2024 Outstanding Graduates: Congratulations to our top students (2024)

For 38 years, The News has saluted a group of Michigan’s best and brightest high school students in the spring of their senior year.

Partnering with CATCH — Sparky Anderson’s Charity for Children — we call it the Outstanding Graduates program.

It is an honor to share the stories of these remarkable young people and to consider that Michigan will benefit from their future endeavors, and the endeavors of so many of their friends and classmates.

The top seniors were chosen from a field of outstanding nominees. Public and private high schools in Michigan were invited to nominate students in each of 11 categories.Students were selected on the basis of grades, test scores, honors, community involvement and a demonstrated ability in one of the academic areas. In a special category called “Against All Odds” students were recognized for succeeding despite a physical hardship or special, personal or family challenges.

Final selections were made by panels of judges that included teachers, counselors and other academic specialists. The judges told us of their high regard for the many nominees and the difficulty in narrowing their choices.

Our thanks go to all of the principals, counselors and teachers who took time to nominate these students.Thanks also go to the judges who spent many hours selecting the finalists.

This is the 39^TH class of outstanding high school graduates honored by The News. Many of our early nominees are now well established in successful careers and raising children that may well be honored themselves someday soon. We salute their special achievements and extend congratulations to all of Michigan’s graduating seniors in the class of 2024.

Sincerely,

Gary Miles, Editor and Publisher

Miriam Taleb

High school: Northville High School

GPA: 3.51

Parent: Leena Aldebiat

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan-Dearborn

Major: Business administration

Career plans: Law and business

Most influential teachers: Mrs. LaRocca

Achievements:

• Over 1,500 hours of volunteering at Brookdale Senior Living. I have built strong connections with the seniors who do not have anybody to talk to
• Landed a law internship and have gained invaluable knowledge and experience
• Won No. 1 Best upseller in Michigan and No. 3 nationally for Phoenix Theatres

A quote about myself: "If you want something you’ve never had, do something you’ve never done."

Sponsor: Arrow Strategies

Ella Mae Anderson

High school: Forest Park

GPA: 3.26

Parents: Dale and April Anderson

College I plan to attend: Bay College

Major: Radiography

Career plans: Complete MRI Associate's Program and work at a children’s hospital

Most influential teachers: Mrs. Debra Smithson

Achievements:

• The ability to be a dual enrollment student
• Setting remarkable standards throughout high school career despite cancer diagnosis
• Honor roll student while attending in-person classes
• Being selected as a Detroit News Outstanding Graduate
• Being enrolled in an MRI program
• Finishing my high school classes and graduating while in remission
• Volunteering in and around my community
• Selected to paint multiple murals for local businesses
• Participating in 4-H and other extracurricular activities
• Being able to make positive changes and foster meaningful relationships with peers

A quote about myself: "The magic you are looking for is in the work you’re avoiding."

Sponsor: Arrow Strategies

Sterling Gooden

High school: Renaissance High School

GPA: 3.6

Parent: Crystal Gooden

College I plan to attend: Michigan State University

Major: Kinesiology

Career plans: Athletic trainer in the NFL or NBA

Most influential teachers: Coach White and Coach JP

Achievements:

• Honor roll 10th, 11th and 12th grade
• 2x City championship volleyball 11th-12th grade
• 2x City championship basketball 10th-11th grade
• Final four basketball 11th grade
• Varsity award 10th-12th grade

A quote about myself: "Don't just exist. Live."

Sponsor: Arrow Strategies

Jerrod Burke

High school: Chandler Park Academy High School

GPA: 3.6

Parents: Jabari Anderson and Aliessa Burke

College I plan to attend: Grand Valley State University

Major: Radio broadcasting with minor in photography

Career plans: Photographer

Most influential teachers: Astyn Frye

Achievements:

• Honor roll
• Youth Leadership 20 under 20 Award
• Geoff Miller Luminary Award
• OSHA 10 certification
• Lean Six Sigma White Belt certification

A quote about myself: "Leadership is not about being appreciated, it’s about responsibility; it doesn'tmatter how the burden is heavy, it matters how you carry it."

