2025 Outstanding Graduates: Let's hear it for our top students

For 39 years, The News has saluted a group of Michigan’s best and brightest high school students in the spring of their senior year.

Partnering with CATCH — Sparky Anderson’s Charity for Children — we call it the Outstanding Graduates program.

It is an honor to share the stories of these remarkable young people and to consider that Michigan will benefit from their future endeavors, and the endeavors of so many of their friends and classmates.

The top seniors were chosen from a field of outstanding nominees. Public and private high schools in Michigan were invited to nominate students in each of 11 categories. Students were selected on the basis of grades, test scores, honors, community involvement and a demonstrated ability in one of the academic areas. In a special category called “Against All Odds” students were recognized for succeeding despite a physical hardship or special, personal or family challenges.

Final selections were made by panels of judges that included teachers, counselors and other academic specialists. The judges told us of their high regard for the many nominees and the difficulty in narrowing their choices.

Our thanks go to all of the principals, counselors and teachers who took time to nominate these students. Thanks also go to the judges who spent many hours selecting the finalists.

This is the 40th class of outstanding high school graduates honored by The News. Many of our early nominees are now well established in successful careers and raising children that may well be honored themselves someday soon. We salute their special achievements and extend congratulations to all of Michigan’s graduating seniors in the class of 2025.

Sincerely,

Gary Miles, Editor and Publisher

Kimora Rucker

High school: Ypsilanti High School

Guardian: Theresa Davis

College: Oakland University

Major: Diagnostic medical sonography

Career plans: Sonographer and starting my own hair business

Most important achievements:

• Getting my CNA certificate
• Getting a sonography program
• Graduating

A quote about myself: I turn my challenges into motivation, using my past to shape a future of care and compassion.

Sponsor: Arrow Strategies 

Rebecca Dean

High school: Grosse Pointe South High School

Parents: Rachel Hutchison and Patrick Ulano

College: Alma College

Major: Undecided

Career plans: Undecided

Most influential teacher: Mr. Wahlstrom

Most important achievements:

• Winning two chess tournaments
• Medaling as a JV cross country runner
• Hula hooping while rollerblading backwards
• Graduating high school in 2.5 years while maintaining a 3.95 GPA
• One of the top sellers of Girl Scout cookies in my troop

A quote about myself: "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved" — Helen Keller

Sponsor: Arrow Strategies 

Haleigh Chipman

High school: Michigan Connections Academy

Parent: Ashley Verburg

College: Grand Rapids Community College

Major: Psychology

Career plans: Forensic psychology, general psychology

Most influential teacher: Elon Schafer

Most important achievements:

• Outstanding Grads Scholarship
• Completing college enrollment
• Becoming a restaurant manager at 18
• Managed mental health challenges while succeeding academically and in the workplace
• Rescued and rehabilitated a neglected pet
• Supported myself emotionally and financially while attending school

A quote about myself: No matter how hard things have been I’ve always believed I could turn it into something better — and I’m doing it.

Sponsor: Arrow Strategies 

Mickenzy Crowder

High school: Divine Child High School

Parents: Charmell and Michael Crowder

College: University of Detroit Mercy

Major: Political science

Career plans: Becoming an attorney

Most influential teacher: Mrs. DelGado

Most important achievements:

• Receiving the National Recognition Award from College Board
• Serving as president of Divine Child Wellness Club
• Serving as president of Divine Child Diversity Club
• Receiving a scholarship to the Michigan Youth Leadership Conference and now being a representative
• Being a National Honor Society Executive Board member
• Dual enrollment student for four-plus years and set to graduate with an associate in arts with a focus in political science this spring
• Voted most likely to succeed in the future for the Class of 2025
• Serving as the secretary for DC for UNICEF
• Being employed and promoted to the head shift leader at my local ice cream shop for four-plus years
• Serving as a link crew leader

A quote about myself: “Find your purpose, pursue it relentlessly, passionately and loudly.” — Angela Bassett

Sponsor: Arrow Strategies 

Runners-up: Delaney Bullock, Molly McNamara, Tanqueray Hurst, Fatuma Ali, Juan Carlos Maravilla, Lillian Dreffs, Princess Ikenyi, Jalal Al-uqdah

