Oceanside valedictorian and salutatorian care about their community

Oceanside High School Valedictorian Lindsay Chetkof and Salutatorian Michael Caine have a lot in common — but not their approach to being at the top of their class.

Chetkof always pushed herself to get there. Caine, in contrast, wanted to relax after the toll the coronavirus pandemic’s toll on his freshman year.

They are similar, though, in the respect that both took at least six Advanced Placement classes, and supplemented their exceptional academics by taking part in extracurricular activities.

Lindsay Chetkof

“I was speechless. There was nothing left to say. It was just, like, it felt so incredible to kind of see that all come to fruition,” Chetkof said of her happy disbelief when she was told by high school Principal Brendan Mitchell that she was the valedictorian.

She is heading to Duke University in the fall to study mechanical engineering, and Chetkof said that OHS’s technology programs helped nurture her love of engineering and physics.

“Something I always wanted was a blend between engineering and the humanities,” Chetkof said. “I saw that engineering could really play a role in influencing the entire world on every front, and I think having both those angles from it is going to really allow me to kind of make that difference.”

Chetkof said her parents encouraged and emphasized the importance of education, but it was her need to be competitive that drove her to become number one.

When she came to high school, she had the option to either take a music, art or engineering class. Having hated playing the violin, she knew that wasn’t an option and instead took advantage of the exemplary technology programs.

In addition to her academics, Chetkof’s involvement in extracurricular activities reflects her commitment to making a difference. She dedicated her time to multiple pursuits, including being a Limb Kind Foundation junior board member, Community Activists Recovering Earth Club president, interning as a research assistant in the Hofstra Summer Science Research Program, and at Operation Splash in Freeport.

Michael Caine

“My ideology was I’m going to work as hard as I get. And if it’s it, it’s it. If not, I worked hard, and it’s going to pay off eventually,” Caine said. “And we’ll see how that goes.”

It clearly paid off. He is headed to Union College/Albany Medical College on an eight-year leadership program in Medicine and Health Management with the goal of becoming a neurosurgeon.

Caine didn’t have the same motivation from his parents as Chetkof, but more of an overall focus on trying his best coupled with his own drive to improve himself while  finding a work/life balance. One piece of advice his mother told him was to “try your hardest,” and if he were to get into an eight-year program, she’d recommend doing it. Which he did.

In third grade, Caine told his mother, who’s an obstetrician and gynecologist that he wanted to be a doctor. “As cliché as it will be (my mother is) a hero, my hero, my idol,” Caine said, “When she’s helping people bringing people into the world, (being) the first people they see, I was fascinated. I wanted to be a doctor and I didn’t know what type until now.”

Caine’s impressive achievements extend beyond academics. As co-president of the National Honor Society and president of Mu Alpha Theta, he exemplifies leadership and dedication. Additionally, he served as the class president, actively participated in the Natural Helpers program, and founded the Let’s All Game Charity, while also enrolled in courses through Columbia University and Stanford University.

Being a positive influence

Both Chetkof and Caine will address their fellow graduates at the OHS graduation ceremony June 23. They share a similar message about influencing the community through kindness, character and lending a helping hand.

Chetkof said she’d like to be remembered not only as valedictorian, but a good person who always included everyone in activities, especially during the annual sports night. “I want to be someone who creates a community that people want to be a part of,” she said, “that people come to, because it’s somewhere that people feel comfortable going to, that they can be themselves and really feel accepted and I hope I did that here.”

Caine shared a similar sentiment, saying he’s always thought, “People don’t really care about how smart, how athletic you are. People want to be around a good person, someone who’s humble by themselves, someone who recognizes what they’re at and seeks to help others. Does not brag, does not hold themselves to a higher standard because we’re all on the same level.”