Q: What grade are you in?

A: I'm currently a senior at Emmaus High School.

Q: What is your favorite subject? Why?

A: I really enjoy the sciences, especially chemistry and physics. They are so different yet so important to each other. And without calculus, both sciences would hardly exist because of the integral part it plays in deriving formulas and solving complex problems. A lot of people see calculus as unnecessary, but I see it as an ingenious way of helping to solve so many problems and reveal so much about the world around us.

Q: Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A: I am a member of National Honor Society and Delta Epsilon Phi, the National German Honor Society. I have been on the Principal's Honor Roll most semesters and was named a Distinguished Scholar by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for my SAT scores. My most distinguishing award was earning the rank of Eagle Scout Jan. 22, the culmination of my Scouting career.

Q: Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?

A: I am involved in several music groups in and outside of school. I play saxophone in the marching and Esquires jazz band and the musical pit orchestra at the high school. I also play saxophone in a jazz combo, which has performed in the community, and I play guitar and flute as well. I currently lead Boy Scouts of America Troop 431 as the senior patrol leader. I am the vice president of the physics club.

Q: What is your next goal after high school?

A: I plan to continue my education at an engineering school, majoring in chemical engineering. I am still waiting to hear back from some colleges before I can make a college selection. Also, I plan to spend the summer restoring my late great-grandfather's 1973 Dodge D100 pickup truck.

Q: What would you say your biggest challenge has been so far?

A: So far my biggest challenge has been maintaining the right priorities. In today's society, there are so many options and choices Americans can make. Sometimes these decisions can be daunting. Making the right decisions is imperative for any young teen, especially right before they make the leap to college, leaving behind the comfort of the household and helpful parents.

Q: What do you want to be remembered for?

A: "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years," Abraham Lincoln said, one of my personal heroes. I want to be remembered if not for anything I did (an invention, a new process or a scientific discovery), but for the way I conduct myself throughout my life. I want to be remembered as a trustworthy, honest, down-to-earth guy, who led a hardworking, fulfilling life.

Q: Who is in your family?

A: I am blessed to have my dad, Gregory, my mom, Kathryn, my older sister, Jessica, my younger brother Jacob, and an extremely cute soft-coated wheaten terrier dog named Keeley in my family.

Q: Do you have someone you look up to?

A: There are several people I look up to: my dad, his dad and his dad's dad. My dad comes from a line of extremely hardworking men. I look up to them because of their accomplishments and achievements (my grandpa and great-grandpa were presidents of the Hershey Chocolate Worker's Union), and they worked hard from the bottom up. I just hope I will have the dedication and determination they had to their families, their work, their future and to God.

Q: Do you have any advice for your peers?

A: Throughout my high school career, I have always challenged myself. I've taken lots of AP and honors classes and performed well. There are times when I wanted to take the easy way out. My advice to my peers is to never pass up on a challenge because you think you're not good enough. There are people to help you through it, and the rewards outweigh the stress and work. Not only do you have a remarkable list of achievements, but you learn so much more about yourself and the world around you.