The Class of 2017 at Hamilton’s three public high schools—including the Top 10 seniors featured below—will graduate June 23, 2017. Nottingham graduates at the Sun National Bank Center at 3 p.m.
Afeera Chaudhry
Farleigh Dickinson University
Doctor
Class rank: 1 GPA: 4.72
Sports: Tennis
Clubs: Math club (president), Medical Careers club (vice president), Caelestis (editor-in-chief), National Honor Society, Peer Leadership
Prior schooling: Greenwood Elementary, Crockett Middle
Person who inspires me: “My parents because they support me in everything I do, and in the tought situations, they offer me the best advice. They both have worked hard to provide me with opportunities for a better future.”
Favorite memory: “Math club. I enjoyed going on math meets with my friends and competing with students from other schools.”
Ans Nawaz
Princeton University
Undecided
Class rank: 2 GPA: 4.49
Clubs
: Princeton University Preparatory Program, Spanish club (president), College club (founder), peer tutor, National Honor Society
Prior schooling
: Klockner Elementary, Crockett Middle
Person who inspires me: “My dad because of his sacrifices and hard work that have made my success possible.”
Favorite memory: “Mrs. Kelliher’s AP English Language & Composition class has taught me to be more critical of the world of language. The class has served me with a new, more insightful look at the rhetoric of the words I encounter. Words are powerful, and advertising, an intricate manipulation of language and imagery, is persuasive, with its glance at a different, better lifestyle. Hence, we must remain conscious of how words impact us.”
Andrew Bentz
University of Maryland
Lockheed Martin engineer
Class rank: 3 GPA: 4.49
Sports: Soccer, hockey, lacrosse
Clubs: National Honor Society, yearbook
Prior schooling: Morgan Elementary, Reynolds Middle
Person who inspires me: “Robert Bentz, my grandpa. He worked hard for everything he has and was very successful. Nothing was every given to him, and he is happy with his life.”
Favorite memory: “Stopping by White Castle on the way home from a hockey game, and ordering 100 burgers for the whole bus.”
Leah Henk
Bucknell University
Environmental engineer
Class rank: 4 GPA: 4.49
Sports: Swimming, cross country, track
Clubs: Peer Leadership, stage crew, Key Club, Spanish club
Prior schooling: Morgan Elementary, Reynolds Middle
Person who inspires me: “My grandfather. He is a pacifist Quaker who always looks on the bright side in life and pursues knowledge.”
Favorite memory: “My freshman year I was part of the spring musical. Sometimes my friends and I would just stay at school until play practice. Practice usually would not end until late at night. My friends and I ordered Chinese food one night. We had nowhere to sit so I brought out the prop table and chairs, and we ate on them. Then we cleaned up so it looked like we didn’t use them. Except, during rehersal, one of the leads found a fortune from a fortune cookie and had no idea where it came from. My friends and I burst out laughing.”
Steven Puac
Haverford College
Government/Policy Maker
Class rank: 5 GPA: 4.4
Sports: Wrestling, soccer
Clubs: Peer Leadership, National Honor Society, Key Club, National Art Honor Society
Prior schooling: Elementary N/A (Guatemala), Grice Middle
Person who inspires me: “My mother. She rooted in me the values necessary for success, like respect and responsibility.”
Favorite memory: “Being able to understand English the first day of school during my 8th grade school year. I felt I could finally communicate with the culture and people of the United States.”
Nicholas Christie
School of Visual Arts
Animator
Class rank: 6 GPA: 4.3
Sports: Swimming
Clubs: National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, Key Club, art club
Prior schooling: University Heights Elementary, Crockett Middle
Person who inspires me: “My mother. She is the strongest, most hard-working person I know.”
Matthew Knappenberger
Rutgers University
Actuary
Class rank: 7 GPA: 4.32
Sports: Golf, baseball, football
Clubs: Outreach for the Stars, Future Business Leaders of America, Key Club
Prior schooling: Mercerville Elementary, Crockett Middle
Person who inspires me: “My father wakes up every day at 2 a.m. to go to work and gets home at 8 p.m. just to provide for his family.”
Favorite memory: “Freshman football. Being a freshman in high school is a huge change, and joining the football team allowed me to meet a large number of kids that I’d never met before the school year started. Freshman football eased the high school transition, and allowed me to make bonds with kids I’m still friends with today.”
Kristen Mejia
University of Richmond
Journalist
Class rank: 8 GPA: 4.31
Sports: Soccer, lacrosse, tennis
Clubs: Italian club (secretary), National Honor Society (vice president), World Language Honor Society, Princeton University Prepatory program, orchestra
Prior schooling: Klockner Elementary, Crockett Middle
Person who inspires me: “My mother is the most inspirational person in my life because she has shown so much bravery and reilience when dealing with the obstacles in her life.”
Favorite memory: “Senior prom and senior weekend. I got to spend time with my friends, and I will forever cherish the laughs we all shared.”
Kieron Douragh
University of Richmond
Financial advisor
Class rank: 9 GPA: 4.31
Sports: Basketball
Clubs: National Honor Society, Key Club, Outreach for the Stars, Princeton University Prepatory program
Prior schooling: Klockner Elementary, Kuser Elementary, Reynolds Middle
Person who inspires me: “My father. He showed me what it is like to be a man and support a family.”
Favorite memory: “When I moved to Kuser Elementary in 3rd grade. I still remember my first day at Kuser. I was filled with nervousness and excitement at the same time. Since I was a quiet person, it was hard for me to make friends. I stood in the line by myself until others came. To my surprise, everyone was friendly. I became good friends with them, and to this day, we are still close.”
Brandon Ryan
Gettysburg College
Environmental biologist
Class rank: 10 GPA: 4.29
Clubs: Caelestis (editor), National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society
Prior schooling: University Heights Elementary, Crockett Middle
Person who inspires me: “My sister. She has proved to me the importance of hard work and shown me anything is possible when you are passionate and determined.”
Favorite memory: “Joining the literary magazine has been one of my best experiences. I have come to know a few amazing individuals and have had the pleasure to witness the amazing talent of the Nottingham community. We have truly become like a family, and I will always be grateful that I decided to join such a group.”
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