Graduation ceremonies for the Robbinsville High School Class of 2024 took place on Friday, June 14.
Among those graduating were 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.
Kanhav Bhatnagar
University of Maryland, Computer Science
Career plans: Become a Computer Programer and eventually create my own company.
Planned college activities: I wish to join the club soccer team at UMD and participate in several hackathons
Clubs/sports teams at RHS: Boy High School Soccer, FBLA, Math Honors Society, National Honors Society.
Person who inspires you: My Mom for making sure I will always work hard for what I desire.
Favorite quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Best high School memory: Winning the NJ Boys Soccer Championship with some of my closest friends
Robert Gao
University of California Berkeley, Mechanical Engineering
Career plans: Robotics/Prosthetics engineer.
Planned college activities: Found a startup, volleyball team, build F1 cars in the Formula SAE club, create battlebots with the Robobears, and explore the connection between humans and technology at the Neurotech club.
Clubs/sports teams at RHS: Nemesis (FRC Robotics), Track and Field (Javelin thrower), Math League, Future Business Leaders of America, Model United Nations, Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honors Society).
Person who inspires you: My grandpa had the most inventive and creative spirit and showed me the limitless potential of our surroundings to be used in unorthodox ways for new purposes. Despite all of the hardships that he’s faced in his life, even now after surviving a stroke, he is still resilient and optimistic.
Favorite quote: “Everything’s impossible until somebody does it”
Best high school memory: Biking around Town Center during COVID-19 virtual learning. Traveling from the playgrounds at Foxmoor and the Silver Angel Park to Dollar Tree and Rite Aid while taking breaks to rest, talk, and play at my garage or on my friend’s trampoline. Although not one particular moment, the collection of memories formed during this freeing period brings me the most joy.
Nora Gray
Rutgers Honors College, Mathematics and Sociology
Career plans: Social science research and statistics.
Planned college activities: Rutgers Performing Dance Company, 90.3 The Core.
Clubs/sports teams at RHS: World Language Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Italian Club, Teen PEP peer leader, Math and Italian tutor.
Person who inspires you: My grandma, Kathleen Ruggiero, who was the smartest person I ever knew (and a proud Rutgers grad) and who taught me that learning is a lifelong endeavor.
Favorite quote: “To define is to limit.” -Oscar Wilde
Best high school memory: Performing at my final dance recital with the friends that I made over the past 15 years at my studio, and savoring the last moments of dancing with some of my favorite people.
Adrian Ivanov
Cornell University, Biometry and Statistics, Finance
Planned college activities: Club or intramural team soccer, other clubs (especially the finance club).
Clubs/sports teams at RHS: Varsity soccer, FBLA, Math Honors Society, National Honors Society, VP of the Young Investors Club playing soccer.
Person who inspires you: My dad. For as long as I can remember, he has been by my side teaching me lessons, supporting me in all my endeavors, and always there to help me with anything no matter how small.
Favorite quote: “If you want freedom in your life, you have to have discipline.”
Best high school memory: Winning the state championship in soccer with my best friends. It was a surreal experience, marking a first in the program’s history. This achievement shows that anything is possible, as we faced and overcame doubt throughout our journey.
Alexander Ivanov
Cornell University, Biometry and Statistics
Career plans: Investment banking or finance.
Planned college activities: Soccer and joining a business-related club.
Clubs/sports teams at RHS: Soccer team, NHS, FBLA, Young Investors club (president).
Person who inspires you: The two people that had the biggest impact on my life and to whom I owe everything are my parents. Their unwavering support has allowed me to take risks and to follow my passions, knowing that I will always be encouraged in the face of adversity.
Favorite quote: “Dreams don’t work unless you do” – John C. Maxwell
Best high school memory: Winning the state championship in soccer my junior year of high school. To win something that seemed so far out of reach just shows that with hard work and dedication so much can be accomplished.
Zoya Jadhav
Princeton University, Neuroscience with Public Health Minor
Career plans: Medicine (Dermatology).
Planned college activities: Princeton for Health Literacy and Equity, Princeton HOSA: Future Health Professionals, Women in Medicine, Princeton Neuroscience Network, Princeton Premedical Society (PPMS).
Clubs/sports teams at RHS: Nemesis 2590, Future Medical Leaders of America, Gender Equality Club, Research Club, Girls Who Code, National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, English Honor Society.
Person who inspires you: My parents. Their continuous support in all my pursuits has enabled me to push myself and make my dreams reality. Thank you Aai and Baba for the plethora of opportunities you have worked so hard to give to me.
Favorite quote: “Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it.” -Rabindranath Tagore
Best high school memory: Mask breaks in the courtyard sophomore year; those were simple moments with friends when school began to feel normal again after the pandemic.
Arnav Ketineni
Georgia Institute of Technology, Computer Science
Career Plans: Computer scientist.
Planned college activities: Grand Challenges Living-Learning Community, Intermural Pickleball, Intermural Tennis, Chess Club.
Clubs/sports teams at RHS: Robotics, Model UN, Chess Club, Debate Club.
Favorite quote: “The best way to predict the future is to make it” -Kendrick Lamar
Person who inspires you: My parents. They are always encouraging me to work harder and be better, and I’m inspired to be more like them.
Best high school memory: Playing brawl stars with my friends every day during the end of senior year.
Udhirna Krishnamurthy
Carnegie Mellon University, Computer Science
Career plans: Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology.
Planned college activities: Robotics Club, Business & Technology Club, Tennis Club.
Clubs/sports teams at RHS: Nemesis FIRST Robotics Team, Girls Who Code, National Honors Society, Computer Science Honors Society, Tennis.
Person who inspires you: My dad. No matter what obstacle life throws at him, he never fails to persevere and maintain a positive attitude.
Favorite quote: “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” -Theodore Roosevelt
Best high school memory: Getting stuck on the Mount Everest roller coaster with my friends on our last day at Disney World.
Shreya Nambiar
Barnard College of Columbia University, Mathematics and Neuroscience
Career Plans: Computational neuroscience or psychiatry.
Planned College Activities: Club Zamana, Neuroscience Society, Film Production.
Clubs/Sports Teams at RHS: President of Math Honor Society (Mu Alpha Theta), National Honor Society.
Person who inspires you: Bad Bunny because he is always willing to step outside of his comfort zone!
Favorite quote: “Do not take life too seriously. You’ll never get out of it alive.” -Elbert Hubbard
Best high school memory: Walking around Disney Springs with my friends!
Pranav Ram
Carnegie Mellon University, Machine Learning and Computer Science
Career plans: Environmental Sustainability.
Planned college activities: Buggy, Violin, CMIMC, Math Club, CMU Electric Formula Racing.
Clubs/sports teams at RHS: XC/Track, Math League, Hackathon Club.
Person who inspires you: My brother, because he sets a high bar in everything he does. As his little brother, that gives me a target to beat.
Favorite quote: “I know that human beings and fish can coexist peacefully.” – President George W. Bush
Best high school memory: Protecting my laptop from the sudden downpour as my friends and I sprinted through the TCNJ campus to present at HackTCNJ, then stepping outside, soaked, to participate virtually in another hackathon, and winning both.
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