Faith Lutheran | HS Awards 2023

- WILLEM MANIAGO
  
  Valedictorian and Principal's Award
- HADY DAMAJ
  
  Salutatorian

Computer Science

List of 1 members.

Luke Baker 24
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Ap Computer Science
The Award for Academic Excellence in Computer Science is Awarded to Luke Baker. Luke has excelled in Computer Science this year maintaining the highest grade in the class for all 4 Quarters. Not only is Luke a high scoring student but also a great participant in class as he is always quick to ask and answer questions. He is also always willing to help out fellow classmates with questions. Luke truly shows a passion for the field of Computer Science spending over 10,000 hours building mods in Terraria and countless hours working on programming his team's robot in the Engineering Class. I am excited to work another year with Luke and again it is my honor to present Luke Baker with the Computer Science Academic Award.

Engineering

List of 1 members.

Zachary Flandermeyer 23
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Engineering
The Award for Academic Excellence in Engineering is awarded to Zac Flandermeyer. Zac’s passion for engineering and robotics has been evident since the day he walked into the robotics lab as a freshmen 4 years ago. This year, and throughout his high school career, he has spent hundreds of hours in the lab working on developing, designing, and programming his group’s robot. His dedication to always improving is the model of what Engineering is all about and will be greatly missed. It is a pleasure to again present the award of Engineering Academic Award to Zac Flandermeyer.

English

List of 4 members.

Willem Maniago 23
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English 12 Award
It is my honor to present the senior English Literature Award to Willem Maniago. Willem writes beautifully and always includes a thoughtful analysis of literature. After looking over every timed FRQ essay that Willem has written this school year, he has proven to have a solid grasp on how writers use imagery, repetition, diction, metaphor, rhetorical shift, and Willem’s favorite- juxtaposition. What really makes Willem stand out is his ability to seamlessly write about how authors use these literary elements to convey meaning. Whether it is a poem, passage, play, or novel, Willem fully understands how to break down the text and expertly describes themes found in the literature, making him extremely deserving of this award, and a true pleasure to have in class. Congratulations Willem!
Sophia Serre 24
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English 11 Award
When we first get the notice of “Awards are coming” we often as a department get together and share names and notes – and I can honestly say that the Junior and Senior (which you will hear about in a moment) were easy to decide – Mrs. Phelps said that we were the first department submitted this year – which never happens -- underlining how strong these students are in the hearts and minds of our department. When thinking of the perfect student to give the junior award this year it wasn’t hard to think of as Ms. Serre is more than perfect - at least in the English gradebook. Currently she boasts Currently she boasts a 102% for the quarter – a quarter filled with AP practice getting ready for the exam next week -- but a student is more than numbers in a grade book – their personality and integrity go a long way too. AP Lang is mainly the study of nonfiction literature – we do annotating, I ask for 5- 10 comments, Sophia gives 20. We dissect a documentary – I say about 25 notes, Sophia gives me pages. And in writing I will ask for 6-8 page final essay, I get some with barely a sentence on the 5th page…Sophia has hers barely cracking the 10th page. She is witty, combines process with thought, and has as an eloquence to her style. I joked in class the other day that I tend to save her work for last so I have hope for our future humanity…ok maybe not a total joke…Sophia – you earned this award on so many levels. And you do it all without seeking praise. You get it. You understand. Thank you. Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. You are both humble and filled with wisdom. Thank you for the wonderful work this year in AP. – Sophia Serre.
Lena Lemma 25
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English 10 Award
This year’s American Literature Honors Award goes to Lena Lemma. When deciding this award, there were four equally talented students, who were eloquent writers and brilliant thinkers. However, when choosing the top student of the year, Lena was the obvious choice. Lena not only has a passion for learning but has a passion for understanding the nuances of the American identity. Lena does her own research on the topics we discuss, and she keenly analyzes the research to form a well-rounded, impressive argument. She has the ability to finish her work in class quickly, and it would be right, but she is typically one of the last students to complete her work, not because she is a perfectionist—she typically is last because she wants to absorb all the information, understand how that information fits or changes her worldview, and discuss it with those around her. It is my honor to give her this award.
Ruby Mueller 26
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English 9 Award
Ruby Mueller is a ray of sunshine; every G1 she greets me with a bright smile. She is an enthusiastic student who is willing to investigate and connect deeply with the literature. This year she has maintained one of the highest grades in Honors English. Her joy in the Lord and work ethic make her an outstanding choice for this years' 9th grade Honors English Award. Congratulations, Ruby. Thank you for your hard work this year!

Foreign Language

List of 4 members.

Lindley Amick 24
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French Upperclassmen
I’m honored to give this advanced French award to Lindley. Lindley has shown academic excellence in my class for 3 years. She is very hardworking, goal oriented, and a joy to have in class. Her knowledge and appreciation of different cultures is an attribute that will help her succeed immensely in life. Although she hasn’t been to France yet, she has the cultural knowledge of a true traveler. I have high hopes that she will travel to France in the future and use her knowledge to explore the country. Until then, Lindley, I’ll be waiting for a postcard from you when you get there. Congratulations!
Bryce McKee 26
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French Underclassmen
I have the privilege to give the French underclassmen award to Bryce Mckee. This student not only has great grades, never misses deadlines, and participates in speaking French in every class, but he has also shown a special enthusiasm for the french language and culture since day one! It is a blessing to give this award to you Bryce! Bonne continuation et félicitations!
Andrea Leyva 24
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Spanish Upperclassman Award
Andrea Leyva has been an exemplary student in the AP Spanish Language class this year. Andrea always puts forth effort with a positive attitude. She speaks Spanish at home yet she still pays careful attention in class and is helpful with her classmates. As a junior, she is a strong role model for the mostly senior students in her Spanish class. I have been very blessed to get to work with her the past two years.
Eleanor Berardinelli 26
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Spanish Underclassman Award
All year long Eleanor has been refining her Spanish skills with extra work that she assigned to herself. The number of times she has come to class talking about something she learned on Duolingo that she wanted explained, or a song lyric she happened to hear that she wanted some information about is innumerable. My favorite was when we were learning a particularly complicated grammatical structure. We played a game in class in which she scored only a few thousand points, still better than the others in the class. I told everyone that, if they wanted, they could practice over the weekend to help them do better next time. The very next class she scored several million points while everyone else remained roughly the same. But that’s Eleanor. She goes above and beyond, she just wants to learn and improve and she is willing to put in extra time and effort to do it. Eleanor, it has been such a pleasure and an honor to teach you in class this year. Thank you for your effort and the joy that you bring to learning another language. I look forward to seeing how you continue to improve in the future.

