Penn names Valedictorians, Salutatorians for Class of 2024

Penn High School Principal Sean Galiher announced that 21 students have been named Valedictorians for the Class of 2024. Four students were named Salutatorians.

Valedictorians Mia Aboukhaled, Shayan Asafuddaula, Joel Bell, Owen Black, Henry Gillin, Lillian Gregory, Caroline Johnson, Suzana Josenhans, Bohdan Kolomiiets, Erini Mattheos, Aadil Qasim, Bella Schaetzle, Connor Schmitt, Jaden Shim, Ella Smoker, David Son, Jayden Wang, Lillian Weiss, Audrey Wise, Michelle Yuan and Felix Zhang, and Salutatorians Anika Amin, Maria Goffinet, Rhea Rakhra and Landon Sears will lead the Class of 2024 at Penn’s Commencement Ceremony, 7 p.m., Monday, June 3, at the University of Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center.

VALEDICTORIANS

Mia Aboukhaled

Parents: Dany Aboukhaled and Wakim Aboukhaled

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Study Biology at Indiana University.

Career Plans: Medicine

Activities/Honors: Four seasons on the Penn Girls Lacrosse Team, Key Club, Freshmen Mentor, Medical Club, Kingsmen Tutor.

Shayan Asafuddaula

Parents:  Kousumi Tania and Shayan Asafuddaula

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Purdue University

Career Plans: Engineering

Activities/Honors: Debate, Robotics, DECA, Academic Super Bowl, NHS, Model U.N.

Joel Bell

Parents: Angela Bell and Jason Bell 

Elementary School: Northpoint and Tomoka Elementary

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Indiana University majoring in Finance

Career Plans: Finance (Private Equity or Investment Banking)

Activities/Honors: Founder and President of the Chess Club, co-Founder and Executive of the Math Club, Public Relations Officer of DECA, Executive of the Kingsmen Court, IASP Indiana Rising Star, National Merit Commended Scholar, Indiana University Kelley School of Business Scholar, Kingsmen Tutor

 

Owen Black

Parents: Danielle Black and Karl Black

Elementary School: Cleveland

Middle School: Schmucker

College Plans: Indiana University, pre-Medicine Bio Major

Career Plans: Anesthesiologist

Activities/Honors: Varsity Track (Pole Vault), U.S. Presidential Scholar Nominee, National Merit Finalist.

Henry Gillin

Parents: Amy Gillin and Peter Gillin

Elementary School: Horizon

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Purdue University to study Engineering

Career Plans: Plans to start own technology company with a basis in robotics and artificial intelligence. 

Activities/Honors: Captain of the Penn Varsity Lacrosse Team (lettered three years), member of the Penn Varsity Hockey Team (lettered two years), member of the Penn Robotics Team, the Black Knights

Member of the National Honor Society 

Lillian Gregory

Parents: Laura Gregory and Chad Gregory

Elementary School: Prairie Vista

Middle School: Schmucker

College Plans: Purdue University, Chemical Engineering

Career Plans: Chemical Engineer

Activities/Honors: Symphonic Orchestra cellist, Science Academic Super Bowl captain, German Club council member, Tri-M Music Honor Society vice-president, Mathcounts coach at Schmucker Middle School, Kingsmen Tutoring Internship leader, National Honor Society member, Key Club member, German American Partnership Program (GAPP) member, National Merit Finalist, Rising Star of Indiana 

Caroline Johnson

Parents: Abigail Johnson and Eric Johnson

Elementary School: Horizon

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Purdue University, Mathematics

Career Plans: Actuary

Activities/Honors: Key Club, National Honor Society, Target employee, DECA, Penn PACA, National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction .

Suzana Josenhans

Parents: Barbara Josenhans and Thomas Josenhans.

Elementary School: Sharon Elementary (K-3), Chandler Elementary (4-5).

Middle School: Castle North Middle School.

College Plans: Study Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Notre Dame.

Career Plans: Chemical or Biomolecular Engineer and research developing new technology. 

Activities/Honors: Co-Founder of Fischoff Chamber Music Association’s “Music For,” President of French Club, Secretary of Science National Honor Society, and member of National Honor Society, Key Club, and the South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra, U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate, AP Scholar with Distinction

Bohdan Kolomiiets

Parents: Iryna Yefimchuk Kolomiiets and Andrii Yefimchuk Kolomiiets

Elementary School: Erudytynya School (1st grade, Ukraine) School Number 3 (2nd grade, Ukraine), Sophia School (3rd grade, Ukraine), Hillside School and then International School of Luxembourg (4th grade),  Walt Disney Elementary (USA, 5th grade) 

Middle School: Schmucker (6th grade), Discovery (7th and 8th grades)

College Plans: Undecided.

