Miss Ellen Anderson, Gaithersburg High School

Ellen Anderson is a senior at Gaithersburg High School in Gaithersburg, MD. Ellen is a top student academically, as well as leader in her school community. Ellen is an AP Scholar with Distinction. As part of the College Institute Program at Gaithersburg High School, Ellen has taken advanced college-level calculus courses. She is the Co- President of the National Honor Society and Captain of the Varsity Swim Team; achieving All-American status her last three swim seasons. She is also a member of the Student Government Association and Spanish Honor Society. Ellen has been able to give back to the community as a volunteer swim coach and ESOL tutor. Ellen has volunteered for seven summers as a pre-team coach at the North Creek Neptunes Swim Team. She teaches basic stroke work to children ages 4-10. Through the National Honor Society, Ellen was fortunate enough to receive the opportunity to tutor GHS students in the ESOL program. She mainly helped with teaching mathematics and preparing the students for the High School Assessments. She was delighted to help out her schoolmates and make new friends at the same time. Ellen also works in the summertime as a lifeguard. Ellen will attend Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in the fall, where she will study economics and compete on the Varsity Swim Team.

Miss Mary Baker, West Springfield High School

Mary Baker grew up in a busy home with four older sisters in Fairfax County. In high school, she has been an active participant in the art program at her high school and is currently serving as the National Art Honor Society president. She has received two regional keys, a gold and silver, in the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Between her junior and senior years, she attended the month-long Virginia Summer Residential Governor's School for Visual Arts at Radford University. Outside of her involvement in the arts, she is an active child-care provider in the community, providing weekly babysitting for a neighborhood family in addition to babysitting as needed by other families. Her love for young children has led her to spend hundreds of hours every summer organizing and leading a day camp for young girls at her church. She has also spent countless hours volunteering in the community. She volunteers weekly at Pohick Regional Library and throughout high school, she has regularly volunteered at ECHO (Ecumenical Community Helping Others) by organizing products, collecting food, and cleaning the center. She also has made blankets for Ronald McDonald House Charities and donated them to the NOVA House. This fall, Mary plans to attend Brigham Young University (BYU) to major in history.

Miss Charlotte Bourg, Winston Churchill High School

Charlotte Bourg, a senior at Winston Churchill High School, has lived in the Silver Spring area as well as in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. She owes her success so far to her parents and older brother. She is interested in Spanish, math, and science classes and plans to continue to focus on those subjects in college. She has also enjoyed playing clarinet in her school band, especially participating in pep band at football games. Her participation in cross country and track has been very important to her throughout high school. A four year varsity runner, she is proud to have been senior captain for all three seasons of the sport. She is a member of Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), Science National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society. She enjoys helping other students by tutoring, both as an honor society member and as a job. Having interned in Georgetown University’s Chemistry Department last summer, she is looking forward to a summer of lifeguarding and relaxing before college. She is excited about attending Washington University in St. Louis in the fall and is considering majoring in Chemistry.

Miss Alice Chang, Thomas S. Wootton High School

Alice is a senior at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland.  She aims to be a Silicon Valley technology entrepreneur.  Currently, Alice is involved in a wide array of community service activities.  In her spare time, Alice interns for the City of Rockville’s economic development agency.  Her other extracurricular involvements include Global Leaders Environmental Club, the Toastmasters International Youth Leadership Program, and the Wootton Debate Team.

Alice is especially interested in exploring green technology and social media as they pertain to social entrepreneurship.  Two summers ago, as part of her University of Maryland entrepreneurship course, she outlined a business plan for a motion-sensing “Smart Strip” technology that reduced household energy costs.  Last year, she also participated in the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, which involved improving vehicle engine mechanics in order to mitigate heat loss.

Outside of school, Alice also enjoys horseback riding and figure skating.  Alice will study economics at the University of Chicago in the fall.