Mathematics

List of 6 members.

Quinne Carpenter 23
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AP Statistics
This year’s AP Statistics award goes to Quinne Carpenter. Quinne is an exceptional student, earning 5s on both of her practice AP exams, and scored the highest average in all 4 quarters. Quinne is always willing to answer questions, take risks, and learn from her mistakes. In addition to this, Quinne has the ability to explain difficult concepts to her peers and is always willing to help others to succeed. Her fantastic sense of humor, consistent participation, and genuine kindness toward others made Quinne a joy to have in class. Congratulations, Quinne! Well done.
Rylan Walter 23
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AP Calc BC
Rylan is a truly gifted mathematician. His ability to think critically and the speed at which he can solve advanced math problems are very impressive. His fast thinking skills would at times make it difficult even for me to keep up with him. Rylan worked hard all the time. Completed every homework assignment with care and perfection – no matter how long or tedious. One time every student came to class requesting an extension. Not Rylan. Victoriously he declared that he did it all…even though it took him into the early hours of the morning! Rylan raised the bar for his fellow students with his intense commitment, and persevered through the most difficult parts of Calculus BC, even with all his athletic commitments. As a competitive athlete, Rylan knows that you don’t just show up on the day of the game. There is constant practice behind the scenes and Rylan approached calculus with the same mindset. It has been an absolute honor to teach such a mathematically gifted and motivated student like Rylan Walter. Thank you.
Akash Abraham 24
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AP Calculus AB
This award represents the challenge of AP Calculus that requires students to understand and master some of the most complex mathematical problems. It requires hard work, focus, and determination both in class and at home. Akash went above and beyond to meet these requirements and did so with perseverance and humility. Akash is a quiet achiever. I especially admired how Akash comes to class each day with a smile and a sense of enthusiasm to learn new math.He never complained about the workload and never missed a homework assignment (even when he had to miss class for other school-related activities). Nothing gets in the way of his calculus homework! Akash is a student who truly loves to learn. His self-motivation and positive attitude are inspiring. He definitely inspires me to be the best teacher I can be. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to teach such a dedicated and talented student. It is my greatest pleasure in presenting Akash with this award.
Emily Tan 25
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Honors Precalculus
Since this is a math award, let’s start with some numbers….Emily has not earned below 98% for any quarter grade this year and she earned 100% on the December final. Quite impressive!

So how does she do it? It is not simply that she is just a “math person” but rather that she does the things that are necessary for true success in learning mathematics in high school. Here are three things that came to mind as I thought about what to say about Emily.

1. A successful math student should work hard and should turn in work that is a true representation of them, work that shows what they know and are able to accomplish. Emily works hard. Her work is well thought out and detailed so that I never have to question what she is thinking or how she got to her answer. There are no short cuts that leave me wondering. This attention to detail and great effort to explain things so completely, together with her strong foundational skills, are part of what makes her a top math student.
2. At some point in mathematics, students have to go beyond the mechanical. Being able to simply copy what they saw their teacher do isn’t enough. They have to be willing and able to think about what they are doing and why it works, which requires perseverance and sometimes struggle. And if they don’t get why, then they need to be willing to ask. I have heard Emily question her own thinking and admit that she wasn’t quite sure what to do, but here is what she tried. She is willing to learn from mistakes and to share that with other students as well.
3. The attitude a student has when they step into math class plays a big part in how successful they will be at learning that day. I would describe Emily as positive, calm, ready to try, and collaborative. She doesn’t complain, she doesn’t give up, and she is always on task. She is also kind, respectful, and joyful every single time I see her!

I am so fortunate to be her teacher and to be able to present her with this award! Congratulations Emily! You are truly one of the best!
Ishan Abraham 26
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Honors Algebra 2/Trig
Good evening, my name is Kasaundra Kosberg and I am presenting the award for the outstanding student in Honors Algebra II. It is my pleasure to give this award to Ishan Abraham.

While Ishan does have a top grade in Honors Algebra II, he is the outstanding Algebra student for more reasons than that. Ishan always comes to class ready to learn and often asks insightful questions that show me he wants to apply the information that we learned that day. Ishan consistently answers the questions I ask of the class and also helps his classmates when they have questions, and lots of classmates ask him questions. Additionally, if I make a mistake, and I do, Ishan is not afraid to ask about it, which I appreciate. I would not want to mess up and it not be corrected. Finally, Ishan embodies what it means to be a student here at Faith Lutheran through his actions and his commitment to his academics. He is always respectful and is kind to his classmates. All of these reasons are why it is my pleasure to present the award for outstanding student in Honors Algebra II to Ishan Abraham.
Colton Mayhew 26
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Honors Geometry
This year’s Honors Geometry award goes to Cole Mayhew. It is well known that Honors Geometry is one of the toughest transitions into High school and is a class that requires a lot of hard work, dedication and perseverance. Cole demonstrated all of these qualities and more, earning a 99% in all 3 quarters. Cole’s ability to think abstractly is excellent and his willingness to persevere through the tough lessons is exceptional. Through the 114 proofs, 54 lessons, and 400 honors problems, Cole made every attempt to work through the challenge with a positive attitude and was willing to help those who were having trouble. During our group work, Cole was willing to work with anyone and has the heart of a teacher. I would describe Cole as persistent, intuitive and caring - which makes him the perfect recipient of this award.

