On Saturday, June 25, the Mineola High School Class of 2005 graduated at a ceremony at the Tilles Center. Here is a look at the top five students in the Class of 2005:

Valedictorian Amelia Hill has proven her penchant for academics with her 97.9 grade point average, but she also has the soul of a poet. Editor of both Question Mark, the school newspaper, and Kaleidoscope, the school literary magazine, Amelia hopes to one day "fulfill my dream of writing, and of publishing at least one novel."

Her gifts aren't limited to the written word. The young songbird is also a member of the vocal jazz ensemble, the a cappella ensemble and the chamber orchestra-all of which earned her the Outstanding Musician Award. Not surprisingly, when she's not in school Amelia enjoys reading, writing and music-both vocal and instrumental.

The well-rounded top scholar has earned a number of awards for her many talents, including the Math Award from the American Association of University Women, the Edith Eckstein Academic Excellence Award from the Mineola Teachers Association, the Foreign Language Certificate of Outstanding Effort in Italian, and the President's Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence. With all of these achievements, Amelia feels that her greatest accomplishment was "finishing a story after nearly a yearlong period of writer's block."

"Don't worry about what you're going to be when you grow up," Amelia advises younger students, "because sooner or later you'll figure it out." For inspiration, the Valedictorian looks to her close friend Keni. "She's very creative and individualistic," Amelia says. "She doesn't base what she does or how she looks on what society tells her. She really inspired me to be myself."

Come next fall, the National Honor Society member will be studying creative writing at Colgate University. Her parting advice: "Anything in life that that doesn't require hard work is probably not worth doing. If you really want something, you should work hard to achieve it."

Salutatorian Madeline Leno can best be described as a humanitarian. Vice president of the Student Service Center, the number two student has devoted her time to a number of worthy causes, including soup kitchens, peer tutoring and nursing home visits. As a member of Increase the Peace, she has also worked with the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Last summer, Madeline devoted her time to the Jackson Avenue ESL Summer Program, helping teachers. Somehow, she also found time to earn a 97.8 grade point average. Her uncanny ability to balance a full course load with countless hours of community service earned her the County Executive Community Service & Academic Excellence Award, the President's Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, and Service Awards from both Key Club and the high school.

Madeline has served as both president and vice president of Key Club, is a member of the Honor Society, and spent her sophomore year as a volunteer in the Mineola Junior Fire Department. The second place scholar is also a dynamic musician. She joined the championship Mustangs Marching Band as a freshman, where she played clarinet for two years before switching to the trumpet in 11th grade. She also plays guitar in jazz band and pit orchestra.

Madeline says her greatest accomplishment is her work with the IRC. "I learned a lot from that," she reflects. "I want to volunteer with the IRC for the rest of my life." For inspiration, she looks to her mother. "She's really understanding of others, and she's always been there for me," Madeline says. "I hope I can help other people the way she has." Her advice to younger students is simple: "Get involved."

The Salutatorian will attend Queens College next year where she will study education in the hopes of becoming a high school English teacher, a career goal she realized while volunteering as a tutor. "It made me realize how much I like helping people," she says.

The Class of 2005's number three scholar Emily Harrison is the epitome of a well balanced student. While her devotion to academics is evident in her 97.2 grade point average, Emily is equally invested in the arts and athletics. As second basewoman for Girls Varsity Softball, she helped her team to make it to the All Conference finals. Though her performance on the field is top-notch, winning her the Coach's Award, Emily didn't sacrifice her studies for sports. Instead she doubled her efforts, earning her the U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar-Athlete Award and the Senior Scholar-Athlete Award.

An accomplished percussionist, Emily keeps the beat for the Jazz Band and the Mustangs Marching Band, and earned an award for Outstanding Performance from the New York State School Music Association and the Senior Marching Band Award.

When she's not making plays or playing a funky beat, the number three scholar gives back to her school and community. Vice president of Key Club, Emily has also devoted her time to the Student Service Center and Increase the Peace, earning her the Key Club and MHS Service Awards.

The third ranked scholar-athlete will attend the honors college in education at Adelphi University next fall, where she will prepare for her future "teaching science or math at the high school level." Emily says what she will remember most about MHS are the teachers, especially her math teacher Mrs. Grassie, "because her energy and upbeat attitude made her class fun. That's the kind of teacher I want to be." Her advice for younger classmates is simple: "Do what you love."

Fourth ranked scholar Tom Owens is a consummate "jock" who performs as admirably in the classroom as he does on the playing field, earning him a 94.9 grade point average, as well as the President's Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence. He has put in impressive performances on the Varsity Baseball, Varsity Basketball and Varsity Football teams, meriting him Athlete of the Year status. Tom's ability to balance his impressive sports career with his studies earned him the News 12 Scholar-Athlete Award and the U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar-Athlete Award.

A junior inductee to the National Honor Society, Tom devotes his time off the field and outside of the classroom to humanitarian efforts, including the Student Service Center, Key Club fundraisers and, particularly dear to his heart, Athletes Helping Athletes.

"Get involved in different things," the scholar-athlete advises his younger peers. "Stay busy in school," he says, "but take the time to meet people." Tom, who takes his inspiration from his mom, says that it is the people he has met that have been the high point of his MHS experience. "I will always remember my time with my friends," he reflects, "and how much fun I had on the sports teams."

Tom's drive has earned him the respect of his classmates, who voted him not only "Best Athlete," but also "Most Likely to Succeed," a distinction he intends to live up to. The number four student will study finance at the University of Notre Dame next year, paving the way for a successful business career.

Peter Stellato earned fifth place in his class through a lot of hard work. A latecomer to MHS, he had to put in extra effort to earn his 94.7 grade point average-effort that also earned him the President's Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence, the Global History Award and the distinction of Advanced Placement Scholar. While good grades are important, Peter also knows that academics aren't everything. He devoted his time outside of the classroom to expanding his mind as an active member of Brainstormers and the Literary Society. A humanitarian at heart, he made time to give back to the global community as a member of Increase the Peace and earned the Derounian Goodwill Memorial Award.

"Work hard," the number five student advises. "Get involved and talk to your teachers in and out of the classroom. You can learn a lot from them, not only in academics but in life."

"I had a great time here," Peter says of his MHS experience, adding his wish for the school's future: "I just hope it keeps turning out smart, successful graduates." As for his own future, the fifth-ranked scholar will take his cue from his mother, "who had the work ethic that I'm still trying to develop." With that in mind, Peter will head to the Stevens Institute of Technology next fall, where he will study engineering, to prepare for an eventual career "researching and developing alternate sources of energy."