Sponsor: Arrow Strategies

Runners-up: Yasin Ahmed, Manuella fa*gbedji, Arly Fitzgerald, Emily Francis, Isabelle Haio, Sreetarapriya Andra, Madison Loken and Judah Abusalah

Judge: Dr. Gail Strickland, director of special services, Westwood Community School District

Jane Fall-Lakatos

High school: MICA

GPA: 4.21

Parents: David Lakatos and Doni Fall

College I plan to attend: Michigan Technological University

Major: Environmental engineering and sound production with a music minor

Career plans: Tackle global environmental issues and form a small production studio focused on supporting early-stage musicians and podcasters

Most influential teachers: Homeroom teachers Dr. Crawford, Mr. Frankovich and Mr. Noble, as well as Coach Derek Delzer and Judith Teasdle

Achievements:

• Entering college at age 16 after graduating summa cum laude
• Being accepted and receiving scholarship offers at every university I applied to
• Receiving the Leading Scholars Award, Presidential Award and Excellence Award from MTU among others
• Summiting a 17,740-foot peak in the Chilean Atacama Andes at age 14
• Three Rocky/Central Junior Alpine Racing Championships GS, SL, DH, AC with Pinnacle Alpine Racing
• Two U.S. Fencing National Championships-Sabre, three-time Region 2 Gold Champion and qualified for 2024 U.S. Fencing National Championships-Sabre — three divisions after a 2.5-year hiatus with Renaissance Fencing Club
• Visiting all 50 states as well as over 70 national parks, reserves, forests, and monuments
• Rehabilitating homes in impoverished neighborhoods in Pontiac with my parents
• Completing Michigan Music Festival Series as a solo violinist with all superior scores 95-100, senior piece Lalo’s "Symphonie Espagnole"
• Performing for multiple seasons with Oakland Youth Symphonies, Oakland University Community Music, and sitting as a session violinist with Summit County Strings Symphony for 2023 Ullr Festival

A quote about myself: "If it’s not hard, it’s not worth it."

Sponsor: Detroit Lions

Gabriella Miller

High school: Grosse Pointe North High School

GPA: 4.357

Parents: David and Lea Miller

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Major: Undecided

Career plans: Undecided

Most influential teachers: Jonathan Byrne

Achievements:

• Winning a Division II State Championship in soccer as a junior
• Soccer All-District, All-Mac Honorable Mention, All-Region Honorable Mention
• Senior year soccer captain and first-year field hockey MVP and selected for Senior All-Star Game
• MIPA student journalist staff member and winner in the category of Digital Media
• Passing the AP chemistry exam, scoring a 4, and earning college credit
• Getting admitted into the University of Michigan
• Being chosen for Norsem*n Tide, the Grosse Pointe North student section leader
• Student council vice president for three years
• National Honor Society member
• Working with special needs kids though Kids On The Go, Unified Basketball, and Kids NeedOpportunities to Socialize

A quote about myself: "Even when life gets tough, just looking for the positive perspective with a smile can be unstoppable. Life is far too short to let worrying consume you. Let optimism be your drive, and let its contagious impact help inspire others."

Sponsor: Detroit Lions

Runners-up: Sophie Owens, Erin Armstrong, Ece Uyulur and Ryan McEvers

Judge: Daren Tomhave, assistant sports editor, The Detroit News

Makayla Blackwell

High school: Renaissance High School

GPA: 3.7

Parent: Paula Wilson

College I plan to attend: Wayne State University

Major: Nursing

Career plans: Nurse with BSN, business owner and volunteer in my community

Most influential teachers: Dr. Rayven McMurray

Achievements:

• Accepted into Wayne State's Direct Nursing Program (15 out of 5,000)
• Over 300 hours of community service
• Obtained my nursing assistance licenses at the age of 17
• Full tuition paid for in all my top 5 schools
• Attended the No. 1 high school in Detroit
• Graduating with honors at Renaissance High School
• First-generation college student
• Mentored at local middle schools
• Volunteer at DMC Sinai Grace Hospital
• A proud member of Wayne State's TRIO Upward Bound Program

A quote about myself: "The most beautiful thing you could wear is confidence." — Marilyn Monroe

