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New President’s Scholars 2009

Luke Apisa is from Centerville, Ohio and was graduated from Centerville High School. He was an AP Scholar and an officer in the National Honors Society. He is a National Merit Finalist and won 1st place in the Wright Scholar Trebuchet Competition. Luke was a member of the Academic Team, Chess, German, and Math Clubs, and Mu Alpha Theta. He was also very involved with the Film, Poetry, Science and Book Clubs. Luke plans to major in pre-medicine studies at SMU. 

William Badarak was graduated from John W. North High School in Riverside, California with High Academic Honors. William is an International Baccalaureate Scholar and a Collegeboard AP Scholar. He won 1st place in the state competition for his National History Day project titled: La Resistance des Vignerons: Taking a Stand Against German Oppression. He was editor in chief of his high school newspaper and student government treasurer. Will was a member of the French Honors Society, California Scholarship Federation, varsity tennis team, and Key Club International. He is also active with the Boy Scouts of America as an Eagle Scout. Will plans to study business at SMU. 

Hannah Bliss is from Wildwood, Missouri where she was graduated from Lafayette High School. Along with numerous equestrian accomplishments in barrel racing, Hannah was also the recipient of the Top Ten Scholar Award, Rockwood John M. Kastner Award, and the Student to Student Award. She is a National Merit Finalist and a member of the National Honor Society. She is a Scholar Athlete, member of the Student Council, Mu Alpha Theta, Amnesty International, and the Key Club. Hannah plans to major in international studies and economics at SMU. 

Michelle Engle is from Richardson, Texas where she was graduated from Plano East Senior High School. She is an AP Scholar with Distinction and National Merit Commended Scholar. Michelle won 2 nd place in the Pan American Spanish Grammar competition and won a 1st division rating for UIL Solo and Ensemble. Along with playing trombone in the Marching Band, and being active the National Honors Society and in Girl Scouts, she is a member of the Spanish Club and Police Explorers and vice captain of the academic decathlon team. Michelle will major in engineering at SMU. 

Jacob Fleming is from Livermore, Colorado where he was graduated from Ridgeview Classical High School. He has been recognized as Student of the Quarter, National AP Scholar, Congressional Academy Attendant, and a National Merit Finalist. Jacob was president of his high school Student Body and was writer, editor and graphic designer for the high school student newsletter. In addition, Jacob performed with the theatre department and was a member of Mock Trial. He plans to study chemistry and economics at SMU.

Gina Ford is from Fort Worth, Texas where she was graduated Valedictorian from Robert L Paschal High School. Gina is a National Merit Finalist, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and president of the National Honor Society. She has won numerous awards in orchestra and symphony concerto competitions and was in the Paschal Top Ten in calculus. Gina was also a member of the Paschal Wind Ensemble, Youth Orchestra of Greater Fort Worth, Student Council, Polka Club, and Recycling Club. She will major in music performance and political science at SMU. 

Christian Genco is from Colleyville, Texas where he was graduated from Carroll High School. He is a National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, a Green Jacket School Ambassador, and a technology specialist. Christian has been awarded the International Thespian Society Best Actor Award, Technology Club Award, and has been honored in numerous plays and productions. Along with being a master magician, Christian redesigned his high school’s website and volunteered as a math tutor and participated in the academic program for Carroll Medical Academy. He will major in biochemistry at SMU. 

Tyler Harris is from Newport, Arkansas where he was graduated valedictorian from Newport High School. Tyler has won awards from the Arkansas Council of Teachers of Mathematics, ACT Council Student Achievement, and Outstanding Student Awards from several subject areas. He was on the All A’s Honor Roll and a member of the National Honor Society. Tyler was a member of the varsity golf team, student council, and Future Farmers of America. He has won numerous awards through the Future Farmers of America organization. He is a member of a Bible Club and is associated with the local Kiwanis Club. Tyler will study engineering at SMU.

Jonathan Hill is from Maitland, Florida and was graduated from Winter Park High School with an International Baccalaureate Diploma. He was an AP Scholar and a member of the National, Mathematics, Spanish, and English Honor Societies. He was active on the varsity soccer team and non-varsity Premier Club soccer. He co-founded a club that goes to local elementary schools to tutor students for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Jon was invited and attended the National Youth Leadership Forum for Medicine in Boston. He will major in business or engineering at SMU. 