Judge: Dr. Gail Strickland, director of special services, Westwood Community School District

Hashem Saleh

High school: Crestwood High School

Parents: Alex Saleh and Nadwa Atway

College: Dartmouth College

Major: Undecided

Career plans: Undecided

Most influential teacher: Mrs. Diana Johns

Most important achievements:

• Multiple Division 1 football scholarship offers
• Published environmental research through NASA’s GLOBE Program
• Three-time captain for both the football and baseball teams
• Awarded the prestigious Teen Grantmaking Initiative by the Center for Arab American Philanthropy
• Two-time selection for the All-Dearborn Press & Guide football team
• Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society (MITES) Regional Champion
• Earned All-Conference honors in both football and baseball
• Dedicated National Honor Society member, accumulating nearly 300 hours of service and earning over 15 awards
• Serving on the district board for the Amity Foundation, advocating for community initiatives
• Committed volunteer at Detroit Crossroads Soup Kitchen, supporting those in need

A quote about myself: The greatest glory in living is not in falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Sponsor: Detroit Lions

Alex Habarth

High school: L'Anse Creuse

Parents: Jesse and James Habarth

College: University of Michigan

Major: Aerospace engineering

Career plans: Astronaut/aerospace engineer at NASA

Most influential teacher: Ms. Ashburn

Most important achievements:

• 2023 Adidas Track Outdoor Nationals qualifier/participant
• Captain of three school sports: track and field, soccer, cross country
• Eight-time division champion across three sports
• Track and field 4x800 school record holder
• Three-time track and field state qualifier
• President of Student Council and Leadership at L'anse Creuse High School
• 4.0 unweighted GPA through all of high school
• Accepted to University of Michigan for engineering
• Eight-time full marks in Michigan Piano Festival
• First-, second-, third-place finishes in Macomb County Elementary Science Olympiad

A quote about myself: “We're still pioneers, we barely begun. Our greatest accomplishments cannot be behind us, cause our destiny lies above us.” — "Interstellar"

Sponsor: Detroit Lions

Runners-up: Dayne Behning, Michael Baldwin, Addison Verlinden, Addison Dukus

Judge: Daren Tomhave, assistant sports editor, The Detroit News

Emily Creighton

High school: Northville High School

Parents: Jennifer and James Creighton

College: Undecided

Major: Kinesiology

Career plans: Physical therapist

Most influential teacher: Ms. Traci Lowes

Most important achievements:

• Wellness Club founder and president; organized district-wide events in partnership with the Northville Youth Network to spread awareness of mental health
• Health Occupations Students of America event leader and three-time regional finalist
• National Honor Society officer
• A Pathway to Joy event coordinator
• Varsity track and field athlete (conference and regional champions)
• AP Scholar Award winner
• Academic Honor Roll recipient
• Team Rehabilitation Physical Therapy intern
• School and community volunteer

A quote about myself: "Don’t be afraid of fear. Because it sharpens you, it challenges you, it makes you stronger; and when you run away from fear, you also run away from the opportunity to be your best possible self." — Ed Helms

Sponsor: Henry Ford Health

Raegan Majcher

High school: Yale High School

Parent: Melanie and Robert Majcher

College: Central Michigan University

Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders

Career plans: Speech pathologist

Most influential teacher: Mrs. Maria Gerardy

Most important achievements:

• Centralis Gold Scholarship winner at Central Michigan University
• Accepted into the Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute at Central Michigan University
• Valedictorian
• College Board National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program awardee
• 300 hours volunteering at Woodland Developmental Center
• Organized 12 blood drives through the American Red Cross
• Four-year varsity golf, two-year varsity golf captain
• Passing the AP Language and Composition exam, scoring a 4 and earning college credit
• National Honor Society Member and student representative on the Yale City Council
• Being selected as a 2025 Detroit News Outstanding Graduate

A quote about myself: "I don't go by the rule book. ... I lead from the heart, not the head." — Princess Diana

Sponsor: Children's Hospital of Michigan

Runners-up: Jazlyn Wooten, Alexandra Valencia Arcila, Jennifer Weingartz, Mst Begum

