Student Accomplishments Ethan Ko, Kindergarten, Chess
In March, Ethan Ko participated in an Inter-School Exchange chess tournament hosted by GVS and open to all students of neighboring private schools. Sixty students participated in three divisions: 1st & 2nd Grade, 3rd & 4th Grade, and 5th-8th Grades, using the Swiss pairing system. (Often there is a Kindergarten division but this event only had one K participant: Ethan Ko.) In the words of the seasoned event chair announcing the results: “We have a very unusual situation — the only time I think this has ever happened — where a kindergarten player won all five games for a perfect score of 5-0...in the 1st and 2nd Grade division! Ethan Ko.”
Ashani Ahuja, 5th, Golf Ashani started playing golf at five years old, and started competing at eight. She now practices and trains year-round. She represented New York State in the World Championships last summer in Pinehurst, North Carolina and secured a spot in the top 75. Ashani says chipping is the best part of her game; accordingly, her favorite club is the 56º wedge. She was one of 12 girls from nine neighboring states to qualify for the 2019 Regional Drive Chip & Putt Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club. Her lowest tournament score is 78 for 18 holes, and 35 for 9 holes. Her favorite tour pro? Brooks Koepka. Best advice ever? “Nothing worth having comes easily.”
Evan Kim, 4th | Maya Serrano, 5th, 1st Place, Battle of the Bands Two of the four members of local rock band “Blue Tomorrow” are Green Vale students. Through Bach2Rock in Port Washington, Evan Kim, electric guitar, and Maya Serrano, lead vocals, spent most of a year rehearsing under Grammy-winning drummer Rich Kulsar. At a “Battle of the Bands” event held at renowned music venue City Winery in New York City last spring, Blue Tomorrow won first place in the elementary school division. Evan practices guitar every day; his favorite band is Green Day. Maya is now writing her own songs.
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