Connor Kite is from Cypress, Texas where he was graduated from Springmint Home School through Keystone National High School and Lone Star College System. He is a National Merit Finalist and a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. He is also a member of the Delta Epsilon Tau International Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa. He was on the Lone Star College System President’s Honor List and achieved level 5 in Piano Theory with Distinction. He has won numerous awards in Taekwondo, horseback riding, golf and music. Connor plans on majoring in mechanical engineering at SMU in the fall. 

Andy Lin is from Austin, Texas where he was graduated from Westwood High School. He was an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of the National Honor Society. Andy was awarded the Westwood High School Academic Award and Gold Medalist distinction by The Columbia Scholastic Press Association for The Horizon Newspaper. He was editor in chief of his high school newspaper, and member of non varsity swim teams and the American Red Cross at his high school. Andy will major in biological sciences at SMU. 

Esther Liu is from Lewisville, Texas where she was graduated as valedictorian from Carrollton Christian Academy. She is a National Merit Finalist and was given the Hall of Excellence Award. She is a member of the National Honor Society, International Student Organization, and the Leadership Corps, which she co-founded. Esther was awarded the Chinese Institute of Engineers’ Youth Achiever Award and has attended several leadership conferences including the Hart Global Leaders Forum. Esther will major in communications at SMU. 

Bernardo Lopez is from San Antonio, Texas where he was graduated from Antonian College Prep School. He won 1st place in the Greek History Area Convention and maxima cum laude on the National Latin Exam. He has consistently been on the Honor Roll, while playing varsity soccer and cross country track. He was an officer in the Latin Club and has counted many hours in community service in San Antonio. Bernardo plans to study economics and political science at SMU. 

Alex Mace is from Wildwood, Missouri and was graduated from Lafayette High School. Alex was the student body president and chairman of the Student Steering Committee. He also was head of the Class Advisory Council and was very active with the varsity soccer and volleyball teams. Along with serving many hours as an Eagle Scout, Alex played the trumpet for the Wind Ensemble and was given the Congressional Gold Medal Award. Alex is considering political science and history as his major fields of study at SMU. 

Cody Merrill is from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and was graduated from Broken Arrow High School. He was the National Honor Society president and senior class vice-president. Cody was team captain of the high school’s varsity tennis team, Senior Board, and Broken Arrow Youth City Council. He was selected to attend the United States Naval Academy Summer Fitness Seminar and the National Center for Policy Analysis “iDebate” Program sponsored by General Tommy Franks. Cody plans to major in finance at SMU in the fall. 

Michael Mitchell is from Austin, Texas where he was graduated from Saint Michaels Catholic Academy. He was president of Model United Nations and executive secretary of the Student Council. He was an AP Scholar with Honors and won several awards, including the St. Michael’s College Book Award for Service and Scholarship, the Fr. Konzen Award for Art and Honors English, and the Presidential Award. He was founder of Coalition, a group for student awareness on world issues. Michael plans to study finance at SMU. 

Jen Nguyen is from Coppell, Texas where she was graduated from Coppell Senior High School in the top 1% of her class. Jen won awards with the UIL State Solo and Ensemble, the AP Scholar Award, and the Most Outstanding Student in Choir Award. She was active in the Varsity Women’s Choir, Select Women’s Choir, and the A Cappella Choir. She won many awards in piano along with varsity swimming and diving. Jen was class Historian and a member of the National Honor Society. She will study pre-medicine or business at SMU in the fall.

Savannah Niles is from Cresson, Texas and was graduated from Trinity Valley School where she was on the Headmaster’s List each year. She was a member of the Student Diversity Club, Socratic Discussion Club, and writer for the student newspaper. Savannah devoted several hours a week outside of class to drawing, painting, and printmaking, along with community service at the Technical Theatre and Hood County Library. She will major in studio art at SMU.

Joey Ottolenghi is from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where he was graduated from Alexander W. Dreyfoos  School of the Arts. Joey has won numerous awards including Honor Roll certificates, AP Scholar with Distinction Award, Cornell University Book Award, News Section First Place Journalism Awards, Certificate of Achievement for Computer Printmaking, Excellence in Pre-Calculus, and Distinguished Honor/Top Ten Percentile of Junior Class award. He was a member of the varsity tennis team; performer in annual Communication Arts department showcase; and treasurer of the Debate Team. Joey also contributed many hours to community service in Jewish teen outreach projects and service within the Temple. He plans to major in biological sciences at SMU.

