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Meet six whiz kids who will restore your faith in the next generation.
It is not hard to locate a talented high school senior. Guidance counselors, principals and teachers can tick off a long list of bright, highly accomplished pupils, and that’s reassuring—for their futures . . . and ours. But there are a few who are off-the-charts memorable. Call them Super Students.
This year we’re showcasing six: leaders with mind-bending résumés and lengthy lists of extracurriculars, from the 17-year-old who’s put in three summers of genomic research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to the Russian-born valedictorian who takes classes at OSU and then rocks out the sequins and spray tan as a competitive ballroom dancer.
They come from all sorts of backgrounds: privileged, middle class, extremely challenged. “We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny,” Dag Hammarskjold, former U.N. secretary general, once noted. “But what we put into it is ours.” These teens seem to recognize and seize their opportunities and—most refreshingly—come across as actively grateful for them.
Rhonda Koulermos is a freelance writer.
Meet the students
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Super Students: Sophie ChatasLong before last fall’s cross country season, Sophie Chatas met with her coach to figure out how to get from here to there. The doe-eyed, slender brunette wanted to transform herself from a strong runner to a great one. Chatas was hungry for one last trip to the state meet, after finishing back in the pack—107th—the previous year. |
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Super Students: Sachin RudrarajuReading Sachin Rudraraju’s résumé (three-and-a-half pages, single-spaced) requires a dictionary and a strong dose of self-esteem. His research descriptions get technical, fast. Most adults will never come close to matching the breadth of his community service—it spans the globe—or accumulate a fraction of his awards, achievements and scholarships. |
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Super Students: Anastasia Maria GordeevaThe Ohio Star Ball, held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center each November, is recognized as one of the largest ballroom competitions in the world. Anastasia has competed three times in Latin ballroom—the cha-cha, samba, rumba, paso doble and jive. |
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Super Students: Eric NiehausWhat college admissions officers are most likely to be impressed by, is the range and depth of his extracurriculars. His talent and leadership span two distinctly different crowds: the “Gleeks”—chorus, drama club—and the soccer jocks. |
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Super Students: Zach WilkeThere’s so much intricacy, such detail and power in the mixed media works of Zach Wilke, 18, it takes several minutes of careful examination to fully appreciate their scope. |
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Super Students: Sakina Abu Boakye“Nobody’s better suited to an Ivy League than Sakina,” says Sebastian Restrepo. “Sakina’s extraordinary. She makes everyone around her better.” |