Judge: Van Momon, M.D., senior staff physician, retired, Department of Pediatrics, Henry Ford Health

Renata Diaz

High school: Northville High School

Parents: Ana Montoya and Javier Diaz

College: University of Michigan, Northwestern University, or Cornell University

Major: Communication and media

Career plans: New York Times reporter

Most influential teacher: Ms. Baditoi

Most important achievements:

• Making an impact on children at Neinas
• Improving school events through Student Congress
• Being yearbook editor for two years

A quote about myself: No matter how hard you fall, always pick yourself up and try again

Sponsor: The Detroit News

Kaden Kouyoumjian

High school: Bloomfield Hills High School

Parent: Kristin and Sarkis Kouyoumjian

College: Temple University (Not currently committed)

Major: Theatre and education

Career plans: Either as a high school theatre teacher, librarian, or involved in professional theater somehow, whether that be on stage or behind the scenes.

Most influential teacher: Mrs. Benitez, second grade

Most important achievements:

• Completed 900-plus hours of volunteer service throughout high school.
• Competed in the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association's yearly one-act play competition since sophomore year
• Named Best On-Air Personality (high school division) at the 2024 Michigan Student Broadcast Awards
• Acting as the music director on my school's radio station (WBFH) for two years
• Troupe officer for my school's International Thespian Society troupe
• Part of an on-stage band (acoustic guitar) that composed a score for the MIFA production of Elephant's Graveyard that placed 2nd in the state
• Received a varsity letter in theater in 2024
• Received a Gold Key at the 2024 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in the Science Fiction/Fantasy Short Story writing category
• Co-founded the Games Club at my school

A quote about myself: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." — Ferris Bueller

Sponsor: The Detroit News

Runners-up: Dawson Sarcona, Julia Roeder, Achyut Reddy, Solada Mills

Judge: Walter Middlebrook, foster professor of practice, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, The Pennsylvania State University

Maryam Al-Zawawi

High school: Michigan Islamic Academy

Parents: Ahmed Al-Zawawi and Sana Areiqat

College: Undecided

Major: Undecided

Career plans: Health care

Most influential teacher: Mrs. Samar Abbasi

Most important achievements:

• Valedictorian
• Eastern Michigan University Presidential Scholarship winner
• Accepted into the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• 2023 National Honor Society induction ceremony emcee
• Writer of "The Climate Disaster" 20-page research paper
• Placed first in the Muslim Interscholastic Tournament's sisters improv as part of a team
• Led a school-wide recycling project
• Completed 250-plus community service hours
• Completed about 60 college credits through dual enrollment.

A quote about myself: Just do what you gotta do.

Sponsor: The Detroit News

Johanna Williamson

High school: Divine Child High School

Parents: Krystal Matesic and James Williamson

College: Wayne State University

Major: Linguistics and German

Career plans: Translator

Most influential teacher: Walter Grysko

Most important achievements:

• Catholic Scholar Award at the Catholic High School League’s Prep Bowl (10th, 11th, and 12th grades)
• Best of Textile Award for my first ever quilt at Divine Child’s Art Gala (10th grade)
• Best of Watercolor, Colored Pencil, and Junior Class Awards at Divine Child’s Art Gala (11th grade)
• Honor role all four years in high school
• Remained in the Top 5 of my class all four years in high school
• AP Scholar with Honor
• Accepted into the National Society of High School Scholars

A quote about myself: "Have no fear of perfection; you'll never reach it." — Salvador Dali

Sponsor: CATCH

Runners-up: JoAnn Tu, Katherine Chen, Nerjes Hussein, Sophie Coats

Judge: Mary M Hall-Rayford, retired English educator

Mohammed Ali Al-Sabeh

High school: Crestwood High School

Parents: Zeinab Saab and Ayman Al-Sabeh

College: University of Southern California

Major: Biochemistry

Career plans: Pediatric surgeon

Most influential teacher: Mrs. Norma Samman

Most important achievements:

• One of 11 elected to Key Club International Board as international trustee
• Perfect score on Artificial Light Pollution Research submitted to the International Virtual Science Symposium through the NASA-GLOBE Program
• College Board National Merit Program Commended Student Award
• ELKS Most Valuable Student Scholarship semifinalist
• Hand-selected by University of Toledo to partake in research project to build and program for ThinSat Satellite to measure near-space atmospheric conditions
• 2025 Coca-Cola Scholar
• Mentoring children at Heritage Homes orphanage in Nigeria in cyber security, file management, electronics, and website development
• Organized service project with the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center to create more than 600 comfort mittens for pediatric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
• Varsity captain for cross country, track and field, and swimming
• Accumulated 300-plus service hours and 20-plus awards as Crestwood’s National Honor Society Secretary of Service

A quote about myself: The action is never in your comfort zone.