Miss Veronica Chang, Chantilly High School

Veronica Chang is the proud daughter of two Taiwanese parents. Her years in high school have been spent juggling academics, sports, leadership roles, and community service. She attended Chinese School for 13 years where she is now a teaching assistant, and has realized that being able to help other young students learn the language of Chinese has been one of her proudest accomplishments. Throughout high school, Veronica has managed to balance being the Captain of the Varsity Swim & Dive Team with being the Vice President of her school’s National Honor Society and Math Honor Society. During the summer of 2011, she was chosen to attend the Virginia Summer Governor’s School for Agriculture, where she made countless numbers of new friends while also learning about organic farming and agricultural economics. She also spent many summers coaching her neighborhood swim team and giving swim lessons to younger swimmers. Veronica finds that being able to apply her skill and knowledge to helping others succeed has been a gratifying experience. She plans to major in engineering at the University of Virginia in the fall.

Miss Borahmie Chon, Centreville High School

Borahmie Chon is a senior at Centreville High School in Clifton, VA. At Centreville High School, she is an active participant in Key Club, an international organization orientated toward community service, and various honor societies including National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, and Science Honor Society. She enjoys being a leader and exemplifies this ambition by being the president of Key Club and vice president of National Honor Society. Throughout her high school career, she was an active runner participating in Cross Country and balanced a part time job at the mall. However, Borahmie often seeks “downtime” by spending her Friday nights with friends watching movies or eating frozen yogurt. If she's not out-and-about, then you'll be sure to find her at the park reading her new favorite book. As a student, Borahmie loves to be engaged and challenged. Whenever she is faced with adversity, she attempts to confront the situation in a confident manner. Her life motto is to “go with the flow” and live each day to the fullest. She plans to spend the next four years of her life at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Miss Zoe E. Dobkin, Winston Churchill High School

Zoe Dobkin is a senior at Winston Churchill High School who is always protesting something or fighting for someone’s rights with her sharp wit. She reads the newspaper every day because she finds current events extremely inspirational, and hearing the stories of others motivates her to be a passionate political activist. Her unrelenting restlessness dates back to when she first became a drummer; she was always tapping her pencil or beating out rhythms against the table. To this day Zoe cannot sit still— she craves a vivacious life, she thirsts for more knowledge, and she yearns to fulfill ever-increasing ambitions. She deeply admires her teachers who fuel her intellectual curiosity, and she loves to spark debates inside and outside the classroom. When she is not busy studying for school, Zoe enjoys leading the Newseum Student Advisory Team as a member of the Leadership Council and organizing events that feature Mary Beth Tinker (from Tinker v Des Moines) for the Future Leaders Council of the American Civil Liberties Union of the Nation’s Capital Area. She also thoroughly enjoys intimidating opposing lawyers as co-captain of her school’s Mock Trial team. Zoe has maintained a 4.0 throughout all of high school. She is a recipient of The Harvard Book Award, and she is also a National AP Scholar with Distinction. She will attend Georgetown University next fall.

Miss Amanda Christina Filie, Wootton S. High School

Amanda Filie is a senior at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland. She is greatly involved in her school and community. She co-founded the Forensic Science Club in 2009 which she has presided since and is a member of the Science National Honors Society. She is also president of Wootton’s Chapter of the National Honors Society and enjoys the many community service projects that help the local and global community. Besides Amanda’s interest in science, she has a passion for volleyball. She has been a scholar athlete for four years. She was captain of the 2011 Girls Varsity Volleyball Team earning the Patriots Award for representing the true meaning of being an athlete. In addition to high school volleyball, she has played competitively for club teams and was chosen captain for two seasons. Her other extra-curricular activities include tutoring mathematics and science as well as volunteering in her church. Amanda enjoys singing, playing piano, and traveling. She will be a chemical engineering student at the University of Maryland at College Park. She looks forward to studying abroad and contributing to the global community.

