Graduation ceremonies for the Ewing High School Class of 2023 are set to take place on Thursday, June 22, at the Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton at 6 p.m.
Among those graduating are the Top 10 seniors featured below, listed in order of grade point average. The students talk about their plans, identify the people they look up to and share a favorite high school memory.
Lina Lyssia Abtouche
Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs
GPA: 4.82
Career plans: Law and working with humanitarian organizations to bring positive change to humanity and reform our institutions to be inclusive and representative of all.
Planned college activities: Princeton Progressive Law Society, Princeton Model Congress and Model UN, Princeton Arab Society, and the Pace Center for Civic Engagement.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Student Council, Princeton University Preparatory Program, Newspaper Club, Key Club, Rotary Interact Club, National Honor Society, Youth Advocacy Club.
Name a person who inspires you: My mother. She is the foundation upon which I can thrive and fall upon for support, she is the beacon that I can find solace in amidst adversity and hardship.
Inspirational quote: “If the olive trees knew the hands that planted them, their oil would become tears.” – Mahmoud Darwish
Favorite high school memory: The pep rallies at the end of every spirit week. The culmination of the school’s spirit and teamwork is so fun to experience firsthand and, as a part of the Student Council, seeing our plans come to fruition is fulfilling.
Samuel Schwartz
George Washington University, Biology
GPA: 4.78
Career plans: Biotechnology or medicine.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Student Council, National Honor Society, Musical and Drama Club, Boys Varsity Lacrosse, International Thespian Society, Master Singers, Jazz Band.
Name a person who inspires you: My mom, because she has taught me how to love, to be happy, and to never stop talking.
Inspirational quote: “I hate it when I get my Schwartz twisted!” – Dark Helmet
Favorite high school memory: Cleaning up tennis balls at freshmen orientation with Mr. Burley and Mr. Anderson.
Hazel Penner
Rutgers University, psychology
GPA: 4.7652
Career plans: Psychiatrist
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Varsity Girls Soccer, Varsity Girls Lacrosse, Girls Varsity Basketball (Manager), the musical, National Honor Society (President), Student Council (President), Key Club, Mastersingers, International Thespian Society, Yarnworks Club.
Name a person who inspires you: My grandmother. She makes everything and everyone around her shine. She reminds me to live passionately and ferociously, to always lead with love. I am so grateful to have her in my life.
Inspirational quote: “Take everything one step at a time.” – Brian Penner and Lisa Albright
Favorite high school memory: Dancing backstage to my unfortunate “distraction” during our performance of Putnam County’s 25th Annual Spelling Bee.
Jacob Schwartz
George Washington University, Undecided
GPA: 4.733
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Drama Club/Theater/International Thespian Society, Student Council, Lacrosse, National Honor Society, Band, Master Singers.
Name a person who inspires you: Wayne Brady. He makes people laugh and can disarm any situation with humor.
Inspirational quote: “Please, please, don’t make a fuss. I’m Just Plain Yogurt.” – Yogurt
Favorite high school memory: “Learning” the choreography for “Oh, The Thinks You Can Think” in my freshman year during my dance audition for the Ewing High School musical, Seussical.
Eva Washington
Temple University, Japan Campus, International Business
GPA: 4.70
Career plans: To live on a commune and contribute with manual labor.
Planned college activities: TUJ’s Emerging Leaders Program.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Tennis team, Swim team, Lacrosse team, Key Club, Environmental Club, National Honor Society.
Name a person who inspires you: My mom’s hard work continuously inspires me to take advantage of every opportunity and appreciate all the little things in life.
Inspirational quote: “It is not helpful to help a friend by putting coins in her pockets when she has got holes in her pockets.” – Elizabeth Bowen
Favorite high school memory: Debriefing with my friends after some crazy day.
Emilia Carbajal
Pratt Institute, film
GPA: 4.6973
Career plans: Screenwriting and/or concept art/illustration. Hopefully, one day, I’ll get to direct my own films.
