<p>Here are some news stories about members of the Class of 2015. I think those of you who are joining the class might enjoy meeting some of them (at least in a virtual way). As is the case every year, they come from across the nation and the world. As a member of the Class of '15 you'll count among your ranks impressive scholars, talented athletes and inspiring writers and artists. Presidential and National Merit Scholars are among them as are young people who bring inspiring life stories to the table. Their stories are chronicled in local papers and sometimes national publications. I hope you'll enjoy learning a bit more about them. (You might even find yourself posted here. :) ) I'll add to the postings as the stories appear. Enjoy.</p>
<p>“A Wiz Kid [Joan Bedinger] with Presidential Honors” (Georgia)</p>
<p>[A</a> Wiz Kid with Presidential Honors](<a href=“http://smyrna.patch.com/articles/a-wiz-kid-with-presidential-honors]A”>A Wiz Kid with Presidential Honors | Smyrna, GA Patch) </p>
<p>Congratulations to Campbell High School senior Joan Bedinger, who was one of 141 students in the nation, and one of four in Georgia, named aPresidential Scholar last week.</p>
<p>Bedinger will be honored in Washington, D.C. from June 18 to 21, along with her most influential teacher, Mr. Thomas Jones, who teaches English and is the advisor in the International Baccalaureate program at Campbell. . . .</p>
<p>In 2010, Bedinger made a perfect score on the SAT. She also won the 2010 Georgia state PTSA Reflections Contest. At Campbell, Bedinger is the editor of the literary magazine and a member of the National Honor Society. In the fall, she will attend Princeton University. (continued)</p>
<p>“Windsor High Senior [Frankie Woode] Headed to Princeton” (St. Louis, MO)</p>
<p>[Windsor</a> High senior headed to Princeton; had many offers](<a href=“http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/article_3ea67395-f5d8-5283-a877-f99b1861db80.html]Windsor”>http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/article_3ea67395-f5d8-5283-a877-f99b1861db80.html) </p>
<p>The banners lining the cafeteria walls of Windsor High School list the colleges where seniors are headed this fall: Mizzou, Southeast Missouri State and Southern Illinois Carbondale, among others.</p>
<p>And for the first time in about 30 years, an Ivy League university has its own banner. Frankie Woode of Barnhart is going to Princeton, which is picking up most of the tab for him to attend.</p>
<p>Harvard and Yale made him similar offers, said Woode and school officials, as did about seven other schools, including Washington University and St. Louis University.</p>
<p>In all, the amount of scholarships offered to him topped $1.4 million, Woode estimated.</p>
<p>As recently as last year, he had planned to go to Missouri State University in Springfield. Both of his parents and his older brother are graduates of the school, and his older sister is a student there. (continued)</p>
<p>“Jack Zhou Gains Scholarship to Princeton” (New Zealand)</p>
<p>[Jack</a> gains scholarship to Princeton - auckland | Stuff.co.nz](<a href=“http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/5019493/Jack-gains-scholarship-to-Princeton/]Jack”>Jack gains scholarship to Princeton | Stuff.co.nz) </p>
<p>From Bucklands Beach to Princeton University.</p>
<p>Life is about to change for 18-year-old Jack Zhou.</p>
<p>He’s been awarded a full scholarship to the prestigious university in the United States worth US$164,000.</p>
<p>Jack lives in Bucklands Beach and went to Macleans Primary, Bucklands Beach Intermediate, Macleans College and for the past two years Auckland International College in central Auckland where he is head boy.</p>
<p>He applied to the university last year and was surprised to find out in April that not only had he got in but he had secured the scholarship.</p>
<p>“It’s been a dream of mine to study at a prestigious university,” he says.</p>
<p>"It took a few days to really sink in, it’s hard to explain.</p>
<p>“It’s just that feeling of disbelief.” . . .</p>
<p>Jack was born in China and moved here with his family when he was three. He’ll probably study biotechnology but is keeping his mind open when it comes to deciding on a career.</p>
<p>He’s just finishing his last exams at college and preparing for his trip to Taiwan in July with the New Zealand Secondary Schools Biology Olympiad team.</p>