Mr. Alexander Rafael Garzón, Wootton S. High School

Alexander Rafael Garzón is currently a senior at Thomas S. Wootton High School. He was born in Washington D.C. and has lived in his current house in North Potomac, Maryland since he was born. He grew up first speaking Spanish and then learning English as he began attending school. He is currently studying Chinese as a third language and spent a month last summer in Taiwan practicing his Chinese while he visited friends there. At Wootton, he is heavily involved in the Asian American Community with his role as President of the Asian American Club. He is also a part of the math team and a senior advisor for Wootton's Patriot Ambassadors. Apart from his interests in languages, Alex is very interested in engineering and entrepreneurship. After college, Alex aspires to create a technological startup or go into international business using the skills he acquires studying engineering and Chinese as an undergraduate. Alex will attend Princeton University in the fall, where he plans to major in Operations Research and Financial Engineering. In his free time, Alex enjoys running, lifting weights, reading international news, and learning Chinese and about Chinese culture. He also volunteers for the Maryland Board of Elections where he trains for and helps run the election polls during every election. In April 2012, he served as a Bilingual Election Judge at a local precinct for the Maryland Primary.

Miss Janet Kim, Richard Montgomery High School

Janet Kim is a graduating senior enrolled in Richard Montgomery High School’s International Baccalaureate Program. In her free time, Janet is involved deeply with music, taking private lessons with Mrs. Dymond and participating in the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra, including its Philharmonic Wind Quintet, the Montgomery County All-County Band, the Richard Montgomery HS marching band, and the Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair. She’s won finalist status for the past 2 years at the Mid-Atlantic High School Soloist Competition, in which students from over 7 states compete. She is also the winner of the 2010 Potomac Valley Concerto Competition. Over the past year, Janet has been named a National Merit Finalist, a National AP Scholar, as well as a Presidential Scholar candidate. She also enjoys drawing, a hobby she’s continued since she was four years old with her twin sister Barbara, and takes official oil-painting lessons with Mr. Bu. This coming fall, she will be attending the University of Southern California as a student enrolled in the Viterbi School of Engineering, and intends to earn an additional business degree at the reputable Marshall School of Business.  

Miss Nina Lu, Montgomery Blair High School

Nina Lu is a senior in the Math, Science, and Computer Science Magnet Program at Montgomery Blair High School. Inspired by her own experiences as a child patient, she founded a charitable not-for-profit, Create with Care, a student-run community service group that donates handmade friendship bracelets to sick children in local hospitals. The organization has donated over 1,300 friendship bracelets to this cause. She has attended magnet programs since 4th grade and plans to dedicate her life to computer science and electrical engineering. She is currently deliberating between MIT and the Jerome Fisher Dual-Degree Management and Tech program at the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of class, she is co-captain of her school’s 100-member math team, technical director of her school’s award-winning online newspaper, and president of her school’s web design club. She is an avid quizbowl player, acting as school representative for her school’s academic and science bowl teams. When she is not playing with her two toddler siblings, she spends her time conducting HIV vaccine research at the National Institutes of Health. Her past research has been recognized in the prestigious national Siemens Research Competition as well as in the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) and Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). In addition to placing in the top 5% of all high school students in the American Mathematics Competition (National Honor Roll), Nina is a National Chemistry Olympiad Semifinalist, National Merit Finalist, National AP Scholar with Distinction, Presidential Scholar Semifinalist, and President’s Volunteer Service Award recipient.

Mr. Brooks Martino, James W. Robinson Secondary School

Brooks has been accepted Early Decision to the University of Pennsylvania where he plans to study chemistry as a stepping stone to a career in orthopedic surgery. He will graduate high school from Robinson Secondary School with a 4.43 GPA and an International Baccalaureate diploma. He enjoys working with children and has volunteered for a number of youth organizations, as counselor for a Loudoun County non-profit summer camp, introducing sports through Dreams for Kids to physically and developmentally challenged children, and helping youth wrestling programs as a guest instructor. He worked as a hospital Teen Volunteer, helping nurses and patients in Surgical Services. He was selected as a top Junior/Senior to participate in a program called POISE, to mentor an at-risk eighth grader. He is a 2x Wrestling State Champion and was Team Captain junior and senior years. He belongs to the National and Science Honor Societies and perform community service for those organizations. He started an afterschool tutoring program for members of the wrestling team who needed help, assigning tutors or tutoring them myself. He received the Outstanding Junior Award for outstanding academics, character, leadership and citizenship, the Athletic Booster Club Award for outstanding leadership, sportsmanship, citizenship and caring, and the John Epperly Award, which is the highest wrestling team honor for commitment, leadership, attitude, academics, and work ethic. He is a Wendy’s High School Heisman School Winner and was named the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Virginia AAA Student-Athlete of the Year.