Career Plans: Earn a JD/MBA degree and then pursue a career either in corporate/business law, investment banking, finance or Ukrainian/Polish politics

Activities/Honors: Debate Team executive (district champion, State runner up and LaPorte Tournament Champion-all in P.F. debate with Noah Schafer), Speech Team executive, Grissom Middle School Debate assistant coach,  Model U.N. executive, 180 days around the World Club member, South Bend Youth Advisory Council member, PACA officer, DECA, Freshman Mentor, Tennis (Penn High School Invitational No. 2 doubles champion with Zichu Wang), Soccer Referee,

-American Citizenship Award 5th grade.

Erini Mattheos 

Parents: Nektaria Mattheos and Panagiotis Mattheos

Elementary School: Prairie Vista

Middle School: Schmucker

College Plans: University of Notre Dame, Biology

Career Plans: Dentist

Activities/Honors: President of Dream Commission Society, Executive of Around The World in 180 days, National Honor Society, Key Club, JV Tennis, Kingsmen Tutor, Freshman Mentor, DECA

Aadil Qasim

Parents: Saadia Qasim and Qasim Asghar

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Study Neuroscience at Indiana University.

Career Plans: Physician.

Activities/Honors: Blood Drive Chair of NHS

Executive Board Member of MSA

Kingsmen Tutor

DECA Competitor

Bella Schaetzle

Parents: Lina Schaetzle and Dan Schaetzle

Elementary School: Walt Disney and Mary Frank

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Purdue University, Chemical Engineering.

Career Plans: Earn a Masters in Chemical Engineering and then Law School to study patent law.

Activities/Honors: Key Club President, Speech and Debate team captain, National Honors Society member,  Mishawaka Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council member, Discovery Middle School debate coach, and Kingsmen Tutor. Interned at Notre Dame in the mass spectrometry and proteomics lab, $2170 grant from the P-H-M education foundation for the Penn Grown Project (run by Key Club), Lilly endowment community scholar, National Speech and Debate Degree of Distinction. 

Connor Schmitt

Parents: Kathryn Park and John Schmitt 

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Attend Indiana University as a Wells Scholar majoring in Human Biology on a Pre-Med track with a minor in Philosophy.

Career Plans: Orthopedic surgeon.

Activities/Honors: Co-Founder and Co-President of Penn’s Association for Children with Autism, Boys Tennis Team Captain, National Honor Society Vice President, Science National Honor Society Executive, Kingsmen Court Representative, Discovery MATHCOUNTS Assistant Coach, Stock Market Club, DECA, National Merit Scholarship Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction.

Jaden Shim

Parents: Jaehee Shim and Scott Shim

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Will attend either the University of Virginia, the University of Notre Dame or Indiana University to study business and statistics

Career Plans: Unknown

Activities/Honors: Boys Tennis (Senior Captain), Penn Korean Club Co-President/Founder, National Honor Society Internal Vice President, Discovery Middle School MathCounts Assistant Coach, Kingsmen Tutor Leader, Member of DECA/Key Club/PACA (Penn’s Association for Children with Autism), National Merit Commended Scholar, two-time Northern Indiana Conference All-Conference Second Team (Boys Tennis, 2022, 2023)

Ella Smoker

Parents: Jen Smoker and Phil Smoker

Elementary School: Meadow’s Edge

Middle School: Grissom

College Plans: University of Notre Dame to study finance and business management

Career Plans: Business, likely venture capitalism or consulting

Activities/Honors: Short Hair Because We Care Club – founded the club in 2018 at Grissom Middle School and continued the club a Penn, current founder and president, hosted a yearly hair donation event at which a local salon came and cut/prepped hair for donation to Children With Hair Loss, covered by local news and media coverage, DECA two-year club president, four-year member, qualified for the International competition three years in a row by placing top three in state every year, Granger Student Ministries – weekend service middle school group leader and band member, as well as summer camp counselor, Kingsmen Against Cancer four-year member, secretary for two years, Freshmen Mentor three years, National Honor Society for both years eligible (Junior, Senior), Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation Intern (Sophomore, Junior), Key Club four years, National Society of High School Scholars  both years eligible (Junior, Senior)

David Son

Parents: Yun Kim and Yang Son

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: UCLA to study Business Economics

Career Plans: Business and Economics

Activities/Honors: Captain of Penn Swim and Dive, Freshmen Mentor Executive, Kingsmen Tutor Leader, Kingsmen Court Executive, Co-President of Penn’s Association for Children with Autism, National Honor Society President.

