Qijia Zhou honored as Co-Valedictorian and Top Scholor

Before heading to Harvard University in the fall, Qijia Zhou was recognized as an Avondale High School Class of 2020 Co-Valedictorian. She resides in Rochester Hills, Michigan and is the daughter of Chongwen Zhou and Wei Chen. A member of the National Honor Society, Qijia was the Vice President in her junior year and the President as a senior. She was also in the Spanish Honor Society for two years. Qijia is a National Merit Scholarship Winner, a Presidential Scholar Semifinalist, and a National AP Scholar. Serving on the Class Board, Qijia was elected to the office of Secretary four times. She was a Michigan Girls’ Nation nominee and Michigan Girls’ State Chief Supreme Court Justice. In addition to her academic and leadership achievements,

Qijia was also an athlete and musician. She was on the Varsity swim and dive team for four years, earning a Varsity letter for each year, three League Finals medals, and served as Team Captain in her senior year. Qijia earned four Varsity letters in figure skating, was a high school individual state and national medalist, and captained the team for two years. As a member of the Yellow Jacket Marching Band, she was the Color Guard Captain in 11th grade and a Drum Major in 12h grade. She also played oboe in the Avondale High School Wind Ensemble, holding 1st Chair from 10th-12th grades, and earning a 1st Division at District and State MSBOA Solo and Ensemble festival four years in a row. Qijia was a Field Commander during the Michigan State University Drum Major Camp, and played with the Oakland University Honors Band, 1st Chair in 10th and 11th grades. Qijia was also in the Avondale Forensics Team, the Ethics Club, and the Avondale Theatre Company. In the fall, Qijia will be attending Harvard University to pursue a major in Physics.