Northwest Suburban Academic Team honorable mentions, 2018-2019
Nikita Basu, James B. Conant High School
Hometown: Schaumburg
Parents: Pinaki and Tanushree Basu
Sponsor: Margaret Roesslein, school counselor
GPA: 5.175 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: SAT: 1580
Planned major: Computer science
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist, AP Scholar, 2017 Student of the Year by U.S. Congressman Danny Davis, Presidential Scholar candidate, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society
Monica Casillas, Elk Grove High School
Hometown: Des Plaines
Parents: Antonio and Carmen Casillas
Sponsor: Stephen Gordon, counselor
GPA: 4.63 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: SAT: 1400
Planned major: Business administration, economics, mathematics and statistics
Awards, honors: National Technical Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society
Catherine Chan, Wheeling High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Han Fen and Richmond Chan
Sponsor: Arturo Fuentes, counselor
GPA: 4.46 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 1460
Planned major: Global health
Awards, honors: Daily Herald Leadership Team nominee, AP Scholar with distinction, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society, student government class officer
Emily Check, Harvest Christian Academy
Hometown: Wheeling
Parents: Brian Check and Erika Check
Sponsor: Tabitha Yi, English teacher
GPA: 4.244 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 22; SAT: 1120
Planned major: Business marketing
Awards, honors: Christian Character Award, Team Member of the Month, Leadership Award from Chick-fil-A, Rotary Club High Honor Role, student government, National Honor Society
Kuba Ciepiela, Wheeling High School
Hometown: Wheeling
Parents: Ewa Ciepiela and Fryderyk Ciepiela
Sponsor: Thomas Steinbach, teacher
GPA: 4.59 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: SAT: 1470
Planned major: Mechanical engineering
Awards, honors: AP Scholar with distinction, Illinois State Scholar, National Technical Honor Society, Design D214 Architectural Showcase first place (2017), National Honor Society
Dominique de Fiesta, Palatine High School
Hometown: Palatine
Parents: Eduardo and Celeste de Fiesta
Sponsor: Craig Barnes, Math Department chairman
GPA: 5.127 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1510
Planned major: Chemical engineering
Awards, honors: AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society, President's Club representative and summit leader
Andrew Dills, Christian Liberty Academy
Hometown: Plainfield
Parents: Laura Dills and Steve Dills
Sponsor: Leslie Cornwell, guidance counselor
GPA: 3.98 on a 4.0 traditional scale
Test scores: ACT: 33; SAT: 1470
Planned major: Mathematics/computer science
Awards, honors: Received Founder's Award in 2015 and 2018 for excellence in academics and character, National Hispanic Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, student government class officer
Bill Gao, William Fremd High School
Hometown: Palatine
Parents: Xiang Gao and Shanshan Zhang
Sponsor: Mike King, counselor
GPA: 5.14 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: SAT: 1570
Planned major: Mathematical methods in the social sciences
Awards, honors: National Merit finalist, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, ICTA Congress JV State runner-up (sophomore), IHSA Public Forum Varsity runner-up and All-State Team (senior)
Alice Getmanchuk, Prospect High School
Hometown: Mount Prospect
Parents: Irene Getmanchuk and Alex Getmanchuk
Sponsor: Bradford Rathe, social science teacher
GPA: 4.74 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1530
Planned major: Computer engineering
Awards, honors: National Merit commended scholar, second place at State Science Olympiad for Mission Possible (Rube-Goldberg Machine construction), American Nuclear Society second-place award at IJAS state competition for project on supercapacitors, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society
James Graft, Marmion Academy
*Fox Valley Academic Team winner
Hometown: Barrington
Parents: William and Mary Graft
Sponsor: Victor Pinks
GPA: 4.85 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Biochemical engineering, biomolecular engineering, chemical engineering
Awards, honors: Amazon's City on a Cloud Innovation Grant Winner, 2017 and 2018; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Scholarship Medal for outstanding STEM students, 2018
Anna Guzman, Lake Zurich High School
Hometown: Barrington
Parents: Claire and Gerardo Guzman
Sponsor: Craig Lehigh
GPA: 5.07 on a weighted 4.0
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Neuroscience and Behavior, Pre-Law, with a minor in Spanish
Awards, honors: National Hispanic Scholar, National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction
Samuel Hessian, Schaumburg High School
Hometown: Schaumburg
Parents: Yukiko Tanaka and John Hessian
Sponsor: Vincent Inendino, music teacher
GPA: 4.933 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: SAT: 1560
Planned major: Philosophy
Awards, honors: National Merit commended scholar, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, Concerto Competition winner 2019, First Board Chess State qualification, Regional Math Team first place, National Honor Society
Raj Kapadia, Hoffman Estates High School
Hometown: Hanover Park
Parents: Paresh and Vilpa Kapadia
Sponsor: Patrick Swanson, science teacher
GPA: 4.0 on a 4.0 traditional scale
Test scores: ACT: 35; SAT: 1560
