Maintaining the Rice Tradition
Class of 2016 deserves kudos for its achievements in the classroom
By Char Char Binks
Chieftain Staff
In the first edition of the Chieftain
this year, we examined a down year in
athletics for 2015-16. Even though most
of our sports teams haven’t been as
strong this year, the academic achievements of the Class of 2016 make up for
this fault.
Are academics are more critical
than sports to the students of this class?
Whatever the reason may be for their
success, it is quite apparent that this
year’s Seniors are one of the strongest
academic classes to come through Rice
in years.
There are many criteria used to
measure academic achievement, such
as high standardized test scores, lofty
grade-point averages (GPAs) and
Honor Roll lists. Or, a group might be
measured by strong work ethic, determination or personality. For the Class of
’16, all of these seem to apply.
More than five Seniors have
achieved a score of 35 on the ACT, and
many other students have scored 30 or
higher. Most of the students exceeded
the score predicted for them by their
PSAT results. The national ACT average
in 2015 is 21 (20 in Michigan); the Senior
class’s average is a 26. For every subject on the exam, there was at least one
Senior who had a perfect score.
Nine Seniors have been recognized
by the National Merit program. Robert
Connoly, Jaret Koger, Joseph Mekhael,
Riley North and Dylan Page are National Merit Commended students. Nathan
Antwan, Evan Dennis, Hugh Flynn and
Pranav Gopalakrishnan are National
Merit Semifinalists. Nathan Antwan is
also a National Hispanic Scholar.
(From left) Robert Connoly, Jaret Koger, Joseph Mekhael, Riley North and Dylan Page
Along with all of the statistical
success of the Class of 2016, there are
also significant abstract distinctions.
Mrs. Darin, Director of Counseling and
the counselor who works closest with
Seniors, says, “This class is more than
their GPA.”
Mrs. Pappert, the other Senior counselor, agrees that grades do not fully
represent the Seniors. She is impressed
that every student in the class seems to
have an amazing story.
After reading all of college essays
this Fall, Mrs. Darin and Mrs. Pappert
came away thinking this class is unique.
The essays very individualized, not the
generic format they see so often, and
included “gentle,” “compassionate” and
“unselfish” characteristics.
They also pointed out that the
Seniors are adept socially. They do not
see some of the divisions in the class that
are so common in high schools. Much of
this, they think, can be attributed to the
families, who allow the Seniors to make
their own mistakes and learn from them.
To Mrs. Darin, Mrs. Pappert and
the guidance department, this reporter
speaks on behalf of the entire Senior
class by saying, Thank You.
Hopefully, as November becomes
May, the Class of 2016 will live up to
the hype and go down as a class to be
remembered.
National Merit Semifinalists (from left): Antwan, Dennis, Flynn and Gopalakrishnan
B R OTHE R R IC E H IG H S C H O O L C H I E F TA I N
P AGE 3
The Ultimate
A Honor Roll
The following members of the
Class of 2016 have been on the A
Honor Roll every semester
Sean Abelarde
Adam Blanck
Matthew Busuito
Robert Connolly
Evan Dennis
Cameron Fish
Jonathan Fite
Hugh Flynn
Pranav Gopalakrishnan
Evan Grathwohl
Matthew Guella
Samuel Hietanen
Jeremiah Hollis
Ryan Klein
Jaret Koger
Riley Maher
Joseph Mekhael
Peter Monaghan
Riley North
Evan Oesterle
Chiebuka Onwuzurike
Dylan Page
Riley Page
Brandon Penoyer
Marcello Rea
Ross Reason
Andrew Rosa
Daniel Sendek
Blake Shaffou
Brendan Sullivan
Nathaniel Tremonti
Timothy Walsh
Gianni Wile
N O V E M B E R 2015