Sponsor: Henry Ford Health

Piper Morrison

High school: Fraser High School

GPA: 4.107

Parents: John and Ami Morrison

College I plan to attend: Grand Valley State University

Major: Allied health studies

Career plans: Physician assistant

Most influential teachers: Mrs. Marti Van-I

Achievements:

• Top 10 world finalist for the MRC Partnership event at the 2023 HOSA International Leadership Conference
• Awarded Med Health Science Student of the Year at Fraser High School for 2023-24
• Organized six blood drives through the Red Cross
• Member of National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society
• Helped train entire Fraser district staff in Stop the Bleed
• First three-time president of HOSA at Fraser
• Helped Fraser achieve designation from the American Heart Association as an MI Heart Safe School
• Four-year member of peer-to-peer and a participating mentor in an adaptive PE class
• Third place in HOSA States for extemporaneous writing as a 10th grader and first place in HOSA States for Medical Reserve Corps partnership as an 11th grader
• Maintaining a 4.103 GPA while playing sports, being deeply involved in numerous clubs and consistently having a job since ninth grade

A quote about myself: "Success at anything will always come down to this: focus and effort, and we control both." — Dwayne Johnson

Sponsor: NFP

Runners-up: Leah Feldhausen, Rebecca Roberts, Tamara Nadeau and Linnea Way

Judge: Van Momon, M.D., retired senior staff physician, Department of Pediatrics, Henry Ford Health

Connor Kalkanis

High school: Detroit Country Day School

GPA: 4.0

Parents: Steven and Laurel Kalkanis

College I plan to attend: Harvard College

Major: Government

Career plans: Neurosurgery

Most influential teachers: Mr. Michael Cappelletti

Achievements:

• President of the student body
• Editor-in-chief of school newspaper the Day Times; national gold medals for excellence in newspaper production from Columbia Press Association and American Scholastic Press Association
• Founded Masks for Meals, a nonprofit to aid food-insecure Metro Detroit families during COVID; raised $15,000 and also generated 60,000 meals
• Finalist at the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF); co-author of manuscript awaiting publication in Oncology Reports
• Coolidge Senator of the Presidential Coolidge Scholarship (chosen as 1 of 100 students nationwide)
• Three-time Statewide Champion in Forensics (oratory category)
• Second place National Award from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Essay Contest
• University of Chicago Book Award for "a top junior with highest academic and extracurricular achievement," awarded by vote of DCDS faculty
• First Division Ratings at MSBOA Solo & Ensemble Festival for Piano (2021, 2023); first State Division for Sax Quartet (2023)
• First place state champion speaker in St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; national alternate in Northeastern United States and first place in Michigan

A quote about myself: “Apply what you have, and whatever you may chance to be doing, do it with all your might.” — Cicero

Sponsor: The Detroit News

Sophie Hanawalt

High school: Seaholm High School

GPA: 3.978 unweighted, 4.702 weighted

Parents: Jennifer and Edward Hanawalt

College I plan to attend: University of Notre Dame or Georgetown University

Major: Global affairs and journalism

Career plans: Investigative journalist focused on international human rights and a professor of global affairs

Most influential teachers: Ms. Stacey Olsen

Achievements:

• Editor-in-chief of school newspaper, the Highlander, for two years, helping to rebuild the paper after the pandemic
• Organized a free journalism camp for local middle schoolers with the Highlander’s editorial board, teaching 20 students the basics of news, opinion, sports and entertainment
• Part of a team of student journalists that investigated our district’s sudden, large budget deficit. Our work was profiled in The Detroit News
• Organized a local chapter of March for Our Lives with a friend and have served as co-president ever since. I have also served as a state lead for rallies and other organization events
• Co-president of Seaholm’s French Club for the past two years
• Involved with my school orchestra for all four years of high school
• Helped form an orchestra quartet in sevent grade, and have been volunteering to play in nursing homes ever since. Received the Birmingham Youth Assistance Youth In Service Award twice, as well as the President’s Service Award
• Co-captain during my senior and junior seasons on the Seaholm Varsity Girl’s Cross Country Team
• A member of Seahom’s English Department Advisory Board
• A leader within Flex, Seaholm’s interdisciplinary honors English and history program

A quote about myself: "I can’t wait to bring informed and inclusive storytelling to all of my future pursuits!"

