Meet Your Princeton '14 Classmates (news stories)

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<p>“Artful Scholar: Creative Writer Uchechi Kalu Named Presidential Scholar in the Arts” (South Carolina)</p>

<p>[Artful</a> Scholars | G - The Magazine of Greenville](<a href=“http://www.gvillemag.com/feature/arts/artful_scholars]Artful”>Gvillemag.com)</p>

<p>It’s no surprise that the arts thrive on the edge of Falls Park where students from all over the state live and perform at the Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. Also not amazing is the fact that these students routinely win awards. This year is no different with one honor this spring bringing recognition not only to the school, but the entire state. </p>

<p>Uchechi Kalu and Jake Ross, recent graduates and creative writing students, were among twenty individuals nationwide who were named Presidential Scholars in the Arts. . . .</p>

<p>Their teacher, Scott Gould, says it’s no accident that these two were honored, especially because all of the creative writing students work incredibly hard. “When you have writers that practice their art that often, it’s not a fluke,” says Gould. </p>

<p>“I’m really grateful that this is one of the opportunities I’ve had since I’ve come to the Governor’s School—it’s very exciting,” says Ross. Uchechi Kalu echoes Ross’s feeling, “Without this school, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity. It’s a sign of what the school can do for someone who doesn’t have the opportunity at home.” </p>

<p>After mixing with fellow promising young artists in the capital, these two wordsmiths are on their way to even bigger things, namely college. Kalu will be hitting the books at Princeton and Ross will be attending the University of South Carolina Honors College—young scholars indeed." (continued)</p>

<p>“I can’t swim. I write my E’s and F’s backward. I can never remember that the Maltese Falcon is not the Baltese Falcon. I count stairs when I walk up them. My house has twelve leading upstairs, and my uncle’s house in Nigeria has twenty-two. Basically, I’m full of quirks and flaws, which I love, especially since I write. Writing gives me an opportunity to explore my life and the lives around me, to turn the mundane into something worthwhile. I won’t call myself a writer yet. I’m not nearly old enough, or as experienced. Someday I will be, but until then I’m just a girl, just a Southerner, just someone living this life and having fun doing it.” [from Presidential Scholars website]</p>

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<p>Princeton Trio Heading To Junior World Rowing Championships (Australia, Virginia & New Jersey)</p>

<p>[Princeton</a> Trio Heading To Junior World Rowing Championships](<a href=“http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=204972973]Princeton”>http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=204972973)</p>

<p>Three new members of the Class of 2014 may have some bragging rights in a few days:</p>

<p>"A trio of incoming recruits will get a taste of top international racing before they begin their own collegiate careers. Lightweight Nader Al-Naji (US 2x) and heavyweights Paul Popescu (US 8+) and Cameron Smith (AUS 4x) will represent the Princeton rowing program in international waters this week. The trio is in Racice, Czech Republic, for the 2010 Junior World Championships.</p>

<p>The competition, which you can read about here, begins August 5th and lasts through the 8th.</p>

<p>Popescu grew up in Princeton, although he graduated from Montgomery High School. The captain of his high school crew, Popescu rowed in the top 8+ at development camp in 2009; he finished 12th in youth 8+ at 2010 Youth Nationals and 8th in youth 4+ at 2009 Youth Nationals.</p>

<p>Smith has rowed for Gregory Terrace and Commercial Rowing Club in Brisbane, Australia. He has won a gold medal at Australian Nationals and is a two-year member of the national program.</p>

<p>Al-Naji grew up in Alexandria, Va., and rowed for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. " (continued)</p>

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<p>“Presidential Scholar Natalie Weires Among Iowa’s and Nation’s Best” (Iowa)</p>

<p>[Iowa</a> students among nation’s best | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs](<a href=“The Des Moines Register - Des Moines, Iowa, News and Sports”>The Des Moines Register - Des Moines, Iowa, News and Sports)</p>

<p>"It’s one thing to graduate at the top of your class. It’s quite another to graduate at the top of the nation.</p>

<p>Natalie Weires [Princeton '14] and Ethan Budreau, two Iowa high school seniors, were named U.S. presidential scholars today. The honor went to 141 students nationwide who stood out for their work inside and outside the classroom (specifically: academics, artistic ability, leadership skills, citizenship and volunteerism). More than 3,000 candidates qualified, either through nominations or because of outstanding scores on college entrance exams.</p>

