The 2016-17 school year is winding down, and this year’s Top 10 academic seniors at Lawrence High School are looking ahead to their future plans as high school graduates.
Each student filled out a questionnaire about themselves, including information about their career plans, favorite Lawrence memories, extracurricular activities and more.
The student ranked fourth chose not to participate, and asked not to be named.
The seniors will attend colleges such as Princeton University, Rutgers University, The College of William and Mary, New York University, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Michigan.
They will study engineering, biology finance and history on their way to prospective careers like teachers, rocket scientists, doctors and surgeons, among others.
During their time at Lawrence, this year’s Top 10 students were involved with clubs like Interact and DECA, extracurriculars ranging from marching band to swimming to STEM Academy and academic organizations like the National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society.
The class of 2017’s graduation ceremony is set for Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at the Sun National Bank Center, starting at 7 p.m.
Sophie Slutzky
Princeton University (mechanical and aerospace engineering)
Rocket scientist
Rank: 1
Activities: Model UN, STEM club, STEM Academy, peer leadership, Science Olympiad, Science Bowl, TEAMS, jazz band, marching band, National Honor Society, pit orchestra, Tri-M Music Honor Society
Favorite memory: Living in Ms. Andahazy’s classroom in the weeks leading up to every Science Olympiad competition
Memorable quote: “We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams…world losers and world forsakers, on whome the pale moon gleams: yet we are the movers and shakers of the world forever, it seems.” –Arthur O’Shaughnessy
Olivia Waaben
Rutgers University (business)
International business professional
Rank: 2
Activities: Operation Smile, DECA, Students Helping Honduras, National Honor Society, swimming
Favorite memory: My Operation Smile medical mission to the Phillippines
Memorable quote: “I’m not sure what I’ll do, but—I want to go places and see people. I want my mind to grow. I want to live where things happen on a big scale.” –F. Scott Fitzgerald
Kayleigh Morrison
The College of William and Mary (biology)
Osteopathic doctor
Rank: 3
Activities: DECA, Science Olympiad, marching band, National Honor Scoiety, Tri-M Music Honor Society
Favorite memory: Attending the DECA international conference in Orlando, Florida. I had the opportunity to compete at a high level and spend time exploring the city and Disney World with my friends.
Memorable quote: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.” –Maya Angelou
Anjali Agarwal
New York University (finance)
Entrepreneur
Rank: 5
Activities: DECA, Science Olympiad, Model UN, National Honor Society, debate, student leadership
Favorite memory: Winning at DECA international conferences, preparing for Science Olympiad and Model UN, AP bio labs and AP literature with Mrs. Errico.
Memorable quote: “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” –Steve Jobs
Aanchal Aich
Carnegie Mellon University (finance)
Work on Wall Street
Rank: 6
Activities: DECA, International Alliance, Business and International Studies Academy, girls’ tennis, student leadership, National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society
Favorite memory: Winning first place at the 2016 DECA International Career Development Conference
Memorable quote: “Desire, burning desire, is basic to achieving anything beyond the ordinary.” –Joseph Wirthlin
Sanjay Mahadevan
Johns Hopkins University (biology with a pre-medical concentration)
Orthopedic surgeon
Rank: 7
Activities: STEM president, Science Olympiad officer, varsity tennis captain, National Honor Society
Favorite memory: Playing and competing on the 2017 Lawrence boys’ tennis team with my amazing teammates. A special shoutout to my teammates Sanshal Bhayana, Evan Cibelli, Ashwin Baskaran, Kieran Humphreys, Luke Annand, Terence Odonkor and Khalid Massoud.
Memorable quote: “There is no such thing as luck, merely opportunity meeting preparedness.” –George S. Patton
Ruchika Moturi
University of Pittsburgh (biology/neuroscience)
Pediatric surgeon
Rank: 8
Activities: National Honor Society, STEM, Interact, International Alliance, Tri-M Music Honor Society, string orchestra, track, Teen PEP, Students Helping Honduras, stage crew
Favorite memory: The competition between academies in sophomore year when we had a scavenger hunt throughout school grounds
Memorable quote: “I cannot do all the good that the world needs. But the world needs all the good that I can do.” –Jana Stanfield
Dan Bartfield
University of Delaware (history)
Teacher
Rank: 9
Activities: Golf, debate, Model Congress
Memorable quote: “If there’s a World War III, there won’t be a you or me.” –Mr. Rowe
Sidhant Swami
University of Michigan (engineering)
Technological management
Rank: 10
Activities: Science Olympiad, swim, Model UN, International Alliance, National Honor Society, STEM Academy
Favorite memory: Playing Perseus in the 2017 Humanities Honors Greek play
Memorable quote: “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