Sponsor: The Detroit News

Runners-up: Logan Field, Jessica Sarrach, Billy Roberson and Jordan Fabirkiewicz

Judge: Walter Middlebrook, foster professor of practice, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, The Pennsylvania State University

Victoria McCabe

High school: Grosse Pointe South High School

GPA: 4.3

Parents: Brian and Margaret McCabe

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Major: Public policy

Career plans: Trial lawyer

Most influential teachers: Harry Campion

Achievements:

• MSVMA Classical Solo and Ensemble two-time state qualifier
• AP Scholar with Distinction
• Recipient of the Grosse Pointe South Choir Leadership Award
• Created over 200 blankets for local women's shelter Pregnancy Aid
• National Honor Society member
• Company manager of both the junior varsity and varsity South Choirs
• Editor of Grosse Pointe South’s Looking Glass Magazine

A quote about myself: “If you can’t convince them, confuse them.” — Harry S. Truman

Sponsor: Hire Road

David Yun

High school: Detroit Country Day Upper School

GPA: 4.0

Parents: Hanho Yun and Yeonseung Lee

College I plan to attend: Princeton University

Major: Economics

Career plans: Corporate lawyer

Most influential teachers: Ms. Beverly Hannett-Price

Achievements:

• Recipient of First-Class Distinction in 2023 Achievement Awards in Writing from the National Council of Teachers of English
• Honor council chair
• Spectrum Literary Magazine editor-in-chief
• EUREKA! Academic Journal editor-in-chief
• 2024 Coca-Cola semifinalist
• Recipient of Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society from the National Council for Social Studies
• Recipient of Princeton Book Award
• Junior Cum Laude Society inductee
• Recipient of Presidential Volunteer Service Award (over 350 total hours)
• Varsity tennis

A quote about myself: "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." — Albert Einstein

Sponsor: CATCH

Runners-up: Arts Hannah Redman, Aiden Wolfson, Paul Kaminski and Aria Dwoskin

Judge: Mary M Hall-Rayford, retired English educator

Timothy Mathew

High school: Troy High School

GPA: 4.0

Parents: Thomas and Vini Mathew

College I plan to attend: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Major: Mathematics and computer science

Career plans: Professor and researcher

Most influential teachers: Mr. Carl Rizzi

Achievements:

• Research Science Institute Scholar
• Third place International Science and Engineering Fair — Robotics & Intelligent Machines
• Four-time American Invitational Mathematics Exam qualifier
• Fifth place HOSA — Medical Math — at International Leadership Conference
• Coach of Boulan Park Mathcounts Team — first place at States (2023, 2024)
• First place — Technology Student Association (TSA) States — Coding
• President of Math Club, Coding Competitions Club, and Hack Club at Troy High School
• Royal Conservatory of Music Level 10 Piano Certification with Honors
• Most Wholesome Student at Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics
• 36 ACT in ninth grade

A quote about myself: "I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay — small acts of kindness and love.” — Gandalf

Sponsor: OneStream Software

Isha Singhal

High school: Northville High School

GPA: 4.0

Parents: Sharad Singhal and Ruchi Saxena

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Major: Computer science

Career plans: Software engineer

Most influential teachers: Mr. Kinney, Ms. Lowes, Mr. Cole and Mrs. Foldesi

Achievements:

• National Merit Scholarship finalist
• Wrote and published a research paper about the detection of DDoS attacks with machine learning models
• CyberStart America 2023 National Cyber Scholarship recipient
• HOSA ILC 2021-Health Informatics finalist
• Science Olympiad Nationals 2022 Codebusters Award recipient
• MSVMA 2023 Solo & Ensemble States Top Rank of 1 for Solo Vocalist
• Organized a citywide used eyeglass donation drive through the Northville Lions Club
• Captain of Northville Science Olympiad Team
• Business Professionals of America SLC SQL Database Fundamentals
• AP Scholar with Distinction

A quote about myself: "Be kind, because everyone you meet is going through a struggle.” — Sigrid Nunez

Sponsor: AAA Life Insurance Company

Runners-up: Kenji Farrell, Vikram Goddla, Dyllon Denton and Joyce Liang

Judges: Marianne Srock, retired mathematics consultant, Macomb Intermediate School District; Scott Block, mathematics consultant, Macomb Intermediate School District

