Beatrice Macdonald and Alan Raitt were named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the Class of 2026, the high school announced.
“My colleagues and I are proud of Beatrice and Alan and all they have achieved, both in and out of the classroom,” said Edwin Davenport, high school principal. “We wish them every success in what comes next and hope they always feel connected to Rhinebeck High School.”
Macdonald and Raitt were part of the start and growth of the high school robotics club. Macdonald was one of the founders of the robotics club with Kaia Rouse, Ellie Firestone and Zsuzsanna Moore. The seniors started the club as sophomores.
“That’s been our passion project,” said Macdonald. “It’s been really amazing. We started the club, did the proposal for all of it and have now been able to host events. We’ve gotten some generous grants from the Rhinebeck Science Foundation that have helped us to do that. It’ll be a little sad to say goodbye to that.”
Raitt benefitted from the initiative of his classmates, joining the club when it started.
“I did have an interest already,” he said. “I had done several summer programs revolving around robotics. I do think the club greatly contributed to my interest in robotics.”
Raitt will soon leave the region to attend the University of Southern California to pursue a career in robotics.
“I’m looking forward to that; I’m also going to be sad to leave everybody,” he said. “I think I’ve always loved making things. I think robotics combines the virtual aspect of programming, figuring out procedures and also designing something. That whole process is really rewarding.”
Raitt is the son of Alexander Raitt and Mia Cha, and has a younger sister, Anna. Raitt has played the violin in the high school band, and is a member of the science club, crew program and National Honor Society.
His advice to everyone is to “stay curious.”
“For every really difficult thing you do, there might be something on the other side,” he said. “In school, you’re learning and part of that learning is always to build an understanding of things. You should always remain inquisitive, even if the subject might be boring or you might think it’s not your thing.”
Macdonald is the daughter of Peter and Trisha Macdonald, and has a younger brother, Oliver. Macdonald entered Bulkeley Middle School after moving with her family to Rhinebeck from New York City.
MacDonald is the president of the science club, vice president of the National Honor Society and treasurer of the senior class. She is a member of the French club and school newspaper.
Macdonald will attend the University of Chicago where she’ll major in biochemistry and romance languages. She’ll continue toward a Ph.D. in biochemistry and hopes to one day be a professor doing long-term scientific research.
“I hope I’m remembered at Rhinebeck as a positive contributor to the classroom,” she said. “I think there is more to doing well in school than just getting good grades. I hope what I’ve brought to the classroom has made it more interesting and more collaborative in our discussion-based classes.”