Physical Education

List of 2 members.

Emma Kwok 23
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PE Female Student of the Year
Our Female Athletic Performance Award goes to Emma Kwok. Emma is an outstanding student athlete. She has committed herself in the weight room over the last two years to gain improvement in explosive power so that it would translate to her throwing events in Track & Field. It is never difficult to motivate Emma to work hard, she has a goal and she strives towards it. Her hard work is showcased in her results improving over 2 feet since the start of her junior year in the shot put and 14 feet improvement in the discus (which may sound like small increases, but they are not). She follows directions the first time she hears them (which is a dream in the PE classroom) or she seeks clarification to make sure she is doing things correctly. Emma embodies the work ethic that coaches wish all athletes had. Emma is an outstanding example of what an Athletic Performance athlete should like, and we will miss her and that stellar example next year.
Albert-Oluwatobi Alabi 23
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PE Male Student of the Year
Our Male Athletic Performance Award goes to Tobi Alabi. Tobi is always seeking a challenge in the weight room and on the field. Weather it is a new personal record in squat (this cross-country runner maxed at 318 lbs this year) or completing one of Coach Gonzales’ core circuits, Tobi never backs down. He is intentional about participating in our form and technique work for linear and lateral movements, and I don’t believe I have ever seen him take a set or a rep off. His work ethic is relentless and his smile is infectious. He loves to encourage others as he works making him even more of a delight to coach. Tobi’s hand is always (and I mean always) the first one to shoot up when we ask for a volunteer to pray. He is a leader and an all around character guy that we are going to miss.

Science

List of 6 members.

Elyssa Bahr 23
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Senior Science Award
Elyssa Bahr is this year’s recipient of the senior science award. Personally, I have had the pleasure of being Elyssa’s teacher for the last two years. This has given me a front row seat to seeing her attack every challenge with a gusto that has led to her earning this award. Elyssa is a young woman that is very driven to accomplish anything that is set before her and that includes sharing her knowledge about a topic through her writing. Oddly enough, both myself and a few other science teachers have actually had to tell Elyssa to write less! For teachers this is usually not the norm, but when she gets going we find that she actually has a hard time shutting off her amazing and hard-earned fountain of knowledge. It has been a privilege to see her achieve so many amazing accomplishments all while displaying a true joy for learning and a deep passion for science.
Susanna Ziesmer 23
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AP Chemistry
The award for the Advanced Chemistry outstanding student is presented to Miss Susanna Zeismer. Susanna has been a shining example of perseverance with a smile. We all know chemistry is challenging, but you’d never know that when talking with Susanna. Her passion for understanding the nuances of the why behind the way our world works has led her into the depths.
Do you want to know…
-where (and why) we can cut out those decimals on your calculator
-why some liquids won’t mix and some will
-what drives chemical reactions backwards as well as forwards
-how many times a mole of double stuffed vanilla oreos will go from our Sun to Pluto or from our galaxy to Proxima Centauri
Such incredible brains and determination packaged in such a wonderful person. Thank you for sharing your inquisitiveness with us and remember to always ask why. Congratulations, Susanna.
Tochi Ezeanolue 23
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Biology
This year’s upper level Biology award goes to Tochi Ezeanolue. I’ve had the opportunity to teach Tochi in Honors Anatomy and Honors Molecular Genetics, and she brings a unique attitude and demeanor to my classes. She has shown determination to not only do well but to truly understand and apply what we’re learning. She never shies away from asking questions because she has a keen mind that wants to comprehend instead of just getting the answers. Tochi, it’s been a blessing to have you in our upper-level Biology classes and we’re excited to see where your future takes you with the gifts and talents God has given you.
Emily Tan 25
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Science 10th grade
The award for the 10th grade science student of the year goes to Emily Tan. As a sophomore, Emily is taking Honors Chemistry, Honors Anatomy, as well as AP Physics 1. Mrs. Tonniges says that Emily goes above and beyond the expectations in order to do her very best in AP Physics. When you ask a physics teacher how to learn physics it is common to say, ‘do all of the problems that exist,’ and Emily is certainly close to that feat! Mr. Morrill says that it is apparent that Emily not only desires to do well in Honors Anatomy, but truly wants to understand the concepts. He knows a student really wants to learn when they’re asking insightful questions that make him more curious about the topic as well. Chemistry is more of the same, Emily works hard to understand the material thoroughly, performing consistently high as well as being inquisitive about topics that bridge all of these areas of science. We look forward to watching Emily grow and learn over the years with her incredible passion for science. From one Emily to another, Congratulations!
Eleanor Berardinelli 26
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Biology 9th grade
The award for the 9th grade biology student of the year goes to Eleanor Berardinelli. She has been an amazing member of my honors biology class this year. She is consistently one of the hardest working students I have. However, it is the questions she asks and how she goes above and beyond in her work that sets her apart. Her questions show that she is already thinking about the application of the content to other concepts and ideas. Her work is done in a manner more consistent with a senior life science student rather than someone just starting out their high school science career. I look forward to seeing everything she accomplishes during her next three years here at Faith.
Luke Baker 24
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Physics
The recipient of the 2022-2023 Physics award goes to Luke Baker. Luke is currently in AP Physics 2 as a Junior and consistently top of the class. Luke also took AP Physics 1 as a sophomore. This is no easy feat. He recently just scored a 5 on his practice exam. Luke strives to not only score well but truly understand the material. AP exams are upon us and when figuring out which students would be missing class to take exams, Luke's name makes the list in almost every class. He is no doubt challenging himself and still doing excellent. When going over exam questions he typically only needs to be told one small detail and then he can figure out the problem very quickly. He also does not shy away from helping his peers. He is able to help them understand the material. It has been a pleasure to have him as a student the past two years.