Trinity Chen

High school: Detroit Country Day Upper School

GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.61 weighted

Parents: Anna Tantisuwanpol and Tom Chen

College I plan to attend: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Major: Biomedical engineering

Career plans: Engineering and business

Most influential teachers: Ms. Bowen

Achievements:

• First chair of the MSBOA 2024 Honors Chamber String Ensemble, nominated as anOutstanding Soloist for Outstanding Soloist Competition
• Two-time MSBOA Solo & Ensemble Perfect Score at State Level, two-time MSBOA Honors Festival Honors Orchestra
• Three-time MSBOA All State Full Orchestra (High School)
• Two-time AIME qualifier, AMC Honor Roll and Achievement Roll award winner
• Varsity women’s golf: team captain, four-time state qualifier and All-Academic, top 10 placement at regionals
• Leadership: Student council vice president, concertmaster of DCDS Honors String Orchestra
• National Merit finalist and National Merit Corporate Scholarship winner
• Presidential Scholars Program candidate
• First place at Science & Engineering Fair of Metro Detroit; fourth place at Michigan State Science Fair
• Scholastic Writing Awards: two Gold Keys for memoirs, two honorable mentions for poetry

A quote about myself: “Walk with a purpose!” — Coach Dan Luft

Sponsor: The Detroit News

Viraj Nautiyal

High school: Ernest W. Seaholm High School

GPA: 4.75

Parents: Shweta and Shashank Nautiyal

College I plan to attend: Brown University

Major: International and public affairs

Career plans: Health care policymaker

Most influential teachers: Mrs. McKinney

Achievements:

• Two-time NSDA Debate National Qualifier
• National Merit Finalist Scholarship recipient
• Raised thousands of dollars as National Honor Society president prioritizing children’s health and education
• Founded a bingo fundraiser giving out science kits for prizes and donating money for children’s education
• Wrote and illustrated a children’s picture book named "Cal's Courageous Quest," capturing the signs and coping mechanisms of mental health challenges
• Drum major for Seaholm marching band and conducting throughout the football season
• Ate every item on the Taco Bell menu
• Watched every SpongeBob SquarePants episode
• Model U.N. president winning multiple awards at conferences held at Michigan State and University of Michigan
• Acted as Aaron Samuels in Seaholm's production of "Mean Girls" as a first-year actor

A quote about myself: "Never let success get to your head and never let failure get to your heart." — Aubrey Drake Graham

Sponsor: The Detroit News

Runners-up: Samuel Melkonian, Malaak Jadallah, Benjamin Graham and Aubrey McCurdy

Judge: Garret Ernst, executive director, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association

Austin Hinkley

High school: Big Rapids High School

GPA: 4.0

Parents: Scott and Sarah Hinkley

College I plan to attend: Undecided

Major: Mechanical engineering

Career plans: Energy engineering and innovation

Most influential teachers: Mrs. Susan McCullen

Achievements:

• Chemistry/physics research on particle modeling using simulation under Dr. Luis Rivera, Ferris State University, 2023
• Coca-Cola and GE Reagan Scholar semifinalist, 2023
• Heisman and Michigan High School Athletic Association Scholar Athlete winner for Michigan, 2023-24
• College Board National Merit Program Commended Student Award
• College Board Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award
• Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association All-State Academic Team, 2021, 2023; All-State Academic Senior Award, 2023
• Michigan High School Athletic Association State Tennis Tournament — doubles state qualifier, 2020-23, and state quarterfinalist, 2022 and 2023; four top 10 team state finishes, 2020-23; fourth place state team finish, 2022
• Michigan Tennis Coaches Association First Team Division 4 All-State Doubles, 2022
• Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association Honors Band, 2020-23, 16 Division 1 ratings at District and State Solo and Ensemble
• Big Rapids High School Varsity Tennis — set school win records for doubles wins and all-time wins, 2023

A quote about myself: "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." — Carl Sagan

Sponsor: Delta Dental

Sophia Baron

High school: Berkley High School

GPA: 4.4 (cumulative, weighted)

Parent: Susan Baron

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan

Major: Neuroscience (pre-med)

