Alex Michael Dzioba
Age: 17
GPA: 4.55
SAT Score: 2240
College plans:
Rutgers University.
Intended major:
Likely entering business program; officially undeclared.
Academic success strategy:
“For me, it is regular study habits. Whenever you’re about to take a test, you have to set aside some time and do what you have to do.”
Most influential teacher:
I would say Mrs. Smith. She was my biology teacher in my junior year. She was creative in her teaching ways. She made it very fun. Even though I wasn’t a fan of the course, she made it fun.
Awards:
The Byrd Honors Scholarship, the Bloustein Scholarship, and the James Dickson Carr Scholarship from Rutgers University.
Affiliations or extracurricular involvement:
I’m on the golf team, National Honor Society, Math Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society.
Favorite after-school hangout:
Wendy’s is a popular spot and it’s cheap food.
Best high school memory:
Going to the football games on Friday nights, having fun going crazy for the team.
Biggest challenge:
Keeping up with the expectations. Early on, there a lot of my fellow students who knew that I’d be doing good, and it put a lot of pressure on me.
Senior year soundtrack:
Fat Joe featuring Lil’ Wayne, “Make It Rain.”
Most likely to ..:
… Be involved with sports management. It is my dream to be the general manager of a baseball team. That would be awesome.
Advice to freshmen:
Just form your study habits early. You have got to get used to the workload. You can’t be slacking off in your freshman year, because it counts. Keep it up early and keep it up throughout.
Salutatorian:
Deanna McLafferty
Age: 18
GPA:
4.4
College plans:
Lehigh University.
Intended major:
Undeclared.
Academic success strategy:
Take breaks and pace yourself.
Most influential teacher:
Mr. Alcolea, because he has so much patience with us. I had him for three of four years in Spanish and he really taught me a lot. He is a great teacher.
Awards:
A.P. Scholar; University of Rochester Science Award winner.
Affiliations or extracurricular involvement:
Newspaper, Teens in the Garden State, the International Society, and the Math and Spanish honor societies.
Favorite after-school hangout:
Peter Pank Diner.
Best high school memory:
Senior prom.
Biggest challenge:
Staying focused and finding time to study when people want to hang out. Focusing on schoolwork.
Senior year soundtrack:
The Kooks. That’s all I’ve been listening to lately.
Most likely to ..:
… Travel the world.
Advice to freshmen:
Just do your best. You only have four years, so you might as well try hard, but have fun at the same time. It kind of goes by very fast.