Jeffco’s top scholars garner national recognition Eighteen Jeffco seniors have been named National Merit Semi-Finalists. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation awards students who score in the top one percent on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT). Jeffco’s scholars are: Christopher Guttormsson at Arvada High School; Katherine Decker and Evan Eshleman at Chatfield High School; Mitchell Clough at Columbine High School; Jenny Chen, Michael Feller, Joshua Graber, and Keihan Swantek at D’Evelyn; Kelsey Evezich at Evergreen High School; Corey Baron, Tommy Le Cheng Fan, Clara Howell, Jacob Milleville, Kaia Sargent, Jacob Stufflebeam, Daniel Tsvankin, and Vivian Zhang at Lakewood High School; and Ben Heberlein at Pomona High School. The semi-finalists have the opportunity to compete for National Merit Scholarships later this school year. We caught up with a few of the students who shared their advice to other students and their thoughts about their education and their future. Christopher Guttormsson, Arvada High School. Plans for a career in math, science or engineering. “One of my favorite things about Jeffco is the commitment to providing classes that match the student’s needs. After I completed the highest level of math available at my school, Jeffco paid to send me to Red Rocks and Front Range Community College to continue my education. Without them, I would not have been able to continue my math education past calculus.”
Daniel Tsvankin, Lakewood High School. Plans for a career in biomedical engineering, specializing in tissue regeneration/reconstruction, biomechanics, and neural engineering. “Have some fun. The easiest way to get worn down is to focus too hard on heavy tasks and forget there’s more to live for. I’ve always had a full complement of stimulating classes and engaging teachers around me.”
Corey Baron, Lakewood High School. Plan A is to go to college and find something to pursue above all else. Plan B is to buy a nice looking van and make a home down by the river. “I wouldn’t value education nearly as much as I do if I hadn’t grown up in a family and school environment that values not only education, but learning for the sake of learning.”
Tommy Fan, Lakewood High School. Plans to major in math and economics. “It is a good idea to be consistently diligent and rigorous in the work you do. This is especially helpful on tests because it reduces the amount of mistakes you make. Although being rigorous on homework takes a long time, you will learn more and absorb more information. Enrolling in IB
Mitchell Clough, Columbine High School. Plans a career in the medical field. “At the end of the day, the reward you get out of something is equal to the work you put in. Jeffco schools have
(International Baccalaureate) at a Jeffco school has made my education more well-rounded, since we have to take classes from every subject.” Evan Eshleman, Chatfield High School. Plans to become a pediatrician. “The effort you put into a class yields proportionate results. I have been very lucky to have had so many great teachers t h ro u g h o u t my nearly 13 years in Jeffco Public Schools. To keep me engaged, they have found ways to make learning much more fun than it normally would be.”
it was fun, it was not nearly as intensive as the classes needed to satisfy the Jeffco requirements. I have been at a Jeffco school for six years now, and I am happy with what I have been able to do there.” Kaia Sargent, Lakewood High School. Plans to become a medical doctor. “While grades are important, you need to find something you’re truly passionate about. Otherwise, it’s impossible to stay motivated.”
Michael Feller, D’Evelyn Jr/Sr. Plans to study engineering. “Going to a Jeffco school has made all the difference in my education. I attended a private school during my elementary years, and while
Hill Center for Dermatology, PC Hill Center for Dermatology is pleased to announce that Anne Fender, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, has joined our practice so that we can offer Jeffco families more appointment availability at our convenient Golden Road location!
• Mole Removal • Psoriasis • Lasers • Botox • Juvéderm®/Radiesse®
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Your child has ALWAYS been unique ... shouldn’t your child’s high school be unique too? Find out more about the PEAK GT Center for Gifted and Talented High School Students
• Skin Cancer • Biopsies • Rashes • Warts • Acne
INFORMATION NIGHT October 23 6 p.m. Make the most of your high school experience!
Anne Fender, MD • Kira Giovanielli, MD 6 Stan Hill, MD • Candice Dorris, MPA-C 58
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Hill Center for Dermatology
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17560 S. Golden Rd Golden, CO 80401 303-526-1117 www.hillcenter4derm.com
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WRHS Showcase
For information call Ruth Rodgers at 303-982-8650 or email rrodgers@jeffco.k12.co.us
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Most Insurance Accepted Easy access from C470, 6th Ave, Hwy 93 and I-70
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GT Center Informational Meeting
Wheat Ridge High School Choir Room, 9505 W. 32 Ave. Wheat Ridge 80033
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Kelsey Evezich, Evergreen High School. Plans to pursue biomed or aerospace engineering. “Advice I would give: ask questions, ask questions, ask questions. Before school, after school, during school, emails. Also, always try to connect information you are learning now to something you
fostered me and built me up. I’ve been given opportunities here that I can’t get anywhere else, and I am incredibly thankful. I am surrounded by intelligent, talented, and creative people who bring out the best in me, and I know that I would never be where I am today without their help.”
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Ben Heberlein, Pomona High School. Plans to study electrical engineering and computer science. “Keep up with homework and take advantage of whatever your high school has to offer in terms of class rigor and community. Jeffco has p ro f o u n d l y affected my education, simply because I have had some of the clearest and kindest teachers in my 13 years in the district.”
already know. Reach across subject boundaries: once you connect math to physics, and history to your English books, everything starts making more sense.”
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Vivian Zhang, Lakewood High School. Plans to major in international business and minor in Chinese. “I would advise other students to learn to manage their time between extracurricular activities, school, and other exams such as the
PSAT. Also, setting high goals is crucial because it gives students something to work for. Even if they don’t reach the goal, they know they have worked as hard as they can, and that will ultimately help them achieve academically.”
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Apply online at
www.jeffcopublicschools.org/programs/gifted_talented/ October 2012