Fairport High School Principal Robert Clark is pleased to announce Benjamin Caplan as the valedictorian and Alicia Loui as the salutatorian of the Class of 2019. Each will speak at the Class of 2019 Commencement Ceremony on June 27, 2019 at 7 p.m. at the Blue Cross Arena.

Benjamin Caplan

Caplan, the son of Craig and Julie Caplan, earned top honors to become the valedictorian. He attended Dudley, Northside, Johanna Perrin and Minerva Deland before Fairport High School.

Caplan maintained a rigorous course schedule all four years by taking 14 Honors classes, nine Advanced Placement classes, one Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) class and Calculus III through the University of Maryland during his senior year. Caplan is the president of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society and a member of the Fairport High School Math Team, Toastmasters Club and Computer Science Club. He participated in the RIT Programming Contest in March 2018 when his team finished in fourth place.

Caplan earned a perfect score on the ACT examination. He is a 2019 National Merit Scholarship finalist and was selected to apply to the 2019 United States Presidential Scholars Program. He received the Golden Pen Award for outstanding achievement in academic and creative writing as a freshman and a American Chemical Society Award as a sophomore.

Caplan participated on the school’s indoor and outdoor track teams and cross country team throughout high school and served as cross country team captain senior year. He has earned scholar-athlete awards for his success in cross country.

Caplan has volunteered at several school activities, including Dollars for Scholars fundraising activities and Northside’s annual Family STEM Night. His volunteer service also includes helping at the Heather Frazer Boyum Iron Angel 5K Race, St. John’s of Rochester garage sale and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Upstate New York Chapter fundraising walk. Caplan’s hobbies include reading, listening to music, cooking, playing ukulele, and spending time with friends, family, and his dog.

This fall, Caplan plans to study engineering at Cornell University.

Caplan, in explaining his success, said, “The teachers have really influenced me and allowed me to grow as an individual while reinforcing positive values to become a better student, leader and individual.”  

Alicia Loui

Loui, the daughter of Alex and Jessie Loui, is the salutatorian. She attended Jefferson Avenue, Martha Brown and Minerva Deland before Fairport High School.

Loui’s rigorous course schedule included 13 Honors classes, five Advanced Placement classes and one SUPA class. She serves as a student ambassador her junior and senior years and is the captain of Math Team. Loui has received several awards including the American Chemical Society Award, Hochstein Merit Scholarship Award, Notre Dame Junior of the Year Award Nominee and two-time National French Exam Medalist.

Loui is an integral part of Fairport athletics. She began cross country in seventh grade and continued throughout high school. She competed in several sectionals and regionals, earned scholar-athlete awards and was team captain her senior year. Loui was also a member of the outdoor track team and Nordic skiing team.

Loui started her music career playing the cello at the mere age of 4 and her experiences have instilled in her a love of classical music. As one of Fairport High School’s talented student musicians, Loui plays in the high school’s orchestra, and has been in a couple chamber groups for the annual Prisms concert and Cellobration. Also, with Fairport’s participation in Solo Festival auditions, she was able to participate in all county and all state. Loui is currently in the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Area All-State Orchestra and Conference All-State Orchestra. Loui previously participated in the All-County Orchestra, Eastman School of Music Quartets and Hochstein Scholarship Music Trio.

Loui has enjoyed volunteering at Rochester General Hospital, Flower City Work Camp, Stop the Stigma Concert and the Rochester Museum and Science Center Curiosity Camp. She has worked throughout high school as a Sunday School lead teacher for the Rochester Chinese Christian Church. Her hobbies include reading, art, calligraphy, sports, traveling and photography.

This fall, Loui will attend the University of Pittsburgh where she plans to major in biology on a pre-med track.

“Attending Fairport schools has inspired me ever since I first stepped foot in Jefferson Avenue,” said Loui. “The influence and support from the Fairport family, whether it be my teachers, coaches, or friends, has enabled me to be a leader by using my talents to give back to the Fairport community I am proud to call home.”

Congratulations to Alicia and Ben!