From CHP Classroom to Medical School: Alumna Returns to Inspire Somerset's Newest Graduates

SOMERSET, NJ – When Nishta Gangeddula walked the halls of Cedar Hill Preparatory School as a kindergartner, she likely had no idea her path would eventually lead to medical school. This week, the Class of 2017 graduate returned to her alma mater as an alumni speaker for Cedar Hill Prep's 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony, sharing her journey with the school's newest graduates, the Class of 2026.

Gangeddula attended Cedar Hill Prep, a Preschool to 8 International Baccalaureate Candidate School in Somerset, from kindergarten through 8th grade. During her time there, she competed in the National History Bee for three consecutive years, reaching the National Finals each time, along with competing in Science Bowl, National History Bowl, and NAQT. She went on to Rutgers Preparatory School for high school and graduated from Northeastern University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Neuroscience and minors in Spanish and Political Science. She is now headed to Cooper Medical School at Rowan University.

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Gangeddula was joined by two additional alumni speakers at the ceremony. Nina Barnes, Class of 2022, is currently a senior at the Hun School of Princeton and will begin studying Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania this fall. At Hun, she has served in numerous leadership roles, including president of the student-led acapella group the Edgertones, and has been selected for the Cum Laude Society. Myles Parker, Class of 2021, attended CHP for nine years before graduating from Rutgers Preparatory School. He is now a student-athlete at Marist University, pursuing a degree in Business Administration.

The graduation ceremony also included a Salutatorian address from Nico Garofalo and a Valedictorian address from Lily Trotta, along with a "Lifers" speech from longtime CHP students Mason Parker, Reyaan Aman, and Sahasra Genupur. CHP Founder and Chief Education Officer Dr. Nandini Menon presented several student honors, including the 21st Century Life Skills Award and the American Citizenship Award, while the STEM Excellence Award, sponsored by the Jay-Rabi Family, was presented by Denise Galiano.

The class closed out the ceremony with an original parody performance of "I'll Always Remember You," followed by the presentation of diplomas.

"Each year, it is an honor to celebrate our graduates and reflect on the growth they've shown during their time at Cedar Hill Prep," said Nandini Menon, Founder of Cedar Hill Preparatory School. "Hearing from our alumni and seeing the paths they've gone on to pursue is a powerful reminder of the strong foundation our students carry forward."

Cedar Hill Preparatory School is located at 152 Cedar Grove Lane in Somerset. For more information, visit www.cedarhillprep.com.