SENIOR INDUCTEES

Alexa Cesari

Alexa hopes to attend Lehigh University and major in biomedical engineering.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I wanted to find a career that had both math and science, but also finding something that was involved with medicine where I  could help people.”

What is your favorite television show? Why?

“Riverdale, because I love mystery shows that keep me intrigued and are suspenseful.”

Gary Chen 

Gary plans to attend Penn State University – University Park and major in forensic science.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“During sophomore year, I took chemistry with Mr. Delenick. He inspired my love for chemistry. I also like helping and solving problems, so forensic science was a great fit.”

Do you listen to music when you study? Why or why not? If yes, what kind?

“I do listen to music. I usually listen to classical or jazz songs because there are no lyrics and it’s relaxing.”

Milena Dinu

Milena plans on attending Penn State University – University Park to major in biochemistry.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“The reason I am making biochemistry my major is because I want to pursue a career in pediatrics. I was always good with little kids. What’s better than making a little kid feel better? For me, nothing is better than that.”

What is one class you wish you would have taken at PAHS? Why?

“One class I wish I would have taken would be AP Physics. I have tried to take AP Physics, but I wasn’t able to because of scheduling conflicts. I was really sad about that.”

John Hannaway

John plans to attend Wilkes University and major in pharmacy.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“Taking advanced chemistry inspired me to pursue a career in pharmacy. The class introduced me to many new chemistry topics. This knowledge and my desire to be a part of the health care team led me to pharmacy.”

What will you miss most about PAHS?

“I am going to miss the relationships I have found with both the students and the faculty. They have made me who I am today.”

Riley Herndon

Riley plans to attend Penn State University – University Park and major in environmental engineering.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I am very passionate about the environment and keeping it healthy.”

What is your favorite part about graduating? Why?

“I enjoy furthering my education because I’ll get more experiences and knowledge.”

Corey Holobetz

Cory plans to attend Penn State University – University Park to major in electrical engineering.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I was inspired by my interest in sciences and physical motions.”

What is your favorite school lunch?

“Chicken Patty”

Michael Johnson-Ponce

Michael plans to attend Penn State University – University Park, but he is undecided as to what he wants to study.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I have no idea what I want to major in, but it’ll probably be something that makes a boat-load of money.”

Who is your go-to study buddy? Why?

“I like to ask John Hannaway for help because he’s always over prepared for every test.”

Lily Joyce

Lily plans to attend the University of Tennessee and major in preveterinary studies.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I’ve always wanted to be a vet. I love animals and helping, so I kind of just combined the two.”

What advice would you give to your younger self?

“Follow your dreams. If you want something, work hard for it and get it.”

Rachael Lenker

Rachael does not know where she wants to attend college, but she plans on studying to become a physician’s assistant.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“Growing up with sick grandparents and taking care of them and my interest in the sciences like psychology, biology and chemistry.”

Who is your favorite singer? 

“I don’t have a favorite, but I’ve been listening to Billie Ellish  a lot lately.”

Logan Maurer

Logan is undecided on where she wants to attend college, but she plans to major in biology on a pre-med track.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I have a passion for science.”

What drives you to be a good student?

“The payoff of being a good student pushes me to do well in school.”

Autumn McDonough

Autumn plans to attend Temple University and major in music education, focusing in voice.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I’ve been involved in band and choir for around eight years. I started taking voice lessons to become classically trained, and I’ve loved it ever since. Music is something that makes me happy, and I know I want to show that to others.”

Where would you like to travel in the future? Why?

“I’d love to travel to Greece and Korea. Greece has beautiful landscapes, and I would love to see the historical architecture there. I’d love to travel to Korea because I want to experience a culture I’ve never been exposed to. I’m also interested in the history of North and South Korea.”

Grace Muench

Grace plans to attend Penn State University – University Park and major in immunology and infectious disease.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I basically grew up in the dental office with my parents. In my house, medical discussion is constant, and it’s just something I’m interested in. While I’m not sure if I want to be a dentist, I still want to go into the medical field.”

What is the coolest activity you have ever taken part in?

“There are two cool activities that come to mind. The first one, performing at an international convention and meeting people from all around the world. The second, while at Penn State this summer, being invited into an active cadaver lab.”

Victoria Oswald

Victoria is undecided on where she wants to attend college, but she plans on majoring in physics with a concentration in astrophysics and minor in political science.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“Space is pretty cool. Also, Neil DeGrasse Tyson is pretty chill. We also have no idea where we are (USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy) so I want to find out via astrophysics.”

Who is your role model? Why?

“Pap traveled as a young man, and is surprisingly cultured for a 66 year-old white man. I want to experience the world like him.”

Jacob Roos

Jacob is does not know where he wants to attend college, but he plans on majoring in civil engineering.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major? 

“I was inspired when I first started working with my father in construction. Also, my strong interest in math made me want to pursue this.”

Who helped you the most throughout your time at PAHS?

“Throughout my time at PAHS, my teachers guided me a lot. They helped me understand my classes. My parents also helped a lot in and out of school by supporting me socially and financially.”

Brea Schaeffer

Brea plans to attend Virginia Tech University, but she is not sure what she wants to major in.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I would like to study something in mathematics.”

Where do you spend most of your time?

“I spend most of my time working to save for college.”

Nick Seddon

Nick plans to attend Penn State University – University Park to major in marketing management.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I like the idea of using creativity to attract customers to a business. Hopefully, I can use this to run my own business one day.”

What is your favorite extracurricular activity? Why?

“Track and field because I love being active and I enjoy it a lot.”

