2011-2012 Northwest Suburban Academic Team
Avni Bavishi
Hoffman Estates High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Parents: Amit and Aesha Bavishi
Sponsor: Patrick Swanson, teacher
Class rank: 1st out of 515
GPA: 5.1747 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2380
Planned major: Biomedical engineering
Awards, honors: Discovery Education/3M Young Scientist Challenge, top 10 in U.S., 2009; National Merit Scholarship Finalist; Illinois Science Olympiad Individual Event 1st place
Personal statement: “I don't remember exactly how it all started. Somewhere between my first surgeon costume as a toddler and today, I just knew. Deep inside, I've always known that I knew. My experiences during the journey thus far have only solidified my faith in the medical field.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “My student is undoubtedly one of the most naturally gifted students I have had in my career. The questions she asks reflect how deeply she understands the material and are often beyond the realm of what I cover in my class. I have often found myself looking up the answers to her questions outside of class time.”
Madeline Conway
Prospect High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Susan Shallenberger and Tim Conway
Sponsor: Allyson Kreutzer, English teacher
Class rank: 6th out of 545
GPA: 5.67 on a weighted 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 2300
Planned major: Political science and economics
Awards, honors: Third place, 2012 Illinois Journalist of the Year; National Merit Commended Scholar; President's Volunteer Service Award
Personal statement: “All that I've accomplished in high school has allowed me to look at my surroundings in different contexts, from the political to the historical to the scientific. My academic accomplishments have fostered my intellectual curiosity and inspired me to continue learning long past graduation.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “She has earned my trust and my admiration in a way that only a very few students in my career have. She hasn't even graduated yet, and I already miss her. She is indeed a gem of the rarest type: a perfect combination of drive, intellect, and decency.”
Alexander Linzmeier
Wheeling High School
Hometown: Wheeling
Parents: Daniel and Karen Linzmeier
Sponsor: Richard Watson, counselor
Class rank: 2nd out of 438
GPA: 5.68 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 32; SAT: 2160
Planned major: Film and television
Awards, honors: Richard Calisch Arts Unlimited Award for excellence in the arts, both District 214 and Wheeling High School winner; AP Scholar; Illinois Congressional Association All-Star Debate Team
Personal statement: “I plan to help improve society through the medium of film and television. I will apply the knowledge and skills of debate to identify societal problems and persuade others to support better policies.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Everything that Alex has accomplished to date ranks a distant second to who he is as a person. Rarely have I known anyone with all of the combined qualities that he possesses. He has the most wonderful compassion for his fellow students, he is admired by both peers and faculty. He is humble, kind and generous.”
Connie Liou
Conant High School
Hometown: Elk Grove Village
Parents: Scot Liou and Anna Liao
Sponsor: Timothy Cannon, principal
Class rank: 1st out of 633
GPA: 5.0001 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2350
Planned major: Human biology, biochemistry or molecular biology
Awards, honors: IMEA All-State musician and concertmaster of CYSO & District Honors Orchestra; National Council of Teachers of English achievement award in writing; American Cancer Society Fellow
Personal statement: “Since I was young, I have trained myself to overcome obstacles. It is the process, not the end result, which I eagerly embrace. I have learned so much from my failures that I now know challenges actually shape me into a stronger individual.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “She is the most outstanding student leader I have encountered in 32 years in education. Academically, she is number 1; she has unconditionally given her time and talent to her high school and surrounding communities; she is an accomplished musician. She embodies all the qualities of compassion, creativity, determination and work ethic.”
Emily G. Liquin
Palatine High School
Hometown: Palatine
Parents: Jane and Daryl Liquin
Sponsor: Craig Barnes, math teacher
Class rank: 11th out of 672
GPA: 4.8096 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 36; SAT: 2380
Planned major: Neuroscience or cognitive science
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist; Illinois State Scholar; AP Scholar
Personal statement: “I've committed my high school career to excelling in all that I do, focusing mostly in music and academics. My accomplishments thus far have served to prove, to myself and to those who know me, that I will be able to impact the world, and beyond that goal, I can achieve one final goal, the goal of nearly all human beings. I will be able to live a happy and fulfilled life because I will be doing what I love to do.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “She is the kind of student who, when she raises her hand, you know will ask a great question that will really make you think. Emily is more than willing to help tutor her fellow students, both in class, and on her own time.”
