Graduation ceremonies for the Lawrence High School Class of 2023 are set to take place on Thursday, June 22, at the Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton at 1 p.m.
"We are so proud of the ways in which you have adapted to a high school career that has been filled with its fair share of tweaks, adjustments and some ‘new normals,’ but also with new friends, new memories, and new traditions," said a district message to the seniors. "In many ways, you have become pioneers here at Lawrence High School, and through it all you’ve stayed strong, flexible, brave and patient."
Among those graduating are the Top 10 seniors featured below, listed in alphabetical order. The students talk about their plans, identify the people they look up to and share a favorite high school memory.
Stephen Gilton
Princeton University, Computer Science
Career plans: Software Engineering
Planned college activities: STEM and CS related stuff.
Clubs/sports teams at LHS: STEM Academy, NHS.
Name someone who inspires you: Julia Davis Chandler, because she wrote the first recipe for a peanut butter sandwich.
Favorite inspirational quote: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle.
Favorite high school memory: The cream cheese that has been on the ceiling since the start of Junior year.
John Gunton
MIT, Computer Science
Career plans: Undecided (However, during the spring of this year, I trained to become an Emergency Medical Technician and absolutely loved doing so. Given this, I’m considering going into medical school after college).
Planned college activities: The MIT squash team for the four years that I’m there. Additionally, if I have the time, I’d love to be able to join a guitar or piano club as well because I love playing music.
Clubs/sports teams at LHS: Tennis team for one season.
Name someone who inspires you: Since I first started playing squash, my coach, Tyler Smith, was my inspiration. He was my hero, the person I always strived to be. Today, this still holds true, as he continues to teach me new things not only on the court, but off it as well.
Favorite inspirational quote: “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.”
Favorite high school memory: It is difficult to name one memory out of the thousands that I have of my time in this school as my favorite. However, with that being said, this year, I was lucky enough to be nominated by my incredibly kind and magnificent biology teacher, Mrs. Randall, for an award. During this ceremony, she gave a speech about me which made me feel invincible, an indescribable feeling which put a permanent smile on my face. For this and so much more, this was my favorite high school memory, one which I can’t thank Mrs. Randall enough for. It is for times like these that I will certainly miss the school and, even more so, all the people in it (without a doubt Mrs. Randall!) that made it the special place it was for me.
Ailish Humphreys
University of Virginia, Neuroscience
Career plans: Scientific researcher
Planned college activities: Club lacrosse, Outdoors Club, Operation Smile.
Clubs/sports teams at LHS: Soccer, lacrosse, Operation Smile, DECA, peer leadership, NHS.
Name someone who inspires you: Michelle Obama; she’s an icon.
Favorite inspirational quote: “There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” – Amanda Gorman.
Favorite high school memory: DECA ICDC in Florida, udo’s otl, freshman year painting, APLANG snacks, and getting to know my classmates and teachers.
Mahir Majid
Princeton University, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Career plans: Astronaut
Planned college activities: Princeton Racing Electric, Engineers without Borders and Club Badminton.
Clubs/sports teams at LHS: Swimming, Cross Country, Tennis and Science Olympiad.
Name someone who inspires you: King Julien, because somehow he can always make the correct choice, even under pressure.
Favorite inspirational quote: “If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey.
Favorite high school memory: Giving a book-talk at the library on The Interstellar Tree.
Aleksandra Mondrzik
Rutgers University, Environmental Engineering
Career plans: Undecided
Planned college activities: STEM-related clubs, service clubs and cultural activities, but I am also open to joining any clubs that spark my interest along the way.
Clubs/sports teams at LHS: Science Olympiad, The Lawrencian, STEM Academy, National Honor Society.
Name someone who inspires you: Between my parents, teachers, friends and family, there are too many remarkable people who have impacted my life to choose from.
Favorite inspirational quote: “Decide. Have fun and get started! The world is waiting for you to reveal your gift!” – Marie Skłodowska–Curie.
Favorite high school memory: Any time that I was with my friends, whether it was after school at Science Olympiad practices, hanging out during out to lunch, or chatting while in class.
Milan Naropanth
Harvard, Computer Science
Career plans: Quant
Planned college activities: Club quidditch and tech things.
Clubs/sports teams at LHS: STEM Academy and countless clubs.
Name someone who inspires you: Jaylen Brown because he is a polymath and a pretty decent basketball player.
Favorite inspirational quote: “When you’re on your way up, it’s going to seem like everything that could go wrong is going wrong.” – Kevin Gates.
Favorite high school memory: Doodling on Mr. Rowe’s pink ties for leisure.
Rhea Phadke
Rutgers University, Data Science
Career plans: Professional Soccer YouTube Highlights Clip Editor
Planned college activities: Club volleyball, cultural and computer science clubs.
Clubs/sports teams at LHS: International Alliance, Peer Leadership, National Honors Society, tennis, Student Council, Class Officers.
Name someone who inspires you: Ponyo because she loves ramen.
Favorite inspirational quote: “Venture outside your comfort zone. The rewards are worth it.” – Rapunzel, Tangled.
Favorite high school memory: Emceeing at Culture Fest, DECA volleyball and state conference, AP Stat, and Chinese field trips.
Megan Simpson
The College of William & Mary, Government
Career plans: Lawyer
Planned college activities: Club lacrosse, intramural sports, community service and volunteering.
Clubs/sports teams at LHS: Varsity lacrosse, Varsity swim, DECA, National Honor Society, Peer Leadership.
Name someone who inspires you: Ruth Bader Ginsburg for defying stereotypes and breaking down barriers for so many.
Favorite 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: Meeting new people and making new friends through various clubs and classes throughout my years at LHS (especially AP Gov period 4B).
Rohan Tadisetty
University of Maryland, Computer Science
Career plans: Software engineering
Planned college activities: Tech-related, community service.
Clubs/sports teams at LHS: STEM Academy, Science Olympiad, Math League, DECA.
Name someone who inspires you: My grandfather, who always smiles when we chat and encourages me to work towards my goals with happiness.
Favorite inspirational quote: “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt.
Favorite high school memory: Hanging out with my friends during out-to-lunch and field trips to Atlantic City and Hershey Park.
Ethan Wang
UC Berkeley, Physics
Career plans: Professional soccer goalkeeper
Planned college activities: Club volleyball, Combat Robotics at Berkeley, Berkeley Student Food Collective.
Clubs/sports teams at LHS: Swimming, Tennis, Science Olympiad, STEM Academy.
Name someone who inspires you: Thomas the Tank Engine because I admire his work ethic.
Favorite inspirational quote: “Little engines can do big things” – Thomas the Tank Engine.
Favorite high school memory: Breaking the LHS 200 medley record at my last-ever swim meet.