2024 Senior Newspaper

Meridian’s most likely to be famous

By Abby Crespin and Molly Moore

It is rare to encounter someone with passion in their eyes. Indeed, when I spoke to senior filmmaker Ben Barwig, I realized immediately that directing and screenwriting is far more than Barwig’s hobby.

Barwig’s interest in art began in early elementary school; he loved to draw and paint. After losing interest later in elementary school, Barwig “resparked” his creative self. In eighth grade, movies such as , “Parasite,” “Lala Land,” and the Marvel series left him fascinated by the “different ways that life could be pictured through the camera.”

Alongside the Meridian Film Club, Barwig wrote and co-directed “Colors in Asphodel,” a experimental short film meant to juxtapose the simplicity and “slowness” of life with the accelerated version the internet portrays life to be. The club submitted the film to the VHSL Film Festival; however, they encountered a major setback: their film was disqualified due a mishap with an entry form.

The obstacle only motivated Barwig to “make it better.” He recut the film, solicited feedback and spent time editing. The club then submitted “Colors in Asphodel" to other film festivals including the All American High School Film Festival. To their excitement, the film was honored at the festival in October, which was held at AMC Theaters. Barwig described the experience as “crazy.”

Beyond providing honor and recognition, filmmaking makes Barwig “genuinely happy.” Barwig employs filmmaking to process what is happening in his own life. Not only that, filmmaking also teaches him “vision and leadership.” He emphasized that in order to make movies, the director must see the “full picture” and know how to communicate it with others.

Drama

Barwig will attend New York University for film and television next year, and looks forward to the almost unlimited connections New York City offers and sharing his vision and passion with other talented students. He hopes college offers an opportunity for him to be challenged and learn from will “people who are better than [him].”

Regardless of what the future holds, filmmaking will always be “spiritual practice.”

Ruby Jones

Many people go their entire high school careers without realizing they studied alongside a future star, and senior Ruby Jones may just be the next big name out of Meridian. Jones started performing in eighth grade, but music has always been a key aspect of her life. Her aunts are professional musicians, and her parents have always had a strong affinity for music, especially ‘90s country.

Her performances now gear to that classic style, evoking that sense of charming nostalgia she adores. She hopes to share her love for country with the rest of the

Sports Advice

community, intertwining her rural roots with our modern little city. “I’m just trying to bring country music to the DMV area,” Jones said. I first saw Jones perform at the MHS Battle of the Bands showcase. In a word, her performance was electric. Her ability to capture an audience of students and parents was incredibly impressive. As she sang, she transformed an auditorium of community members present to support their peers or children into her personal fanbase.

Music is a powerful tool for Jones. Her songs provide landscape for her selfexploration which then permeates to her audience, uniting a room full of people. “I just love being able to feel that connection with the whole audience.”

Jones plans to continue her studies throughout university, as she aspires to stardom. “I’m going to Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee next year. I’m majoring in songwriting.”

Jones emphasizes the importance of growth in her musical journey. Throughout her journey she’s learned that “you have to suck in order to get better,” and that progress is not found in moments of perfection, but in moments of weakness. Success is achieved through perseverance.

“If I hadn’t gone through that, I wouldn’t have been able to get to where I am now. So just keep going.”

Ben Barwig

Barwig, amongst cast members of his short film, grins as he directs a scene. (Photo courtesy of Ben Barwig)

Senior Ruby Jones plays guitar and sings at a gig. (Photo courtesy of Ruby Jones)

The Lasso Meridian High School

121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church, VA 22043

703-248-5500

www.meridianlasso.org

Special Print Edition May 2024

Mission Statement: The Lasso and its staff strive to inform their readers through accurate and factual reports, where information has been thoroughly gathered and verified; serve as an educational laboratory experience for those on staff; be accurate, fair, and impartial in its coverage of issues that affect the school community; not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy; cover the total school population as effectively and accurately as possible; report all issues in a legal, objective, accurate and ethical manner, in accordance with the Canons of Professional Journalism developed by the Society for Professional Journalists.

