Honorable mentions: Northwest Suburban Academic Team, 2015-2016
Ronahy Fawaz Alzagha
East Leyden High School
Hometown: Rosemont
Parents: Fawaz and Rafif Alzagha
Sponsor: Jeremy Jackson, math teacher
Class rank: 1st out of 397
GPA: 4.5833 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 29
Planned major: Chemistry or biochemistry
Awards, honors: National Honor Society; AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; Presidential Scholar candidate; 2016 Student Citizen of the Year; valedictorian Class of 2016; eight-semester High Honor Roll member; and student government class officer
Jonathan Ampalloor
Prospect High School
Hometown: Mount Prospect
Parents: George and Sheba Ampalloor
Sponsor: Catherine Hill, counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.60 on a 5.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2320
Planned major: Business, chemistry/biochemistry
Awards, honors: AP Scholar, National Merit Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; National Honor Society
Julia Cai
William Fremd High School
Hometown: Palatine
Parents: Hechun Cai and Jiuhua Wang
Sponsor: Christopher Grattoni, math teacher
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 4.852 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2380
Planned major: Science/engineering, economics or music
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; National Honor Society; NCTE certificate for Superior Writing; and published in Creative Communication's national poetry contest
Matthew Colbert
Carmel Catholic High School
Hometown: Buffalo Grove
Parents: Daniel Colbert and Paula Zilka Colbert
Sponsor: Charlotte Pavelka, math teacher
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 4.48 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Astrophysics or particle physics
Awards, honors: Seventh place in state competition, Oral Division in North Suburban Math League; Outstanding Attorney Award at Mock Trial State Competition; Second Place in Regional in Oral Division in NSML competition
Brian Dardón
Wheeling High School
Hometown: Prospect Heights
Parents: Diane Dardón and Estuardo Dardón
Sponsor: Timothy McIntire, science teacher
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.40 on a 5.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2300
Planned major: Mechanical engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; National Hispanic Scholar; AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; National Honor Society; National Achievement scholarship program; and 2015 Midwest Suburban League East Division Scholastic Bowl champion
Piotr Galusza
East Leyden High School
Hometown: Schiller Park
Parents: Lucyna and Jan Galusza
Sponsor: Johanna Heppeler, social studies teacher
Class rank: 2nd out of 397
GPA: 4.5192 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Computer science and mathematics
Awards, honors: National Merit commended scholar; National Honor Society; AP Scholar with distinction; Illinois State Scholar; and placed second in state conference for Future Business Leaders of America
Hannah Haecker
Westminster Christian High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Parents: Greg and Dawn Haecker
Sponsor: Fred Versluys
Class rank: 1st out of 48
GPA: 4.19 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: Human and organizational development
Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar, High Honors Every Semester, Rotary Club Straight "A" Academic Accomplishment Award (2 years).
Kaitlyn Ko
Buffalo Grove High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Ken and Minna Ko
Sponsor: Brian Linhart, school counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.63 on a 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; AP Scholar with distinction; seven-semester "A" Honor Roll; National Honor Society; Illinois State Scholar; and student government class officer
Bryan Lu
Palatine High School
Hometown: Palatine
Parents: Peter and Michelle Lu
Sponsor: Tim O'Connell, counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.048 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 36
Planned major: Computer science
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; Illinois State Scholar; AP Scholar with distinction; and National Honor Society.
Alexander Maher
Barrington High School
Hometown: Barrington
Parents: Mina and Brian Fey
Sponsor: Julie Baylor, science teacher
Class rank: Top 5% out of 750
GPA: 4.819 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 36
Planned major: Neuroscience or electrical engineering
Awards, honors: National AP Scholar; National Merit commended scholar; Illinois State Scholar; and National Honor Society
Nikhil Modak
James B. Conant High School
Hometown: Elk Grove Village
Parents: Deelip Modak and Uma Modak
Sponsor: Paula Hill, counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.074 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 2120
Planned major: Computer science
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; AP Scholar with distinction; Academic Letter recipient; and National Honor Society.
Colleen O'Donnell
John Hersey High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Kevin and Cindy O'Donnell
Sponsor: Jackie Ballarini, math teacher
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.4 on a 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 36; SAT: 2180
Planned major: Mathematics
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist; AP Scholar with distinction; National Honor Society; Presidential Scholar candidate; Illinois State Scholar and four-semester Honor Roll
Mira Patel
Streamwood High School
Hometown: Streamwood
Parents: Shodhan Patel and Roma Patel
Sponsor: Judith Steinbeck, counselor
Class rank: 2nd out of 497
GPA: 4.85 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Molecular and cellular biology
Awards, honors: AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; National Honor Society; and salutatorian Class of 2016.
