger students recognize that success rarely comes easily.

“My biggest piece of advice that I could give from experience would be to never give up,” he said. “There have been numerous times throughout my high school journey where I have had to face family loss while also balancing schoolwork and a job. Although something seems like a lot, sometimes taking a step back is what’s needed to keep moving forward.”

As graduation day approaches, both students leave behind impressive resumes and lasting memories. But perhaps more importantly, they leave examples of what can happen when talent is matched with perseverance, community involvement and a willingness to embrace opportunity.

On June 26, when the Class of 2026 celebrates its final moments together, Lenita Esteves and Josh Molina will stand at the front of the procession — not simply as valedictorian and salutatorian but as representatives of a class whose future is just beginning.