Top Mustangs

opportunities, he’s interested in becoming a business analyst or a software engineer.

Bordamonte got his work ethic from his family. He grew up in a single-parent household with his mother, Athena Aquino, and his sister, Taylor Bordamonte.

“[My mom’s] endless support for me throughout my whole life has meant everything to me,” said Bordamonte. “My sister is also my role model. I aspire to be as smart as her someday and to have her diligence.”

These role models helped Bordamonte keep his grades up, even during COVID-19 isolation. He overcame the challenge of remote learning by staying in contact with close friends and spending more time with his family.

Outside of his academics and athletics, Bordamonte has worked at his uncle’s gelato shop in Bloomfield since the end of his sophomore year. He has also served as the Class of ’23 Student Council vice president since his freshman year.

What he’ll miss most about CHS is seeing all of his friends every day in class while learning and eating the school’s meatball subs. He won’t miss walking through the halls and getting stuck in the crowds inside of all the school’s intersections.

“Make the most of all the time that you have left here,” Bordamonte advised the Class of 2024. “Spend time with your friends, study hard, and learn new skills because soon enough you will be graduating.”

Mark Leszczynski’s ninth place ranking has not gone to his head. The Top 10 Mustang said that there’s no solitary unsung hero from his graduating class. “I think that everybody deserves attention from the school,” said Leszczynski, 17. “Everyone works together to form the identity of our class, while each of us are unique in our own ways.” Leszczynski is proud of ranking in the Top 10, but his greatest achievement in the past 12 years is his friends and all of the memories. “It might sound cheesy, but I know that I can always look back on my experiences in school and be satisfied with the things that I’ve done,” said Leszczynski.

After Admitted Students Day, Leszczynski knew his higher education pursuits would take him to Steven’s Institute of Technology in Hoboken. He wants to study medicine and become a doctor. The decision to attend Steven’s was supported and recommended to him by his family.

One family member who influences him is his mother, Eliza. “My mom has always been there to help and support me throughout my time in school,” he said. “She teaches math, so she was always there to help with homework. She also checks on my grades often, so I made sure to keep them up.”