Miss Esther Moon, Westfield High School

Esther was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 26, 1994. She has an 18 year old brother, Daniel and a 15 year old sister, Anna. Her mother and father divorced when she was about four years old and lived in Tappahannock, Virginia for four years. Esther played the violin since she was three years old, danced since she was four years old, and has played soccer since she was six years old. Her mother got remarried when Esther was eight years old and her family moved to Fairfax County. For the first six years living in Fairfax County she was active in the community, participating in Church activities, girl scouts, and other sports activities. Esther was intensively involved in dance between sixth and eighth grade where she spent six days a week, three hours a day at the Joan Izzo Academy of Dance. Later she started dancing on the dance team at Westfield High School. After freshman year in high school Esther lost her grandfather and her mother divorced again. Her family moved with their grandmother and Esther started working at Rita’s and, later, Texas Roadhouse. Esther participated in clubs, AP classes, and honor societies and took on leadership roles throughout her high school career. She started to do the family’s grocery shopping as her mother became an entrepreneur and philanthropist. Now Esther will attend Virginia Tech where she will major in Biology and hopes to become a dermatologist.

Mr. Aravind Sandilya Ponukumati, Thomas Jefferson High School

Aravind Ponukumati was born on July 5, 1994 in Cookeville, Tennessee. Within the first few years of his life, he moved many times to cities throughout the United States, such as to Arizona, New Mexico, Kentucky, and North Carolina. These experiences gave him insight and creativity in solving a variety of problems from an early age. He then went on to attend Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology with an interest in a technical education and a passion for neuroscience.Aside from academics, Aravind is an ardent chess player and has been an amateur of the game for over twelve years. Currently an Expert rated player, he ranks among the Top 100 youths in the United States and has been to places like New Jersey for the World Amateur Team East and to Tennessee for the 2009 U.S. SuperNationals. Besides chess, Aravind also enjoys playing club tennis and swims in his spare time. He is an active volunteer at the Virginia Hospital Center and works in the Neurosurgery Wing by shadowing doctors, discharging patients, and delivering medications. He is also a member of SEWA International, USA in the Greater DC metro area, and has contributed to nonprofit donations to blind and tribal school in India. Essentially, Aravind is a curious individual with a passion for learning. He plans on attending Drexel University in the fall of 2012 and majoring in Biomedical Engineering, to see where these opportunities take him in the future. 

Miss Reyna Steffany Rios, Columbia Heights Educational Campus

Reyna Steffany Rios is a senior at Columbia Heights Educational campus. Reyna is free spirited, she loves to sing, and she is sometimes described as a rainbow for her creativity and positively.  Reyna loves challenges, because she knows that they shape her into a better person. She loves acting, writing, and theater is something that her heart can’t help but leap before. Reyna works with an organization called Young Playwrights’ Theater, this organization helps young aspiring writers and actors expand their knowledge in the arts. Last year, Reyna along with 20 other workshop students wrote a play called Out of the Shadow. This play dealt with the growing problem of bullies. All of those bullied from being: gay, transvestite, immigrant, or simply being a nonconformist took a part in the play.  YPT, awarded Reyna the opportunity to see her original play, A Loving Heart. performed on Monday, October 3, 2011 at the Gala Hispanic Theatre. Currently Reyna is working on a new play, titled, When Strangers Meet, which will be performed on June 11, 2012.  Besides theater, Reyna loves the environment, which is why she enjoys being part of The Green Team in her school; which in fact led to her nickname “The Hippie” among her friends. Along with being a tree hugger, Reyna loves to read and take part in her school's Book Club and Poetry Club. Her favorite authors are: Jandy Nelson, John Green, Aprilynne Pike, Scott Westerfeld, and Suzanne Collins. Reyna's favorite quote is: "Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold.  But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow.  ~Douglas Pagels" She will continue to work for her pot of gold but she knows to take a breath and sometimes just choose what color to slide down  her everlasting rainbow. She will attend Montgomery Community College or Meredith College next year.

