They aspire to work in national security, military research, tax law and medicine.
They are headed for institutions like Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania and Virginia Tech. They have earned entry onto those campuses by being leaders in and out of the classroom, by being a talented musician, an advocate for the environment, a robotics whiz or a skilled athlete.
They are the Top 10 seniors in Hamilton Township’s three public high schools, and, if all goes to schedule, they will graduate from the Hamilton Township School District June 23.
Each student in the Top 10 finished with a grade-point average higher than 4.0. Adding in their commitments as peer leaders, student government officers, sports team captains and editors of newspapers heightens their academic achievements.
Some of the students plan to continue their extracurricular activities in college. And seven of them will go on to compete in intercollegiate athletics.
There are 17 girls and 13 boys in the Top 10s.
All three graduations are scheduled for June 23. Steinert High School’s Class of 2014 will graduate at 3 p.m. at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton. Nottingham High follows at the arena, with a 7 p.m. ceremony. Hamilton High School West will hold its graduation 7 p.m. at the Trenton War Memorial.
Joshua Knowles
Virginia Tech (industrial engineering)
Engineer in the sports industry
Class rank: 1
GPA: 4.622
Clubs: Student government, Peer Leadership, Science League, National Honor Society
Sports: Lacrosse (captain for 2 years), football
Favorite memory: “My favorite memory in high school is not just a single memory. It is a collection of memories I have made with my friends over the past four years. The friendships within our squad has strengthened into a brotherhood, and I look forward to our graduation and the start of our adult life.”
Memorable quote: Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful. –John Wooden
Roger Kleinmann
Stevens Institute of Technology
Robotics engineer
Class rank: 2
GPA: 4.6
Clubs: Math Club, Science League, robotics team
Intercollegiate Sports: Fencing
Favorite memory: “Maintaining the number one seed at the Mid-Atlantic robotics regional competition.”
Memorable quote: The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. –Albert Einstein
Madison Uram
Lehigh University
Biochemist
Class rank: 3
GPA: 4.49
Clubs: Italian National Honor Society (president), National Honor Society (vice president), Science National Honor Society (treasurer)
Sports: Field hockey, swimming, lacrosse
Favorite memory: “My favorite memory of high school by far was traveling to Italy over the summer with my Italian teacher and some of my closest friends. Together, we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves into another culture. It was an experience of a lifetime, and it will always be one of my fondest memories of high school. I’ve never eaten anything as great as Italian gelato.”
Memorable quote: Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. –Steve Jobs
Bryant Curto
New York University (computer science/math)
Computer science researcher
Class rank: 4
GPA: 4.489
Clubs: Hamilton Environmental Youth Club (president), math club, robotics club
Favorite memory: “During the final weeks of the 2012-13 school year, the HEY Club was quite productive. We weeded, mulched, raked, dug, planted and watered. After all of this, Mr. Reed (the club supervisor) sometimes took us out for ice cream. I always got chocolate. Mr. Reed has since retired, and most of the people in the club have graduated. Now, I follow them onward. I hope the people who replace me are able to find as much enjoyment in the club as I have.”
Memorable quote: We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever; the goal is to create something that will. –Chuck Palahniuk
Sebastian Cwalina
Rutgers University
Pharmacist
Class rank: 5
GPA: 4.483
Sports: Soccer, track and field
Favorite memory: “My favorite memory from high school would have to be making the amazing group of friends I have today.”
Memorable quote: Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. –Henry Van Dyke
Austin Jenkins
Hofstra University
Accountant
Class rank: 6
GPA: 4.45
Sports: Soccer, cross country, swimming, winter track, spring track
Intercollegiate Sports: Cross country and track
Favorite memory: “My best memory of high school was traveling to Italy with some of my best friends for nine days.”
Memorable quote: If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you will never change the outcome. –Michael Jordan
Mona Elsayed
College of New Jersey (Molecular biology)
Pathologist/Cytotechnologist
Class rank: 7
GPA: 4.45
Clubs: Hamilton Environmental Youth, National Honor Society, student government, Peer Leadership, Science National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society
Favorite memory: “Coming from a private school, I entered high school not being able to recognize a single face. Most people had their own group of friends from middle school, except me. I had peer leaders who helped guide me, and I admired them. Little did I know that during my senior year, I would become one myself. I went from entering high school not being able to find a familiar face to a senior leading freshmen to a successful high school experience.”
Memorable quote: Be the change you wish to see in the world. –Mahatma Gandhi
Nahomie Possible
Rutgers University (Molecular biology)
Dermatologist
Class rank: 8
GPA: 4.39
Clubs: National Honor Society, French National Honor Society, French Club, Peer Leadership, marching band, symphonic band, jazz band
Favorite memory: “My favorite memory of high school was playing in the band during the pep rallies, and the overall sense of community and togetherness felt in our school on that day.”
Memorable quote: Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, so throw all the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the tradewinds in your sails, explore, dream, discover. –Mark Twain
Sara Cieslik
College of New Jersey (biology)
Medicine
Class rank: 9
GPA: 4.35
Clubs: Student government, Hamilton Environmental Youth
Memorable quote: You can close your eyes to the things you don’t want to see, but you can’t close your heart to the things you don’t want to feel.
Dan Elefant
Villanova University (Accounting/finance)
Tax attorney
Class rank: 10
GPA: 4.29
Clubs: National Honor Society, Student Government Association, marching band (drum major), National Technical Honor Society, Science National Honor Society (president)
Sports: Basketball
Favorite memory: “I have had so many positive memories at Hamilton High West—as a member of the marching band, a member of the basketball team and just being with my friends. One moment that stands out took place this past fall when my friends and I won the volleyball tournament. Winning with my best friends was an amazing feeling.”
Memorable quote: Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. –Albert Einstein