<p>The Biology Olympiad is the most challenging academic competition for high school students around the world. Sixty countries compete with only four students selected from each.</p>
<p>This is the second year Jack has been chosen for the team. (continued)</p>
<p>“Clovis West track and field star [Nonny Okwelogu] anxious for Masters event.” (California)</p>
<p>[Clovis</a> West track and field star anxious for Masters event - High Schools - fresnobee.com](<a href=“http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/20/2396480/clovis-west-track-and-field-star.html]Clovis”>http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/20/2396480/clovis-west-track-and-field-star.html) </p>
<p>For all the great female throwers in Central Section track and field recently (the section has swept the shot put and discus in the past three CIF State Championships) there hasn’t been a story to rival Nonny Okwelogu.</p>
<p>Here’s a Clovis West senior – daughter of highly educated Nigerian immigrants, headed to Princeton of the Ivy League herself – who can’t sit still.</p>
<p>“I’m more excited in life when I have more things to do, even if more is too many and I’m running out of hours,” says Okwelogu, ranked fifth in the state in the discus (153-11) and 11th in the shot put (42-1) entering Saturday’s Central Section Grand Masters Championships at Buchanan’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.</p>
<p>Carrying a weighted grade-point average of 4.4 and competing in track and field doesn’t remotely come close to filling the calendar for the person who’s real first name is Chukwunonso.</p>
<p>Try:</p>
<p> Vice president of the school’s African-American Student Union.
President and founder of the school’s Harry Potter Alliance.
President of the Environmental Club.
Associate editor of the school’s literary magazine, The Torch.</p>
<p>“When I’m not doing things, I feel worse than when I’m doing too many things,” she says.</p>
<p>It may be wise to keep the pace in order to stay warm in Princeton, N.J.</p>
<p>“One of the many adjustments I’ll have to make in college life, for sure,” she says.</p>
<p>Clovis West coach Martin Palavicini finds nothing beyond the reach of the student-athlete whose mother, Agnes Akabogu, is an attorney and whose father, Bernard Okwelogu, is a pharmacist.</p>
<p>“She comes from a family of high standards,” the coach says. "They are very focused and goal-oriented.</p>
<p>“Nonny’s a great young lady with a bright future. Whatever she decides to focus on, she’ll be great, no doubt.”</p>
<p>Okwelogu and sophomore sister Nikki are both expected to score heavily in the shot and discus for a Clovis West team favored to repeat a dominant team title today.</p>
<p>The Golden Eagles, ranked third nationally, feature Alyssa Monteverde, who leads the section in the 100 and 300 hurdles, and twin sister Anginae, who’s first in the pole vault and second in the 100 hurdles. (continued)</p>
<p>“VHS Senior [Tayyab Shah] will attend Prestigious Chemistry Camp” (New York)</p>
<p>[WICZ</a> TV - VHS Senior Will Attend Prestigious Chemistry Camp – Binghamton, NY](<a href=“WICZ”>WICZ) </p>
<p>Valedictorian isn’t the only honor that Vestal High School Senior Tayyab Shah is getting this spring.</p>
<p>He’s also been chosen to attend the National Chemistry Olympiad Study Camp at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.</p>
<p>Vestal’s 2-year International Baccalaureate Chemistry course exposed Tayyab to the field.</p>
<p>He has since gone on to take courses at Binghamton University.</p>
<p>Qualifying for the Chemistry Olympiad required scoring high, on rigorous tests.</p>
<p>“2 months ago there was the local exam which was the first of the many tests to get to this level. I started studying a couple weeks before that. And I got into it and I kept studying until I got here now,” said Tayyab Shah.</p>
<p>His high school chemistry teacher Tracy Suggs went on to explain that “this means Tayyab is one of the top 20 chemistry students in the country. And it’s really an accomplishment for him and it’s an honor to the school and a tribute to the IB program that we have here at Vestal.”</p>
<p>Of the 20 students going to Colorado Springs, 4 will be chosen for the international competition, set for July in Ankara, Turkey.</p>
<p>Tayyab will major in chemistry and math at Princeton.</p>
<p>“Gates Grants College Dreams” (New York)</p>
<p>(Gates Millennium Scholar Joan Fernandez)</p>
