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