Ridgefield High School Principal Dr. Jacob Greenwood announced this week that Steven Hergenrother is the RHS Class of 2024 Valedictorian. Ridgefield Public Schools (RPS) sat down with Steven to find out how he balances being an elite runner—State and New England Champion among many other athletic distinctions—with being an elite student, member of the RHS student government, active community volunteer, and a social life.
Question: What does being Valedictorian mean to you?
It means a lot. There are a ton of smart people at RHS. A lot of my academic success has come from relationships I’ve forged with my peers through study sessions at the library or Starbucks. I feel indebted to all the people who have studied with me and challenged me. I will share this with my family too because they have been so integral in promoting curiosity and answering my incessant questions. It’s an individual achievement but it’s a shared achievement too.
What are some of the challenges you faced? Reasons for your success?
Managing running and school was the biggest challenge. Every day there was a priority call…do I put the extra effort into this assignment or do I focus on recovery for the next race? On top of that priority call is how to manage a social life. I've made great friends through study groups and, of course, my team. These have become great ways to enrich my academic, athletic, and social life. The majority of this achievement is because of enjoyment. I credit my teachers and peers with making it fun and interesting.
I liked the STEM—AP Physics 1 + 2, BC Calc but AP Language and Literature tested the way I thought. I remember details from discussions we had and books we read even a year later. AP US History tested my time management and was super enjoyable the whole year. In ninth grade, I took electives like Photography and Baking, which were fun and not much pressure.
What are your post-grad plans?
I am going to Princeton to study physics and run Cross Country and Track. I hope to keep running, whether it’s semi-professionally or not, for as long as I can.
Will you be the next Robert Oppenheimer:)?
I loved the movie. The acting and the music are great but hopefully, I’ll have a different legacy than Oppenheimer.