When Thomas Grygiel learned he had been named valedictorian of Manhasset High School’s Class of 2026, he was surprised.
“I didn’t really fully expect it,” said the 18-year-old. “I was just really grateful.”
That sense of humility is a defining trait for Grygiel, one that those closest to him say has always set him apart.
“He always comes home and tells us how brilliant his school friends are,” said his mother, Lisa Grygiel. “He’s humble. He’s not just focused on himself.”
Grygiel, the youngest of three siblings, grew up in a close-knit household where intellectual curiosity and conversation were part of daily life. Family dinners could turn into discussions about calculus, and learning was encouraged not as a task, but as a passion.
“We gave him a strong reliance on family,” his mother said, noting the influence of both immediate and extended relatives, including all four grandparents. “That foundation is everything.”
It’s a foundation that helped Grygiel thrive in one of Long Island’s most competitive academic environments. Drawn early to science and space, he developed a strong work ethic over time, paired with a natural curiosity about the world around him.
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But for Grygiel, achievement has never been the end goal.
“I think success is living a rich life,” he said. “Titles and achievements only bring a certain amount of joy. It’s about surrounding yourself with good people, being loving and generous, and finding beauty in life.”
That philosophy is closely tied to his faith, which Grygiel said plays a central role in shaping how he lives and treats others.
“Faith is super important to me,” he said. “It’s a big part of who I am.”
At Manhasset High School, Grygiel balanced academics with a demanding schedule that included four years on the varsity swim team, where he served as captain. Coach Matthew McGrane described him as both talented and unusually mature from the start.
“He was focused, supportive and always positive,” McGrane said. “He really cared about being part of something bigger than himself.”
That mindset came into sharp focus during this year’s county championship, when Grygiel and his relay teammates overcame a significant time deficit to qualify for the state championships.
“They just rose to the occasion,” McGrane said. “It was incredible to watch.”
For team captain Thomas Grygiel, success in the water is only one part of the equation. He believes a truly rich life is rooted in faith, purpose, and being good to those around you.
Outside the pool, Grygiel found another outlet in music, singing with the Kinsmen boys choir. Performing “The Parting Glass” at the school’s annual holiday concert became a meaningful tradition for him—one he first admired as a child watching his older brother on stage.
“It’s something I’ll always carry with me,” he said.
Despite a schedule packed with academics, athletics and activities, Grygiel maintains a sense of balance. He runs regularly through Munsey Park to clear his mind and often heads to the waterfront at the Port Washington Yacht Club to watch the sunset, which he described as a quiet ritual that reflects his appreciation for life’s simpler moments.
“He finds beauty in nature, whether it’s here or traveling,” his mother said. “He really takes it in.”
At home, she added, Grygiel is still just “a regular kid”. His room can be messy, and water bottles tend to pile up—but he’s also dependable for the family, quick to help neighbors and committed to his summer job as a lifeguard.
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As Grygiel prepares to choose between several top colleges, including the University of Virginia, Georgia Tech and the University of Notre Dame, he said he’s most excited about finding purpose beyond himself.
“I want to do something that has an impact,” he said. “Something bigger than just me.”
Still, as he prepares to leave home, he is already thinking about the legacy he hopes to leave in the community that helped shape him.
Growing up in Manhasset meant being surrounded by a culture of achievement. While these values pushed him toward excellence, he now hopes to balance that drive with something more.
“I hope that sense of community stays the same,” Grygiel said. “There are strong, caring groups, whether it’s teams or choir or different parts of the school.”
If there is one thing he would change, it is the pressure students place on themselves through what he calls “grinding all the time.”
“I hope people can still work hard, but also take a breath and experience the life around them,” he said.
His perspective reflects both where he has been and where he is going. It is a view rooted not just in achievement, but in balance, purpose, and a deeper understanding of what it means to live well.
“Live a rich life,” Grygiel said. “Find joy in the life around you, and try to be good to people.”