Career plans: Pharmacology research or dermatologist

Most influential teachers: Mrs. Olsen and Mrs. Francis

Achievements:

• Research intern at Detroit Receiving Hospital in the Surgical Trauma department
• Michigan delegate for a two-week national program in Washington, D.C., through CISV (an international peace organization)
• USA delegate for an international program in the Netherlands with CISV
• Received a sportsmanship recognition award from the OAA (Oakland Athletics Association) in junior year and awarded best sportsmanship on team by the coach
• Captain of varsity tennis team
• Generations of Promise class of 32
• Involved with UMATTER, as a participant, board member, and ultimately co-host of the program's culminating event
• Learned to ride a bicycle to play the part of the witch in the "Wizard of Oz" school play at age 5
• Not being deterred from horseback riding after being thrown off when younger
• Getting accepted into the University of Michigan!

A quote about myself: "Never be so kind, you forget to be clever, never be so clever, you forget to be kind." — "Marjorie" by Taylor Swift

Sponsor: Children's Foundation

Runners-up: Anna Wathen, Grace Wang, Thomas Hays and Mattea Muscat

Judge: Elizabeth Sec*mski Reinhold, science consultant, Macomb Intermediate School District

Lauren Schnieders

High school: Berkley High School

GPA: 3.86 (non-weighted), 4.2 (weighted)

Parents: Wendy and Kevin Schnieders

College I plan to attend: Savannah College of Art and Design

Major: Illustration

Career plans: Illustrate storyboards in the film industry, incorporate art skills into cinema

Most influential teachers: Mr. Weingarden and Ms. Coburn

Achievements:

• Scholastic Art and Writing Awards SE and Thumb Region, two Gold Keys and an Honorable Mention
• Received a 5 on my AP 2D Studio Art portfolio
• Captain of varsity tennis at Berkley and play #1 doubles
• Member of the National Society of High School Scholars, as well as National Honors Society
• Voted "Future Picasso" for senior awards
• Chosen to paint a mural for a classroom at my school
• Youth elder of my church
• Designed the logo for BHS Girls Varsity Tennis, which is displayed on ourspirit wear
• Designed a mural for a national company in their corporate office
• Illustrated a children's book with my grandfather

A quote about myself: "I am a balanced person, I know what I want for the long run and work hard for it — but I also make sure to enjoy my life along the way."

Sponsor: J. Douglas Clark

Olivia Lunsford

High school: Renaissance High School

GPA: 4.0

Parents: Johnny and Lisa Lunsford

College I plan to attend: College for Creative Studies

Major: Illustration

Career plans: Visual development artist and character designer at an animation studio

Most influential teachers: Ms. Odette Duke and Mr. Brian Colding

Achievements:

• Renaissance High School’s 2024 valedictorian
• Gold Key award in Southeast Michigan and Scholastic Art Awards
• Silver Key award in Southeast Michigan and Scholastic Art Awards
• Honorable Mention in Southeast Michigan and Scholastic Art Awards
• Art Exhibition at the DIA Award
• 2023 Michigan Chinese School Speech Storytelling Contest trophy

A quote about myself: "Smart is not something you are, smart is what you get."

Sponsor: Strategic Staffing Solutions

Runners-up: Emily Gayed, Elizabeth Yoo, Jenna Lawlis and Terry Fears

Judge: Antone Amye, graphic designer, City of Detroit, Media Services — Communications and Creative Services

Jack Schwab

High school: Fraser High School

GPA: 4.144

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Major: Electrical engineering

Career plans: Electrical/software engineer

Most influential teachers: Christina Vrzovski

Achievements:

• Founder — @HelixMods YouTube Tech Platform: Acquired 113,000 subscribers producing 37 videos amassing 12 million views, building and engineering computer keyboards and mice
• Produced videos with YouTube creators with 1 million-plus subscribers
• YouTube Silver Creator Award (Personal) — Recognition for 100,000 subscribers
• YouTube Silver Creator Award (Manager) — For managing the @Flowaze channel and helping it grow 150% from 40,000 to 100,000 subscribers; oversaw marketing, editing, script writing, and analytics
• 1520 SAT score
• 4.0 GPA at Macomb Community College while mastering undergraduate-level math courses including calculus 1, calculus 2, calculus 3 and linear algebra
• Property maintenance technician — experience doing HVAC installation, electrical, plumbing, flooring, siding, roofing, construction, landscaping and general maintenance of rental properties
• Recipient of the Technology/Business Student of the Year Award from the Fraser School District
• Completed Harvard's CS50: Introduction to Computer Science course, earning an edX Verified Certificate
• Built a Python Web Scraping app to automate rental home water bill accounting for landlords and predict water leaks via usage spikes.

