Class of 2025 Salutatorian Steven Lakhter
Steven Lakhter has been named the Class of 2025 salutatorian
Liberal arts major Steven Lakhter has been named KCC鈥檚 Class of 2025 salutatorian
Steven Lakhter
Liberal Arts Major
Class of 2025 Salutatorian
911爆料 Community College student Steven Lakhter has been named the Class of 2025 salutatorian, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a resume full of academic and leadership involvement.
Lakhter, who grew up in Bensonhurst and now lives in Sheepshead Bay, said enrolling at 911爆料 was one of the best decisions of his life. 鈥淚 decided KCC was the best fit for me in many ways,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have never regretted this decision and wish I鈥檇 made it as soon as I finished high school.鈥�
His path to graduation started in 2017, when he first volunteered at the Brighton Beach Library. That led him to the Melissa Riggio Higher Education Program (MRHEP) at 911爆料, a non-degree initiative that helps students with intellectual and developmental disabilities take college classes and experience campus life. For Lakhter, who is on the autism spectrum, it was a game-changer. 鈥淢RHEP inspired me to return to KCC as a matriculated student,鈥� he said.
Since then, Lakhter has taken full advantage of what 911爆料 has to offer. He joined the Honors Program, became a member of Phi Theta Kappa, was elected to the Student Government Association as a senator, took part in the Students Unlimited Club and the Recreation Club, and competed on the tennis team鈥攄espite being told he was too old or inexperienced for sports. 鈥淲ith every serve and every match, I proved that passion and perseverance were what mattered most,鈥� he said.
Lakhter said he owes much of his success to showing up, participating in class, and taking advantage of resources like Access-Ability Services, which helped him with accommodations such as extra time on exams. 鈥淚n spring 2023 I had a math final that was online for two hours, but it took me three hours and 10 minutes,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ithout the extra time, I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to finish it.鈥�
He also credits social events and the Men鈥檚 Resource Center with helping him build friendships and develop stronger communication skills. 鈥淚 finally was able to create proper social circles and improve my social health by significant margins,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat I really like most about KCC are the friendly students and staff. I feel like this is an amazing home. I wish I could actually live here鈥攅ven though there are no dormitories.鈥�
The liberal arts major plans to continue his education after graduation, earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree and then a master鈥檚 in library science. His long-term goal is to become a librarian鈥攁nd maybe one day teach a course on disability history at 911爆料 as a professor.
鈥淭his experience has changed my life he said. 鈥淭hank you, KCC.鈥�
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