Planned college activities: The school’s dance team and continuing my interests in violin, choral music and musical theater.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Drama club, Mastersingers, Student Council, National Honor Society.
Name a person who inspires you: Frida Kahlo. It’s very rare to see female Mexican activists and artists that don’t shy away from their identity. I hope to live up to her legacy as an artist and a person.
Inspirational quote: ”Stay the course, light a star, change the world wherever you are.” – Z. Randall Stroope
Favorite high school memory: Getting to participate in the EHS musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The improv we got to do on stage was really special to me and so much fun.
Reego John-Annaselvan
The College of New Jersey and Georgia Tech, Computer Science and Cognitive Science
GPA: 4.685
Career plans: Artificial intelligence development, clean energy.
Planned college activities: Association for Computing Machinery, Japanese Honor Society, Tennis Club, Clean Energy Projects.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Robotics, Tennis, Orchestra, National Honor Society, Peer Leadership.
Name a person who inspires you: I think you can learn something from everyone. Throughout my life, I have always been able to find qualities in my family, friends, and even strangers that I find admirable. I try to adapt these qualities to my own character.
Inspirational quote: “Without the element of enjoyment, it’s not worth trying to excel at anything.” – Magnus Carlsen
Favorite high school memory: Going on a field trip to the Poconos over the summer. We spent three days on a reserve with no Wi-Fi connection and just ourselves to talk to. Despite how it sounds, it was one of the best trips I ever had. We would play games during the day, tell each other stories around the campfire at night.
Molly Pean
La Salle University, Speech Pathology
GPA: 4.6714
Career plans: Speech Therapist
Planned college activities: The Honors Program and Student Government.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Varsity Field Hockey, Student Council, Orchestra, New Jersey Future Educators Association, National Honor Society, Costume Crew (School Musicals), Peer Leadership, Key Club.
Name a person who inspires you: My parents, because they have continuously supported me and encouraged me to achieve anything I put my mind to.
Inspirational quote: “When one door is closed, don’t you know that many more are open.” -Bob Marley
Favorite high school memory: My Senior Night for Field Hockey. My teammates, family, and coach made it a night to remember and it was a fun way to wrap up the season!
Sydney Smith
Loyola Marymount University, communications studies and public relations
GPA: 4.66
Career plans: Publicist.
Planned college activities: Black Student Alliance and club soccer.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Girls Varsity Soccer (Captain), Varsity Track & Field, Girls Varsity Basketball (Manager), Sports Medicine Club, Marching Band (Senior Drum Major), Honors Symphony, Pit Orchestra (EHS Musical), National Honor Society, Jazz Band.
Name a person who inspires you: My mother has both inspired and has been one of the major influences throughout my life. Besides the fact that she gave me life, she has done nothing but support, and been there for me through the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Inspirational quote: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” – Maya Angelou
Favorite high school memory: The time where I was both preparing and going to prom. I would also say winning homecoming queen was a great memory as well.
Maureen Lepold
Rochester Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering – Aerospace Concentration
GPA: 4.6473
Career plans: Aerospace Engineer or Mechanical Engineer.
Planned college activities: The Honors Program and the Combined Accelerated BS/ME Program in Mechanical Engineering, a Performing Arts Scholar in Technical Theater, Women of Engineering @ RIT, Habitat for Humanity.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Field Hockey, Spring Musical, Drama Club (Treasurer), International Thespian Society (ITS), National Honor Society (NHS), Spanish Club, and Key Club.
Name a person who inspires you: My parents inspire me on a daily basis. They are open-minded, understanding, supportive, and a huge reason why I’m the person that I am today. They have continuously supported me in all my endeavors and have pushed me to try my best even when I don’t believe in myself.
Inspirational quote: “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein
Favorite high school memory: Going to the International Thespian Festival at Indiana University in June of 2022 at the end of my junior year.