With a 3.99 grade point average Latchezar Benatov '03, a math and physics double major from Sofia, Bulgaria, will be the valedictorian for the class of 2003. Justin Walsh '03, an economics and math double major from Quincy, Mass., will be the salutatorian, with a record just one hundredth of a point behind Benatov at 3.98
Despite his high GPA, Benatov told The Dartmouth that, when he heard the news, he still found it hard to believe.
As well as excelling in his classes, Benatov has been very involved with research under the guidance of Professor Jay Lawrence of the physics and astronomy department.
"Academically speaking, my most important experience has been my research, because I really learned how to apply all the things I had learned in physics for so many years," Benatov said.
Benatov also completed a senior thesis in physics, again under Lawrence's guidance.
"It was a process of exploration and discovery and adventure, to some extent," Benatov said on writing his senior thesis.
Benatov said he had enjoyed many memorable classroom experiences, but math 23, math 71, physics 23 and physics 24 came to mind as classes that had really made a difference in his career at Dartmouth.
Outside of the classroom, Benatov made time to be treasurer and later president of Amarna undergraduate society, a place he said many of his fondest memories of Dartmouth came from.
Next year, Benatov will continue his work in physics as he pursues a Ph.D. in physics from Yale University.
As well as his stellar academic record, salutatorian Walsh had several impressive internships during his tenure at Dartmouth. During off terms he has worked for Salomon Smith Barney, Price Waterhouse Coopers IT and Goldman Sachs and Company.
Walsh said many of his favorite academic memories came from the two economics courses he took with Professor Bruce Sacerdote as well as math 31 with Professor Constantin Dumitrascu.
Walsh also participated in the Italian department's Language Study Abroad in Siena, Italy during the spring of his sophomore year.
"That was awesome, I think that was my favorite term I have had at Dartmouth. I loved the family that I lived with," Walsh said of his experience in Italy.
Walsh was also a part of Kappa Kappa Kappa fraternity, and he cited his membership as a very positive experience and the extra curricular activity he had been most involved with during his final two years at Dartmouth.
Earlier in his Dartmouth career, Walsh and some of his friends founded the Club of Dartmouth Entrepreneurs. Walsh spent a lot of time working with the club during his sophomore and junior years.
Walsh plans to spend the next two years working for Goldman Sachs and Company in their New York office.
In his four years at Dartmouth Benatov accrued many other academic honors including seven academic citations and membership in Phi Beta Kappa and the Golden Key Honor Society. He was also named a Presidential Research Scholar and a Rufus Choate Scholar for each of his four years at Dartmouth.
Walsh earned eight academic citations and was named a Rufus Choate Scholar each of his four years at Dartmouth.
