In nearly every issue, the Reporter Newspapers recognize a student at a local high school for her or his contributions to the local community and the school. We checked in with a dozen 2012 Standout Students who have gone on to college to see what they’re up to now.
Paroma Chakravarty is a freshman at Cornell University. She was a Top 10 student at Chamblee Charter High School, where she served as co-captain of the varsity volleyball team and president of the National Honor Society. At Cornell, Paroma is involved in the Solar Ovens project team, “in which we designed and built wooden ovens that use the heat from the sun to cook food. These ovens are for use in rural communities in Nicaragua,” Paroma said. She also works on a project team studying biofuels.
Justin Eisenberg is a freshman at Georgia Tech. He is majoring in materials science and engineering. As a senior at North Springs Charter High School, Justin worked in Tech’s Hess research lab, where he was the only high school student on the research team. “I am currently doing research in a chemical engineering lab on biologically-resistant polymer surfaces,” he said. “I also work in an electrical engineering lab on the patents for photolithography.”
Katie Keith studies at Furman University. While a student at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, she spent Thanksgiving break teaching in Haitian schools. Katie hopes to return to Haiti. Since her trip “over 100 water filters have been installed …. to reduce the spread of disease,” she said, and “an additional $10,000 has been raised to put 65 children through another year of school.” She intends to double major in studio art and biology. “I have not decided on a career path at this point, though I am very interested in the medical field and hope to work with children. I envision that my education will enable me to serve Haiti more fully in the future.”
Max Greenhouse attends Tufts University. At Riverwood, he was involved in theater and organized several efforts to raise awareness about Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) and AIDS. “I am majoring in drama and acted in a show, produced another, and directed a 10-minute short at Tufts this semester,” he said. “I also participated in the Boston Walk to Defeat ALS with my cousins earlier this semester.”
Jake Hudgins is on a pre-med track at Davidson College, where he plays football. He received the George Morris Scholar-Athlete Scholarship during his senior year at Dunwoody High. “It definitely is very tough balancing a full football schedule with the academic rigor of Davidson. It’s a lot of work with not much down time, but I can say I’ve learned more this semester than I have any other, and while it is extremely tough, Davidson seems to really make an effort to make sure we have all the available resources to succeed,” Jake said.
Caroline James attends Georgetown University. She was president of The Westminster School’s Environmental Campus Organization and often met with the school’s administration to check on what the school was doing about its “green” aspects.
Megan Emery and Trey Brooks attend the University of Alabama and Auburn University, respectively. As seniors at Dunwoody High School, the two won Parent Teacher Student Organization scholarships. Megan is studying business and hospitality management at the University of Alabama. Through the scholarship, she has formed life-long friendships since she joined the same sorority her mom was in.
Evan Greenberg is a freshman at the University of Georgia. While a senior at Riverwood, he received the Best Actor award at the Shuler Hensley Awards for Excellence in High School Theater.
Zeena Lattouf attends Emory University. While a senior at Pace Academy, Zeena and some of her friends traveled to Jordan to build houses with Habitat for Humanity.
Constance Nozière published Japan: A Guide for Teenagers when she was a student at the Atlanta International School. She now attends Cornell University.
Harrison Parker attends Harvard University. During his time at Westminster, he competed in fencing at the Junior Olympics and played the bagpipes. “I’m bouncing around between computer science and the classics as potential majors,” he said, “but I could still go a third route.” Harrison no longer fences. Instead, he participates in kendo, a Japanese martial art based on fighting with swords. Harrison still plays his bagpipes, although, he said, it is “harder in the cold weather!”