Samara Painter, Drexel University (culinary arts). Baker/business owner. Class rank: 1 GPA: 4.45. Clubs: Marching band, Jazz band, school musical. Favorite memory: “The day I was announced as a drum major for this year’s competitive season. Ever since I joined marching band in my freshman year, I knew I wanted to become the drum major. It still means so much to me to know the rest of the band supported me and continues to support me as one of their leaders.” Memorable quote: Let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure. –Albus Dumbledore
Anthony Raspatello, University of North Carolina. Financial manager. Class rank: 2 GPA: 4.44. Sports: Football. Clubs: Student Government, DECA, Peer Leadership, school musical, Key Club, morning announcer, NJASC executive member, varsity debate, FBLA, school banker, Hamilton Township BOE representative, Math Club. Favorite memory: “The day I campaigned for the New Jersy Association of Student Councils State Executive Board helped me grow as a person and gain confidence I would have never had otherwise.” Memorable quote: I have found that if you love life, life will love you back. –Arthur Rubinstein
Tyler Sekunda, College of New Jersey. Teacher. Class rank: 3 GPA: 4.42. Sports: Soccer, tennis (captain). Clubs: Key Club (vice president). Favorite memory: “My favorite memory is giving a speech at the academic awards my senior year.” Memorable quote: Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. –John F. Kennedy
Madison Gates, Syracuse University. Interior designer. Class rank: 4 GPA: 4.38. Clubs: Peer Leadership, Science League, Student Government, Math Club, National Honor Society, Math National Honor Society, Key Club (vice president), Science National Honor Society (president). Favorite memory: “My favorite memory from K-12 is 11th grade English class with Miss Buchanan. She provided a cheery, positive atmosphere every day.”Memorable quote: I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I’ll go to it laughing. –Herman Melville, “Moby Dick”
Ian Reed, College of New Jersey. Astrophysicist. Class rank: 5 GPA: 4.37. Sports: Golf. Clubs: Robotics Club, Math Club, Science League. Favorite memory: “My favorite memory was being the representative for my robotics team on the field during the Mid-Atlantic robotics regional event.”Memorable quote: A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. –Albert Einstein
Jenna O’Neill, American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Musical theater performer/director. Class rank: 6 GPA: 4.34. Sports: Field hockey. Clubs: Student Government, National Honor Society, Peer Leadership, Drama Club, Select Choir, school musical. Favorite memory: “My favorite memory over the years has to be last year’s musical, Seussical. We all had a blast performing as a team on a very difficult show.” Memorable quote: The world belongs to you as much as the next fella so don’t give it up..just keep your faith and your courage, and you’ll turn out all right. –Oscar Hammerstein II
Stephanie White, Dowling College (Marketing). Class rank: 7 GPA: 4.33. Intercollegiate sports: Softball. Sports: Basketball, softball. Clubs: Student Government, Science League, Math Club. Favorite memory: “My fondest memory is receiving the ‘Team Before Self’ award during the 2014 HHW softball banquet. It is not the physical trophy but the journey that it represents and the lessons learned that still put a smile on my face. The memory evolved from one of the most difficult times of my life—I tore my anterior curciate ligament and lateral meniscus during a basketball game at Trenton High School. It took months to recover from the injury, and was not able to play softball that season. I was the varisty manager, instead, and I learned a lot about the game from a coach’s point of view. Winning the award showed me I had matured and become a better teammate, and that my hard work did not go unnoticed.” Memorable quote: Ninety percent of pitching is half mental.
Alex Schmaus, Drexel University (culinary arts). Executive chef/restaurateur. Class rank: 8 GPA: 4.32. Clubs: Marching Band, Jazz Band, Pit Band. Favorite memory: “Joining Marching Band changed and molded my entire high school career, and it will probably be one of the most important decisions of my life.” Memorable quote: Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. –Nelson Mandela
Jennifer Chesko, Rowan University (Biochemistry). Forensic pathologist. Class rank: 9 GPA: 4.32. Sports: Field hockey. Clubs: National Honor Society, Italian National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society. Favorite memory: “My favorite memory was going to New York City last year with my human physiology class. We went to see the Body World exhibit, which featured bodies that had undergone plastination to reveal the structures inside the human body.” Memorable quote: A woman is like a teabag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water. –Eleanor Roosevelt
Kaitlyn McNab, New York University (creative writing). Fashion journalist/author. Class rank: 10 GPA: 4.31. Clubs: Student Government, Peer Leadership, school newspaper, Rose Club, Key Club, Drama Club, select choir, Talented Tenth, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society. Favorite memory: “The constant buzz of excitement you could feeling hovering over HHW in the fall is exactly what made Spirit Week so magical and my favorite memory from school.” Memorable quote: Be a stiletto in a room full of flats.
