Frangipane Is Named PaliHi’s Valedictorian

Senior Bret Frangipane has earned valedictorian honors at Palisades High School with a 4.67 GPA, culminating four years of well-rounded achievements. He had all A’s and never a B.
This year, Frangipane took four AP classes—literature, U.S. government, statistics and physics—plus Italian 3 and independent study in astronomy.
“My favorite class has been AP chemistry because it’s a great balance between math and science,” Frangipane said. “It is also very practical and can provide real benefits to humans across the world, arguably unlike obscure sciences such as particle physics.” His teacher was Carole Smith.
He has decided to attend UC Berkeley this fall because of the ongoing research there into alternative energy sources. “I want to research and develop biofuels from microorganisms, and I can do that at Berkeley as an undergraduate.”
In addition to focusing on science and academics, Frangipane plays French horn in the concert band and wind ensemble. “I started playing trumpet in third grade and switched as a sophomore.”
In February, he helped the school’s science team finish third in the LADWP Regional Science Bowl.
“We sent two teams and our A team took third place out of 42 teams,” Frangipane said, noting that his teammates were Nicholas Lue, McKane Andrus and Ethan Sussman. “Our last match was a 66-62 loss to the second-place team (Harvard-Westlake), and we had lost 62-52 the match before to the first-place team (North Hollywood). Both were close, within one question.
“Our largest struggle was probably fast math and fast biology questions. We didn’t practice those much. We usually knew the answers, but weren’t faster than the other two teams.”  A sample biology question: What is the most common term for the form of protection when a nonpoisonous frog has the same appearance as a poisonous frog? Answer: batesian mimicry.
Born in Nashville, Frangipane moved with his family to the Palisades when he was four. His dad, James, sells and licenses music for television and his mom, Lori, has worked for radio companiessuch as Westwood One.
He has two younger brothers, Evan, a junior at Pali, and Cole, a seventh grader at Revere.
Frangipane praised his high school for offering a diverse array of opportunities. “Activities range from academic, such as Science Bowl, AcaDec and Envirothon, to artsy and musical,” he said. “There’s an extensive network of teachers and administrators who are open to making positive connections with students, and any motivated student can gain a well-rounded, in-depth education and experience.”
Along the way, Frangipane earned his Eagle Scout award through Troop 23. He also played AYSO soccer for nine years through his sophomore year, and ran track for three years and cross-country for one year at Pali.
One of his college essays detailed a trip with his cross-county team to Mammoth and an encounter with a bear. “It stood tall on its hind legs, belly protruding, head extended.
“The bear erupted with movement. I know not whether he fled or charged, just that I sprinted through the door, slammed it and jammed the lock tight. I turned around to the whole varsity team breathing intensely and wide-eyed.”
He concluded, “The encounter represents the contrasts within my own life: constants, such as the consistent school-lunch peanut butter and jelly, and my 10 p.m. bedtime Sunday through Thursday, meet impulsive and unbounded variables such as the bear. Life shouldn’t be scheduled by the hour. Its most precious moments are often unarranged.”