Social Science

List of 4 members.

Roxana Behjat 23
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Senior Social Studies Award
This year’s Senior Social Studies Award award goes to Roxy Behjat. Two things I look for in a great Government student: the ability to keep a level head in debates and a genuine curiosity about how the law works and what rights are protected. These are all things that describe Roxy. She has been a joy in class and I believe that she has a bright future in politics.
Akash Abraham 24
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Junior Social Studies Award
Akash is such an outstanding student, I am here tonight to submit my letter of resignation, and pass the torch to Akash for next year. Akash understands events, dates, people, and places at a level I've never seen in a high school junior. He keeps me on my toes, and I am truly grateful for having the privilege of teaching him this year. Additionally, Akash has taken a special interest in Calvin Coolidge, doing research, writing papers, and making speeches regarding Silent Cal...who does that? Akash does. As always, I rest easy at night knowing that there are students like Akash who will be our future leaders. It is a pleasure to present him with this award.
Brendan Crowder 25
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Sophomore Social Studies Award
This year's Sophomore Social Studies Award goes to Brendan Crowder. Throughout the ups and downs of this year, Brendan has maintained a positive and steady level of commitment with confidence and humor. Brendan was my "sounding board" this year in AP Modern World History. He was often the first to answer questions (correctly!) and helped me gauge content and pace for the class. Brendan was a real pleasure to have in class over the last two years, and I am certain of his continued success here at Faith, and in the future.
Shelby Rosenlof 26
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Freshman Social Studies Award
Shelby Rosenlof is this year’s recipient of the Social Studies Department Award for the 9th grade. Shelby is an amazing student. She possesses skills that allow her to go beyond the memorization of historical facts. She is able to make the connections between historical events and identify their relevance in the world today. If in class I ever needed someone to answer a question, Shelby was my go to student. Basically, Shelby knows her history and she understands why it is important. Teaching 9th graders about world history can be a challenge, but students like Shelby make the job a lot easier!

Theology

List of 4 members.

Reece Sandquist 23
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Senior Theology Award
This senior class has been incredible and Reece as well as anyone represents their finest qualities. Not only has Reece been excellent academically, but he has been a leader of classroom discussion and a generator of great questions. Reece brings to the table the blend we look for in every Faith IV student: a desire to grow and learn, along with a confidence to engage in discussion, tied together with the humility to present his ideas in a loving way with his peers. These spiritual fruits like patience and kindness are among the many reasons Reece our senior theology student of the year.
Alison Stepanek 24
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Junior Theology Award
The junior theology student of the year is Alison Stepanek. Alison currently is enrolled in two faith classes on campus. As part of the Christ Academy, she is in the Vocations class and she is also a student in Applied this year. She has such care for presenting the message of salvation to our school. She is always willing to step up and work ahead or add her ideas to the discussion. Sometimes her additions to our Applied class even come from her discussions in the Vocations class. And it is evident in her care for how we present our chapel information.
Troy Galli 25
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Sophomore Theology Award
I’m pleased to present this to Troy because of his unquenchable interest in our class topics and conversations. Throughout our study of the New Testament, Troy has not hesitated to ask great questions during class. He even sticks around after class to pitch ideas for a new TV mini-series or blockbuster movie based on Biblical characters! Some of these ideas have been VERY creative! Needless to say, his curiosity and determination in our class has earned him a high grade. But what makes me most excited about Troy is the way he understands the most important themes: that, while we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world, and that through Jesus, God was reconciling the world to himself. Troy demonstrates his deep understanding of that fact through his hard work and excitement in taking the Gospel and spreading it to others.
Brennan Badoyen 26
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Freshman Theology Award
Brennan is a true Bible Scholar. On the first day of school, Brennan introduced himself as "Smart and Prepared!" He sure is! Brennan is a member of the Mark 10:14 program and a valuable member of our Faith I class. What impresses me most about Brennan is seeing how hard he works for his memory quizzes. He works in class and at home and this semester has earned an A on every memory quiz! Brennan, you are a child of God. I want you always to remember my favorite verse: Ephesians 2:8-9. It reminds us of who did the work of salvation for us. It's Jesus on the cross: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

International Excellence

List of 1 members.

