Class of 2020 Senior Profiles: HR301
Alex Strimpel - “Strimp”
What activities were you most involved in during high school?
Student council 9th-11th grade and Class officer 9th grade
Which teacher/class/experience had a profound impact on you, and why?
Mrs. Paul, since she was always understanding if I would show up to community service a little late. Also, she would try to help me with problems or give advice in any way she could.
What are your plans for after graduation?
Continue working while going to Montco community college for a culinary degree
What is your ultimate goal in your career/life?
Become a chef who makes good food and makes people happy
Emma Catharine Swift
What activities were you most involved in during high school?
Concert Band, Marching Band
What is the one thing you will miss most about Upper Perk?
The view of the reservoir
What are your plans for after graduation?
Columbia University, Neuroscience
Jaden Ashley Tarantino
What activities were you most involved in during high school?
Red Cross Club, Star club, Protective Services at the Western Center
Which teacher/class/experience had a profound impact on you, and why?
Mr. E had a profound impact on me because he always believed in me when I struggled with Algebra 2 and he was always someone that was there for me when I needed to talk to someone. He inspired me to take the chance and run for a leadership role and I successfully got it thanks to him.
What is the one thing you will miss most about Upper Perk?
I will miss seeing all of the faces of students we grew up with in the hallways.
What are your plans for after graduation?
After graduation I plan on joining the United States Army.
What is your ultimate goal in your career/life?
My goal in the Army is to become a part of the Military Police (MP) and eventually work with the K9 unit.
Kasey Joy Tarantino
What activities were you most involved in during high school?
Softball, Art Club and Automotive Technology at the vo-tech school.
Which teacher/class/experience had a profound impact on you, and why?
One teacher that had an impact on me would have to be Mrs. Mayer. She helped me push my artistic ability further than I thought I could ever. Also she was one teacher that I could always talk to and she would give great advice.
What is the one thing you will miss most about Upper Perk?
Making memories with everyone that we have spent our lives with, even if we weren't that close.
What are your plans for after graduation?
My plans for after I graduate is to go to Pennsylvania College of Technology, majoring in Automotive Technology. After furthering my education, I am looking forward to working at a great garage.
What is your ultimate goal in your career/life?
My ultimate goal would be to be a successful technician
Graham Whitman Thomas
Alyse Taylor Thompson
What activities were you most involved in during high school?
Field Hockey 9-10, Lacrosse 9-12, Debate team 9-12, ECC 11-12, NHS 10-12, Principals Advisory Committee 11-12
Which teacher/class/experience had a profound impact on you, and why?
AP United States History. Mr. Peoples is an incredible teacher and I have never retained as much information from any class as I have from that one. That class helped me realize that I want to be a history major.
What is the one thing you will miss most about Upper Perk?
I’ll miss the guidance office the most. Everyone in guidance is always helpful and they’re very nice.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I plan to go to East Stroudsburg University, major in history with a concentration in law, and then eventually go to law school and become a lawyer.
What is your ultimate goal in your career/life?
My ultimate goal is to either become a politician or a judge after I finish my schooling.
Michal Marie Thompson-Herring
Kyra Arielle Trauger
What activities were you most involved in during high school?
Track & Field
Which teacher/class/experience had a profound impact on you, and why?
Mrs. Lychock because she is always there for her students whether it’s with school work or if it's someone’s own personal problems, it just shows she really cares about her students.
What is the one thing you will miss most about Upper Perk?
The people
What are your plans for after graduation?
I will be attending Bloomsburg University in the fall.
What is your ultimate goal in your career/life?
Get a college degree
Ethan P Trzaska
Jonathan L Trzaska
Summer Lynn Vernitsky
What activities were you most involved in during high school?
Marching band, Drama Club, Choir
Which teacher/class/experience had a profound impact on you, and why?
One teacher that had a big impact on me was Mrs. Rushatz. I found that due to her love of English and the deep meanings found within it, we could really relate on things. I still go in to visit her 2 years after having her class to say hello or show her things I found that are writing related. I also made a shirt for her wall awhile ago that has a very sentimental meaning to it and I’m so happy that she is going to have it for quite a while.
What is the one thing you will miss most about Upper Perk?
I will miss the marching band and the drama club so much. They have brought so much happiness and friends in my life and have really pushed me to be more out there and do things at our school. I will miss the teachers and people that I met in these clubs and will forever remember the wonderful things we did.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I’d like to do teaching with a specific focus on graphic design and animation. I plan to go to Montgomery County Community College for 2 years and then transfer to Millersville to further my education and career.
What is your ultimate goal in your career/life?
I plan to go to school for animation and start getting into graphic design and hope to get hired by some animation based companies and work in that field for a while before going to teaching with experience of working in an animation based environment
Joseph Thomas Wall
Kiara Julie West
Victoria Noelle Williams
Crystian Alexander Wilson
What activities were you most involved in during high school?
Choir, Drama, Stage Crew
Which teacher/class/experience had a profound impact on you, and why?
Mr. McFadden, he at one point in my four years used to help me get a lunch when I didn't have one. Hansley is also one of those who had a large impact on me not only in school, but as well as being understanding during the online schooling, granted he has taught in such a manner before.
What is the one thing you will miss most about Upper Perk?
Choir and the musical
What are your plans for after graduation?
I would like to go to college or go straight into looking for voice acting jobs.
What is your ultimate goal in your career/life?
I want to be a voice actor.
Jacob Aaron Wink
Rebecca Ann Wojcik
AiYi Meilyn Young
What activities were you most involved in during high school?
Field Hockey (9-12), Lacrosse (9-10), Track and Field (11-12), Student Council, Leo Club, FBLA, NHS, orchestra
Which teacher/class/experience had a profound impact on you, and why?
Mrs. Dutcher, my kindergarten teacher at Hereford Elementary, made the greatest impact on me here at Upper Perk. She was the first teacher I had when I arrived from China and allowed me to feel supported and loved as a student. We immediately had a connection, and I looked up to her as a mentor and a hero. She was the first teacher to touch my heart and the experiences I had with her not only enhanced my love for school, but also increased my desire to create meaningful relationships with my teachers. As she laid down the foundation that has led to my successes, the lessons that I have learned from her are ones that I still carry on to this day. Mrs. Dutcher was so much more to me than a teacher; she was a true friend. I will be forever grateful for her guidance and support.
What is the one thing you will miss most about Upper Perk?
I will miss my friends and teachers who I have bonded with throughout the years.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I plan on attending the University of Connecticut and majoring in actuarial sciences.
What is your ultimate goal in your career/life?
I hope to pass my actuary exams and work my way up to become a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries.
Haojie Zhang - “RJ”
What activities were you most involved in during high school?
Tennis
Which teacher/class/experience had a profound impact on you, and why?
My Calculus class had a profound impact on me because Ms.Miller is very nice, and my classmates were friendly and helpful.
What is the one thing you will miss most about Upper Perk?
Friends and teachers
What are your plans for after graduation?
Penn State, Computer Science, and then get a job related to that.
What is your ultimate goal in your career/life?
I would like to work for top companies, or maybe start my own company related to technology.
Chase Andrew Ziegler
What activities were you most involved in during high school?
Cross County, Track, FBLA and Link Crew
What are your plans for after graduation?
Montgomery County Community College for Mechanical Engineering Science
What is your ultimate goal in your career/life?
I hope to go to Community College and later transfer to a four year college to complete studies as a civil engineer