Sponsor: AAA Life Insurance

Siddharth Mummaneni

High school: Lake Orion High School

Parents: Sreelatha Chalasani and Yeshwant Mummaneni

College: Johns Hopkins University

Major: Neuroscience

Career plans: Neurosurgeon

Most influential teacher: Mr. Timothy Polonkey

Most important achievements:

• Starting LOHS' first ever HOSA chapter
• Getting a Congressional Recognition from U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain
• Putting on two Culture Nights with over 300 attendees each
• Becoming water polo captain
• Doing research on MS at Henry Ford Hospital
• Being a JHU Global Health Leadership Conference student speaker
• Being elected to the Leadership Executive Board and putting on numerous events in that role
• Collecting over 200 hygiene kits for a local charity as VP of NHS
• Leading two successful SOS weeks and Middle School Leadership Conference Sessions in SOS

A quote about yourself: Carpe diem

Sponsor: Huntington Bank

Runners-up: Jackson Sines, Omar Siddiqui, Ansh Malhotra, Hala Komaiha

Judges: Marianne Srock, mathematics consultant, retired, Macomb Intermediate School District; Scott Block, mathematics consultant, Macomb Intermediate School District

Ian Lee

High school: Detroit Catholic Central High School

Parents: Sung Joon Lee and Hye Jin Oh

College: University of California, Los Angeles

Major: Political science or pre-medicine

Career plans: Aspiring diplomat or possibly pursuing a career in medicine

Most influential teacher: Mrs. Mulrooney and Mr. Griffin

Most important achievements:

• Speaker, host and organizer for North Korean Human Rights Forums.
• Architecture research published in Journal of Student Research
• Chapter founder and president of the American Institute of Architecture Students at Detroit Catholic Central High School
• Biomechanics research published in Curieux Academic Journal: "Stimulating the Effects of Weighted Dead Hangs on Spacing and Stretch of Glenohumeral Joints"
• Inducted as a Associate Member of Sigma Xi (The Scientific Research Honor Society)
• Captain of Varsity Esports in Overwatch, Valorant, and Fortnite. Ranked No. 1 nationwide.
• Published artist in Celebrating Art's National Anthology
• Playing ice hockey for Shamrock Prep Hockey Club in high school for four years
• Speed cubing competitor for 12 years
• First chair cellist in string orchestra

A quote about myself: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." — Matthew 6:34

Sponsor: Donald & Mary Kosch Foundation

Royce Withrow

High school: Lincoln Park High School

Parent/Guardian: Dominique Gambino and Rose Taylor

College: Baldwin Wallace University

Major: Acting BFA

Career plans: Stage and film actor, theater management and prop sourcing

Most influential teacher: Geoffrey Kopp

Most important achievements:

• Being accepted into the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Acting Class of 2029
• Serving as a State Thespian Officer for the Michigan's Thespian Society (two years)
• Thespian Troupe 4569 president (four years)
• Winning the Educational Theatre Association Impact Award for my program
• Being awarded scholarship offers to study theatre from seven different schools at the Michigan's Thespian Festival
• Being selected as a 2025 Outstanding Grad Scholarship recipient
• Performing in front of 2000 people at the Michigan's Thespian Festival and helping plan the event
• Serving as National Honor Society president and vice president
• Working with professional actors from the Stratford Festival of Canada
• Leading workshops/classes at the Michigan Thespians Leadership Camp (two years)

A quote about myself: "You see what you want, you work for it, and if you get rejected it's not that you aren't good enough, the universe has something better for you, you just don't know about it yet." — Eva Noblezada