Rao Fu 23
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International Excellence Award
The International Excellence Award is awarded to a Senior whose origin (home, schooling, experiences, and often times family) begin outside of the United States. It goes to a Senior who has defied the odds set against them culturally, linguistically, socially, and academically and risen above the challenges and obstacles in their way to shine particularly bright. I have been fortunate to teach, work with, and know Cady for the past four years and in that time she has set herself apart in my mind and memories as being one of the most tenacious, relentless, energetic spitfire students I’ve ever had. If you’ve been fortunate enough to teach Cady or work with Cady in almost any environment or capacity, you can attest to the absolute intensity with which she lives her life. Every moment is THE moment. Every test is THE test. Every opportunity is the FINAL opportunity. Cady embraces a YOLO energy in almost every situation she’s in because for Cady, they all represent chances to improve, demonstrate her skills, advocate for herself, and take pride in who she is. She doesn’t stop until she’s reached her goals, simply because she knows she deserves to reach them. While Cady’s natural disposition helps her fight and claw her way to the very top, it is secondary to the brain and heart that God put inside her. Her high energy is rivaled only by her compassion for her friends. Her academic rigor meets its match in her ability to recognize when someone simply needs kindness. The high-stakes reality she sets herself into in an effort to guarantee the highest chance for success is complemented by her grace, her resolve, her dedication, and her smile. Cady, you have done a wonderful job representing your gifts, talents, hard work, determination, practice, and relentlessness. You’ve made us all proud, and we are all a little bit better for having had the chance to work with you! God’s blessings!

National Merit Qualifiers

In each annual National Merit Scholarship Program, based on their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test taken each October, about 50,000 academically talented high school students are honored and will be recognized as either Semifinalists or Commended Students the following fall.

Based on their performance on the exam last fall, these students have passed the initial threshold and will move on to the next level of recognition in fall 2023, to become commended and semifinalists.

List of 7 members.

Akash Abraham 24
Luke Baker 24
Edward Chou 24
Luke Dembosky 24
Katie Kim 24
Sophia Serre 24
Skyler Tan 24

Of the 50,000 identified students, the top 3-4% of scorers are named Commended Scholars.

Please congratulate the 2023 Commended Scholar.

List of 1 members.

Rylan Walter 23
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Over 1.5 million students took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in October of 2021. Rylan Walter earned the designation of Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program, which places him among the top two thirds of the 50,000 high scoring students who are honored. Congratulations Rylan!

National Merit Award Winners

Roughly 16,000 of 50,000 students are named Semifinalists, representing the top 1% of students participating in the NMSQT program, who have an opportunity to advance to the Finalist level and compete for National Merit Scholarships. From 16,000, 15,000 semifinalists become finalists who compete for merit scholarships.

List of 4 members.

Tochi Ezeanolue 23
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Over 1.5 million students took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in October of 2021. In September of 2022, Tochi Ezeanolue advanced to Semi-finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them in the top 16,000 of that 1.5 million. In February of 2023, they advanced to Finalist status, placing them among the top 15,000. Their certificates read…"This Certificate of Merit is awarded to Tochi Ezeanolue who has advanced to Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program of 2023 by demonstrating through distinguished performance high potential for future academic accomplishment. Congratulations, Tochi!"
Lila Rendel 23
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Over 1.5 million students took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in October of 2021. In September of 2022, Lila Rendel advanced to Semi-finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them in the top 16,000 of that 1.5 million. In February of 2023, they advanced to Finalist status, placing them among the top 15,000. Their certificates read…"This Certificate of Merit is awarded to Lila Rendel who has advanced to Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program of 2023 by demonstrating through distinguished performance high potential for future academic accomplishment. Congratulations, Lila!"
Susanna Ziesmer 23
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Over 1.5 million students took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in October of 2021. In September of 2022, Susanna Ziesmer advanced to Semi-finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them in the top 16,000 of that 1.5 million. In February of 2023, they advanced to Finalist status, placing them among the top 15,000. Their certificates read…"This Certificate of Merit is awarded to Susanna Ziesmer who has advanced to Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program of 2023 by demonstrating through distinguished performance high potential for future academic accomplishment. Congratulations, Susanna!"
Willem Maniago 23
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Over 1.5 million students took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in October of 2021. In September of 2022, Willem Maniago advanced to Semi-Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program, placing him in the top 16,000 of the initial 1.5 million students tested. In February of 2023, he advanced to Finalist status, placing him among the top 15,000 students. In March, Willem became one of 7,250 National Merit Scholarship winners. His certificate reads..."This Certificate of Merit is awarded to Willem Maniago who had advanced to Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program of 2023 by demonstrating through distinguished performance high potential for future academic accomplishment. Congratulations, Willem!"

Less than half of the semifinalists are named scholars. Congratulations to our National Merit Scholar.

List of 1 members.

Willem Maniago 23

Senior 4.0 Unweighted GPA

Elyssa Bahr
Logan Carlson
Quinne Carpenter
Tochi Ezeanolue
Willem Maniago
Kate Merrin
Lila Rendel
Megan Riffel
Sean Rueben
Haylee Strong
Tai Thacker
Rylan Walter

Savannah Wise
Susanna Ziesmer

Senior 4.25 or Above Weighted GPA

Faris Atout
Elyssa Bahr
Keira Bala
Roxana Behjat
Lucas Bergman
Quinne Carpenter
Hady Damaj

Kayleigh Dowd
Tochi Ezeanolue
Zachary Flandermeyer
Giovanna Gigante
Katelyn Huggins
Emma Kwok
Kate Manara
Willem Maniago
Catherine Martino
Kate Merrin
Laynie Milohnic
Sarah Morris

McKenna Murray
Spencer Pyatt
Christopher Remakel
Lila Rendel
Megan Riffel
Sean Rueben
Dixon Ryan
Mia Stipp
Olivia Taylor
Tai Thacker
Ariel Thomas
Tyler Tiedeman
Kayla Tran
Makena Trumbull
Parker Violand
Rylan Walter
Amya Zacarias
Susanna Ziesmer

