The Rocky Point School District congratulates Rocky Point High School’s Matteo Gravinese as its Class of 2025 valedictorian and Zen Pinkenburg as its salutatorian.

Matteo Gravinese expressed pride in his four years of hard work and the many opportunities he was provided to academically challenge himself at Rocky Point High School.

Matteo is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as the English, History, Math and Science honor societies. He is president of the Math Team and a member of the Fishing Club. Matteo is the recipient of the 2024 Cross-Country Coaches award and the Unsung Hero of the winter track team. He earned All-League and Academic All-County honors in cross-country, served as captain of the high school’s cross-country, winter and spring track teams. He is also vice president of the jazz band and percussion section leader for the marching band and performs on piano for the high school’s chorus concerts. 

Matteo has further challenged himself by successfully taking 13 Advanced Placement courses and 11 Honors classes, earning the honor of AP Scholar with Distinction. He earned a perfect score of 36 on the ACT (an accomplishment that one-quarter of 1% of test takers earn). Matteo took Calculus III and Linear Algebra, two college-level courses, on his own. He also advanced to the Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Locally, he was selected as the recipient of the 2025 Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship, was named as the 6th District nominee for the Suffolk County Youth Award and has logged over 2,000 hours of volunteer service with the North Shore Youth Council. Matteo’s commitment to academics is unquestioned, as he has earned a weighted average of over 107.19. 

This amazing young man plans on a dual major of mechanical engineering and mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University.

Zen Pinkenburg noted that it is an honor to be recognized for his work throughout high school and that he hopes it is a step to greater achievements in his life.

During Zen’s high school career he has successfully taken 13 AP courses and 10 Honors classes, served as treasurer of the National Honor Society, secretary of the Senior Class, president of the Math Team, co-president of the Science Club, treasurer of the Technology and Maker’s Space clubs, as well as an active member of the Math and English honor societies, the Big Buddy-Little Buddy Program, the Ornithology Club, Chess Club and initial volunteer and co-founder of the proposed Cricket Club.

Zen has earned the honor of Commended Student in the National Merit Scholar Program, an AP Scholar with Distinction honor, a designation of excellence on the National Council of Teachers of English achievement awards for writing and honorable mention in the Poetry category in the high school’s Mark Twain Literary and Art Contest. Zen advanced to round two of the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair this year and was a participant in the prestigious Brookhaven National Laboratory High School Research program in his sophomore and junior years.

Zen is captain of a community-based robotics team, enjoys attending multiple maker fairs and STEM expositions and regularly donates blood. He does this all while maintaining a weighted average of 106.17.

Zen plans to join the freshman class at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to major in mechanical/aerospace engineering.