Editor-in-Chief

Abigail Crespin

Managing Editors

Kaylah Curley

Molly Moore

Sophia Borghesani

News Editors

Rachel Grooms

Anna Goldenberg

Features Editor

Victor Kidwell

Opinion Editor

Tessa Kassoff

Staff Writers & Contributors

Sophia Braverman

Ben Behr

Madison Keelen

Dino Simcox

Ryan Degnan

Luke Russell

Monica Duran

Binyamin Hassan

Sophia Turley

Alba Selle

Umer Sohail

Arianna Vargas

Sesh Sudarshan

Tessa Dunn

Monroe Duff

Faaz Tahir

Evy Shamber

Ben Mossburg

Editor’s note

“Alexa: Play ‘Where’d All the Time Go?’ by Dr. Dog.”

As the Class of 2024, our high school careers have been marked by unexpected challenges and remarkable achievements. We began our journey during the COVID-19 pandemic, with our first days of high school unfolding through computer screens. We not only navigated the halls of a new ‘state-of-theart’ building but also a rapidly changing world, adapting and overcoming obstacles along the way.

Navigating this ever-changing world has been a constant theme for us. From the evolving landscape of college applications - debating whether the SAT and ACT should be required- to the often perplexing FAFSA process amidst rising college costs, we’ve faced these challenges head-on, learning to adapt and persevere.

The friendships we’ve formed here are treasures we carry with us. Some of us found our tribes in clubs, sports teams, or through shared interests in music, arts, and sciences. These bonds have provided us with strength and support, helping us overcome the many hurdles

Kaylah Curley

we encountered.

Among us are those who have achieved incredible feats in athletics and will be continuing their sports careers at the university level. We also celebrate those who will be exploring the world, ready to embrace new cultures and experiences. And let’s not forget our “most likely to be famous” classmates, who are following their passions in music and film directing – keep an eye out for their names in lights!

This senior edition is a tribute to our collective journey. It captures the essence of our high school years, the milestones, and the little moments that have defined us. As you flip through these pages, I hope you feel a sense of pride in how far we’ve come and excitement for all that lies ahead.

Thank you for being a part of this incredible chapter. Here’s to the memories we’ve made and the adventures that await. Congratulations, Class of 2024 –our future is bright, and it’s ours for the making.

Should the SAT and ACT be required for admissions?

Amidst increasing inequality in college admissions, SAT and ACT scores provide lower income students with an opportunity to better their chances of admission.

Schools that do not consider test scores weigh admission on factors that are biased towards higher income students like grades, extracurriculars, awards and letters of recommendation. Higher income students have the financial capacity to engage in summer programs and numerous extracurriculars (rather than getting a job or taking care of younger siblings, for instance). Also, higher income students often attend more resourced public or private schools with teachers and counselors who can provide more personalized letters of recommendations.

A study conducted by Chetty, Deming, and Friedman in 2023, which inspired Dartmouth College to reactivate their prepandemic test requirement policy, suggests that aspects of students’ applications, including counselor recommendations, do not predict college performance, unlike test scores. At the same time, components such as counselor recommendations carry more weight when test scores are obscured and favor advantaged students. Other schools such as Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, MIT, Caltech, and the entire public university

By Molly Moore

systems of Florida and Georgia now required standardized test scores.

Furthermore, lower income students may be less inclined to submit test scores even if it would help them in admissions.

It is important to note that standardized testing is not without flaws. Students who are more financially resourced may spend hundreds if not thousands on SAT and ACT tutoring. However, any student can take a standardized test for less than 100 dollars. Such an amount is more accessible than the thousands higher income families can devote towards extracurriculars, private or top public schools, or summer programs. Standardized tests identify students who can be successful even if they haven’t had the resources to be thus far.

All that to say, SAT and ACT are not definitive measures of intelligence. Someone with high scores may not have other skills that will lead to a fulfilled life. Conversely, standardized tests add to those whose applications are bare, not because they are poor performers, but because of their other competing responsibilities.

It may seem counterintuitive, but the SAT and ACT testing are pieces to the puzzle necessary to ameliorate mounting inequity in college admissions that favors the wealthy.