Academic Letters

12th Grade
Caesar Almeida
Mavrik Amos
Faris Atout
Aubrie Austin-Elliott
Elyssa Bahr
Ashlee Baker
Keira Bala
Kaia Barber
McKenna Beckett
Roxana Behjat
Preston Beikman
Lucas Bergman
Mia Blum
Lucas Bodner
Nicholas Bohlander
Guido Bologna
Jacob Braunstein
Grace Cannito
Logan Carlson
Quinne Carpenter
Jordan Childs
Jaedyn Chung
Reed Claggett
Mia Coe
Hady Damaj
Dustin Daskas
Emma Davis
Domenic DeVries
Ivy Dietrich
Kayleigh Dowd
Ava Endelman
McKenna Erwin
Tochi Ezeanolue
Christian Finger
Zachary Flandermeyer
Sarah-Rose Foss
Arianne Fouse
Rao Fu
María Gioiosa
McKenna Grupe
Lauren Hokanson
Katelyn Huggins
Reagan Iglody
Ryan Jones
Caroline Kapper
Matthew Kaspar
Sean Keegan
Kayleigh Kennedy
Emma Kwok
Abigail Lescenski
Lana Linares
Lily Lishan
Joey Lopez
Cariss Lorenz
Lily Lusch
Kate Manara
Willem Maniago
Nikki Manukyan
Madeline Mariani
Catherine Martino
Caitlyn McGinn
Kate Merrin
Nikolas Michel
Laynie Milohnic
Leah Mitchell
Reanna Mitchell
Sarah Morris
McKenna Murray
Taylor Nelson
Karina Newson
Averi O
Carina Padilla
Jonah Palmer
Sophia Pastorino
Ava Perez
Trinity Petersen
Victoria Phillips
Spencer Pyatt
Christopher Remakel
Lila Rendel
Megan Riffel
Sean Rueben
Ella Rustand
Dixon Ryan
Danielle Salasblanca
Reece Sandquist
Ewen Schafer
Vincent Schifini
Samantha Schleyer
James Seeds
Aiden Serrano
Katherine Sholeff
Abigail Snodgrass
Ana Speth
Mia Stipp
Haylee Strong
Olivia Taylor
Tai Thacker
Ariel Thomas
Allison Thompson
Jackson Thornton
Tyler Tiedeman
Kayla Tran
Hailey Tusko
Alexandra Ulitchny
Owen Ulitchny
Gavin Van Houten
Isabella Vater
Parker Violand
Caitlin Walker
Carli Walker
Rylan Walter
Carolyn Whipple
Ava Williams
Savannah Wise
Rebecca Youngson
Amya Zacarias
Susanna Ziesmer

11th Grade
Akash Abraham
Adeel Afzal
Olivia Anfinson
Mitchell Bailes
Luke Baker
Winston Banks
Lauren Beals
Preston Beery
Heidi Blank
Summer Chabot
Kaelyn Cheney
Caden Chittenden
Kasen Christensen
Luke Dembosky
Ryan Donithan
Sarah Duckworth
Gia Duplechien
Olivia Faulis
Alexandra Frohman
Rhys Gallagher
Hannah Gibson
Isaiah Grepke
Larissa Gutierrez
Rylee Hoffman
Kyrus Huang
Zoe Jansen
Brooke Jolly
Rachel Juan
Steven Juan
Cade Keith
Luciana Kern
Katie Kim
Indigo Kman-Malinowski
Danielle Koch
Katherine Landis
Stephanie Latulippe
Kira Lee
Alexis Leonard
Andrea Leyva
Zohie Lopez
Erik Lundervold
Raelyn Maione
Kennedy March
Alyson Marmor
Jamison Marsh
Mia Mascione
Dmitri Mendez
Samantha Monighetti
Audrey Morales
Brian Morales
Madisyn Morrison
Brynna Murphy
Lina Namkung
Frankie Napolitano
Alexus Naugle
Marissa Navarro
Gillian Norton
Angelina Orlando
Sophia Orr
Trey Pfefferkorn
Chloe Proctor
Travis Rabe
Vivian Ramirez
Madelyn Ray
Stella Ray
Abigail Reams
Grace Ricciardi
Averie Roberts
Logan Schneider
Sophia Serre
Daniel Shahryari
Reina Shinohara
Emily Sholeff
Chase Sorlie
Aubrey Stanton
Santana Stone
Luke Strole
Mikayla Tam
Skyler Tan
Hope Taylor
Kallista Tindall
Alexa Tonn
Gabriella Tsolinas
Mia Turner
Maria Vardapetyan
James Vogel
Ava Walker
Apiphu Watchalapong
Gregory Wright
Caroline Yancey
Addison Zumwalt

10th Grade
Annie Aakhus
JohnDavid Abe
Isabelle Alabi
Olivia Ardine
Tamanah Babee
Kylie Bachman
Elizabeth Bailes
Braxton Baldwin
Emma Bates
Isabella Benavidez
Jackson Bentham
Alexis Bishop
Emily Brawn
Konner Brown
Justin Buzoff
Nicole Cook
Brendan Crowder
Aya Damaj
Lauren Danchik
Filomena Erra
Giana Forte
Isabella Franze
Reese Gagnon
Troy Galli
Sakura Gastaldo
Sophia Go
Landon Gonzales
Jackson Gould
Ace Hansen
Devin Harding
Lisa Harding
Paul Harvey
Tripp Hayes
Logan Hesselgesser
Jane Huh
Samantha Huynh
RJ Jones
Anika Kim
Sophia Koshitaka
William Kyle
Melanie Le
Lena Lemma
Luke Lindsten
Sienna Lopez
Makenzie Maier
Ava Mariani
Lydia Mekonnen
Emelia Mochal
Grace Netski
Nathan Nigro
Bronson Niotta
Havannah Perea
Grace Prichard
Kylee Ravenell
Andrea Romero-Agosto
Geoffrey Saad
Brady Seda
Lucas Sideco
Logan Snodgrass
Louise Steck
Ella Stovall
Abigail Suprien
Emily Tan
Mailie-Aarya Voraphankit
Robert Wandel
Jordan Watkins
Ava Wierzbicki
Tigerlily Wolfe
Alexandra Worsley
Nolawit Yilma
Joanne Yoo
Stella Zardoni

