Numbers Add Up for Indian Hills' Valedictorian

For someone with such mathematical moxie, you'd expect Melissa Hong to keep track of the number one. She is, after all, Indian Hills' valedictorian for the Class of 2010 and currently aspires to be an accountant after college.

But you'd be wrong. "When I found out from my guidance counselor that I was valedictorian, I was extremely surprised and excited because I didn't really think that I was going to be it," she said.

Not that it was her goal, either. "I just wanted to do well with schoolwork so that I would be set for college. I never felt the need to be valedictorian," she said.

The departing senior, soon off to attend The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania, has quite a bit to reflect on with her storied career.

On top of being the school's top student, Hong also was an editor of the school newspaper for her junior and senior year, and through Indian Hills' International Studies and Business university program, recently participated in the Ramapo College Burchell Essay Contest and NJ Governor's School for International Studies.  That alone would be a challenging workload for any student, but it's merely a small part of what Hong did in her time at Hills.

A gifted tutor, she shared her expertise and smarts through Homework Helpers and also tutored through National Honor Society. Somehow, after all that, she found the time to work at a day camp during the summers.

"Even though I spent a lot of time doing work through the years, I've still had time to have a social life with my friends," she said.  "I've always been good at getting my work done on time and ahead of time so that I'm never pressured to do things last minute. I still always have time to relax and do what I wanted."

Though certainly self-motivated, Hong's had some help along the way. She's quick to credit two key teachers in fostering the growth that has garnered two academic scholarships all the way to Philadelphia in the fall (Alcoa Foundation Sons and Daughters Scholarship and the Math Scholarship from the PTSO).

Hank Bitten, the supervisor of the International Studies and Business university program, "was an integral part of all my success," she said.  Hong was fortunate to take Critical Global Issues and a finance course with Bitten, and said the long-time teacher "has always been extremely invested in making sure that we succeeded in whatever we wanted to." The supervisor "prepared us greatly for college," she said.

Ivy Urdang, a 2010 recipient of the New Jersey Governor's Teacher Award, was also instrumental in bringing Hong's learning to new heights. "I have had Ms. Urdang as a teacher for two years now and she always has had amazing, interesting lessons," Hong said, also crediting the ex-attorney with helping her improve her writing skills.

Though—like anything—it's subject to change, Hong plans to study accounting at the Wharton School, but is also "open to learning about all the different aspects of business." She considering a minor in Environmental Studies, a subject she became more intrigued with after a school trip in which her class visited Vestas Wind Systems in Denmark. Vestas are known globally as the world's largest producer of wind turbines. "I am very interested in climate change and alternative energy, so I loved that trip," she said and listed that among her finest recollections of her time spent in the halls of Hills.

"Whatever I do, I want to love what I'm doing."

Thanks to Indian Hills, Hong doesn't simply "know information." By contrast, she says. "I have learned real-life applications of what I know so that I can apply it later in life. Indian Hills has also led me to form friendships with some really great people that I will remember for a long time."