Sponsor: Donald & Mary Kosch Foundation

Runners-up: Zinnia Dungjen, Helen Wang, Sophie Monolidis, Lillian Navin

Judge: Garret Ernst, executive director, Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association

Naoki Matsumoto

High school: Northville High School

Parents: Chieko and Yoichiro Matsumoto

College: University of Michigan — Ann Arbor

Major: Chemical engineering

Career plans: Chemical engineering or materials science in the aerospace industry

Most influential teacher: Mrs. Krebs and Mr. Cole

Most important achievements:

• Aerospace Club co-president of the first team in Michigan to be invited to and participate in the NASA Student Launch Initiative
• Co-president of aerospace club achieving 2nd Place nationally at 2023 Rockets for Schools
• Presenting Aerospace Club activities at a district board meeting and on our superintendent, Dr. RJ Weber's, podcast, Mustang Moments
• Self-taught myself guitar and music composition
• Second place in districts, Award of Merit at the state level in the PTSA Art Reflections Contest, music composition category
• Self-taught myself Blender, Adobe After Effects, and 2D animation for art, physics simulations, video editing, and motion graphics used when creating music videos
• Nominated and currently in the NHS Mustang Leadership Council representing the mountain biking team

A quote about myself: “For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.” — Carl Sagan

Sponsor: NFP

Hala Komaiha

High school: Crestwood High School

Parents: Abir Akil and Mohamad Komaiha

College: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Major: Electrical engineering and computer science

Career plans: Robotics engineer

Most influential teacher: Mrs. Johns — AP environmental science teacher, National Honor Society adviser, and Science Club adviser

Most important achievements:

• Valedictorian
• FIRST Robotics Dean’s List finalist
• Jack Kent Cooke scholar
• 2023 GLOBE Research Award
• Admitted to MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, and the University of Michigan — Ann Arbor
• Yale YES scholar
• Columbia Davis scholar
• Michigan Shipman scholar
• Accepted into MITES (MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science)
• Scored 1560 on SATs

A quote about myself: "Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." — Michael Jordan

Sponsor: Wolverine Solutions Group

Runners-up: Lucia Tesolin Pietraszewski, Benjamin Towne, Jessica Wu, Suyash Ojha

Judge: Elizabeth Secumski Reinhold, science consultant, Macomb Intermediate School District

Kerrigan McEvoy

High school: Yale High School

Parents: Karen and Christopher McEvoy

College: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Major: Studio art

Career plans: Artist; long term, I hope to open up my own studio

Most influential teacher: Alissa Nicol

Most important achievements:

• Valedictorian
• Representing high school in WNEM Mid Michigan's Best and Brightest 2025
• Received National Rural and Small-Town Program Award4.
• Recognized by Yale City Council in light of artistic achievements
• Member of Yale's National Honor Society
• Won local art contests such as first-place Bologna Festival Banner Design, first-place T-shirt design, and honorable mention in SCCCMH art contest
• Chosen to design and paint Yale's Letter to Santa mailbox, classroom murals, and play props
• Chosen to help restore Yale's historical murals as professional artist's assistant
• Four-year member of Yale's Honor Roll
• Part of Yale's Junior Honor Guard

A quote about myself: Commitment lays the foundation, diligence builds the walls, and discipline opens the door to success — work first, and let play be the reward.

Sponsor: Children's Foundation

Elan Povirk

High school: Troy High School

Parents: Jacob Povirk, Vanessa and Chris Combs

College: University of Michigan

Major: Fine arts

Career plans: Clay modeler

Most influential teacher: Mrs. Tuma

Most important achievements:

• Scholastic Art Award: National Silver Medal mixed media piece (2025)
• Scholastic Regional Art Awards: Three Gold Keys for ceramics and mixed media pieces, two Silver Keys for paintings and illustrations, and two Honorable Mentions (2024 and 2025)
• Completed multiple dual enrollment courses and pre-college summer experiences, graduating with 15 college credits in addition to multiple AP courses
• Maintained a 4.0 dual enrollment college GPA
• Appointed as National Art Honor Society president during both junior and senior years
• Selected as a National Honor Society member (2024)
• Junior varsity cross country runner
• Awarded over $200,000 in college scholarships
• Painted backdrops for Troy High School's plays and contributed to the Evolution of Animation Mural
• Received the Character Strong Award from Troy High School during both junior and senior years

