2010-2011 Fox Valley Academic Team
Stephanie Cheng, Illinois Math and Science Academy
Hometown: Naperville
Parents: Weiying Cheng and Shidan Deng
Sponsor: Suzanne Speulda, counselor
Class rank: Not applicable
GPA: IMSA does not calculate GPA
Test scores: SAT: 2340
College: Yale University
Planned major: Economics, pre-law
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, Illinois State Scholar, Academic Achievement Award
Personal statement: “As a trial lawyer, I would be able to use all the skills that I gained from writing and public speaking over the last four years. I am the writer, crafting my story with each piece of evidence. I am the speaker, catching my audience's attention with my performance. I am the debater, urging the jury to see my story as the truth. ”
Sponsor's endorsement: “When I ask my students to turn in an assignment, Stephanie is my only student that uses both sides of the page. This could be part of the recent trend of 'going green,' yet for Stephanie, I see this as symbolic of her life. Stephanie is the kind of scholar, learner, contributor, researcher, and organizer that packs in all the skill, knowledge and accomplishment that her life can possibly accommodate.”
Riti Chokshi, Elgin High School
Hometown: Bartlett
Parents: Kalpesh and Rupal Chokshi
Sponsor: Heather Spear, counselor
Class rank: 1 out of 506
GPA: 5.0 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 30
College: University of Illinois at Chicago
Planned major: Chemistry, pharmacy
Awards, honors: Honor Roll, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar, Mathletes, HOSA, Scholastic Bowl
Personal statement: “Academic excellence is a vital quality students must have as I have always worked for straight A's. But in addition, students should also be able to balance their lives through athletics, extracurricular activities, community service, family, friends, and education. For the past four years I have followed the principle of Greg Anderson, 'Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.'”
Sponsor's endorsement: “I used to tell students and parents that it was not possible in our grading system to achieve a 5.0 grade-point average. There are a few mandatory regular-level courses that can only be weighted at the 4.0 level. Riti has found the formula to achieve the perfect 5.0 at our school. ”
Paul Jerger, Burlington Central
Hometown: Hampshire
Parents: Steve and Cindy Jerger
Sponsor: Jonathan Young, counselor
Class rank: 1 out of 228
GPA: 4.24 on a 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
College: Stanford University
Planned major: Chemistry or physics
Awards, honors: National Merit Semifinalist, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar, AP Scholar, Rotary Club of Elgin Third Year Straight A award
Personal statement: “As fond as I am of physics and chemistry, there's no telling in what direction chance may take me. At least one constant will remain, though, and that is the motivation that I have honed throughout high school, which I believe will serve me well in the future. In whatever field I find myself, I will do my best to first succeed, then excel, then finally be the best I can be. My ambition is to someday drop a few stones of my own into the well of human knowledge.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Paul is mature, articulate, and highly intelligent. Perhaps most importantly, Paul is humble and has never allowed his class rank or GPA to define who he is or presume he is better than anyone else.”
Megan McFarland, Batavia High School
Hometown: Batavia
Parents: Bob and Julie McFarland
Sponsor: William Kettering, social studies teacher
Class rank: 18 out of 430
GPA: 4.0 on a traditional 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 31
College: Washington University in St. Louis
Planned major: International business and foreign languages
Awards, honors: Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society, Honor Roll, math competitions
Personal statement: “As a sophomore in my Spanish III class I discovered my love for foreign languages and cultures, consequently inspiring me to pursue the experience of a foreign exchange trip. In order to pay for my endeavor, I started working six days a week as a hostess in a restaurant, a baby sitter, and a tutor. Learning to work for what I wanted taught me that hard work and setting my mind on something can get me anywhere.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Megan is one of the hardest working, serious students I have ever taught in my 25 years at Batavia. She is one of the kindest persons I ever met, also.”
