Q. In what grade are you currently enrolled?

A. I am currently a senior at Emmaus High School.

Q. Please provide the first names of your family members: parents, siblings and pets.

A. My parents are Joe and Angie and I have a younger brother Dan.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. Math is my favorite subject because it is the foundation of music, physics, engineering and computer coding. Math has been my favorite subject since elementary school.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. As a freshman, I won the Lehigh Valley Bridge Designer Competition and EHS Engineering Award. Sophomore year, I was awarded the EHS Engaged Citizenship Award in Science. My junior year, I participated in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association 2021 District 10 and All-State Orchestras and earned the EHS Excellence Award in Orchestra. As a senior, I participated in PMEA 2022 District 10 and Region Orchestras. I was also inducted into National Honor Society, the Tri-M Music Honor Society and earned EHS Academic Achievement Awards.

Q. Are you involved in any extracurricular activities? How has COVID-19 impacted these activities?

A. I play the viola for EHS Orchestra, Sinfonia and Chamber Orchestras. I also volunteer as a student assistant for elementary and middle school orchestras. I have also participated in after-school clubs for TSA TEAMS and EHS Steel Hornets Robotics Team. During the summers, I was a coach for FIRST® LEGO League Robotics Teams helping kids build and code robots. I also enjoy singing and playing guitar at my church. During COVID-19, all my activities were canceled or remote, so I started working at Mill Creek Pizza in Trexlertown.

Q. What do you consider your biggest challenge to date?

A. My biggest challenge so far was adjusting to the pandemic and the changes associated with it. My music and engineering activities were remote or canceled and I had more free time than I expected. I decided to fill my time with new things and discover what was truly important to me.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. In the fall, I am attending Rochester Institute of Technology and majoring in mechatronics engineering. It combines mechanical, electrical and computer control all of which I enjoy. I plan to continue playing viola and being a STEM mentor at RIT.

Q. Whom do you admire? Why?

A. I admire my teachers and parents because they’ve provided me with so many opportunities to learn and grow. I couldn’t be where I am now without them.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I would like to be remembered for giving back to the community and to younger students. My goal was to help younger students explore and discover STEAM and support their programs, so they have the same great opportunities I had.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. Seize the moment and take advantage of as many opportunities as possible because they don’t last forever.