We asked several area schools to share a student who exemplifies their school’s values and they rose to the challenge.
Related Page | The Ultimate Guide to Indianapolis-area Schools
Lawrence North High School
Titus Henson, Senior
1. What school achievement are you most proud of?
Receiving the Ridge Miller Leadership Award and Scholarship with the ACE Mentor Program. Being part of ACE for four years has been an incredible experience that I’d do again in a heartbeat. I am honored to be recognized as a leader!
2. What are your plans after high school?
After high school I plan to attend a University to study Civil Engineering and get involved in the construction industry. I recently was accepted into a Local Design and Construction program that I hope will jump start my career as an Engineer.
3. How has Lawrence North prepared you for your future?
LN is a special place. With dedicated teachers, after-school clubs, sports, and a career center just a short walk away, I explored various opportunities to learn more, giving me the chance to experience it all and discover my true interests.
St. Richard’s Episcopal School
Elaine Hughes, 8th Grade
1. What school achievement are you most proud of?
The achievements that I am most proud of at St. Richard’s are when I received the Andrew Downs Ponader Award, an award for academic excellence and my participation in the Grade 8 musical. Also, in the “We the People” competition, my Unit won first place in the state competition for Unit 3.
2. What are your plans after middle school?
I will be attending Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory High School. After my experiences with music at St. Richard’s, and my participation in the Grade 8 musical, I plan to pursue my interest in the arts.
3. How has St. Richards prepared you for your future?
St. Richard’s has given me so many opportunities that have helped me experience the world in different ways, such as traveling to Canada and Italy and community service opportunities through our service club where I volunteer at Mid North Food Pantry. The teachers have prepared me academically.
International School of Indiana
Kennedi Queen Mariana Green, Senior
1. What school achievement are you most proud of?
I am proud to be the leader of the Black Student Union. It’s been an honor to lead and create a space for black students to share experiences and keep our community informed about issues affecting the black community. Hosting the annual BSU assemblies helped me build confidence in my knowledge and voice. I feel comfortable and assertive speaking in front of crowds and articulating my points with ease and grace.
2. What are your plans after high school?
I am attending Howard University, majoring in African American studies, and minoring in education. I want to be a teacher and ultimately become a professor at another HBCU. Education has always been an important part of my life. My background, coming from a lower socioeconomic class but being allowed to access and pursue higher education, highlighted to me the educational disparities that prevail within black communities. My major is something deeply intertwined with my identity. I want to become a vessel that both preserves, studies, and shares the potency and value of African American history as it has deep roots in our society and world.
3. How has ISI prepared you for your future?
ISI has given me a global mind, deepened my appreciation and reverence for education, and exposed me to people from diverse backgrounds. I’m not intimidated by challenging academics and have created space for myself as a learner to fail, be curious, and continuously evolve.
Cathedral High School
Meghan Jackson, Senior
1. What school achievement are you most proud of?
I am very passionate about finding solutions to problems in society, and I have been able to do this through Cathedral’s AP Seminar and AP Research courses. I am most proud of the progress I have made in both courses and the path it has set me on!
2. What are your plans after high school?
After high school, I will be attending American University in Washington, D.C. where I will be majoring in Public Health. I hope to gain extensive knowledge and experience about the world’s health through mentors and study abroad programs.
3. How has Cathedral prepared you for the future?
Cathedral has opened me to a community that constantly strives for excellence, and that has made me reach places beyond my goals. This school has taught me to not place a limit on what I can achieve and to take advantage of my opportunities!
Lawrence Central High School
Kelley Jankowski, Senior
1. What school achievement are you most proud of?
I studied abroad in Ciudad Real, Spain as part of the Indiana University Honors Program of Foreign Languages. I stayed with a host family for 4.5 weeks and was only allowed to speak Spanish the entire time. It was a life changing experience.
2. What are your plans after middle school?
I will attend DePauw University as an Honor Scholar and a Global Studies Fellow. I’m interested in a pre-law or pre-med track but I’m also excited to learn about other career paths.
3. How has Lawrence Central prepared you for your future?
I received a wonderful education from Lawrence Central. My rigorous courses taught by fantastic teachers have prepared me well for college. I learned about self-expression & teamwork through Show Choir and know those skills will serve me though life.
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School
Jake Tarara, Senior
1. What school achievement are you most proud of?
Winning state in the 100 freestyle. Going into high school, I was unsure if I even wanted to continue swimming and was not very committed to the sport. However Brebeuf helped me regrow my love for the sport and realize that swimming is meant for me.
2. What are your plans after high school?
I am committed to swim at Princeton University and plan on discovering my major at college. I intend to pursue a career in Economics and will also consider majoring in International Affairs or potentially Government/Politics.
3. How has Brebeuf prepared you for the future?
Brebeuf’s tight knit community has allowed me to grow as a person. Being a smaller school, I instantly felt the support of my peers and teachers to help me succeed, while developing a strong work ethic through the rigor of my Brebeuf schedule.
The Orchard School
Madeline Bohley, 8th grade
1. What school achievement are you most proud of?
There are many school achievements I am proud of from my time here at Orchard. However, I am most proud of my work ethic and ability to advocate for myself in areas that don’t come easily to me, such as math. I think that determination and confidence matter most!
2. What are your plans after middle school?
Next year, I will be going to Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School. I hope to continue to pursue my interest in reading and writing. I also hope to find opportunities to build upon the public speaking skills Orchard has given me. I hope to stay motivated and learn new things.
3. How has Orchard prepared you for the future?
The teachers at Orchard are the best teachers in the world! They have shown me the kind of support that I hope to emulate for the people in my life. Orchard has academically prepared me for high school, but even more importantly, Orchard has made me a better person.
Sycamore School
Joshua Alcantara, 8th grade
1. What school achievement are you most proud of?
My greatest achievement this year was winning First Place in the state for 8th grade at the Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair over spring break. My science fair project evaluated the aerodynamic efficiency of toroidal propellers compared to standard triblade propellers in a homemade wind tunnel with laminar flow.
2. What are your plans after high school?
I plan to attend college to major in a STEM field. I’m interested in aerospace engineering, biology, and chemistry. I want to help solve major problems like climate change. I love composing and playing music. I plan to continue playing my violin and mandolin, and learn new instruments like guitar.
3. How has Sycamore prepared you for the future?
Every single teacher I’ve had at Sycamore has been absolutely amazing. They are very friendly and always willing to help students outside of class time. The curriculum is specifically designed with high school in mind, especially classes like History and Spanish, which prepare students for AP level courses and exams.
