Q. In what grade are you currently enrolled?

A. I recently graduated from Emmaus High School and am enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin for the Fall 2024 semester.

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

A. My parents’ names are Kathleen and Brian and my older brother’s name is Brendan.

Q. What is your favorite subject? Why?

A. My favorite subject in school was chemistry. I enjoyed learning how specific materials and objects can change when being influenced by something else. This phenomenon always fascinated me and made me wonder how the world works.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. I was designated the EHS Scholar Athlete nominee for the Emmaus basketball team. I was also awarded the United States Marine Corps Distinguished Male Athlete Award along with the Principal’s Good Citizenship Award at this year’s senior awards. Additionally, I earned the AP Scholar with Distinction Award and Academic Excellence Award each of my four high school years.

Q. Were you involved in any extracurricular activities? How did being involved in these organizations impact your high school experience?

A. I was involved in many extracurricular activities. I was a member of the EHS basketball team for all four years, and during three of those years I was designated as team captain. I was also a 4-year member of the Pediatric Cancer Club and had the privilege to serve as president during my senior year. I also volunteered at Willow Lane Elementary School, helping with their Kids in Motion Club throughout the past two springs. I was a volunteer for the EHS Angel Network, Hornet Ambassadors and National Honor Society and work as a bag room attendant at Lehigh Country Club. These extracurricular activities enriched my high school career and taught me a lot, but I feel the most important thing they’ve taught me is how to be a leader in our community and how to interact with people on a professional level. These activities have allowed me to step into a level of maturity I would not have attained without participating in them.

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

A. My biggest challenge to date was navigating through my first years in high school during a global pandemic. It was very hard to be social while wanting to make friends and I found myself becoming too complacent with the solitude. Afterward, I did my best to force myself out of that comfort zone and while it was difficult, it brought me to a greater sense of self understanding I would not have been able to achieve without going through those tough times.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. My next goal after high school is to study chemical engineering in college and hopefully make a positive impact on our society.

Q. Whom do you hope to emulate? Why?

A. I hope to emulate my grandfather the best I can. He is always the nicest and most jovial person you could ever meet. He always has a smile on his face and he wants you to tell him about your day. If I could emulate him even in the slightest way I would believe I have lived a good life, because he has made an impact on so many people just by being himself.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I would like to be remembered for how I inspired and helped the younger kids in the school district. Through basketball, volunteering and being on summer swim and dive teams, there have been many opportunities to be a role model and encourage many great kids to work hard and be the best they can be. I am fully aware someone is always watching and I look at it as an opportunity to provide important lessons to our youth.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. My advice for my peers would be to take time to try and understand yourself. I always like to think that you can never try to understand the world around you without first understanding yourself. As you go through high school, focus on finding yourself and discovering your own interests and not just doing what others are. Self discovery and being confident in who you are will make you a much happier and better overall person.