Evan Spevak

Evan plans to attend Penn State University – University Park. He is unsure what he wants to major in, but he plans on minoring in French.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I have no clue of what my major will be and I have no considerations right now.”

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

“Halloween. I enjoy the fall and I have really good memories associated with it. I always really looked forward to it as a child.”

Zachary Turnitza

Zachary plans to attend Scranton University and major in nursing.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“My mother is a nurse and enjoyed the career for over 30 years.”

What is your favorite sport to watch?

“Football.”

Alexis Yoder

Alexis is undecided on where she wants to attend college, but she plans on majoring in journalism.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I enjoy writing and learning about news events both in and out of the community, so I wanted to make it into a career.”

What is the best part about being a senior?

“The best part about being a senior is being a leader for the school. No matter if you are at a pep rally, sports practice or in the hallway, younger students look up to you.”

Parker Zimerofsky

Parker plans on attending Kutztown University and major in accounting.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I have always been good at simple math, and I am a very organized person, so accounting matches that.”

Who is your favorite teacher at PAHS? Why?

“Mr. Sterner; he takes very hard topics and teaches them with passion and enthusiasm which makes them easy.”

JUNIOR INDUCTEES

Reilly Babcock

Reilly is undecided as to where she wants to attend college, but she plans on majoring in zoology.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“Since I was a child, I have been obsessed with animals. Many documentaries have convinced me that studying animal behavior and care is most interesting today.”

Who do you admire the most? Why?

“I admire my mother most because she keeps me all together and helps many people.”

Eli Brennan

Eli plans to attend Penn State University – University Park and major in premedicine, then attend the University of Pittsburgh Medical School to receive a masters in psychiatry.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I was inspired to go into pre-med then psychiatry due to my desire to help people. I enjoy getting to meet and communicate with people, and I believe that if I have the chance to help someone then I am obligated to do so.”

For you, what is the best part about living in Schuylkill County?

“The best part about living in Schuylkill County is the people. I’ve met some of my best friends here, and I’ve made memories to last a lifetime.”

Alyssa DeLeon

Alyssa plans to attend college and major in either chemistry or biology.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I wanted a job in the medical field that wasn’t as stressful and pays well. I would rather work with kids more because I like children. I was thinking of either becoming a pediatrician or a physician’s assistant.”

Who is the most influential person in your life? Why?

“My mom because she always pushes me to focus on my grades. She helps me with studying when I need it and always makes sure my grades are good. When I need help with something, she is always there for me.”

Jordyn Derbes

Jordyn plans to attend the University of Alabama to major in chemical engineering.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I really enjoyed chemistry, and I like physics. I do very well in math and science courses. I would love to work in a lab and create new substances.”

What is the best book you have ever read? Why?

“The best book I’ve ever read was Animal Farm by George Orwell. I really liked the symbolism in the book and how the whole story referred back to a real event.”

Jelissa Diaz-Walchak

Jelissa does not know where she wants to attend college, but she plans on majoring in mental health.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“My mother works in the same field.”

What is your dream vacation spot? Why?

“The beach because it is very relaxing.”

Noah Fredericks

Noah plans to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to major in electrical engineering and minor in cryodynamics.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I was intrigued by Nikola Tesla while researching him for a project in sixth grade.”

What do you do to cope with stress?

“To cope with stress, I channel it into my mind and I am guided by the heart of the dragon.”

Caleigh O’Pake

Caleigh plans to attend the University of South Carolina and major in pre-medicine.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I look forward to helping people and having an impact on people’s lives. I sort of always had an interest in the medical field ever since I was little, so I want to follow through with that.”

What is your favorite thing to do with friends?

“My friend group loves to put on Family Feud and watch it together in my basement. It’s so funny.”

Emily Peleschak

Emily plans to attend Penn State University – University Park to major in chemical engineering.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I really enjoy chemistry and a lot of my family members work in the engineering field.”

What will you miss most about PAHS? 

“I will miss pep rallies and football games.”

Collin Pryce

Colin does not know where he wants to attend college, but he plans on majoring in actuarial science or computer science.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“Actuarial science, because my best subject is math. It would be a great major to take as it pays good, and I like math.”

What is your favorite vacation spot? Why?

“My favorite vacation spot isn’t the beach. It is Cooperstown in New York, because I like baseball and a lot of baseball history is located in Cooperstown, including the Hall of Fame.”

Caleb Reedy

Caleb plans to attend Penn State University – University Park and major in aerospace engineering.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“I was always interested in flight, planes, etc.”

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

“In 20 years, I see myself living in a big house with my family. I see myself having a high paying job working for a company like NASA or Boeing.”

Caleb Roos

Caleb plans on attending Penn State University – University Park to major in architectural engineering.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“Working with my dad as a carpenter [inspired me].”

What is one goal you have for yourself?

“One goal I have for myself is to successfully graduate college and have a job.”

James Schaeffer

James is thinking about attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but he knows he wants to double major in aerospace engineering and mathematics.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“My passion for mathematics and physics definitely was the biggest factor in choosing my major.”

Who is your idol? Why?

“Elon Musk is my idol. Not only is Elon an absolute genius, but he also created the companies Space X (clearly superior to NASA) and Tesla, (arguably the most innovative car company).

Annika Staller

Annika plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania and major in Biology with a minor in psychology on a pre-med track.

What inspired you to pursue your intended major?

“Ever since I was a young child, I’ve known that I wanted to work in the medical field to help people. I myself have struggled with health problems for the better part of my life, and I want to be part of the changes to improve medicine in the future.”

What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

“My favorite thing to do on a rainy day is curl up in bed with my pets with my window open, listening to the sounds of the rain and take a nap.”