The Top 10 Academic Seniors at Lawrence High School are set to pursue a number of different interests and career paths as they prepare to go off to college in the fall.
These students ranked in the Top 10 based on their GPAs. Each student filled out a questionnaire detailing future plans—including their intended colleges, majors and careers paths—and reflecting on favorite memories.
The graduating seniors are set to attend colleges including Princeton University, Georgetown University, New York University and the University of Pennsylvania. They plan to study fields like engineering, economics, medicine, finance and the sciences.
The Top 10 students have been involved in many activities during their high school years, including athletics, National Honor Society, STEM club, debate team, Model Congress, Model United Nations, Tri-M, jazz band, pit orchestra and more.
The Top 10 students are set to graduate—along with the rest of the Class of 2014—on Wednesday, June 18, at 7 p.m. at Sun Bank Arena in Trenton.
Metodi Balev
Princeton University (physics or molecular biology)
Doctor/education
Rank: 1
GPA: 4.605
Activities: Debate team, jazz band, tennis team, National Honor Society, Tri-M
Favorite memory: Jamming out with friends at coffeehouse and always being in good company at school.
Memorable quote: “All good things are done in the defiance of management.” –Mrs. Hertzog quoting Bob Woodward
Tithi Patel
School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University (international economics)
Rank: 2
GPA: 4.48
Activities: Field hockey, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, DECA, Peer Leadership, International Alliance, National French Honor Society, National Business Honor Society
Favorite memory: DECA Nationals in Atlanta.
Memorable quote: “Now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” –John Steinbeck
Pratyush Hiremath
New York University School of Business (economics, finance, computer science)
Earn PhD in economics, work in economic policy
Rank: 3
GPA: 4.82
Activities: Science Olympiad state award winner, DECA state award winner, STEM club, National Honor Society, JV tennis
Favorite memory: Had a great experience being a part of the Lawrence tennis team and Science Olympiad for three years.
Memorable quote: “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”
Dylan Mann
University of Pennsylvania (mechanical engineering, materials science)
Engineer
Rank: 4
GPA: 4.35
Activities: Crew for Mercer Junior Rowing Club, Peer Leadership, DECA, National Honor Society, wrestling
Favorite memory: Cards after APs, Leightweight 8 at regionals, football with friends on Saturdays, getting into college, DECA. It would be impossible to pick just one.
Memorable quote: “I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything I thought it could be.” –Peter Gibbons, Office Space
Noah Hotz
George Washington University (mechanical engineering)
Officer in the U.S. Navy
Rank: 5
GPA: 4.329
Activities: Varsity debate team, Model Congress, robotics club, STEM club, Boy Scouts of America
Favorite memory: Debating in the varsity debate team championships during my sophomore year and being a party whip for my party at Model Congress my senior year.
Memorable quote: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Viktor Krapivin
Rutgers University (economics and physics)
Scientist and entrepreneur
Rank: 6
GPA: 4.321
Activities: Student council, STEM Academy, Science Olympiad, mock trial, SAVE, National Honor Society
Favorite memory: My service as party leader during the New Jersey Model Congress this year. As a leader of the independent party, I negotiated with the other parties to jointly achieve legislative goals and pass common sense legislation.
Memorable quote: “Today is the first day of the rest of your life—what do you want to do with it?”
Jennifer Dwyer
Lehigh University (mechanical engineering)
Mechanical engineer
Rank: 7
GPA: 4.255
Activities: Field hockey, Tri-M, music honor society, pit orchestra, National Honor Society
Favorite memory: Playing on the field hockey team even through all the ups and downs.
Crystal Lee Kremer
Rutgers University (biomedical engineering)
Biomedical engineer
Rank: 8
GPA: 4.25
Activities: SAVE club, STEM Academy, worked at Customs and Trade Solutions, Inc., Science Olympiad
Favorite memory: Watching Mr. Carney’s snake dance and not peeing my pants.
Memorable quote: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” –Winnie the Pooh
Suyog Tank
Rutgers University (biology)
Medical profession
Rank: 9
GPA: 4.222
Activities: International Alliance, STEM, National Honor Society, DECA
Favorite memory: Being in Mrs. Randall’s classes (AP biology and forensic science).
Memorable quote: “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” –Carl Sagan
John Gow
Colgate University (molecular biology/pre-medicine)
Doctor–orthopedic surgeon
Rank: 10
GPA: 4.212
Activities: Cross country, ice hockey, track, golf, Model United Nations, Model Congress, STEM Academy, Math League, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society
Favorite memory: The first week of ice hockey my senior year. I convinced three of my friends, who had never skated before, to come and play hockey. Watching Andrew Takasugi lap the hockey players during off-ice was hilarious, and then watching the practice squad learn to play was truly inspiring, as no matter the fall, they always got back up. It was also the start of my recovery from a stress fracture. Truly there is nothing better than getting to November and lacing up to play with friends.
Memorable quote: “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” –Winston Churchill
Lawrence High School’s Top 10 seniors. Back: Noah Hotz, Dylan Mann, Tithi Patel, John Gow, Suyog Tank and Pratyush Hiremath. Front: Metodi Balev, Jennifer Dwyer, Crystal Lee Kremer and Viktor Krapivin.,
Hiremath,
Krapivin,
Tank,
