Malverne UFSD is proud to congratulate the Malverne High School Class of 2025 valedictorian Selin Mutlu and salutatorian Olivia Brown, who were recognized at a breakfast ceremony in their honor on March 10.
Valedictorian Selin Mutlu is an exceptional member of the school community with a passion for leadership, public service and a tireless desire to support children with special needs. Recently, Selin was named a finalist in the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, a recognition that puts her in the top .001% of applicants from across the country. As president of the Model U.N. Club, she was the first Malverne student to win the “Best Delegate” award in a regional competition and is leading the planning and organization committee for Malverne’s first Model U.N. conference which is taking place on April 1. Selin has also taken leadership roles with the Scholars Club, Service Learning Club and Malverne Alumni Education Foundation, where she serves as a student board member. On the field, she is a leader and woodwind captain in “The Pride of Malverne Marching Band,” and serves as Band Council secretary. An accomplished multi- instrumentalist, Selin has been selected for NYSSMA All County multiple times since sixth grade for alto saxophone and violin. Despite a rigorous academic and extracurricular schedule, Selin spends her free time tutoring special needs children and has taken college level courses to provide her with the skills to provide them with the support they need. After graduation, Selin plans to study political science and mathematics.
Throughout her high school career, salutatorian Olivia Brown has achieved academic and artistic excellence and proven herself to be a tireless leader for causes critical to the Malverne community, including racial equity and the environment. Olivia has been named an AP Scholar with Distinction and won the Rensselaer Medal Scholarship for excellence in math and science. She is the founder and president of the Art Club, an award-winning member of the Model U.N. Club, executive board member for the MLK Day of Service and project manager for the Pine Lane Preserve rehabilitation project. Her passion for social justice has made a profound mark on the community and resulted in prestigious award recognitions. Olivia played a significant leadership role in the two-year effort to rename Lindner Place, a street in Malverne named after a KKK leader. She composed a research paper, did media interviews and lobbied town hall, which resulted in the eventually renaming of the street to Acorn Way and Olivia being awarded the Princeton Prize in Race Relations. For her community action, Olivia has also been recognized with the Nassau County Young Leader of the 21st Century award and the Fredrick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award from the University of Rochester. On stage, Olivia has shared her soaring voice as a Soprano Section Leader for the Select Choir and taken a starring role in musicals, including this year’s production of “Anastasia: The Musical.” Olivia’s postsecondary plans include pursuing a degree in architecture.
We are so proud of Selin and Olivia and look forward to celebrating their outstanding accomplishments when they turn their tassels with fellow graduates on June 27.
Time to start preparing those speeches!