Securing admission to one’s college of choice is a dream for many high schoolers across the country. However, the role assigned to standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT have been called into question for decades. While these exams can provide a look into one’s academic ability, an overreliance on them overlooks many talented students whose true potential extends far beyond one test score. These tests are simply not a valid indicator of a student’s intelligence or value as a learner. College admissions boards should be looking at a student’s academic performance over the course of their high school career as the main source of information, instead of depending on one test at all. “A study examining 55,084 Chicago Public Schools students found that highschool GPAs are five times stronger than ACT scores at predicting college graduation,” according to UChicago.

Test anxiety is a major factor regarding potential poor scores of the SAT and ACT. “Estimates are that between 40 and 60% of students have significant test anxiety that interferes with them performing up to their capability,” according to a report at UCLA. This statistic may be even higher for the SAT and ACT due to the high importance people put on these exams.

By Luke Russell

The subject matter included in the SAT and ACT are not tested the same way that they are in a normal classroom setting. “...the entire exam tests math, reading, and grammar in a way specifically designed to trick even the best of students,” according to Jake SAT Prep. This raises the question, do the ACT and SAT really measure aptitude or do they measure how well students studied for the types of questions that they ask?

The SAT and ACT are not an effective benchmark of a student. Simply, they are an easy way for colleges (especially the larger schools) to filter out students.

Image shows a gymnasium being used for a standardized test (Photo via Turning Point USA)

Senior Spotlight: Frankenstein

By Anna Goldenberg

April 25, 2024 was the opening night for the Meridian theater department’s spring play, Frankenstein. The play was a captivating performance, beautifully retelling the story of Frankenstein while also shedding light onto the author behind the first modern science fiction story

But the play didn’t just come together in one night. Behind every production are a thousand people working together to make it what it is. Acting, props, costumes and stage management are just some of the things going on behind the scenes. Here is a look at just a few of the seniors who have dedicated their high school experience to theater.

Benjamin “Ben” Kline’s high school debut was in Pippin during his junior year, but he has been taking theater classes for much longer. In this year’s production, he plays Alphonse, the father of Victor Frankenstein.

“I started out in middle school, not really being interested in anything at all … I loved Ms. G [the theater teacher] so much that in seventh grade I auditioned for Aladdin Jr. … The next year, I auditioned for Mary Poppins Jr, and I got Bert, which is really what kept me in the theater program,” he said.

Ben also took the time to emphasize the importance of enjoying acting when participating in a school production.

“Mr. Northrip can be kind of scary when you first meet him, but he’s just a guy doing his thing. And if you keep performing, do it because you love it and you want it. It makes it a lot easier to deal with everything involved with it. The time commitment is so much easier when you like everyone in the process,” he said.

Julia Wolf has been acting almost as long as she can remember. Her first ever play was Beauty and the Beast, which she did at a summer camp between first and second grade.

“I just really enjoyed it. It was fun to make people laugh, and it was just great to work with a bunch of people who became my friends and then see everything come together,” she explained.

Julia has performed in every Meridian play since her freshman year, even when COVID-19 limited the theater department to filming a movie, instead of putting on their usual play.

“Everyone you meet is really excited about doing the production. You really bond when you have to do emotional scenes together, or if you just see each other every day for hours on end,” she said.

Julia played Justine, the Frankensteins’ maid in this year’s play.

“What I find really interesting is how there are so many lines that are repeated between different characters. It really weaves the story together perfectly,” she said.

Bella Villano has been stage managing since their eighth grade musical, Mary Poppins, when they took the role after the previous stage manager got an acting part. They started as an assistant stage manager at Meridian in their freshman year, and became the main stage manager during the second half of their sophomore year, during the production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. To this day, it remains their favorite play.

“What was nice was that there weren’t many copyright rules on the script, which meant that you could play with the lines a lot. The actors got to improvise. We had a tornado alarm go off during the first production, and when we came back, the actors made some allusions to it. It was just very fun,” they explained.

Bella’s favorite part about stage managing is watching everything come together at the end of a production.

“There’s so many parts to it, and they all come together and form this really nice and complete thing … it makes this huge final project that interlocks perfectly,” they said.