Mark Perkowski
St. Viator High School
Hometown: Inverness
Parents: Adam and Alina Perkowski
Sponsor: Stephanie Collins, counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 104.81 on a 100 point weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 2090
Planned major: Biochemistry
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; Presidential Scholar candidate; National Honor Society; 2012 Broadcom Masters National Science Fair semifinalist, and salutatorian Class of 2016
Sean Phelan
St. Edward Central Catholic High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Parents: Lynn and Bill Phelan
Sponsor: Kerry O'Brien, counselor
Class rank: 5th out of 106
GPA: 4.63 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Finance
Awards, honors: Rotary Club Straight "A" Academic Accomplishment Award three years; Illinois State Scholar; High Honor Roll 7 times
Tara Ramanathan
Hoffman Estates High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Parents: Balaji Ramanathan and Krithika Ramanathan
Sponsor: Heidi Davey, English teacher
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.010 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2240
Planned major: Computer science
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; AP Scholar with distinction; National Honor Society; and Illinois State Scholar
Katherine Rohde
Rolling Meadows High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Sara Rohde and Joe Rohde
Sponsor: Lisa Bram, AP chemistry teacher
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.58 on a 5.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 36
Planned major: Bioengineering and chemistry
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist; AP Scholar with distinction; Illinois State Scholar; Presidential Scholar candidate; Dartmouth Book Award recipient; and National Honor Society
Tess Schuck
St. Edward Central Catholic High School
Hometown: Hoffman Estates
Parents: Matthew and Cathryn Schuck
Sponsor: Kerry O'Brien, head of counseling services
Class rank: 2nd out of 106
GPA: 4.71 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
Planned major: Mathematics and computer science
Awards, honors: AP Scholar, National Honor Society, Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering, first place in Chemistry
Dhruvi Shah
Buffalo Grove High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Gunjan and Komal Shah
Sponsor: Bill Brown, school counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.66 on a 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Civil engineer and architecture
Awards, honors: AP Scholar with distinction; Illinois State Scholar; National Honor Society; and fourth place in Geologic Mapping for Science Olympiad regionals
Karolina Skarzynska
Schaumburg High School
Hometown: Schaumburg
Parents: Dorota and Wieslaw Skarzynska
Sponsor: Darrell Robin, English teacher
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 4.929 on 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 36
Planned major: Business or economics
Awards, honors: National Merit commended scholar; AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; Presidential Scholar candidate; Illinois High School Association Achievement Award recipient; Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society
Brendan Stonequist
John Hersey High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Michael and Susan Stonequist
Sponsor: Meaghan Waller, counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.18 on a 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Mathematics, actuarial science or accounting
Awards, honors: National Merit commended scholar; AP Scholar with distinction; National Honor Society; Illinois State Scholar; and ICTM Math Team, Pre-Calc regional champion, second overall in state regional contests
Sarah Summers
Elgin Academy
Hometown: Barrington
Parents: Carla and Josh Summers
Sponsor: Doug Sept, Upper School Director
Class rank: 1st out of 33
GPA: 4.29 on a traditional 4.0 scale
Test scores: SAT: 2200
Planned major: Biology
Awards, honors: National Merit Commended Student; Elgin Rotary Club Straight A Award - 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th; Cum Laude Society (Secondary School Division, Phi Beta Kappa Society).
Shreya Thakkar
Prospect High School
Hometown: Mount Prospect
Parents: Asha Thakkar and Nitesh Thakkar
Sponsor: Jason Block, journalism adviser, English teacher
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.52 on a 5.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Political science
Awards, honors: AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society; Certificate of Mastery in News Feature Writing from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association; second place in Copy Editing at IHSA journalism sectional competition; two first place awards in Breaking News Writing and Feature Writing, Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association
Polyxeni Thanopoulos
Elk Grove High School
Hometown: Des Plaines
Parents: Evdokia and Bobby Thanopoulos
Sponsor: Mark Heintz, social studies
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 5.57 on a 5.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
Planned major: Actuarial science and business
Awards, honors: AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; seven-semester Honor Roll; and National Honor Society
Liam Warner
St. Viator High School
Hometown: Barrington
Parents: Ian and Karen Warner
Sponsor: Stephanie Collins, counselor
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 106.00 on a 100 point weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2350
Planned major: Economics
Awards, honors: National Merit Scholar; University of Chicago Merit Scholarship recipient; AP Scholar; Illinois State Scholar; National Honor Society; and student government class officer
Bill Wei*
Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Hometown: Buffalo Grove
Parents: Joanne Gu and Dong Wei
Sponsor: William Fritz, debate coach
Class rank: School does not rank
GPA: 4.8046 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Economics
Awards, honors: National Tournament of Champions Congressional Debate Finalist; Business Professionals of America Fundamental Accounting Nationals Fourth Place; BPA Financial Analyst Team State Champion
* Winner, Lake County Academic Team