Graduation ceremonies for the Ewing High School Class of 2024 took place on Friday, June 21, at the Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton.
Among those graduating were 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.
Nicholas Benedetti
North Carolina Chapel Hill, Environmental Studies and Political Science
GPA: 4.9545
Career plans: TBD
Planned college activities: Student government, student affairs, environmental advocacy work.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: President of Student Council, Board of Education Student Representative, President of International Thespian Society, member of the Environmental Club, Key Club, Newspaper Club, Drama Club and track.
Inspirational person: I would not be half the person I am without the people I am so lucky to call my friends. Every day they continue to inspire me, support me, and make me want to be a better person. They’ve made all the difference and kept me grounded during the best and worst times. I owe them so many memories, my sanity, and my happiness.
Favorite quote: “Bow Bow Bow”
Best high school memory: Every single pep rally. Getting to create these memories for other people while experiencing them real-time is the highlight of high school.
Liam Ta
Rutgers University – New Brunswick, Computer Science
GPA: 4.9018
Career plans: Challenging Mark Zuckerberg to a duel
Planned college activities: Club tennis, Asian-American cultural club, various service and leadership opportunities, programming/computer club, assist with a research group, internships.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: National Honor Society, Student Council, Rotary Interact Club, Key Club, Environmental Club, Peer Tutoring, Varsity Boys Tennis, Orchestra/Honors Symphony, and Peer Leadership.
Inspirational person: My mother and father have had a profound impact on my life due to their unwavering support in both academics and life as a whole.
Favorite quote: “Live, laugh, love.”
Best high school memory: The Peer Leadership retreat to the Poconos Environmental Educational Center during the summer before our senior year.
Alan Chausse
University of Maine, Forestry
GPA: 4.8152
Career plans: Forester
Planned college activities: University of Maine Pulp and Paper Program, intramural softball, choir, and jazz band.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Baseball, the Blue Devil Players, Environmental Club, Jazz Band, National Honor Society, Peer Leadership, Peer Tutoring, Robotics Club, Rotary Interact Club, Technology Student Association, president of Culinary Club, secretary and treasurer of Drama Club, secretary of International Thespian Society and section leader in Mastersingers.
Inspirational person: My parents, because they have made innumerable sacrifices in order for me to have the most success possible.
Favorite quote: “And if you follow your feelings, you follow your dreams, you might find the forest there in the trees.” – Tom Petty, Wake Up Time
Best high school memory: Playing in the musical pit band for “Between the Lines.” I will remember the feeling of elation that creating music and sharing that joy brought forever.
Daniel Armstrong
Purdue University, Mechanical Engineering
GPA: 4.8071
Career plans: Engineer
Planned college activities: Working with middle and high school students as a math tutor. Join research groups that explore the safety measures in cars and find solutions to save people’s lives. Club soccer.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Soccer for four years and was varsity captain junior and senior years. National Honor Society, Key Club, Yearbook Club, Peer Tutoring and Peer Leadership.
Inspirational person: My loving family has been with me every step of the way, and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without their constant love and support. They inspire me to be the best person I can be.
Favorite quote: “To be young, gifted, and black.” – Nina Simone
Best high school memory: In my sophomore year, I scored a penalty in the first win of the soccer season.
Thomas Davison
Rochester Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering
GPA: 4.8045
Career plans: Professional engineer, potentially in the automotive industry.
Planned college activities: Intramural volleyball, the F1 project team and a research group.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Key Club, Environmental Club and varsity soccer.
Inspirational person: My grandfather, as he made something from nothing, and even built his own house. He was a strong courageous man that I plan to be in the future.
Favorite quote: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
Best high school memory: The Dorney Park trip junior year.
Julianna Medina
Fordham University Lincoln Center, Theatre (Design and Production)
GPA: 4.7464
Career plans: Becoming a stage manager and working in theater.
Planned college activities: Extracurricular theater program.
Club/sports teams at EHS: Theater/Musical, Student Council, Key Club, National Honor Society, International Thespian Society, Drama Club, Newspaper Club, Peer Leadership
Inspirational person: My Mother has made a huge difference in my life this year, and I owe her the credit of causing me to pursue a career path that I am passionate about.
Favorite quote: “Take the moment and taste it, you’ve got no reason to be afraid. You’re on your own kid. Yeah, you can face this” – Taylor Swift
Best high school memory: Working as an assistant stage manager on “Between the Lines” this year.
Sarah Ashenfelter
University of Miami, Biochemistry and Nutrition (Pre-med)
GPA: 4.6786
Career plans: Cardiothoracic surgeon
Planned college activities: Club swim team, getting my EMT certification and becoming a volunteer EMT.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Swimming, Lacrosse, Field Hockey, National Honor Society, Sports Medicine club, FBLA
Inspirational person: My parents, because they have let me become the person I have become.
Best high school memory: Participating in my many athletic activities and having fun with my teammates.
Madison Hill
Penn State – University Park, Psychology
GPA: 4.6616
Career plans:
Physical Therapist
Planned college activities: Dance team and other clubs.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Cheer (captain), Key Club, Dance Captain for the play, National Honor Society.
Inspirational person: My mom, because she works very hard and is still extremely kind and caring.
Favorite quote: “You only live once.”
Best high school memory: Senior Homecoming and senior night for cheer.
Jayla Green
Howard University, Nursing
GPA: 4.6295
Career plans: Nurse practitioner.
Planned college activities NAACP, Intramural Flag Football.
Club/sports teams at EHS: Bridge to Employment, Black Student Alliance, Peer Leadership, National Honor Society, Flag Football.
Inspirational person: My mom, because she is the strongest, hardest working person I know. I aspire to make her proud and assure her that all her sacrifices were worth it.
Favorite quote: “What it meant to be, will be” – Lauryn Hill
Best high school memory: Dorney Park and the Peer Leadership Retreat
Franc Romanowski
The College of New Jersey, Journalism
GPA: 4.6205
Career plans: Broadcast journalism
Planned college activities: School newspaper, television station, and hopefully the radio station.
Clubs/sports teams at EHS: Newspaper club, Jazz Band, Marching Band.
Inspirational person: It’s impossible for me to name just one person. There have so many people along the way, from my family to my teachers and friends, who have put the drive within me to persevere through my challenges to get where I am today.
Favorite quote: “Always be a little kinder than necessary.” – from a quote calendar
Best high school memory: Ms. Monaco’s English II Honors class when we got to run around the school for our “1984” scavenger hunt.
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