Q: What grade are you in?

A: I am in 12th grade at Emmaus High School.

Q: What is your favorite subject? Why?

A: I would say my favorite subjects are chemistry and physics. For me, these two subjects are very fascinating and really lend light on how the world works, both through interactions and through reactions using smaller and smaller particles.

Q: Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A: At EHS, I was recognized as a freshman with the Paul Rockwell Diely Award and as a junior with the Eisenhower Award, awarded for exceptional leadership and core values. I was also named a finalist for the Da Vinci Center Hall of Fame Award and a recipient of the General Billy Mitchell Award in Civil Air Patrol. Finally, I had the privilege of attending the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences this past summer.

Q: Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?

A: Some extracurricular activities in which I am involved include EHS men's volleyball, Fermata Nowhere (male a cappella group), Emmaus Academic Team, Debate Team, Interact Club, Civil Air Patrol, National Honor Society, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Emmaus High School Tutor Coordinator Program, Pennsylvania Math League, American Computer Science League, the Emmaus Chorale and I am currently pursuing a private pilot's license.

Q: What is your next goal after high school?

A: My next goal after high school is to pursue a degree in engineering or computer science at a top research university. While I am studying, I hope to join a college a cappella group, be part of a club sailing or club mens volleyball team, participate in undergraduate research and make new friends and connections.

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

A: I think that my biggest challenge so far would be overcoming the death of my grandfather. He was like a second father to me, and I think that moving past his passing was a huge step in my maturation. As my mentor, he was always there for me, and now my goal is to continue his legacy by the way I live my life.

Q: What do you want to be remembered for?

A: I want to be remembered as a person who was not only hardworking and successful, but also as a person who truly cared and who others strive to emulate. It would be nice to be remembered for going the extra mile and persevering, but what I really care about is leaving a mark on the people around me. I would rather have people remember my humility, my caring nature and my values than my successes.

Q: Who is in your family?

A: My father Robert D., my mother Eileen, my sisters Amanda and Elena and my brother James.

Q: Do you have someone you look up to?

A: In my life I have had two major role models. First, my grandfather, who was a Cuban refugee who left everything behind in Cuba to start anew in the United States, played an instrumental role in my early life as my mentor and chess partner. Also, Coach Mike Kryzewski of Duke University has inspired me with his core values, leadership, poise and motivation, something which I try to implement on my own every day.

Q: Do you have any advice for your peers?

A: I know it is an overused phrase, but I feel it is also very important: don't give up. No matter what you do, there is always more that can be done. If one door closes another opens. If you do not push yourself, then what are you going to accomplish? So always give it your all, and no matter what happens you can always look back at it with pride, knowing you did everything you could do.