<p>[Gates</a> grants college dreams](<a href=“http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2011/05/12/queens/qns_francis_lewis_scholar_20110512.txt]Gates”>http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2011/05/12/queens/qns_francis_lewis_scholar_20110512.txt) </p>
<p>"At around 3 p.m. on April 20 Joan Fernandez received an e-mail that changed his life.</p>
<p>The e-mail came from The Gates Millennium Scholars grants funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation notifying the 17-year-old senior at Francis Lewis HS that he had won one of 1,000 scholarships that enabled him to get a free ride at Princeton University.</p>
<p>I was a little skeptical at first about the application process because its super competitive, Joan said, with 1,000 scholarships awarded out of 23,000 applicants. Im excited because it opens up so many doors at the moment.</p>
<p>Joan, who moved from the Dominican Republic to Queens Village when he was 2 years old, said his father is disabled and his mom is a baby-sitter, so going to a prestigious school would have been out of the question if he had not won the scholarship.</p>
<p>They barely have enough to get by, said Joan, who also received Jerry Seinfeld and Horatio Alger scholarships. I was basically fully covered, regardless and that was an amazing feeling. (continued)</p>
<p>“Alexandra Kubiak Named National Merit Scholar” (California)</p>
<p>[Alexandra</a> Kubiak Named National Merit Scholar - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA](<a href=“http://ranchosantamargarita.patch.com/articles/alexandra-kubiak-named-national-merit-scholar]Alexandra”>Alexandra Kubiak Named National Merit Scholar | Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Patch) </p>
<p>Alexandra Kubiak, a senior at Santa Margarita Catholic High, has been named a National Merit Scholar.</p>
<p>Kubiak was chosen from more than 15,000 finalists in the 2011 National Merit Program to be a recipient of the $2,500 scholarship. . . .</p>
<p>A resident of Laguna Niguel, Kubiak plays soccer, participates in the schools theatre program, is a member of ASB, teaches soccer to children with mental and physical disabilities, and is treasurer for the campus club, Coat a Kid, which provides coats to children in need. Kubiak will graduate with an internationally-recognized high school diploma through the schools International Baccalaureate Programme; a rigorous academic program that encourages students to become active and compassionate lifelong learners.</p>
<p>Balance is key, Kubiak said. You have to keep focused and pursue what youre passionate about.</p>
<p>Kubiak will attend Princeton in the fall. She plans to study and pursue a career in science. (continued)"</p>
<p>“National Merit Scholar and National High School Heisman Award Winner Abby Badura” (Virginia)</p>
<p>[Wendy’s</a> High School Heisman | Student Scholar Athlete & Academic Awards Program](<a href=“Heisman High School Scholarship » Results”>Heisman High School Scholarship » Results)</p>
<p>[Badura</a> earns Pursuit of Perfection award - NBC12 News](<a href=“Badura earns Pursuit of Perfection award”>Badura earns Pursuit of Perfection award)</p>
<p>"At the Jefferson Hotel on Wednesday night, Clover Hill senior Abby Badura added another award for her mantel. Badura won the Lexus Pursuit of Perfection Award, given to the Richmond-area senior who exhibits great achievements in the classroom on the playing field, and in the community.</p>
<p>Badura has a long line of achievements. Earlier this season she was awarded the High School Heisman award in New York City.</p>
<p>Badura has been a USATF Junior Olympic All-American in cross country, earned numerous All-District and All-Region honors in cross country and track as well as qualified for state competition numerous times in cross country, indoor, and outdoor track. Outside of athletics, she is the president of her class at Clover Hill, a National Merit Scholar, and leads a service group that has offered relief to hurricane victims in Haiti. She finished her career at Clover Hill with a GPA over 5.0. She is headed to Princeton to study biomedical engineering. (continued)"</p>
<p>“Mathematician and Musician Kanoa Mulling” (Illinois)</p>
<p>[Kanoa</a> Mulling, Homewood-Flossmoor High School](<a href=“http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/5370247-522/kanoa-mulling-homewood-flossmoor-high-school.html]Kanoa”>http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/5370247-522/kanoa-mulling-homewood-flossmoor-high-school.html) </p>
