Housatonic names Matsudaira valedictorian, Marks salutatorian

Manny Matsudaira, left, and Tess Marks of HVRHS earned valedictorian and salutatorian in 2025.

Patrick L. Sulllivan

Housatonic names Matsudaira valedictorian, Marks salutatorian

FALLS VILLAGE — Manasseh “Manny” Matsudaira of Cornwall is the valedictorian of the Housatonic Valley Regional High School Class of 2025.

He has five siblings, and his mother Rachel works at HVRHS.

Matsudaira will attend Harvard in the fall. He plans to study economics along with environmental science and public policy.

He said the idea for the combination of disciplines came from his experience with the Envirothon and his interest in conservation, the social sciences and economics.

“The economy and environmentalism sometimes clash,“ he said. “I want to find a way to help them align.”

Matsudaira has been active in sports, He is captain of the tennis, ski and soccer teams.

On his experience at HVRHS: “It’s very welcoming. It’s an accurate slice of the real world, and what you can expect in the future.”

Matsudaira is also one of 621 semifinalists in the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The semifinalists were selected from over 6,000 candidates expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2025.

Matsudaira said the letter he received said the finalists would be announced “in the next few months.”

Asked about what he does for fun, he rattled off extracurricular activities at school: Envirothon, Academic Bowl, band (he plays the euphonium, and the Night Choir.

He plays club soccer too.

And this:

“I love to cook.”

He explained that his mother is of Italian descent and his late father was Japanese.

So he is working on a fusion of the two.

“I try” he said modestly. “It’s a difficult thing.”

Matsudaira credits his family’s support for his success. “I have good role models.”

And he gives credit to his faith: “God is an important part of my life.”

Salutatorian

Tess Marks of Salisbury is the salutatorian of the Housatonic Valley Regional High School Class of 2025.

Marks will attend Tufts University in the fall. She plans to study theater and education.

Her parents are Kristen Neary and Keith Marks, and she has an older sister, Josie.

About the former discipline, Marks said she was introduced to theater at an early age, when Michael Baldwin, a family friend, organized acting improvisation activities at family gatherings. “That sparked it.”

She’s been involved in theater since the third grade, she added.

As for wanting to be an educator, she cited her mother, aunt and grandmother’s careers.

“I see a lot of value in education. I’ve gotten a lot out of it, and I want to give back.”

Marks is busy at HVRHS, as class president, with the Student Government Association, and club soccer. She played soccer and lacrosse in previous years.

She recently cohosted the Battle of the Bands with Andy Delgado. Those two also revived a tradition of a completely student-run theater production, “The Unwritten Show.”

Asked what she does in her spare time, assuming she has any, Marks said she has a big family and she likes to spend time with them.

She is also a self-admitted bookworm. Her favorite book? “The Door” by Magda Szabo.

Asked about her experience at HVRHS, she said “There are so many opportunities here. And I think the community is so supportive. I’ve gone with the Travel Club to the Galapagos Islands and I’m going to Thailand. We couldn’t do that without the community.”

Latest News

Housatonic lax wins 18-6 versus Lakeview
Chloe Hill, left, scored once in the game against Lakeview High School Tuesday, May 7.
Photo by Riley Klein

FALLS VILLAGE — Housatonic Valley Regional High School girls lacrosse kept rolling Tuesday, May 6, with a decisive 18-6 win over Lakeview High School.

Eight different players scored for Housatonic in the Northwest Corner rivalry matchup. Sophomore Georgie Clayton led the team with five goals.

Keep ReadingShow less
Troutbeck Symposium 2025: the latest chapter in continuing a vital legacy

Participating students and teachers gathered for the traditional photo at the 2025 Troutbeck Symposium on Thursday, May 1.

Leila Hawken

Students and educators from throughout the region converged at Troutbeck in Amenia for a three-day conference to present historical research projects undertaken collaboratively by students with a common focus on original research into their chosen topics. Area independent schools and public schools participated in the conference that extended from Wednesday, April 30 to Friday, May 2.

The symposium continues the Troutbeck legacy as a decades-old gathering place for pioneers in social justice and reform. Today it is a destination luxury country inn, but Troutbeck remains conscious of its significant place in history.

Keep ReadingShow less
Roaring Oaks Florist launches self-serve flower market

Terence S. Miller, owner of Roaring Oaks Florist in the new self-serve area of the shop.

Natalia Zukerman

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Roaring Oaks Florist in Lakeville has launched a new self-serve flower station next to its Main Street shop, offering high-quality, grab-and-go bouquets from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week — including Sundays when the main store is closed.

Owner Terence S. Miller, who bought the shop 24 years ago at just 20 years old, calls the new feature “a modern twist on an old-school honor system,” with some high-tech updates.

Keep ReadingShow less