A.G. Navarro, Huntley High School
Hometown: Huntley
Parents: Abundio and Grace Navarro
Sponsor: Patty Zacharias
Class rank: 2 out of 473
GPA: 4.414 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 30
College: University of Illinois
Planned major: Chemical and molecular bioengineering
Awards, honors: Salutatorian, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar
Personal statement: “In our small town in the Philippines, we could not afford Western medicine very often so we had to rely on herbal salves and concoctions for treatment. My mother and other relatives were afflicted by tumors, malignant or benign, and having them treated was a struggle. It pained me to observe their distress and not be able to take action so I decided to pursue a career in medicine, namely oncology.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “Unlike many students who are not sure which field to pursue, he has made clear that his goal is to pursue a career in pre-med/nursing/oncology. He has a passion for learning. In the classroom, he is known to provide different opinions and perspectives which have contributed to the learning of his classmates.”
Jake Surges, Jacobs High School
Hometown: Gilberts
Parents: Audrey and Cliff Surges
Sponsor: Michael Bregy, superintendent-elect
Class rank: 2 out of 542
GPA: 5.92 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 32
College: Boston College
Planned major: Biology and theology
Awards, honors: Edward Jones Scholastic Leader award, first place in biology for WYSE, Honor Roll, National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar
Personal statement: “Have you ever tried to put together a puzzle without looking at the picture on the box? Well, sometimes I feel like that is what high school is all about. However, I think I have begun to see the big picture and have found focus on my dreams and aspirations of combining science, faith and culture, with a healthy dose of leadership and tenacity, to become a missionary doctor.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “This student is a young man I will always remember ... he stands out among the 2,400 students at one of our three high schools. He is both a mentor and model of the behavior and attitudes hoped for in students.”
Collin Waldoch, Geneva High School
Hometown: Geneva
Parents: Mark and Laura Waldoch
Sponsor: Tom Rogers, principal
Class rank: 1 out of 480
GPA: 4.73 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2260
College: Harvard University
Planned major: Mathematics, economics
Awards, honors: First place WYSE regionals in English, All-Sectional Scholastic Bowl, co-founder of math honor society
Personal statement: “I want to start a company. I don't know what type of company, and I don't know what industry. I have no specific plans. And that's exactly how I'd like it. I want to arrive at an idea spontaneously, and pursue this idea (or product) with unparalleled zest. I want to have a clear vision of my final product, but be flexible in the process.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “This student was recently described by one of his teachers as, 'one of the brightest, most insightful and hardest working students in this class. He may be the best intellect in the school.' His impressive list of academic accomplishments lends credence to that statement. He exhausted our high school math curriculum by the end of his junior year.”
Caitlin Ward, Elgin Academy
Hometown: Algonquin
Parents: Andrew and Margie Ward
Sponsor: Seth Hanford, director of upper school
Class rank: Not applicable
GPA: 4.09 on a 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 33
College: Emory University
Planned major: Biochemistry
Awards, honors: National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar, AP Scholar, student council president, Cum Laude Society
Personal statement: “As of right now, my life goal is to become a doctor and volunteer significant time in other countries, utilizing my abilities to serve those in need. The only way to live my life to the best of my ability is to help others do the same.”
Sponsor's endorsement: “When Caitlin visited our school in eighth grade as a prospective student, she impressed us then as a student with tremendous potential to impact our community. Currently poised to graduate first in our Class of 2011, she has not only lived up to that initial impression, she has exceeded our expectations. Perhaps the greatest testament to her impact on those around her came from one of her younger brothers, who once noted that she “is the smartest, most moral person I know.”
Paul Yuan, Illinois Math and Science Academy
Hometown: Lincolnshire
Parents: Peter Yuan and Shirley Chen
Sponsor: Julia Husen, counselor
Class rank: Not applicable
GPA: IMSA does not calculate GPA
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 2300
College: Harvard University
Planned major: pre-med
Awards, honors: National Merit Finalist, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society, Siemens competition semifinalist
Personal statement: “Ultimately, my life goal, like that of many of my peers, is to better society in any way possible. I plan to do this by pursuing career opportunities in the medical field. I choose this because it is a perfect combination of my academic and personal passions, the former of which is human cognitive function and the latter of which is helping those who are less fortunate than me. ”
Sponsor's endorsement: “The high quality of Paul's research through our school's Student Inquiry and Research program last year has positioned Paul to present his findings at a few conferences such as an upcoming science fair in Japan and the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring spring meeting.”