FALLS VILLAGE — Housatonic Valley Regional High School has announced the valedictorian and salutatorian for the graduating class of 2023. Out of 79 students set to graduate in June, Sylvie Stiffler finished top of the class with a weighted GPA of 4.54 and Melody Matsudaira was right behind her with a weighted GPA of 4.497.
Stiffler, from Sharon, is headed to Colorado College next year to study environmental science. Stiffler said she is looking forward to being in Colorado, which she loves, and “getting to go into such an immersive environment where I can really focus on what I want to do.”
When asked about her most memorable moment at Housatonic, Stiffler said, “maybe the first day back with all my friends after quarantine. Obviously we were hybrid for a little bit but the first day that everyone got to come back and we all got to be around each other, I think maybe that because it had been so long.”
Matsudaira, from Cornwall, was deferred from Harvard but is expecting a final decision soon. “If it’s not meant to be, I’m totally happy going to Davidson (College),” she said.
Matsudaira plans to major in biology with the goal of becoming a pediatric oncologist. She said her experience as captain of the soccer team last season provided her most memorable moment at HVRHS.
“This was kind of something that was set in my heart. You know how the teams huddle up before each game? I wanted to start a tradition of saying a prayer before each game. Not to win the game, but just to bring the team together,” said Matsudaira. “Sharing something that I love so much with these girls was very meaningful to me and it’s something that I’ll always remember.”
