Kingston High’s top two students off to MIT, Cornell
KINGSTON, N.Y. » Jason Chen is the valedictorian for the Kingston High School Class of 2021, and Andrew Hill is its salutatorian.
Chen earned a high school grade average of 104.95, according to the Kingston school district, while Hill’s average was 103.17.
Chen attended Harry L. Edson Elementary School and J. Watson Bailey Middle School before entering KHS, the district said. After graduation, he plans to attend MIT to study physics and electrical engineering on a full-tuition scholarship. Chen was also accepted at Cal Tech and Yale, according to the district.
As a high school student, Chen has been a member of the Tiger Marching Band, the wind ensemble and jazz band, the Science Olympiad team, the Academic WorldQuest team, the robotics team, and the math and mock trial teams, the district said. During his senior year, Chen took a Stanford University online class on multivariable calculus, as well as Advanced Placement courses.
He has also worked throughout high school, having both a part-time job at Wiltwyck Country Club and full time at his family’s laundromat in the summers.
Hill attended Zena Elementary School and M. Clifford Miller Middle School before his high school years, the district said. This fall, he will attend Cornell University,
where he will major in biological sciences to focus on his two passions: the environment and recreational fishing.
Hill has been a member of the high school’s cross-country and indoor and outdoor track teams. He also has been also on the math team and in the Spanish Honor Society, and he is the Class of 2021 treasurer.
Hill took many college-credit courses, including Advanced Placement classes in calculus and literature, the district.
Outside of school, Hill volunteers at a local food pantry and with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.