Schools
East High Announces Top 10 Seniors From Class Of 2020
"Even during challenging times, East Aurora High School has 10 more reasons to celebrate,"
April 24, 2020
Even during challenging times, East Aurora High School has ten more reasons to celebrate, as the high school recently announced their academic Top 10 students from the Class of 2020.
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Congratulations to our Top 10 students, their families, their teachers, and all those who supported them. Below is a brief profile of each of these celebrated students from the Class of 2020.
#1. Sebastian Valerio, GPA: 4.864
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- Parent/guardian(s): Ciria and Roberto Valerio
- College: Considering University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Field or career choice: Computer Science
- Clubs and sports: Mu Alpha Theta, National Honors Society, Tri-M, Math Team, Tennis and Jazz Band
- Prior schooling: Hermes Elementary and Simmons Middle School
- Favorite memory: Performing in the last marching show.
- Teacher who inspired me: Mr.Difabio. He showed me how enjoyable math can be.
#2. Jovanny Hernandez, GPA: 4.837
- Parent/guardian(s): Maria and Jose Hernandez
- College: Northwestern University
- Field or career choice: Biomedical Engineering
- Clubs and sports: Math Team, Spanish Honor Society, Science-NHS, National Honors Society
- Prior schooling: Krug Elementary, Waldo Middle School
- Favorite memory: The most memorable parts of high school were the ones spent simply laughing with friends, and spending time with the people we looked forward to seeing every day.
- Teacher who inspired me: Mr. Pedroni inspired me because he always believed we could accomplish more than what we were limited to, and encouraged us to pursue a higher education.
#3. (Tie) Marcos Valerio, GPA: 4.818
- Parent/guardian(s): Ciria and Roberto Valerio
- College: Considering University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Field or career choice: Computer Science
- Clubs and sports: Tennis, Math Team, Jazz Band, Tri-M, Math Honors Society, National Honors Society, Marching Band.
- Prior schooling: Hermes Elementary, Simmons Middle School
- Favorite memory: The first football game during my freshman year where I first performed a marching show and experienced my first High School event.
- Teacher who inspired me: Dr. Harren because he showed me how much I still needed to learn.
#3. (Tie) Sam Stade, GPA: 4.818
- Parent/guardian(s): Kelly and Eric Stade
- College: Considering UOI, UIC, IIT, NIU
- Field or career choice: Mechanical Engineering
- Clubs and sports: Chess Team, Band, Gaming Club, Math Team
- Prior schooling: Hermes, Simmons
- Favorite memory: Going to the state chess competitions.
- Teacher who inspired me: My band instructor Mr. Kulick because he showed me what a good work ethic looks like.
#5. Naomi Gutierrez, GPA: 4.791
- Parent/guardian(s): Martha and Miguel Gutierrez
- College: Considering Brown University and Swarthmore College
- Field or career choice: Political Science or Human Rights
- Clubs and sports: Cross Country, Track, DECA, National Honor Society, Student Athlete Society, and Upward Bound.
- Prior schooling: Hermes Elementary and Simmons Middle School
- Favorite memory: Walking down the track during my senior night for cross country. I remember being a freshman and looking forward to the day where I got to walk hand-in-hand with my family, walk with my teammates, and celebrate my years as a student-athlete. The feeling of getting to walk on a track that I had ran countless miles on, before and after it was re-vamped, meant a lot to me.
- Teacher who inspired me: Dr. Chassie Sherretz. As a sophomore, Chassie saw potential in me and continued to push me toward experiences that would lead me to success. This world needs more people like her.
#6. Kevin Molina, GPA: 4.721
- Parent/guardian(s): Juan Carlos Molina and Rosalba Garcia
- College: I have been accepted to UIUC, UIC, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, but I am still waiting on decisions from other colleges.
- Field or career choice: Computer Science
- Clubs and sports: Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Math Team
- Prior schooling: Bardwell Elementary, Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy
- Favorite memory: I don’t have a favorite memory, but every experience I’ve had has contributed to my growth as a person, and I wouldn’t change anything.
- Teacher who inspired me: Ms. Bakas inspired me the most because her class was more than just geometry; I learned valuable life lessons that have become a part of my mindset today.
#7. Tim Gehler, GPA: 4.69
- Parent/guardian(s): Josie and Ben Gehler
- College: Considering United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Purdue University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Field or career choice: Military pilot, or other aviation/administrative role as an officer
- Clubs and sports: NJROTC Drill Team, NJROTC Academic Team, NJROTC Color Guard Team, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society
- Prior schooling: Our Lady of Good Counsel, Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy
- Favorite memory: All the times that I hang out with all the people that I’ve grown close to through the NJROTC Drill Team. We are like brothers, and we always create new stories to laugh about each time we’re together.
- Teacher who inspired me: GMC Albert Farmer (NJROTC). Chief Farmer has always pushed me to explore new horizons and always put my best foot forward be it in Drill Team practice, Drill competitions, or performing administrative roles for the NJROTC unit–of which I am the Regiment’s commanding officer.
#8. Josseline Javier, GPA: 4.622
- Parent/guardian(s): Yolanda Matus
- College: University of Notre Dame
- Field or career choice: Mechanical Engineering with a minor in business and French
- Clubs and sports: Eco Club, NJROTC Color Guard, Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society, French Honor Society, Upward Bound, National Honor Society, Mathletes
- Prior schooling: Bardwell Elementary School, Waldo Middle School
- Favorite memory: My favorite high school memory is how I met every single one of my current friends and how we used to pull all-nighters to study for exams.
- Teacher who inspired me: Mrs. Birdsall inspired me to persevere when I was feeling unmotivated, even if she didn’t know how I was feeling. She was always encouraging me and saying that she believed that I would do great things in life.
#9. Leslie Tepox, GPA 4.619
- Parent/guardian(s): Maria and Nelson Tepox
- College: Considering Augustana College, Elmhurst College, UIUC, UIC, Illinois State University
- Field or career choice: Veterinarian
- Clubs and sports: Tennis, Badminton, National Honor Society
- Prior schooling: Johnson Elementary, Cowherd Middle School
- Favorite memory: When I was in Badminton
- Teacher who inspired me: Ms. Birdsall has inspired me to pursue my own goals because I want to and that I have the confidence for anything.
#10. Tatiana Ocasio, GPA 4.571
- Parent/guardian(s): Toni Ocasio
- College: Considering University of Illinois at Chicago, Clark Atlanta University
- Field or career choice: Law enforcement
- Clubs and sports: Varsity basketball, National Honor Society
- Prior schooling: St. Joseph Catholic School, O’Donnell Elementary School, Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy
- Favorite memory: Winning the East-West game my freshman year
- Teacher who inspired me: Ryan Mick. He has been a teacher who has not only been a great mentor through my high school career, but also one I can truly call a friend.
This press release was produced by East Aurora School District 131. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