Jayden Wang

Parents: Lin Wang and Zheng Wang

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: University of Notre Dame, pre-med, Chemistry major

Career Plans: Emergency Medicine Physician

Activities/Honors: Science National Honor Society Co-founder and President, Fischoff Chamber Music Academy Community Engagement Intern, Cancer Research Intern at Notre Dame, South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra, Penn High School Symphonic Orchestra, Key Club, National Honor Society, PACA, Piano, Lilly Endowment Scholar, U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate, National Merit Finalist, Regional Academic All Star, National Chemistry Olympiad National Qualifier, AP Scholar with Distinction, Hoosier Piano Competition 1st in State

Lillian Weiss

Parents: Andrea Weiss and Jonathan Weiss

Elementary School: Prairie Vista

Middle School: Schmucker

College Plans: Purdue University, Biology

Career Plans: Pathologist or Geneticist

Activities/Honors: Penn Competition Dance Team member (captain for 11th and 12th grade), IHSDTA State Champion in duet (11th and 12th grade), National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, National Honor Society member, Key Club member, Kingsmen Tutor, Freshmen Mentor, Kingsmen Against Cancer member, PACA and Handwritten Hearts member.

Audrey Wise

Parents: Jane Wise and Douglas Wise

Elementary School: Horizon

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Pharmaceutical Sciences at Purdue University

Career Plans: Pharmacy industry

Activities/Honors: Penn Marching Kingsmen, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Symphonic Winds, Advanced Jazz Ensemble, Kaleidoscope Jazz Combo, Symphonic Orchestra, Whirlpool Foundation Scholarship winner, DECA ICDC qualifier, South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra

Michelle Yuan

Parents: Miao Zhong and John Yuan

Elementary School: Horizon

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Cornell University Nolan School of Hotel Administration.

Career Plans: Hotel manager.

Activities/Honors: Airbnb Superhost, Penn Korean Club Co-president and Founder, Penn Chinese Club Co-president, Penn Key Club, Penn National Honor Society, TEAMS, Grace Chinese Christian Conference Group Leader, Penn Kingsmen Tutor, Penn Kingsmen Tutor Internship and Private Tutoring, Symphonic Orchestra Violinist, Piano Pianist and Accompanist, Figure skating – Private and Public Coach and Figure skater.

Felix Zhang

Parents: Shanqin Chen and Yongtao Zhang

Elementary School: Northpoint.

Middle School: Discovery.

College Plans: Undecided.

Career Plans: Undecided.

Activities/Honors: Concertmaster of the All-State Orchestra, Penn Symphonic Orchestra, South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra. Top 3 placements at International Piano Competitions. Founding Violinist of Music For Community String Quintet, Interns for Fischoff Chamber Music Academy, AP Calculus AB Perfect Score. National Merit Scholarship Winner. Presidential Scholar Candidate. Discovery MathCounts Head Coach. Mathnasium Instructor. Co-founder and executive of Penn Math Club. Secretary of Penn’s National Honor Society Chapter. Spell Bowl Individual and Team State Champions. Math Academic Super Bowl. DECA. 3x AIME qualifier. MathCON  National Finals 2nd place. Indiana Math League State Champion.

SALUTATORIANS

Anika Amin

Parents: Ekta Amin and Nikesh Amin

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Indiana University

Career Plans: Major in Neuroscience

Activities/Honors: President of Penn Medical Club, Member of National Honor Society, Member of Key Club, Three-year member of Freshmen Mentoring, Two-year member of Science National Honor Society, Member of PACA, Member of Ronald McDonald House Charity Club

MARIA GOFFINET

Parents: Karen Goffinet and Kent Goffinet

Elementary School: Christ the King Catholic School

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Purdue University

Activities/Honors: 4H, 4H Jr. Leaders, DECA, PACA, English Academic Super Bowl, Social Studies Academic Super Bowl, Gilder-Lehrman Student Advisory Council, DECA – fourth-place Integrated Marketing Campaign, third-place Franchise Business Plan, fourth-place International Business Plan English Academic Super Bowl State Champion Social Studies Academic Super Bowl State Runner-Up Interdisciplinary Academic Super Bowl State Finalist AP Scholar with Distinction National Merit Commended Scholar NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award Indiana Affiliate Winner Billy Michal Student Leadership Award

RHEA RAKHRA

Parents: Sue Rakhra and Bob Rakhra

Elementary School: Northpoint

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Major in biomedical or chemical engineering; medical school. 

Activities/Honors: 2-time State Winner International Qualifier for DECA, Team Captain Northern Indiana Volleyball Association (NIVA three years), President of Kingsman Against Cancer and Co-Founder of Science National Honor Society, Freshman Mentor, Penn Volleyball, Written Event Officer Executive for DECA. 

LANDON SEARS

Parents: Dr. Jennifer Sears and Andrew Sears

Elementary School: Horizon

Middle School: Discovery

College Plans: Bethel University

Career Plans: Practice medicine as a Pediatrician

Activities/Honors: Earned Associates Degree in General Studies from Ivy Tech Community College through Penn’s Early College Program, Fundraising Officer for Penn’s Association for Children with Autism (PACA), National Honor Society, plays travel volleyball for Team Pineapple in Angola, Indiana.