Penn names 18 students Valedictorians for Class of 2019

Penn High School Principal Sean Galiher announced that 18 students have earned Valedictorian honors for the Class of 2019.

Galiher expressed his pride at the accomplishments of the Valedictorians, and commended them for their commitment to pursuing academic excellence.

Penn’s Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2017 will be held on Friday, June 7, 2019, at 7 p.m., at the University of Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion. Click here for graduation information.

AMMAAR BASHER

Parents: Parveen and Abul Basher.

Elementary School: The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes. 

Middle School: The Montessori Academy at Edison Lakes.

College plans: Indiana University – Bloomington.

Career plans: Neuroscience. Attend medical school and become a doctor.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Commended Scholar, National Honor Society, Key Club, Model U.N., Quiz Bowl, Volunteer at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

AMY BERNARD

Parents: Nisha and Rex Bernard.

Elementary School: Northpoint. 

Middle School: Discovery.

College plans: The University of Notre Dame.

Career plans: Preprofessional Science. Dentistry.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: AP Scholar with Distinction, English Academic Super Bowl Captain, National Honor Society Secretary, Orchestra, National Merit Scholar Finalist, Kingsmen Tutor, Freshmen Mentor, Kingsmen Court, Key Club, TEAMS, Volunteer at St. Joseph Hospital, Mathnasium instructor.

ELLA BOARDLEY

Parents: Amy and Michael Boardley.

Elementary School: Prairie VIsta. 

Middle School: Schmucker.

College plans: Ball State University.

Career plans: Study Bio-Chemistry with a Pre-Med track. Become a Pediatric Surgeon and work with Doctors Without Boarders.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: National Honor Society, Freshmen Mentor Executive Board, Key Club, Handwritten Hearts, Kingsmen Against Cancer, Penn Medical Club, National Merit Commended Scholar, Hospital Volunteer.

CHARLOTTE CHANG

Parents: Elisa Huang and Kevin Chang.

Elementary School: Northpoint.

Middle School: Discovery.

College plans: Georgia Tech.

Career plans: Computer Engineering.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Robotics, Math Academic Super Bowl, National Honor Society, Key Club, Mathnasium Instructor, Hospital Volunteer.

XI CHEN

Parents: Dan Wie and Yuquan Chen

Elementary School: Walt Disney/Northpoint.

Middle School: Discovery.

College plans: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Career plans: Computer Science and Molecular Biology.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Summer Science Program, TEAMS, South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra, Girls Who Code, Kingsmen Court, Model U.N., National Honor Society.

SIDDHARTH DAS

Parents: Monali and Promit Das.

Elementary School: Stanley Clark.

Middle School: Discovery.

College plans: Indiana University – Bloomington.

Career plans: Biology.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Tennis Captain, TEAMS Captain, Freshmen Mentor Executive, Model U.N., Dance Marathon, Robotics.

LUCAS JERZAK

Parents: Traci and Robert Jerzak.

Elementary School: Elsie Rogers. 

Middle School: Schmucker.

College plans: Indiana University – Bloomington.

Career plans: Biochemistry and Army ROTC. Biomedical Research and Army Officer.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Marching Band, Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Orchestra.

AIDAN KACZANOWSKI

Parents: Annette and Jeff Kaczanowski.

Elementary School: Home Schooled/St. Thomas the Apostle. 

Middle School: St. Thomas the Apostle.

College plans: Purdue University.

Career plans: Computer Science. Software Engineer.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: National Merit Scholar, Captain of the Chess Team.

HASAAN KAZI

Parents: Noreen and Amer Kazi.

Elementary School: Stanley Clark.

Middle School: Stanley Clark.

College plans: Indiana University.

Career plans: Neuroscience. Doctor.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Key Club, Volunteer at Memorial Hospital, AP Scholar, National Honor Society, Science Bowl Captain.

SHURUN KIM

Parents: Kyung and Hansol Kim.

Elementary School: Town Center School (Coppell, Texas).

Middle School: Coppell Middle School North (Coppell, Texas).

College plans: Undecided.

Career plans: Neurosurgeon.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Founder, Cubing Club, National Honor Society, Hope Ministry, Translation at Church, Youth Group Leader, SASB, Chemistry Olympiad.

SABRINA KURIAN

Parents: Shyla and Sabu Kurian.

Elementary School: St. Thomas the Apostle.

Middle School: Discovery.

College plans: Lewis University.

Career plans: Chemistry, Pre-Medicine. Doctor.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Cross Country, Key Club, National Honor Society, Freshmen Mentor, National Qualifier for TEAMS, Choir.

TINGYI LU

Parents: Li Zhang and Jiacai Lu.

Elementary School: Flagg Street School, Worcester, Mass.

Middle School: Goddard Scholars Academy/Discovery Middle School.

College plans: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Career plans: Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Presidential Scholar, Kingsmen Court Executive, Math Academic Super Bowl Captain, TEAMS Captain, Model U.N., National Honor Society, Key Club, National Merit Scholarship Finalist.

ABIGAIL MECKSTROTH

Parents: Jennifer and Timothy Meckstroth.

Elementary School: Prairie VIsta.

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Middle School: Schmucker.

College plans: University of Notre Dame.

Career plans: Architecture.

Activities, Honors and Team Memberships: Lilly Endowment Scholar, Varsity Swim Team, National Honor Society, Veterinarian Club, Spanish Club, Key Club.

ZAINAB NASSER

Parents: Yusra Baker and Naseer Nasser.

Elementary School: Northpoint.

Middle School: Discovery.

College plans: Purdue University.

Career plans: Actuarial Science.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Model U.N., TEAMS, Science Academic Super Bowl, Volunteer at St. Joseph Hospital, Quiz Bowl, Mathnasium.

SOPHIA PATEL

Parents: Shilpi  and Pankaj Patel.

Elementary School: Northpoint.

Middle School: St. Joseph (South Bend).

College plans: Purdue University.

Career plans: Biology. Dentistry.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Ballet & Modern Dance, Graduate of Youth Leadership-South Bend/Mishawaka, National Honor Society, Dance Marathon, Freshmen Mentor, Key Club, Volunteer at St. Joseph Medical Center.

JUSTIN RALSTON

Parents: Laura and Dennis Ralston.

Elementary School: Horizon. 

Middle School: Discovery.

College plans: Purdue University.

Career plans: Biomedical Engineering.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Robotics Captain, Symphonic Orchestra, Penn Ultimate Frisbee Team, TEAMS, National Honor Society.

ALVIN WANG

Parents: Qing and Xi Wang.

Elementary School: Elm Road.

Middle School: Grissom.

College plans: Purdue University.

Career plans: Pharmaceutical Science. Dermatologist.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: Tennis Captain, Academic Super Bowl, Chinese Club, National Honor Society.

COREY WANG

Parents: Minjie Lin and Meng Wang.

Elementary School: Northpoint. 

Middle School: Discovery.

College plans: Northwestern University.

Career plans: Engineering.

Activities, Honors, Team Memberships: National Honor Society, Cross Country, Science Bowl, National Merit Finalist, Indiana Academic All-Star.