A quote about myself: "Through art, we can communicate ideas and feelings that words cannot express." — Bill Viola

Sponsor: The Detroit News

Runners-up: Dylan Psenka, Anna Nielander, Elijah Laker, Benjamin Towne

Judge: Antone Amye, graphic designer, City of Detroit, Media Services — Communications and Creative Services

Abigail Alexander

High school: Saline High School

Parents: Elizabeth and Mark Alexander

College: Purdue University

Major: Mechanical engineering

Career plans: Engineering with the use of computer-aided design

Most influential teacher: Steve Vasiloff

Most important achievements:

• Acquiring an internship with American Plastic Solutions
• Winning second place in Michigan for the Technical Drafting SkillsUSA competition
• Leading a group of students in a computer-aided design project with Liebherr Aerospace
• Co-creating the Saline E-Commerce club and serving as vice president
• Becoming a member of the South and West Washtenaw Consortium Student Council
• Competing and placing top three multiple times in the Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society Competition
• Continuing to pursue creative hobbies like stained glass making, woodworking, sewing, and painting throughout high school
• Completing a six-day backpacking trip on Isle Royale
• Sewing my prom dress for my junior prom

A quote about myself: “I guess I’m trying to say, grab anything that goes by. It may not come around again.” — John Steinbeck

Sponsor: CA Hull

Mariam Fakhuridin

High school: Star International Academy

Parents: Araka Ali and Ali Fakhuridin

College: University of Michigan — Ann Arbor

Major: Biology

Career plans: OBGYN or Anesthesiology

Most influential teacher: Haley Hofbauer

Most important achievements:

• Got accepted into my dream university
• NHS president
• Lead board member of Senior Committee
• Over 250-plus hours of community service
• Awarded the SIA PILLAR award
• Received the gold honor roll for all four years of high school
• Have gained over 40 clinical hours at both urgent care and nursing homes
• Top creator on Quizlet

A quote about myself: Stubborn enough to chase what seems impossible, thoughtful enough to question everything, and strong enough to keep going anyway.

Sponsor: The Detroit News

Runners-up: Mouhamad Hijazi, Katie Cairney, Kiley Robidou, Madelyn Grzegorczyk

Judge: Rodney G. Thomas, principal, Lamphere High School

Natalie Tallu

High school: Troy High School

Parents: Taimur and Nada Tallu

College: University of Detroit Mercy

Major: Biology

Career plans: Dentistry

Most influential teacher: Mrs. Chang, my Chinese teacher

Most important achievements:

• National Chinese Honors Society public relations officer
• Project LEAD (volunteering club) DRAW Buckets Warehouse chairperson
• Project LEAD (volunteering club) Troy Historical Village chairperson
• Project LEAD (volunteering club) Hemophilia Foundation holiday party subchair
• HOSA competitor (four years), second place regionally in Dental Terminology
• National Community Service Honors and Merit awards (four years)
• 100-plus hours volunteering throughout high school
• Letter of Commendation for Outstanding Performance on the PSAT/NMSQT in 2023 (National Merit Scholarship Program)
• Scholar Athlete Award (for outstanding academic achievement by maintaining a 3.5 GPA or above while participating in girls cross country
• AP Scholar Award 2024

A quote about myself: “Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.” — Mae Jemison

Sponsor: Richard & Jane Manoogian Foundation

Keturah West

High school: Cass Technical High School

Parents: Jacquelyn West and Edmond Strickling

College: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Major: Civil engineering

Career plans: Opening my own engineering firm and directing projects geared towards transportation.

Most influential teacher: Mr.Slay, fifth grade

Most important achievements:

• Winning a free trip to Italy for a month in in the Palazzo Strozzi essay competition
• Being admitted into my dream school, North Carolina A&T and getting into their honors college

A quote about myself: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Sponsor: Huntington Bank

Runners-up: Andrew Nacy, Marissa Ford, Miriam Al-Bayati, Elliott Hanish

Judge: David Hales, Michigan History Day Senior Manager, Historical Society of Michigan