9th Grade
Ishan Abraham
Claire Achilli
Kaedynce Adabashi
Brady Anderson
Chloe Antheaume
Noah Aoun
Gavin Beckner
Eleanor Berardinelli
Aaron Bertone
Olivia Blake
Bryce Boardman
Ava Boyack
Beckham Butler
Andrew Carrison
Ella Claggett
Ana Belle Coe
Elina Cser
Sabrina de Young
Jackson Dowd
Nicholas Fitzgerald
Trinity Fleming
Isabelle Franks
Riley Galvin
Charlotte Garman
Sophia Garman
Samuel Gastaldo
Olivia Goodman
Brianna Griffiths
Drake Hall
Sahana Hiremath
Bernice Huang
Aaron Jacinto
Colter Johnson
Gannon Kartzmark
Avery King
Parker Lafontaine
Joseph Legat
Colton Mayhew
Tia Meyer
Peter Milohnic
Mary Miranda
Ruby Mueller
Kai Nguyen
Madelyn Nguyen
Taylor Paquette
Sophia Pugh
Allie Rabe
Elle Rees
Caleb Rhee
Athena Ricciardi
Joseph Rice
Shelby Rosenlof
Jillian Sandquist
Mackenzie Sharrock
Leland Shelton
Carson Smith
Emma Spannhake
Gabriel Steinman
Luke Stringer
Sarah Su
Conrad Taube
Elizabeth Transue
John Trumbull
Julia Vancura
Michael Vardanyan
Logan Venenga
Mia Walsh
Samuel Washington
Payten Willoughby
Alivia Wilson
Sriya Wint
Madison Wolfe
Aileen Xu
Andrew Zumwalt

President's Volunteer Service Awards

In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.

The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation.

Led by the Corporation for National and Community Service and managed in partnership with Points of Light, this program allows Certifying Organizations to recognize their most exceptional volunteers.

The following Faith Lutheran students join this year’s honorees for outstanding service to their community. They each will receive an award certificate signed by the President of the United States as well as a medallion for their level of award.

List of 13 members.

Ella Claggett 26
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Gold Award
Teens Age Group (11-15)
Shelby Eldeen 25
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Gold Award
Teens Age Group (11-15)
Hannah Ranai 25
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Gold Award
Teens Age Group (11-15)
K Sawyer 26
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Gold Award
Teens Age Group (11-15)
Kayleigh Downing 25
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Silver Award
Teens Age Group (11-15)
Isabelle Alabi 25
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Bronze Award
Teens Age Group (11-15)
Michael Vardanyan 26
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Bronze Award
Teens Age Group (11-15)
Mason Behm 25
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Gold Award
Young Adults Age Group (16-25)
McKenna Grupe 23
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Bronze Award
Young Adults Age Group (16-25)
Meghan Ibarra 23
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Bronze Award
Young Adults Age Group (16-25)
McKenna Erwin 23
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Bronze Award
Young Adults Age Group (16-25)
Bianca Richardson 24
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Bronze Award
Young Adults Age Group (16-25)
Audrey Wimmer-Torres 24
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Bronze Award
Young Adults Age Group (16-25)

WCG Business & Entrepreneurship Academy Graduates

Roxana Behjat
Mason Brommenschenkel

Zachary Flandermeyer
McKenna Grupe

Sam Harley

Liam Martin

Logan Peterson
Katherine Sholeff
Ariel Thomas

Christ Academy Graduates

Ashlee Baker

Preston Beikman

Evan Burns

Ardin Mignea

Susanna Ziesmer

Film & Broadcasting Academy Graduates

Keira Bala

Sophia Bonner

Camryn Caruso

Reed Claggett

Emmelien Coumou

Jordan Jackson

Abigail Lescenski

Jonah Palmer

Alexandra Psak

Tobyas Spotted Eagle
Allison Thompson

Flight Academy Graduates

Elyssa Bahr

Preston Beikman

Alexander Coumou

Aleksei Esau

Dante Jenson

Kenneth Lozich

Isabella Molinar

Jack Oder

Eliana Rau

Nicholas Raye

Jack Steinman

Carolyn Whipple

Justice & Advocacy Academy Graduates

Faris Atout

Roxana Behjat

Zachary Flandermeyer

Nikolas Michel
Laynie Milohnic

Vincent Schifini

Jonni Winn

STEM Academy Graduates

Elyssa Bahr
McKenna Beckett
Lucas Bergman
Hady Damaj
Kayleigh Dowd
Tochi Ezeanolue
Zachary Flandermeyer
Rao Fu
Emma Kwok
Willem Maniago
Laynie Milohnic
Christopher Remakel
Megan Riffel
Sean Rueben
Dixon Ryan
Kayla Tran
Parker Violand
Carolyn Whipple
Ava Williams
Rebecca Youngson

