Four Penn students named Class of 2022 Rising Stars in Indiana

Principal Sean Galiher announced that Parnasi Bandyopadhyay, Salem Fitwi, Shelley Shen and Matthew Zhang have been named Rising Stars of Indiana for the Class of 2022 by the Indiana Association of School Principals.

Students across the state were nominated based on their academic achievement.

PARNASI BANDYOPADHYAY: Bandyopadhyay is a student in Penn’s STEM Academy. She is on track to graduate with Penn’s highest Latin Academic Honors distinction – Summa Cum Laude. Her SAT scores are in the 98^th percentile. She a First Aid, AED and Lifeguard certified. She is on track for membership in the National Honors Society and the MMIA (Molecular Medicine in Action) Symposium (through IUPUI). Bandyopadhyay is also an Executive Freshmen Mentor, a French Club officer, a member of Kingsmen Court, is in the Penn Marching Band, and participates in several other clubs including Pep Band and Around the World in 180 Days. Outside of school, she volunteers at the Food Bank of Northern Indiana and works as an intern at a software consulting company. She is considering a career as a professor in the field of biology or biomedical sciences.

SALEM FITWI: Fitwi is a student in Penn’s STEM Academy. He is a TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science) Regional and State Champion, an AP Scholar with Honor, a MathCon National Qualifier, a Math Academic Super Bowl State Champion. a Spell Bowl State Champion, and had a near-perfect SAT. He has done Sports Medicine Research at Northwestern University, and Investment Research at Notre Dame University. Fitwi also serves as a Schmucker Middle School MathCounts Coach, TEAMS Captain, Model United Nations Executive, MSA Executive and a Kingsmen Tutor, and he is involved in DECA, Math Academic Super Bowl, MathCon and Indiana Math League. He plans to study Finance and go into Investment Banking/Hedge Fund. 

SHELLY SHEN: Shen is a student in Penn’s STEM Academy.  She was a member of the Quiz Bowl team at the 2020 State Finals, was named a Notre Dame Summer Scholar 2020, and is an AP Scholar. Shen is Vice President of Key Club, a member of the Science Academic Super Bowl, TEAMS, the South Bend Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Freshmen Mentoring, Model United Nations, Chinese Club, and Kingsmen Court. She plans to study within the field of biology. 

MATTHEW ZHANG: Zhang is a student in Penn’s STEM Academy. Zhang earned a perfect ACT score (36). He is a TEAMS Regional and State Champion, and an AP Scholar with Honor. Zhang is also a MathCon National Qualifier, Spell Bowl State Champion and DECA Districts Champion. He also played Varsity Football, is a Schmucker Middle School MathCounts Coach, TEAMS Co-Captain, Model United Nations Executive, Key Club Treasurer and Chinese Club President. He is also involved in DECA, Math Academic Super Bowl, Indiana Math League and is a Kingsmen Tutor. He plans to study CS/Finance and either become a Software Engineer or Hedge Fund Manager.