Miss Madeline Faye Ryan, Mount Vernon High School

Madeline is currently a senior at Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Virginia. She will be attending Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in the Fall of 2012. Madeline plans to earn a degree in environmental science. She believes that a career in environmental science will help find solutions for oil spills, air pollution, sustainability and the need for fuel alternatives. Madeline would like to work for the Environmental Protection Agency or a similar organization in the future.  During her years at Mount Vernon High School, Madeline has been involved in many school activities and organizations. She is a member of: the National Honor Society, the Science Honor Society, the Ecology Club, the Honor Court and the Art Honor Society. Madeline has also been involved in athletics. She was a member of the Field Hockey team for three years and a member of the Crew team for four years as both a rower and a coxswain. Madeline’s greatest accomplishment was placing second in state competition in the women’s lightweight 4-boat and advancing to Nationals.  Madeline has served in leadership positions that include: Associate Justice on the Honor Court and Vice President of the Art Honor Society, Captain of the Crew team and Captain of the Field Hockey team.  Madeline has been employed at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate as a gift shop employee. She has volunteered at a church-sponsored work camp, and serves as a volunteer usher at her church every Sunday during the school year.

Miss Sarah A. Siddiqui, Gaithersburg High School

Sarah Siddiqui currently attends Gaithersburg High School and is planning on attending the University of Maryland. She has maintained her 4.0 GPA throughout high school and by taking Advanced Placement and Honors Courses she has achieved a weighted GPA of a 4.75.  Her passion lies within the sciences, leading her to peruse a degree in biology. Last summer  she worked at The National Institutes of Health in the Section on Growth and Obesity. This upcoming summer she will be working there again, but in the National Institute of Mental Health. In the future she wishes to pursue a career in either pharmacy or dentistry.

Sarah is extremely involved in the extra circular activities at school. She is the Vice President of Fundraising of the National Honor Society, treasurer if The Going Green Club, Co-Founder of the Tutoring Committee for The National Spanish Honor Society, Vice President of the National Spanish Honor Society, and member of The Interact Club. In her free time she enjoys reading novels, playing soccer and hanging out with her friends.

Miss Nicole Wright, Northwest High School

Nicole Wright was born March 12, 1994 in Silver Spring, Maryland and is the oldest of four children.  Her formal education began at National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Maryland.  In the middle of the 3rd grade, she moved to Boyds, Maryland and attended Spark Matsunaga Elementary School, and later Kingsview Middle, and Northwest High School. Nicole is easy going and gets along with everyone.  She describes herself as, “a little nerdy”, but says it’s not the first thing that you would notice about her.  In school, her extracurricular activities include the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Northwest Ambassadors, and Drama where she performs as a dancer in the school plays.  Outside of school, Nicole stays grounded by attending church regularly.  On June 5th, 2012, Nicole will graduate from the Academy of Biotechnology program at Northwest High School.  Her participation in the Biotechnology program has been a great stepping stone for her future goal of becoming an orthodontist, but her accomplishments go beyond the classroom.  At graduation, she will be awarded the Certificate for Meritorious Service.  This award is given for performing 260 or more community service hours (Nicole has performed over 330).  Nicole has worked hard throughout high school achieving a weighted GPA of 4.32 and that hard work has resulted in her being accepted into several wonderful universities.  In August, Nicole will attend High Point University in North Carolina and begin her journey to become an orthodontist.

Mr. Hal Zeitlin, Winston Churchill High School