Meet the Henninger High School Class of 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian!

We are so proud of all of our hardworking soon-to-be #SCSDGraduates in the SCSD Class of 2024! Today, meet the top performing students at Henninger High School - Valedictorian David Nguyen and Salutatorian Cassandra Brinley. Stay tuned this week as we feature the top performers from each SCSD high school!

Henninger Valedictorian – David Nguyen 

What are your plans after graduation (what college, what interest in terms of major)? I will be attending Northeastern University, where I plan to major in Health Science on a pre-med track. I have been accepted into the Global Scholars program, which will offer me the opportunity to spend my first year in California and the following in Boston, exploring different healthcare environments. I plan to bring that knowledge back here to Syracuse one day.
 
What activities have you been involved in outside of class/outside of school? DECA (President), HOSA (President and Founder), Mind to Heart (Vice President), National Honor Society, Drama Club, International Club (Vice President), Upstate Hospital volunteer, Syracuse University Barnes Health Center intern, Upstate JIHC, Upstate MEDS, martial arts, Science Olympiad, STEP, blood drive, phlebotomy training, Salvation Army Senior Center volunteer, Students Inside Albany Conference - Syracuse representative.
 
What has been the best part of your high school career and why? The best part of my high school career was getting to explore my passions and interests through the various clubs and programs, fostering myself and others. I was able to make lifetime friends and gain valuable skills along the way!
 
What was your proudest moment in high school? My proudest moment was being announced as Valedictorian. It showed that all my hard work paid off. It means a lot because my family didn’t have the same privileges for pursuing a high school education and beyond.
 
What are you most looking forward to about college? I am most looking forward to meeting new people, joining various clubs, and exploring both Cali and Boston; as well as expanding my perspectives, taste palates, and interests!
 
What’s the best thing you’ve learned over the course of your time in the SCSD? The best thing I've learned over the course of my time in SCSD is that you are the only you, and that is your power. While our circumstances may not always serve as the strongest foundation, I believe it is our efforts and commitment to dreaming that takes us far. Seeing people from all sorts of backgrounds navigate their journey and accomplish their goals is inspiring. Your future is what you make of it, and I hope to lead by example.
 
What advice would you give to other students as they continue their studies here? I recommend you explore the different clubs and resources, and find your interests and passions. These precious years will fly by, so you should have fun with it in a close-knit community. While remaining true to yourself, don’t be afraid to fail… be afraid of not trying!
 
What is something major you hope to achieve in life? I want to help bridge the gap in healthcare in underserved communities, creating opportunities for dialogue and education on health topics.

Henninger Salutatorian – Cassandra Brinley 

What are your plans after graduation (what college, what interest in terms of major)? I plan to continue on in the P-TECH health Professions program at Onondaga Community College.
 
What activities have you been involved in outside of class/outside of school? I’ve participated in HOSA and the MEDS program through Upstate.
 
What has been the best part of your high school career and why? The best part of high school was when we had parties in our Health Professions program! We’d dance and laugh – it was so fun to bond with our teachers and our classmates in the program.  
 
What was your proudest moment in high school? My proudest moment was somehow being named Salutatorian, despite the fact that I procrastinated so much and that I don’t want to give a speech at graduation!
 
What are you most looking forward to about college? I’m looking forward to not having to deal with the school misspelling my name!
 
What’s the best thing you’ve learned over the course of your time in the SCSD? I’ve learned how to start an essay without restating a question, and how to write a strong essay. These are skills that could be helpful in my life.
 
What advice would you give to other students as they continue their studies here? Don’t procrastinate! It worked for me, but I know many people that it didn’t work for. Things can build up quickly. I suggest figuring our time management and learning to plan ahead.
 
What is something major you hope to achieve in life? I hope to be happy in my personal life, have career stability, and find a strong work-life balance.