Dedication and Inner Drive—

Newtown High School’s Top Ten Students

By Susan Coney

In today’s highly competitive world, the pressures to succeed are great and this year’s Newtown High School top ten seniors have proven that they can handle the pressure and are among the very best.

Graduating in the top ten out of a class of more than 360 students is an exceptional feat; however these students made it seem easy. Gathering in the lobby of the guidance office this exclusive group of ten greeted one another like old friends and comrades.

When asked if they had felt tremendous pressure to place in the top ten of their class, all indicated that they arrived at their present class rank through dedication and an inner drive. Many attributed positive role model such as parents, teachers, and counselors that inspired them. All of the students stressed that they were able to have a balanced, well-rounded life despite the demands of taking an advanced curriculum.

Class Valedictorian Maggie Boushell never anticipated being number one in her class. “You do your best,” she said. Stressing that her parents had always inspired her to do her best, she said she never felt pressured.

In high school Maggie played field hockey and lacrosse for three years. She loves to ski all winter and just enjoys listening to music and hanging out with her friends.

The winner of the prestigious Barton Weller Scholarship for her research project on water contamination, Maggie will take the same project to Portland, Ore., in June for a national competition. She has also received the Connecticut Science Fair Award, the Connecticut JSHS Award, the COLT Award for Excellence, and the Hawley School PTA Scholarship.

Maggie will attend Tufts University in the fall. “Although Tufts doesn’t offer merit scholarships it was a better fit for me. It is smaller and has really good programs so I can do my major and minor the way that I want to,” she said. Maggie plans to study biochemistry and biomedical engineering. “I am really interested in stem cell research,” she explained.

Salutatorian Krishna Patel has always challenged herself. She said that her parents expected her to place in the top ten of her class and that they have always supported and encouraged her to do her best. Admitting that the schoolwork can be challenging, Krishna said it was sometimes hard to balance activities and academic work. “I always felt the guidance office was so willing to help and support me. They were critical to my success.”

In addition to being Salutatorian of her class, Krishna won many awards such as the COLT Award for Excellence, Education Connection Regional Internship Award, Weller Senior Science Award, The Arjun Mehta Scholarship, and the Head O’ Meadow Scholarship.

In high school Krishna participated in the Peer Leadership Group, student government, and worked at The Ice Cream Shop in Newtown. Krishna took advantage of internship programs that were offered through Newtown High School. Through her internships Krishna worked in the Intensive Care Unit in New Milford and in the Neuro-trauma Department of Danbury Hospital. Previously she had done an internship at Dental Associates in Newtown.

Krishna will attend the University of Connecticut where she has been accepted into the eight-year medical program. “I hope to work in a trauma department; I like the excitement of the critical care unit of a hospital rather than a regular medical practice,” she said.

Sarah Hemingway placed third in her class. Sarah recently was selected to receive the Gail Smith Award given by Newtown Youth Services. She also won the Hawley PTA Scholarship, a Journalism Award, the Edgar Rodriques Memorial Scholarship, and the Prospective Educator Scholarship, and was a Secretary of State Award Nominee, the Connecticut PTA/PTSA Scholarship Nominee, and a PTA/PTSA Scholarship Nominee.

In high school Sarah was a distance swimmer on the swim team. She was the editor in chief of the Hawkeye and participated in numerous community service projects.

Sarah credited a number of teachers who have inspired her and stated that she plans to become an elementary school teacher. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. Even in preschool,” she said. She will be attending The University of Connecticut in the fall.

Karoline Engel placed fourth in the class. She will attend Wake Forest University in the fall and has not declared a major at this time.

Karoline received the COLT Award for Excellence, the US Marine Corps Excellence in Music Award, and a Student Government Scholarship.

In high school Karoline played lacrosse for three years and was the captain of the Markettes Dance Team. She was a member of the school choir. She enjoys dancing and running and worked to maintain a balance between schoolwork and fun.

Sara Davis ranked fifth in her class. She received the Connecticut JSHS Award, the Connecticut Science Fair Award, the AATF Award, the COLT Award for Excellence, and was a National Merit Commended Student.

In high school Sara participated in the marching band, which she said was a huge commitment. She played the flute and was a drum major and conductor for two years. She was also a member of the Interact Club.

Sara credits her AP calculus teacher, Nicole Leone, for renewing her interest in math. “I didn’t try very hard in math in the previous years because I didn’t have to. I was missing some of the steps in math as a result of that and Mrs Leone helped fill in the gaps. She really brought my interest back in math,” she said.

Sara has been a summer intern at Boehringer Ingelheim for the past two years. She will be attending The College of New Jersey and majoring in chemistry in the fall.

Shannon Bell placed sixth in her class. She participated in marching band playing the flute and was section leader for two years. Shannon was vice president of the Interact Club. She received the Education Connection Regional Internship Award, the US Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, and she was a Nutmeg Statewide PTA Scholarship nominee.

Shannon will attend Miami University of Ohio studying pre-med.

Ryan Kraft ranked seventh in his class. Ryan participated in track for four years and was the captain of the cross country team. “You get out a lot of tension and stress with running and kill two birds with one stone,” he said, when asked how he handled the pressures of a demanding school schedule.

Ryan received the COLT Award for Excellence, CAS-CIAC Scholar/Athlete Award, the AMC Award, the AIME Award, and he was a National Merit Commended Student. Ryan credited retired Discovery Teacher John Vouros, for giving him a sense of direction and purpose in his academic career.

Ryan will attend the University of Michigan studying mechanical engineering and economics.

Benjamin March placed eighth in his class and will attend The University of Connecticut, studying veterinary medicine. He would like to be a small animal veterinarian one day.

Ben was a member of the Chess Club in high school. He was also a member of the Debate Team for four years and its co-captain. Ben tutors on a weekly basis.

Ben received the US Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award. He commented that it has been a lot of hard work but that he had many good teachers along the way.

Christopher Jacob ranked ninth in his class. He received the Education Connection Regional Internship Award and the VFW Award.

Chris was in the Peer Leadership Club for four years. He was a swimmer on the Newtown High School Swim Team and was captain for two years. He enjoys making his own videos outside of school. Chris thanked his French teacher, Madame LaBelle, for being an excellent teacher and absolutely making it exciting and fun to learn French. “She was creative and made me interested in the language,” Chris said.

Chris will attend Bowdoin College this fall. He is undecided as to what his major will be. He liked the small, liberal atmosphere of the college and grew up in Maine. “Lots of my family still lives there and the school fit all my criteria,” he said.

Jacqueline Gutbrod placed tenth in the class. She received the US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award. She will attend Boston University in the fall but is undecided about her major.

Jacqueline swam on the varsity swim team for four years. When asked about how she made it to the top ten in her class, she laughed, “I didn’t go crazy studying, but I have a good memory.” Jacqueline has an interesting part-time job making scones in a bakery after school.