Parkland Seniors Honored For Academic Achievements, Scholarships

The seniors who lined the stage at on last Tuesday afternoon had one thing in common -- they each had received substantial, merit-based college scholarships because of their academic performances.

One by one, the students stood before family and friends as their high school guidance counselors extolled their virtues. Not only had the students excelled in the classroom, but they had also been deeply involved in community and school events, including as class officers and club leaders.

"I'm amazed at the resumes of these kids," said Parkland High School Principal Howard S. Lessel.

"These students are not just gifted students," he said. "They're involved...they're in every club imaginable."

And for those who may not have been counting, Lessel did the math.

All told, he said, the college scholarships awarded to the 28 Parkland students being honored totaled $1.6 million.  Each had received merit-based scholarship offers that would cover 25 percent, or more, of their college tuition, he said.

Dixie Gross was among the guidance counselors who introduced the students.

"We are so privileged to work with you wonderful children," she said.

Here is a look at those honored (one was unable to attend the ceremony):

-- Goutham Bollu will attend Temple University with a $7,500 Temple Scholar Award (renewable for four years).

-- Caitlin Druckenmiller will attend Hofstra University with a $15,000 Hofstra Presidential Scholarship (renewable for four years).

-- Nicholas Dyszel will attend Schreyers Honors College at Pennsylvania State University as a $3,500 Schreyer Academic Excellence Scholar (renewable for four years), with a $7,500 College of Engineering Scholarship (also renewable for four years), and a $1,000 National Merit Scholarship.

-- Andrew M. Feldman will attend Syracuse University with a $8,000 Chancellor’s Scholarship.

-- Hannah Geiger will attend Elizabethtown College with a $20,000 Presidential Scholarship (renewable for four years).

-- Emily Hartman will attend LaSalle University with a $20,000 Founders Scholarship (renewable for four years).

-- Rachael Hendricks will attend Pennsylvania State University with a $2,100 Blake and Linda Gall Trustee Scholarship and a $4,000 Music Activities Scholarship.

-- Alicia Hutchinson will attend Central Michigan University with a $13,290 Presidents Award (renewable for four years) and a $2,500 Board of Trustees Scholarship (also renewable for four years).

-- Andrea Keller will attend Elizabethtown College with a $20,000 Presidential Scholarship (renewable for four years).

-- Elizabeth Kiser will attend Ohio State University with a $8,700 National Buckeye Scholarship (renewable for four years) and as a $1,200 Trustees Scholar (also renewable for four years).

-- Halley Kornfeind will attend Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with a $7,000 College Merit Scholarship, a $3,000 Dean’s Merit Scholarship, and a $1,000 college Scholarship.

-- Nicole Lawler will attend Kings College with a $27,680 Presidential Scholarship (renewable for four years).

-- will attend Schreyers Honors College at  Pennsylvania State University as a $3,500 Schreyer Academic Excellence Scholar (renewable for four years) and a $7,500 College of Engineering Scholarship (also renewable for four years).

-- David Miller will attend Tulane University with a $15,000 Academic Achievement Award (renewable for four years).

-- Chelsea Nemeth will attend Ursinus College with a $20,000 Ursinus College Scholar Scholarship (renewable for four years).

-- Rohit Rajendran will attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a $5,000 Virginia Tech Scholar Scholarship (renewable for four years) and a $7,500 Pamplin College of Business Freshman Merit Scholarship.

-- Lauren Ranzino will attend Muhlenberg College with a $12,000 President’s Scholarship (renewable for four years).

-- Timothy Schleicher will attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a $24,480 Army ROTC Scholarship (renewable for four years).

-- Matthew Shortell will attend Wilkes University with a $13,000 Wilkes University Scholar Award (renewable for four years).

-- Robert Skinker will attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a $24,480 Army ROTC Scholarship (renewable for four years) and a $3,000 Emerging Leader Scholarship (also renewable for four years).

-- Dan Stinebaugh will attend DePauw University with a $16,000 Trustee Award (renewable for four years).

-- Besher Tolaymat will attend Muhlenberg College as a $4,000 Muhlenberg Scholar (renewable for four years) and with a $16,000 Presidential Merit Scholarship (also renewable for four years).

-- Michelle Trinh will attend Temple University with a $5,000 Temple University Scholarship.

-- Vrunda Vithalani will attend Drexel University with a $39,700 full-tuition scholarship (renewable for four years).

-- Alex Vratsanos will attend the University of Delaware with a $10,000 Environmental Scholar Award.

-- Christian Xander will attend Saint Joseph’s University with a $13,000 University Scholarship (renewable for four years).

-- Joseph Zacher will attend Marywood University with a $16,000 Immaculate Heart of Mary Scholarship (renewable for four years).

-- Sarah Zimskind will attend the University of Georgia with a $10,105 University of Georgia Charter Scholarship/Regents Half Tuition Waiver (renewable for four years).

Parkland's graduation is tonight at Stabler Arena.