Planned major: Computer science
Awards, honors: AP Scholar with distinction, Illinois State Scholar, Straight-A Honor Roll, National Honor Society
Nicole Kasperek, Maine East High School
Hometown: Morton Grove
Parents: Elzbieta Kasperek and Robert Kasperek
Sponsor: Michael Pressler, administration
GPA: 4.7955 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: SAT: 1500
Planned major: Undecided
Awards, honors: District 207's Best for Academic Achievement, National Merit commended scholar, B2 Level Certificate Examination in Polish, Illinois State Scholar, AP Scholar, National Honor Society
Nathaniel Martinez, East Leyden High School
Hometown: Franklin Park
Parents: Arturo and Isela Martinez
Sponsor: Elizabeth Pater, teacher
GPA: 4.615 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 34; SAT: 1420
Planned major: Computer science or biology
Awards, honors: QuestBridge finalist and Match Scholarship recipient, Hispanic Scholarship Fund scholar, recipient of William H. Fern Award, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society
Patti Miller, St. Viator High School
Hometown: Buffalo Grove
Parents: Joseph and Marie Miller
Sponsor: TJ King, counselor
GPA: 105.91 on a 100 point weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 34
Planned major: Biology or biochemistry
Awards, honors: AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, four-year Querbes Scholar, Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering Biology Regional Champion (perfect score 2018) and second place in chemistry and second place in biology (2019), National Honor Society, student government
Christian Moscosa, East Leyden High School
Hometown: Franklin Park
Parents: Juana and Rosalio Moscosa
Sponsor: Emilie Reynolds, counselor
GPA: 4.617 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: SAT: 1400
Planned major: Chemistry, mathematics
Awards, honors: AP Scholar with distinction, class valedictorian, third place in Fermi Questions-Science Olympiad, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society
Mark Nicoletti, Barrington High School
Hometown: Lake Barrington
Parents: Dianne and Stephen Nicoletti
Sponsor: Marla Engleman, counselor
GPA: 4.824 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Chemical engineering
Awards, honors: AP Scholar, National Merit Scholar finalist, National Latin Exam Maxima Cum Laude, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society
Nick Nocita, John Hersey High School High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Mike and Jan Nocita
Sponsor: Jessica Brtva, math teacher
GPA: 4.64 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 36; SAT: 1540
Planned major: Environmental science and public policy
Awards, honors: AP Scholar, National Merit commended scholar, seven-semester "A" Honor Roll, student government class officer, National Honor Society
Davis Parks, Maine West High School
Hometown: Des Plaines
Parents: Melissa and Jerome Parks
Sponsor: Carla Bader, counselor
GPA: 4.87 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: SAT: 1490
Planned major: Statistics and mathematical methods in the social sciences
Awards, honors: Best of Maine 207, Award for Academic Achievement, Outstanding Mock Trial attorney during the 2018 Illinois State Bar Association Mock Trial State Competition, first place in Math Team Oral Competition at ICTM regionals, AP Scholar
Zoe Robertson, Buffalo Grove High School
Hometown: Arlington Heights
Parents: Geoffrey and Jocelyn Robertson
Sponsor: Andrew Park, chemistry teacher and Academic Challenge coordinator
GPA: 4.59 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Biology with a minor in political science
Awards, honors: Member Daily Herald Leadership Team, National Merit commended scholar, AP Scholar with distinction, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society
Thomas Schluckbier, Schaumburg High School
Hometown: Schaumburg
Parents: Heather and Gary Schluckbier
Sponsor: Christopher Zickert, math teacher
GPA: 5.01 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Mathematics and music composition
Awards, honors: National Merit commended scholar, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, Schaumburg High School Academic Scholar, Schaumburg High School Senior of the Month, Math Team first place regionals, 2018 Calculator Team
Richa Shah, Maine East High School
Hometown: Des Plaines
Parents: Bhavesh Shah and Jigna Shah
Sponsor: Michael Pressler, administration
GPA: 4.8312 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: SAT: 1550
Planned major: Psychology
Awards, honors: District 207's Best for Academic Achievement, Illinois Holocaust Museum essay writing contest finalist, National Merit commended scholar, AP Scholar, Presidential Scholar candidate, Illinois State Scholar, National Honor Society
Nilay Sriram, Hoffman Estates High School
Hometown: Hanover Park
Parents: Sunita Mani-Sriram and Sriram Swaminathan
Sponsor: Kevin Mallon, social studies teacher
GPA: 4.833 on a 4.0 weighted scale
Test scores: ACT: 35
Planned major: Bioengineering
Awards, honors: National Merit semifinalist, AP Scholar, Hoffman Estates High School Scholar Athlete, Hoffman Estates High School Academic Scholar, National Honor Society
Angela Zhang, Stevenson High School
*Lake County Academic Team winner
Hometown: Long Grove
Parents: Liming Zhang, Yun Cao
Sponsor: Keith Hannigan, history teacher
GPA: 4.83 on a weighted 4.0 scale
Test scores: SAT: 1570
Planned major: Mathematics
Awards, honors: M3 Challenge finalist; National Physics Olympiad semifinalist; three-time AIME qualifier