<p>"Math is on Kanoa Mullings mind as he heads off to Princeton University in New Jersey, but hes also willing to explore other options.</p>
<p>It was quite a surprise, he said of being among the 8 percent who were accepted at Princeton out of more than 27,000 applicants.</p>
<p>He began visiting colleges in his freshman year of high school and applied to nine schools.</p>
<p>I like most subjects, but math has consistently been my favorite, he said. Mulling also has played violin since fourth grade and has been a member of his high school orchestra and symphonic strings. He also was on the volleyball and speech teams and was involved in high school theater.</p>
<p>I like music a lot. Its a great relaxing experience to work a different part of my brain, he said. (continued)"</p>
<p>“Blake Thomsen Boosts Mater Dei” (California)</p>
<p>[Santa</a> Ana Mater Dei baseball - latimes.com](<a href=“http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw25-hart-mater-dei-20110525,0,519625.column]Santa”>Blake Thomsen boosts Mater Dei in 12-2 victory over Hart) </p>
<p>"What’s Blake Thomsen of Santa Ana Mater Dei going to do for an encore in his senior year?</p>
<p>He has a 4.6 grade-point average. He got a 2300 out of a possible 2400 on the SAT. He’s headed to Princeton.</p>
<p>Well, he’d probably settle for a trip to Dodger Stadium to play for the Division 1 baseball championship. (continued)"</p>
<p>“Canisius’ Great Senior Eight–[Will Downing and James Hamp Headed to Princeton]” (New York)</p>
<p>[Canisius</a>’ great senior eight](<a href=“http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/high-schools/scholastic-spotlight/article424924.ece]Canisius”>http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/high-schools/scholastic-spotlight/article424924.ece)</p>
<p>“The air was cold. The wind was blowing. The water was choppy. And everything was wet. . . . (continued)”</p>
<p>“A Fortuneteller’s Prophecy [Uyanga Tamir]” (Colorado and Mongolia)</p>
<p>[A</a> Fortuneteller’s Prophecy – NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/11/cherry-creek-uyanga-tamir-5/]A”>A Fortuneteller's Prophecy: Dartmouth vs. Princeton - The New York Times) </p>
<p>“Last year, at a school-sponsored event called After Prom, a fortuneteller predicted that I was going to make a tough choice between two great colleges. Despite my disbelief in such prophecies, I walked off wondering how likely that would be. . . . (continued)”</p>
<p>“Princeton beckons [Brianna] Leahy” (Waterloo, Canada)</p>
<p>[TheRecord</a> - Princeton beckons Leahy](<a href=“http://www.therecord.com/sports/local/article/541962--princeton-beckons-leahy]TheRecord”>http://www.therecord.com/sports/local/article/541962--princeton-beckons-leahy)</p>
<p>"The Bauer-Leahy clan has turned that dusty debate nature vs. nurture on its head.</p>
<p>What do you get when you combine the best of both?</p>
<p>The answer is Brianna Leahy, a beguiling blend of academia, music and athletics, bundled into one exquisite package.</p>
<p>With her glittering 93 per cent academic average, the accomplished violinist and heads-up hockey forward is surely a product of her distinctive bloodlines and upbringing.</p>
<p>Even the tall foreheads at venerable Princeton University couldnt ignore credentials like that. . . . (continued)"</p>
<p>“BHS Senior [Tyler Beauchamp] Wins National Merit Scholarship” (North Dakota)</p>
<p>[BHS</a> Senior Wins National Merit Scholarship on KFYR-TV North Dakota’s NBC News Leader](<a href=“http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=48979]BHS”>http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=48979) </p>
<p>“Tyler Beauhamp worked for a year and a half to win the $2,500 award. Beauchamp first qualified for the program as a sophomore by earning a high score on his PSAT test. He had to submit essays and proof of volunteer work, and go through 2 more rounds of elimination before winning the scholarship this spring. . . . (continued)”</p>
<p>“[Lyra] Olson Named Presidential Scholar” (Massachusetts)</p>
<p>[Olson</a> Named Presidential Scholar](<a href=“http://thenews.choate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=953:olson-11-named-presidential-scholar&catid=19:news&Itemid=43]Olson”>http://thenews.choate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=953:olson-11-named-presidential-scholar&catid=19:news&Itemid=43) </p>