Honors Institute Graduates

Elyssa Bahr

Keira Bala

McKenna Beckett

Roxana Behjat

Quinne Carpenter

Jordan Childs

Hady Damaj

Emma Davis

McKenna Erwin

Tochi Ezeanolue

Zachary Flandermeyer

Giovanna Gigante

McKenna Grupe

Morgan Hopes

Katelyn Huggins

Reagan Iglody

Caroline Kapper

Sean Keegan

Emma Kwok

Abigail Lescenski

Lana Linares

Willem Maniago

Catherine Martino

Kate Merrin

Nickolas Michel

Laynie Milohnic

Leah Mitchell

Sarah Morris

McKenna Murray

Sophia Pastorino

Ava Perez

Eliana Rau

Lila Rendel

Logan Renteria

Megan Riffel

Alyssa Rogers

Sean Rueben

Ella Rustand

Katherine Sholeff

Caroline Skinner

Ana Speth

Mia Stipp

Haylee Strong

Olivia Taylor

Tai Thacker

Ariel Thomas

Allison Thompson

Tyler Tiedeman

Kayla Tran

Makena Trumbull

Isabella Vater

Rylan Walter

Carolyn Whipple

Ava Williams

Savannah Wise

Rebecca Youngson

Amya Zacarias

Susanna Ziesmer

United States Service Academy Appointment

List of 1 items.

Dixon Gray Ryan
The five United States Military Academies, also called Service Academies, are highly competitive undergraduate colleges that provide education and training to develop future commissioned officers of the U.S. Armed Forces. Candidates who are appointed attend for free, an education valued at well over $300,000. The 5 academies include:
- U.S. Military Academy (USMA), or West Point at West Point, New York
- U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) at Annapolis, Maryland
- U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) at Colorado Springs, Colorado
- U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) at New London, Connecticut
- U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, New York
Please congratulate Dixon Gray Ryan who has secured an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Scholarships & Special Commendations

List of 3 members.

McKenna Murray 23
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The Chick Evans Scholarship for Caddies is a full tuition and housing, four-year college scholarship for golf caddies, worth about $170,000. For more than 90 years, the Western Golf Association has overseen the Evans Scholarship Program, which is among the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship programs. It is named in honor of legendary amateur golfer Chick Evans, whose charitable legacy was to help send deserving caddies to college.

Recipients of this prestigious scholarship are nominated by the sponsoring country club where they caddied for the past 3 summers. Applicants are evaluated and selected based on four criteria: strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need, and outstanding character.

On campus Evans Scholars live together in a Scholarship House owned by the foundation. This year, 350 new Evans Scholars will begin their college education. It is hugely unusual for more than 1 scholar to come from one school in the western United States.

Congratulations McKenna!
Amya Zacarias 23
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The Chick Evans Scholarship for Caddies is a full tuition and housing, four-year college scholarship for golf caddies, worth about $170,000. For more than 90 years, the Western Golf Association has overseen the Evans Scholarship Program, which is among the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship programs. It is named in honor of legendary amateur golfer Chick Evans, whose charitable legacy was to help send deserving caddies to college.

Recipients of this prestigious scholarship are nominated by the sponsoring country club where they caddied for the past 3 summers. Applicants are evaluated and selected based on four criteria: strong caddie record, excellent academics, financial need, and outstanding character.

On campus Evans Scholars live together in a Scholarship House owned by the foundation. This year, 350 new Evans Scholars will begin their college education. It is hugely unusual for more than 1 scholar to come from one school in the western United States.

Congratulations Amya!
Kaelyn Cheney 24
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Annually, Yale regional clubs and individual alumni celebrate and recognize outstanding secondary school junior class scholar-citizens. Kaelyn embodies academic strength, community engagement and the highest moral character. As the Yale Admissions handbook states, "Yale seeks students of every background, interest, outlook, and talent…the Admissions Committee aims to gather an extraordinary variety of interesting and promising individuals to form a supportive community that is strengthened by its diversity.” As the Yale Book Award recipient, you represent this group.

Congratulations Kaelyn!

High School Awards 2023

WILLEM MANIAGO

HADY DAMAJ

Computer Science

List of 1 members.

Luke Baker 24

Engineering

List of 1 members.

Zachary Flandermeyer 23

English

List of 4 members.

Willem Maniago 23

Sophia Serre 24

Lena Lemma 25

Ruby Mueller 26

Foreign Language

List of 4 members.

Lindley Amick 24

Bryce McKee 26

Andrea Leyva 24

Eleanor Berardinelli 26

Mathematics

List of 6 members.

Quinne Carpenter 23

Rylan Walter 23

Akash Abraham 24

Emily Tan 25

Ishan Abraham 26

Colton Mayhew 26

Physical Education

List of 2 members.

Emma Kwok 23

Albert-Oluwatobi Alabi 23

Science

List of 6 members.

Elyssa Bahr 23

Susanna Ziesmer 23

Tochi Ezeanolue 23

Emily Tan 25

Eleanor Berardinelli 26

Luke Baker 24

Social Science

List of 4 members.

Roxana Behjat 23

Akash Abraham 24

Brendan Crowder 25

Shelby Rosenlof 26

Theology

List of 4 members.

Reece Sandquist 23

Alison Stepanek 24

Troy Galli 25

Brennan Badoyen 26

International Excellence

List of 1 members.

Rao Fu 23

National Merit Qualifiers

List of 7 members.

Akash Abraham 24

Luke Baker 24

Edward Chou 24

Luke Dembosky 24

Katie Kim 24

Sophia Serre 24

Skyler Tan 24

List of 1 members.

Rylan Walter 23

National Merit Award Winners

List of 4 members.

Tochi Ezeanolue 23

Lila Rendel 23

Susanna Ziesmer 23

Willem Maniago 23

List of 1 members.

Willem Maniago 23

Senior 4.0 Unweighted GPA

Senior 4.25 or Above Weighted GPA

Academic Letters

President's Volunteer Service Awards

List of 13 members.