<p>Weires, of Asbury, is a senior at Hempstead High School in Dubuque. Budreau, of Cedar Falls, is a senior at Hudson High School in Hudson.</p>

<p>Here’s what U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said about the scholars, who will be honored in Washington, D.C. in June: . . . " (continued)</p>

<p>“Natalie swims on her school’s team, plays the trumpet in band and pit orchestra, and is a team captain for science bowl. She attended the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics and enjoys folding modular origami. She also loves musicals. In elementary school, she wanted to grow up to be a book editor so she could spend all day reading. She’s now considering studying computer science or chemistry, among other things. She is a National AP Scholar and a National Merit Finalist. After taking the PSAT, Natalie started receiving mail from lots of colleges in which she wasn’t interested, and wanted to keep the ridiculous amounts of paper from being wasted, so she used it as origami paper. After cutting out a couple thousand little rectangles, she folded them and assembled the units into the inverse of a level two Menger Sponge, complete with a color scheme.” [from Presidential Scholars website]</p>

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<p>“Kelly Shon profiled in Golf Week Magazine” (New York)</p>

<p>[Today</a>, Canon Cup; tomorrow, Ivy League](<a href=“http://www.golfweek.com/news/2010/jul/27/today-canon-cup-tomorrow-ivy-league/]Today”>Today, Canon Cup; tomorrow, Ivy League | Golfweek)</p>

<p>"PLYMOUTH, Mass. – Here amid the scrub pines and sandy soil where Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore worked their magic to create the Old Sandwich Golf Club, the breath of fresh air you felt on yet another gloriously warm summer day was courtesy of the nearby Atlantic.</p>

<p>Then again, it could have been thanks to youngsters named Seiji Liu and Kelly Shon.</p>

<p>In a sports world where perspective is fast becoming a rare commodity, Liu and Shon provide buckets of it. Standing on a sparkling stage such as Old Sandwich in a prestigious production called the AJGA Canon Cup, Liu and Shon are enveloped by the very best junior golf has to offer, yet they haven’t forgotten that a bigger picture takes precedence. </p>

<p>Being a professional golfer might be the dream that is shared by all at this level, but Liu and Shon approach this intersection with great care.</p>

<p>“I never want to take away from the dream, but the facts of the reality don’t lie,” Liu said. “(Pro golf) is a tough road. That’s why I’ve always felt it’s nice to have a strong academics background.”</p>

<p>Shon feels similarly.</p>

<p>“In order to have fun, I don’t want to force myself to play golf to make a living,” she said. “I know there has to be a Plan B.”</p>

<p>Let the record show each of them is throwing great humility into the mix. “Strong academics” and a “Plan B” are vast understatements, for Liu is headed to Harvard, Shon to Princeton, and trust us on this point: Those schools based their letters of acceptance not on how the kids handle titanium and graphite, but rather physics and economics… . . (continued)"</p>

<hr>

<p>Another article about Shon:</p>

<p>[Port</a> Washington Patch, NY - Female Golfer Leads Boys Team To Fourth-Place Finish at Counties; Qualifies for States in the Process](<a href=“http://portwashington.patch.com/articles/female-golfer-leads-boys-team-to-fourth-place-finish-at-counties-qualifies-for-states-in-the-process]Port”>http://portwashington.patch.com/articles/female-golfer-leads-boys-team-to-fourth-place-finish-at-counties-qualifies-for-states-in-the-process)</p>

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<p>“Popescu Wins Gold At Junior World Championships” (New Jersey)</p>

<p>[Incoming</a> Rower Paul Popescu Wins Gold At Junior World Championships](<a href=“http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=204975105]Incoming”>http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=204975105)</p>

<p>[PU</a> Recruit Popescu Primed to Compete](<a href=“www.TownTopics.com — Sports Story 2”>www.TownTopics.com — Sports Story 2)</p>

<p>"Men’s heavyweight head coach Greg Hughes already has reason to be excited about his incoming class of recruits. Local product Paul Popescu, a graduate of Montgomery High School, recently helped the U.S. men’s 8+ to a gold medal at the 2010 Junior World Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.</p>

<p>Popescu, recently featured by Town Topics, was named to the U.S. team earlier this summer and helped the squad hold off Germany by .7 of a second in the final. . . . (continued)"</p>

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<p>There are other stories to be told but I’ll close with Paul Popescu’s. I hope you enjoyed this introduction to some of your future classmates. Have a great first year!</p>