Daniel Pickett is from Denton, Texas and was graduated valedictorian of his class at John H. Guyer High School. He was an AP Scholar with Distinction and won Commended Performance recognition for the 2005-2008 TAKS tests. Daniel has won numerous awards in orchestra, diving, swimming, violin, and piano. His community service is exemplary, working with local grocery stores for food and collecting clothing for the needy. He has played piano and violin for nursing homes and at events to collect money for his school. Daniel plans to major in biological sciences or chemistry at SMU.

Bradley Ray is from Plano, Texas and was graduated from Prestonwood Christian Academy. Bradley was president, Drum Major, student director and banquet director for the school band. He was a member of the varsity tennis team, state and international qualifier with the Future Problem Solving Program, and a member of the Student Leadership Institute. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Principal’s Honor Roll, and Chapel Technical Team. He won the Outstanding Musicianship Award and Most Spirited Award. He volunteered with the Brooklyn Tabernacle tutoring adults working on the GED mathematics course work. Bradley plans to major in mechanical engineering at SMU. 

Chase Richards is from Plano, Texas and was graduated from Greenhill School. He was a member of the Cum Laude Society, Mu Alpha Theta, National Junior Classical League Latin Honor Society, and the All Region Honor Choir. Chase has won numerous Fine Arts awards in piano and choir, along with the Oxford Classical Dictionary Award, History Department Award, and Greenhill Pin Award for High Honor Roll. He was active with the golf team, drama and singing groups, and Science Olympiad Team. Chase is considering engineering as his field of study at SMU.

Timothy Scalzo is from Southlake, Texas where he was graduated from Carroll High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society, National Latin Honor Society, Computer Science Club, Mu Alpha Theta, and Fellowship of Christian Anyones. Timothy is a National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, and has won awards at Odyssey of the Mind World Finals for Classics Problem. He was also a member of the Marching Band, Concert Band, and the Computer Science Programming team. Timothy will study computer science at SMU. 

Douglas Sellers is from Montgomery, Alabama where he was graduated from Montgomery Academy. He was a member of Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish Honor Society, Speech and Debate Team, and the Spanish Club. Douglas has won awards in debate and public speaking as a nationally recognized debater. He was on the Honor Roll and was active in varsity football, golf, and church activities. Douglas was nominated by the faculty at his high school for the prestigious Character Award. He will study economics and finance at SMU. 

Megan Sessel is from Orange Beach, Alabama and was graduated in the top 1% of her class from Bayside Academy. She is an award winning equestrian and captain of the Science Olympiad and Scholar’s Bowl teams. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Teen Tutors, Girls’ Service Club and the high school tennis team. Megan was an AP Scholar with Distinction and recipient of the Citrin Law Firm Essay Contest Award and the Eastern Shore Youth Leadership Award. Megan will study business or biomedical engineering at SMU in the fall. 

Mark Trautmann is from Onalaska, Wisconsin and was graduated in the top 1% of his class from Holmen High School. Mark was student council president and student representative for the Holmen School Board. He was and Eagle Scout and a member of the Concert and Show Choirs. Mark received the Student of the Month Award and was a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and the 4-H Club. He will study political science at SMU. 

Rachel Vaughan is from Cedar Hill, Texas and was graduated from The Canterbury Episcopal School in Desoto, Texas. She was president of the Rugby Club and the Math Club, along with head delegate of Model United Nations. She was a member of the varsity tennis and softball teams and attended youth leadership forums. Rachel was a member of the National Honor Society and was designated as a National Merit Commended Scholar. She won many tennis and softball awards. Rachel will major in engineering at SMU.

Lashlee Warner is from New Orleans, Louisiana and was graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School. She was the recipient of the Women’s Geological Association Award, New Orleans Geology Association Award, and won 3rd place finish at the regional science fair with an Independent Research Project. Lashlee’s photographs have been published in a national magazine and an award winning school publication. She received academic achievement in Spanish, AP environmental science, and biology. She was active in varsity basketball, photography, student council, Young Life, and the National Honors Society. Lashlee will major in Spanish at SMU in the fall.