Carpenter has been making props for Meridian plays and musicals since her sophomore year. She joined the stage crew because she thought it would best suit her interests.

“I’ve always liked listening to and seeing musicals, and I’m also really creative. So I wanted to do stage crew, because I thought it would be really fun,” she said.

In past plays, she has also helped with set building, but making props has always been her favorite role. But making props isn’t always easy.

“You can’t get emotionally attached to your props, because you never know what’s actually going to make it. And there’s a lot that gets cut. There’s a lot of patience that’s required,“ she explained.

Colleen

Ben Kline

Bella Villano

Colleen Carpenter

Julia Wolf

To the next level

By Luke Russell and Umer Sohail

Alden Harrison

Harrison’s favorite memory is “beating Park View junior year. The overall energy and excitement we had in the locker room was incomparable to any other win.” He is excited to see how he will develop at the next level.

Matthew Downs

Downs reminisces on “wearing the black jerseys for the first time and winning the Homecoming game.” He’s excited for the challenging atmosphere college athletics will provide. Before games, the football team “flicks the light switch before the game to prepare [themselves].”

Grant Greiner

Greiner’s favorite memory is the Yorktown basketball his sophomore year where they “won at home and all the fans stormed the court.” He’s excited to continue playing baseball “to keep playing baseball against better competition and continue to improve at baseball.” Before games he stretches and relaxes by listening to music.

Miller’s favorite memories include long bus rides and stopping at Sheetz after a big win. She looks forward to the “high competition” in the ACC. Rather than hyping herself up before games, she “calms down [her] nerves or pre game jitters”

Madie Miller Kyra Gorman

Gorman fondly remembers Senior Night when she and her teammate Alexa “wore funny goggles meant for little kids that fell off in [their] senior relay.” She’s looking forward to “training on a higher level” to see what she can accomplish. Before her races she listens to fast music and visualizes her race plan.

Susan Rotherham

Rotherham fondly remembers “going to nationals with [her] club ice hockey team in Florida.” She’s excited to see how she develops as a player. Rotherham admitted she has a few superstitions. “I listen to the same songs, tie my right skate before my left, and retape my stick.” Her team “juggles a soccer ball, and whoever messes up is out.”

Not pictured: Ceara Murphy

Gettysburg College Football

Franklin and Marshall College Football

Williams College Baseball

Hobart and William Smith Colleges Ice Hockey

Drew University Swimming and Diving

North Carolina State University Soccer

Photo courtesy of Matthew Downs

Photo courtesy of Kyra Gorman

Photo courtesy of Susan Rotherham

Photo courtesy of Grant Greiner

Photo courtesy of Madie Miller

Photo courtesy of Alden Harrison

Thought provoking questions:

Is cereal a soup?

Is a zebra white with black stripes or black with white stripes?

Is a dream a form of reality?

Mustangs go global

Kaylah Curley

By Evy Shamber

Senior Kaylah Curley is committed to attend McGill University in the fall. McGill is a Canadian university in Montreal, Quebec, known for its rigorous classes and research-based programs. There were many factors that played into Kaylah’s decision to attend McGill

“My main reason was that I had the resources to,” Kaylah said. A dual citizen of the United States and Canada, she felt that it would be the best option for her, “I get in-province and the Canadian tuition rate which is significantly less than both international tuition and even in-state tuition here in the US.”

Family is also a huge factor in her choice. “I felt more comfortable not only going to Montreal because it is somewhere new but because I have family there to support me if I needed it.”

Senior Sophie Bono is committed to attend the University of St Andrews in Scotland, which might sound familiar due to some famous alumni such as Prince William and Princess Kate. Sophie always knew that she wanted to apply overseas and had originally wanted to commit to Trinity College Dublin, however, “their program for literature is a little difficult to get into, but it’s okay because I got an unconditional offer from St Andrews.” Unconditional offers mean that the school will take you regardless of your IB scores which is very common in Europe.

One main reason why Sophie was looking at colleges outside of the US is because she grew up overseas.

