As graduation nears for the Bordentown Regional High School Class of 2017, students have started to focus on their futures beyond Bordentown. This year’s Top 10 students are no exception.This year’s valedictorian was set to finish the school year with a 107.4 GPA, weighted on a scale of 100, The seniors will attend colleges such as the University of Louisville, Kennesaw State University, Temple University, Wagner College, The College of New Jersey and Boston University, among others.They will study biology, mathematics, aerospace engineering and arts administration. The class of 2017 includes a prospective orthodontist, biotechnology lawyer, actuary, engineer and dance studio owner.During their time at Bordentown Regional, this year’s Top 10 students were a well-rounded bunch. They all participated in a number of clubs, like Future Business Leaders of America, Interact, Biology Club and Yearbook Club. They played sports like field hockey, basketball, soccer and track and field, and were involved with extracurriculars ranging from pit orchestra and Model UN to Teens on Fire and Student Council. Many are members of the National Honor Society.The class of 2017’s graduation ceremony is set for Friday, June 16, 2017 at the Bordentown Regional High School Performing Arts Center, starting at 6 p.m.Each student filled out a questionnaire about themselves, detailing their career plans, favorite Bordentown memories, extracurricular activities and more.Haasya KanamarlapudiUniversity of Louisville (biology)OrthodontistRank: 1 GPA: 107.4 (on a scale of 100)Activities: Yearbook editor-in-chief, Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, InteractFavorite memory: Making videos for my classes. My friends and I had so much fun making videos for AP U.S. History, AP Literature and Composition, Spanish and more. My favorite one had to be our 40-minute reinterpretation of Hamlet.Memorable quote: “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” –Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Timothy Sherrier University of South Carolina (biochemistry and molecular biology)Biotechnology lawyerRank: 2 GPA: 107.04Activities: Debate captain and two-time team best speaker, biology club, spring track, National Honor Society, Interact Boys State elected county executive and mayorFavorite memory: Being named best speaker in debate for the second year in a rowMemorable quote: “The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.” –Friedrich Nietzsche Leanna DiazThe College of New Jersey (mathematics)ActuaryRank: 3 GPA: 105.47Activities: Interact, National Honor SocietyFavorite memory: Going to see On Your Feet! on Broadway with my Spanish 3 classMemorable quote: “Perhaps this is the moment for which you have been created.” –Esther 4:14
Kathryn Chilelli
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (aerospace engineering)Aerospace engineer for SpaceX, Lockheed Martin or BoeingRank: 4GPA: 105.35Activities: Field hockey, track and field, swimming, math club, National Honor Society, orchestraFavorite memory: I really enjoyed making video projects with my friends, especially a historic figure rap battle for AP U.S. History.Memorable quote: “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” –Henry Ford
Julia Mollin
Wagner College (arts administration)Business position in an arts-related organizationRank: 5GPA: 104.5Activities: National Honor Society, yearbook, Interact, Future Business Leaders of America, biology club, pit orchestraFavorite memory: The senior class trip to Florida. It was a lot of fun. I loved Disney World and Universal Studios, and I enjoyed hanging out with my friends on the trip.Memorable quote: “Ever tired. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” –Samuel Beckett
Erin Ryan
Kennesaw State University (dance and business management)Dance studio ownerRank: 6GPA: 104.24Activities: Drama club, debate, National Honor SocietyFavorite memory: Choreographing the high school musical, Spamalot, and working closely with [director] Stacie Morano and the BRHS cast. It was so much fun and very rewarding.Memorable quote: “Always look on the bright side of life.” –Eric Idle’s Spamalot Ash DunlevyRutgers University (agriculture and food sciences)Agricultural developmentRank: 7GPA: 102.81Activities: Marching band section leader, biology club vice president, debate, track and field, school musical, model UNFavorite memory: The first time the marching band won a competition after all our hard work.Memorable quote: “We want men who will fix their eyes on the stars, but who will not forget that their feet must walk on the ground.” –Theodore Roosevelt Calvin OkuliczThe College of New Jersey (biomedical engineering)Biomedical engineerRank: 8GPA: 102.62Activities: Care choir president, show choir, madrigal, theater, Spanish club, National Honor SocietyFavorite memory: Winning best vocalist for my solo at Music in the ParksMemorable quote: “Success is no accident. it is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and, most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” –Pele Morgan PappTemple University (business)Business operation manager and coachRank: 9GPA: 101.9Activities: Class president, student council, National Honor Society, Interact, Teens on Fire, model Congress, soccer, bowling, basketballFavorite memory: Scoring 1,000 points in basketballMemorable quote: “Is it Friday yet?” –Everyone Erin CaltiereBoston University (theater production and design)Lighting designerRank: 10GPA: 101.87Activities: International Thespian Society, theater club, stage crew, National Honor SocietyFavorite memory: Seeing the show I directed, Madagascar, performed in front of two amazing and responsive audiences. I am so grateful to have had that opportunity and to everyone (my cast and crew) who made it all possible.Memorable quote: “To fight for each minute is to fight for what is possible within yourself so that your life and death will not be like theirs.” –Charles Bukowski
The Class of 2017 is set to graduate this month,
