Charles John Ambach, Chaminade High School’s valedictorian, was named Man of The Year at the school’s 2022 commencement ceremony Monday night. Brother Thomas Cleary, president of Chaminade, presented the award.
“Each year we seek to single out one senior who exemplifies what we hold as the creed of the Chaminade man,” said Cleary at the podium. “One who does the right thing at the right time because it is the right thing to do, regardless of who’s watching.”
Ambach not only ranked at the top of his class of 434 peers but was also a member of the school’s Glee club, hiking club, scientific research club, Chinese club, and the school’s championship volleyball team.
Ambach also received plaque for his four years on the honor roll, a plaque as the “Outstanding Senior in Chinese,” a plaque as the “Outstanding Senior in Science,” certificates of merit for achievements in mathematics, religion, and social studies, and the Chaminade Academic Excellence award given to the senior with the highest cumulative average from grades 9 through 12.
In his speech, Ambach recalled an incident back in his freshman year when he could not find the library. He asked a teacher for directions, but rather than simply telling him where it was, he said, “Let me walk you there.”
“I’m sure this teacher has no recollection of this moment, but this occurrence stuck with me as the first time I felt welcomed into the Chaminade family,” said Ambach. “As we look to the future to college, a career, marriage, fatherhood, maybe even a religious vocation, let us remember all the people that walked us here. You took us by the hand, guided us on our first steps, prodded us to venture out on our own, and empowered us to walk independently, so that someday we can say to some very eager and more than slightly nervous young person, ‘Let me walk you there.’”
Ambach was born in Greenwich, Conn. but has lived in Garden City for most of his life. Despite attending public schools all his life, his parents decided to send him to Chaminade after hearing positive feedback about the school from two of his uncles, who are alumni.
“It feels great to know that I’ve earned the respect of both my peers and teachers,” said Ambach in an interview. “I know that my family is very proud of me. My oldest sister is very happy to be able to brag to her coworkers that she is the ‘sister of the Chaminade Man.’”
Over the summer, Ambach is participating in an eight-week internship at Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, where he will be working in a bioelectronic medicine laboratory that aims to reduce inflammation through the stimulation of the nervous system. He will be attending Princeton University in the fall, majoring in neuroscience.
“My advice for the Class of 2022 is the same as my advice for high schoolers; get involved,” said Ambach. “Join extracurriculars and be active in your classes. Be active in whatever communities you join after high school and beyond.”