“Growing up a Foreign Service kid, travel is really big for me. I love going around to different countries and experiencing different cultures. It is a lot easier to travel around Europe than it is in the United States.”

During the application process, Sophie was forced to learn how to apply to schools outside of the US by herself. Other countries use different platforms other than Common App and not many teachers are aware of how to use these platforms.

She believes it was worth the challenging application process to attend a school that lets her focus on her priorities and doesn’t require courses outside of her comfort zone and major.

Senior Sophie O’Harais committed to attend the University of Edinburgh in Scotland this fall. The university is famous for its research programs, but that was only part of the reason Sophie wanted to go there. The main reason is because of the atmosphere you get to experience when you live in Europe,

“I really like walkable European cities [...] I really like the architecture,” Sophie said. Another reason she applied to the school was because she has family in the area, and is familiar with Europe and the schools there.

“My family is in Europe, my sister would be studying in the same country as me.”

European schools are often more affordable and have a very different set of ideals compared to American universities. They focus more heavily on the chosen major of each student and are geared toward preparation for postgraduate employment.

“There is more industry and possibilities for me,” Sophie said.

However, she felt the process for applying to UK schools is very similar to applying to American schools.

“It was pretty similar, being that you use the same essay for all the schools,” Sophie said.

Sophie Bono

By Alba Selle

Are the passing periods long enough?

Does the structure of the Meridian school day set us up for success? Definitely not. Rushing to get from one class to another with only a small break between lessons and a short lunch period leads students to burn out, lose focus by the end of the school day, and arrive late to classes.

Meridian has a six-minute passing period between class blocks, allowing students barely enough time to get from one class to the next. Timed, it takes roughly three minutes to get from the gym to the fifth floor, and this does not include the bit lost on the crowded stairs or waiting for the elevator.

I remember getting handed my schedule after moving to Meridian at the beginning of freshman year and seeing the small slots for sixminute breaks between classes. I was astounded. This was a drastic change for me. At my old school, we had fifteen-minute breaks between classes and an hour-long lunch break. Sixminute passing periods and a thirtyminute lunch break felt incredibly short.

In Germany, I used the 15-minute break to get a snack from the cafeteria and catch up with friends in the courtyard, before returning to the classroom, refreshed and rejuvenated. Now at Meridian, I finish a test in block five and walk to block seven to take another, with barely a break in between. While this is not the case for everyone, the lack of a mental break between classes is a shared issue that affects the cognitive efficiency of all students.

Those with A lunch must work for 160 minutes with only a short six-minute “break” between block four/five and block six/seven. According to Cross River Therapy, the average attention span of a 16-year-old is 32 to 48 minutes. This is already much less than a class block, let alone two classes back-toback.

Northern Illinois University highlights the importance of taking breaks to increase productivity. Our concentration levels decrease as our brain expands energy over time.

Therefore if we spend a lot of time in classes during the day, and not enough time allowing our brains to have a break, we will burn out and not work as efficiently.

While Meridian tries to give us a longer break through Mustang Block, many students use the forty minutes to study, meet with teachers, or makeup tests. Therefore the only mental break students have during the day is the thirty-minute lunch block. Additionally, the short passing time places unwarranted pressure on students.

Meridian High School daily schedule shows the six-minute passing time between blocks (photo via mhs.fccps.org)

“I think that the passing time should be a little bit longer because if you’re going from the fifth floor to the

third floor it takes a little bit of time and then you’re rushing and you might be marked as late even though you weren’t late for any other reason other than you just had to get down the stairs,” freshman Kelsey Just said.

The school’s large size and tall building structure makes it difficult for students to get between classes in just six minutes. This is especially true for those who have to take the elevator due to injuries or special accommodations.

“If you have to take an elevator it can be hard to make it to class in time because you might have to wait, and it could take a while to get up a few floors. I think it’s always good to consider people that might have issues with getting from one floor to another,” said sophomore Corinne Levitt.

The six-minute passing time is just not enough time for students to get from one class to another while also having a mental break. The school needs to extend the passing time between classes to benefit the student’s cognitive efficiency as well as support their mental well-being.