<p>On May 2nd Lyra Olson was named a Presidential Scholar for the year of 2011, a title established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President, and given to high school seniors in order to recognize them for their outstanding abilities. The title is given to 141 students every year. . . .</p>
<p>Of Mr. Ventre, Olson said, He has been my orchestra director for four years, he has taught my music history courses, a two term elective in jazz history, and he has been an endless support for me. . . .</p>
<p>Olson 11 has attended Choate for four years and has been a member of orchestra and chamber orchestra each year. She is also a member of Lilith, one of Choates a capella singing groups, and participates often in theater. This spring she is participating in Choates production of Guys and Dolls. Olson participates in the Arts Concentration program for both vocals and violin. </p>
<p>She also plays Ultimate Frisbee with a non-school team and will also be receiving her yoga instructors license this summer. During the past two summers she has worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Health doing science research. . . . (continued)</p>
<p>OMG Ptongrad2000 did you go to Princeton? I really need some advice on what there looking for, do you think you could advise me? :)</p>
<p>Billy Fang and Polaris Quartet Win Top National Chamber Music Competition (Ohio)</p>
<p>[Local</a> quartet wins prestigious national chamber music competition | Arts in Focus](<a href=“http://cincinnati.com/blogs/arts/2011/06/02/local-quartet-wins-prestigious-chamber-music-competition/]Local”>http://cincinnati.com/blogs/arts/2011/06/02/local-quartet-wins-prestigious-chamber-music-competition/) </p>
<p>[url=<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube]YouTube</a> - Billy Fang plays Po</p>
<p>“ASD Students [Yazin Hegazy and Ankit Buddhiraju] honored at graduation ceremony” (Doha, Qatar)</p>
<p>[Gulf</a> Times – Qatar’s top-selling English daily newspaper - Qatar](<a href=“http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=439162&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16]Gulf”>http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=439162&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16)</p>
<p>"The students of class of 2011 from the American School of Doha took their first steps towards adulthood as they celebrated their graduation at a ceremony on Saturday.</p>
<p>The class of 135 students celebrated the occasion along with around 1,000 guests and several others watching the event online.</p>
<p>A number of students were honored with special awards, including the Ambassadors Award, presented by the US Ambassador Joseph LeBaron.</p>
<p>LeBaron spoke about the importance of being members of the global community, especially in the light of the current events in the region. He described all the students as citizens of the world before singling out Ankit Buddhiraju as this years winner of the Ambassadors Award.</p>
<p>They were followed by Salutarian and Valedictorian speakers Yazin Hegazy and Ankit Buddhiraju, who were the schools second and highest academic performers respectively. </p>
<p>Both students will be attending Princeton University next year, and they spoke confidently and humorously about their experience at ASD and how it has shaped themselves and their peers. . . . (continued)"</p>
<p>“Track: [Sam] Pons, Budincich Take Second in State” (California)</p>
<p>[Track:</a> Pons, Budincich Take Second in State - South Pasadena, CA Patch](<a href=“http://southpasadena.patch.com/articles/track-pons-budincich-take-second-in-state]Track:”>Track: Pons, Budincich Take Second in State | South Pasadena, CA Patch) </p>
<p>"A state title in track and field was something that South Pasadenas Sam Pons already had.</p>
<p>What Pons didnt have heading into Saturday nights 3,200 meter final in the CIF State Track and Championships was a personal best time from the 2011 season.</p>
<p>But Pons ended his high school career by saving his best for last.</p>
<p>The Princeton-bound star finished second in 8 minutes, 50.57 seconds Saturday night at Buchanan High in Clovis. Elias Gedyon of Loyola High in Los Angeles won in 8:50.03.</p>
<p>It was probably the best race Ive seen him run, South Pasadena distance running coach Pat McGrail said in a phone interview. He did what he had to do and he ran a lifetime best. . . . (continued)"</p>