A quote about myself: "Modding is in my DNA."

Sponsor: Wolverine Solutions Group

Anish Jain

High school: Avondale High School

GPA: 4.4375

Parents: Amit Jain and Nidhi Agarwal

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Major: Computer science

Career plans: Exploring how to integrate positive artificial intelligence solutions into society

Most influential teachers: Mr. Martin Ballard

Achievements:

• United States Presidential Scholar Program candidate
• National Merit finalist
• Student Software Lead for First Robotics Competition Team 3538 — seven-time event winner, three-time Autonomous Award Winner, two-time State Division Winner, three-time Worlds Qualifying Team
• Second place, Michigan High School Ethics Bowl 2022
• First place, Future Problem Solving Individual Global Issues Problem Solving (International Qualifier)
• First place, Future Problem Solving Individual Scenario Writing (International Qualifier)
• Major League Hacking Tidy the Hack Up Hackathon Best Spring Cleaning Hack
• Elks Most Valuable Student state finalist
• Congressional App Challenge District 11, third place
• National Honor Society Scholarship semifinalist

A quote about myself: "If you only do what you can do, you will never be more than you are now." — Master Shifu

Sponsor: C.A. Hull

Runners-up: Afeefah Mangera, Khadeja Rizvi, Hailey Serlin and Ayushi Gupta

Judge: Rodney G. Thomas, principal, Lamphere High School

Kaeshav Krishna

High school: Troy High School

GPA: 4.3265

Parents: Sudha Varadarajan and Krishna Soundararajan

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Major: Computer science

Career plans: Educational technology

Most influential teachers: Jacqueline Ciolek

Achievements:

• President of Troy High School Model UN club, 2023-24
• Best Delegate Award, Michigan State University Model United Nations, 2024
• Outstanding Delegate Award, Harvard Model United Nations, 2022
• Outstanding Delegate Award, Model United Nations at the University of Michigan, 2024
• Presidential Volunteer Service Award, Bronze and Silver, 2022 and 2023
• Nunmaan Tamil Academy Chief Education Officer Scholarship Award, 2023
• Recipient of Michigan Seal of Biliteracy, 2023
• Intern teacher at Chennai Higher Secondary School — Alwarpet, Chennai, India, 2023
• Intern fellow with DCCC at Rep. Andy Levin’s August primaries campaign, 2022
• Bronze Medal, National Spanish Exam, 2022 and 2023

A quote about myself: "Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Sponsor: Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation

Avni Rao

High school: Washtenaw International High School

GPA: 4.407

Parents: Anand Rao and Kanchan Torvi

College I plan to attend: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Major: Environmental engineering

Career plans: Environmental engineering and sustainability

Most influential teachers: Mr. Ashley Fox

Achievements:

• Created and led the volunteer team that ran the A2ZERO Plant-Based Challenge for 250-plus, in partnership with Ann Arbor’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations and VegMichigan
• Youth representative and chair of Outreach Subcommittee for the Washtenaw County Environmental Council
• Co-founder and president of Green Guild, WIHI’s sustainability club
• Led initiative to get school board to pass a climate resolution committing to resource allocation for sustainable practices, garnering support from community members
• Leader of WIHI MUN Team
• Highest Honors Award at Mid American Model United Nations
• National Merit Scholarship winner
• U.S. Senate Youth Finalist
• Indian classical dance training in Kathak for 11-plus years, and a two-hour solo showcase in June 2024
• President of La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica

A quote about myself: "In life there are no regrets, only lessons learned."

Sponsor: Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation

Runners-up: Soo-yeon Kim, Zachary Rodger, Janna Carlson, Mohammed Fares Alhamwi

Judge: David Hales, senior adviser, MI History Day, Historical Society of Michigan