Seniors reflect and advise

By Monica Duran

Ethan Kavitz

George Mason University

Major: Forensic Science

Future plans: Move out of my parents house and be more independent

Best memory: Hanging out with my friends and always doing something fun with them.

Advice: Make sure to always try to make things fun.

Belen Casarrubias

Northern Virginia Community College

Major: Cardiac Sonography

Future plans: I’m looking forward to getting into cosmetology because I want to learn how to do hair, lashes, nails, and makeup

Best memory: Junior year anatomy class with Miss Rafique and Mr. Perkins, they truly taught me a lot about the medical field.

Advice: Do your work, it’s always less stressful that way and at the end of the day it’s going to benefit you when looking for colleges you would like to go to.

Jack Ackerman

Xavier University

Major: Marketing and Finance

Future plans: Leave Falls Church and experience different parts of the country.

Best memory: Playing baseball from eighth grade to senior year, I loved playing with my team.

Advice: Get the most out of high school, make friends and also try all sorts of things.

Kyra Gorman

Drew University

Major: Environmental Science

Future plans: I am looking forward to doing hands-on research there and going on beach trips with my friends.

Best memory: Hanging out with friends in my senior year because the stress level went down during the second semester.

Advice: Push through your classes even if they’re hard.

Andrea Romero

Northern Virginia Community College

Major: Medical Sonography

Future plans: Focus on the career I chose and making sure I am trying new things and having fun while doing so.

Best memory: Anatomy class, my teachers always made sure to motivate me and my best friend which drove us to work harder and do better.

Advice: Stay positive, stay true to yourself. Always make sure you know who your friends are and don’t ever try to be someone that you aren’t. Most importantly, do your work on time.

Virginia Tech

Alexa Wagner

Major: Neuroscience

Future plans: I would like to be a pediatric anesthesiologist but I will go where life chooses to take me.

Best memory: Best Buddies and planning the friendship walk was always really fun.

Advice: Try new things with friends that way it seems less scary.

Briana Corry

James Madison University

Major: International Business

Future plans: Meet new people and experience college culture.

Best memory: Going to Virginia beach with the field hockey team for states.

Advice: Enjoy everything.

Kathryn Ives

Coastal Carolina University

Major: Sociology

Future plans: Meet new people and have fun with them.

Best memory: Mustang block with friends and volleyball season.

Advice: Don’t fall behind on school work.

Top 5 Falls Church bucket list essentials

By Tessa Dunn

Watch the annual Memorial Day Parade

The Memorial Day parade is another classic Falls Church tradition that will be hosting its 42nd annual parade on Monday, May 27th. This annual festival is a must-see event if you are in town, consisting of food, festivities, and floats. The parade serves as a gathering for businesses, groups, and locals to come together and celebrate community while commemorating the fallen on Memorial Day.

Eat a brownie sundae at Lazy Mikes

We couldn’t have a Falls Church essentials list without Lazy Mikes. This American-style diner has been a cornerstone of the community since its early days as Mike’s Ice Cream Parlor in 1996. Lazy Mikes has become beloved among the people of Falls Church and is known for breakfast, sandwiches and homemade ice cream. “I think the best item at Lazy Mikes is the brownie sundae,” said junior and heir to the Lazy Mikes throne Flora Pelton.

Buy doughnut holes at the Farmers Market

The Falls Church Farmers Market has been supplying the Little City with art, produce, and food every week for nearly 40 years. The market is located right outside the Falls Church community center and is open every Saturday, providing the people of Falls Church with unique and quality produce from 40 vendors. The Farmers Market is known for its doughnut holes from Mama’s Donut Bites, which are a must-have if you ever want to wander into the market on a lazy Saturday morning.

See the 4th of July Fireworks at Meridian

Another classic Falls Church city event is the annual fireworks show at Meridian High School on July 4th. This Independence Day tradition has been going on for years and is an essential Falls Church event. Senior Connor Leigh said “The fireworks are fundamental,” testifying to how cherished the event is.