Mengran Liu
Hoffman Estates High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Parents: Minghui Liu and Bing Wang
Sponsor: Suzanne Fetherling, science teacher
Class rank: 2nd out of 515
GPA: 5.143 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 36; SAT: 2350
Planned major: Biological sciences, public health
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist; AP Scholar with Distinction; Midwest Academic Talent Search gold medalist
Personal statement: “As a Japanese-born, full-blooded Chinese girl who lived in Canada before coming to America, I learned early on that I am a citizen not of one country, but of the world. As a doctor, I will use my communication skills to continue exchanging experiences, gaining even more perspectives through which to view the world.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “This individual is a true DaVinci woman. For our first two lab reports on diffusion and osmosis and enzyme catalysis, I provided the students with an example of how a lab report should be written. But when Mengran turned in her lab report I opted to throw mine in the trash and used her report as the example.”
Marianne Palczewski
Bartlett High School
Hometown: Bartlett
Parents: Marie and Andrzej Palczewski
Sponsor: Cheryl Hilvert, counselor
Class rank: 1st out of 670
GPA: 4.863 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: Biological engineering
Awards, honors: National Honor Society
Personal statement: “A person can achieve eminence only through intellectual ability, commitment and creativity. It is not enough to have a high IQ; one must be willing to work hard to have her ideas come to life. As an adult, I would love to be personable, dedicated, hardworking, compassionate and driven. In 10, 20 and even 30 years down the road I can see myself with the same thirst for knowledge as I have now, but with the ability to directly help people live better lives.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “I have no doubt Misia will thrive in a highly competitive university environment and will immerse herself in every opportunity the school has to offer. She continues to raise the bar for herself while lifting others up. She is both a leader and a team player.”
Anand Patel
Conant High School
Hometown: Schaumburg
Parents: Kirti and Alka Patel
Sponsor: Kimberleigh Wiley, college and career consultant
Class rank: 1st out of 633
GPA: 5.0636 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Biology
Awards, honors: Presidential Award for Academic Excellence; Kumon Math Program; Business Professionals of America Merit Scholar
Personal statement: “My accomplishments throughout my career as a student have been a result of accepting challenges and overcoming obstacles with optimism. This parallel between my accomplishments and my future career stems from my desire for intellectual and humanitarian challenges.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Intelligent, kindhearted and highly motivated are three characteristics that begin to describe this young man. I have known this student for three years as his counselor, and I can honestly say I have never encountered a student with as much dedication to his studies and passion to succeed.”
Joe Sessions
John Hersey High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Joe and Ursula Sessions
Sponsor: Kent Borghoff, social science teacher
Class rank: 8th out of 471
GPA: 5.63 on a 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Finance, economics or business
Awards, honors: American Legion Award, National Honor Society, AP Scholar
Personal statement: “My stutter may be a burden, but it has taught me more than a textbook ever could. Because the gift of speech does not come to me directly, I do not let it go to waste by staying silent. I'm the guy in the front row at the football games with his chest painted trying to pump everyone up. I'm the guy people can go to when they don't understand what a derivative is in calculus. And I'm the guy that anyone can talk to if they just need a friend.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “In terms of ability, approach and accomplishment, few students can reach his academic level. But perhaps more impressively, Joe complements these skills with an affable and mature personality.”
Antonio Spina
Bartlett High School
Hometown: Streamwood
Parents: Brian and Rose Spina
Sponsor: Erin Gorman, counselor
Class rank: 2nd out of 670
GPA: 4.7 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2200
Planned major: Biomedical engineering
Awards, honors: National Honor Society; National Merit Scholarship Finalist; AP Scholar with Distinction
Personal statement: “I look forward to someday being able to help those in need through the wonders of human ingenuity and medical technology on a scale I had never before thought possible — and I am sure I will look back on these (high school) achievements as the stepping stones that made it all possible.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Antonio has always been an honest and forthright person. It almost goes without saying that he is a hardworking and diligent student. One thing that always stood out to me was his creativity. He manages to always bring a new perspective and sense of humor to any situation and I think this will undoubtedly serve him well in engineering.”