The Eden Center is a Vietnamese-American strip mall, complete with bakeries, tea shops, and an outdoor market. Eden Center has been the hub of the Vietnamese community since relocating from Arlington’s “Little Saigon” neighborhood in 1984 and is an asset to the city of Falls Church. Sophomore Claire Dassira said, “I got my first ever bubble tea at Eden Center and I thought it tasted weird at first, but I ended up really liking it.”

Time capsule

Compiled by Rachel Grooms

Visit the market at Eden Center

Photo via City of Falls Church

Photo courtesy of Lazy Mikes

What’s next for seniors?

For an up-to-date list, visit apc-gm. com/seniormap OR @Meridiancommits24

Amherst College

Julia Wolf

Belmont

Ruby Jones

Berklee College

Carlos Ortiz

Boston College

Ava Risetto

Bowdoin

Ariana Lehrer, Sean Lewin

BYU Piper Cannon

University of California - LA Ava Smith

Christopher Newport

Annabel Barbour

Clemson Cassie DuBois

Coastal Carolina

Kathyn Ives

Colorado - Boulder

Abby Lindly, Madison Keelen, Phoebe Yoder

Cornell

Nir Pathak

Drew

Kyra Gorman

Flordia

Trent Bolinger

Flordia State

Conner Lee

Fordham

Paxton Hebblethwaite

Franklin and Marshall Mathew Downs

Gap Year

Amelie Goesch, Carson Ramey

University of Georgia

Tilly Gale, Thomas Wotka, Lexi

Ries

Georgia Tech

Tucker Albaugh

George Mason

Thomas Bartholomew, Umer

Sohail, Sahil Shinwari, Tony Guiracocha, Ethan Kavitz

George Washington

Dafne Eren, Ivy Nguyen

Gettysburg

Alden Harrison

Hobart & William Smith

Susan Rotherham

Howard

Rosa Sims

James Madison

Arianna Vargas, Alexis West, Morgan Knight, Brinna Corry, Gabe Contessa, Jackson Funk, Andres Senderowitsch, Zander

Greene, Alistar Way

Mary Washington

Ben Kline

McGill (Canada)

Kaylah Curley

Miami University

Julia Hall

New York University

Abigail Agin, Ben Barwig, Maya

Dycaico

University of Mississippi

Jane Fagnan

North Carolina State

Madie Miller

Northern Virginia Community College

Carson King, Belen Casarrubias, Andrea Romero

Notre Dame

Maureen Tremblay

Oral Roberts

Jonathan Gideon

Oregon State

Mikayla Turner

Paul Mitchell: The School

Violet Wilder

Penn State

Katie Kearney

University of Pittsburg

Rachel Brantley

Pratt

Ryan Vagoun, Vivian Norquist

Purdue Ava Wodiska, Jon Talka

Rutgers Carey Heard

SCAD

Zoe Kuo

Soka

Joy Wilson

South Carolina

Marin Baroody

St. Andrews (Scotland)

Sophie Bono

Xavier University

Jack Ackerman

Tampa

Madeline Aldana

Tennessee

Dean Zike, Evan David

Texas

Charlie VanHorn, Lucas Hollinger, Carlos Koski

Trinity

Mia Rodriguez

Tufts

Remi Osztreicher

Tulane

Megan Carpenter

Vermont

Henry Moore

University of Virginia

Ivy Anderson, Grayson Kusic,

Alessio Azimipour, Will Sutton, Annaliese Baron, Riley Chirico, Vivian Nguyen, Charlotte Hill, Liz Rotherham, Shruti Yadav, Matthew Janicki

Virginia Commonwealth

Naomi Lewis, Nora Ballow, Boston Fitzpatrick

Virginia Tech

Noor DeWald, Alexa Hammond, Alexa Wagner, Will Hahn, Katherine Holt, Reese Mamajek, Ian Kraaimoore, Avery Ross, Delia Paradiso, Morgan Potts, Ella Huang, Colleen Carpenter, Raden Chaves

Wake Forest

Caroline Carmody

Washington State Lila Morris

William and Mary Katie Anderson, Avery Pike, Jack Loper, Felix Green

Williams College Grant Greiner

Xavier

Jack Ackerman