SENIOR PROFILES Read about four outstanding students from the Class of 2021

SENIOR PROFILES

Lauren DeMuth

Before starting Upper School at RPCS, Lauren DeMuth wouldn’t have dreamed of running for an elected position or auditioning for a dance company. Now, four years later, she is co-president of the Spirit Association and a member of the Roses Repertory Dance Company, and credits RPCS with helping her grow as a leader and build confidence in her abilities and talents. “Because I have the support of everyone around me, I am not afraid to try something new, and I know I will carry this with me to college,” Lauren said. “And with so many leadership opportunities at RPCS, I have learned how to use my voice and what it really means to be a leader.” Lauren is also involved with the Philanthropic Literacy Board at RPCS, where she works in a group with other seniors to research the critical issues facing the Baltimore community and organizations that effect positive change and ultimately selecting one to award a $5,000 grant. This year’s focus was on supporting the mental health of Black youth in Baltimore. This year, Lauren was inducted into the RPCS Chapter of the Cum Laude Society. She was also awarded a Head’s Commendation for Biology, served as a member of the National Spanish Honor Society, and has made the Honor Roll every semester. Lauren will miss the RPCS community and the bonds she has created with her classmates and teachers. “Since my first day here, everyone has been so welcoming and spirited,” Lauren said. “I know that everyone here wants me to succeed and will support me in anything I do.” Outside of RPCS, Lauren is a competitive gymnast. This fall, she will attend UCLA, where she plans to major in psychology.

Bella Hessler

During her four years at RPCS, Bella Hessler has excelled in everything she pursued – academics, sports, and student life! As a coxswain for the crew team, she led two boats that won first place in the Baltimore Championship regatta during her sophomore year, and also scored a goal for her indoor soccer team during an IAAM conference championship-winning game that same school year. Bella is also a thrower on the indoor track and field team and a defender on the RPCS soccer team. And during the summer between her freshman and sophomore year, Bella participated in a program called Overland, where she biked 750 miles down the California Coast for three weeks.

Since 10th grade, Bella has served as a peer health mentor and teacher, providing social-emotional support to the students at RPCS, Roland Park Country School and Lillie May Carroll Jackson School. She is a co-founder of the Asian Student Alliance and a member of the Student Diversity Association and the Gender Sexuality Alliance. “RPCS has shaped me to become a more resilient and independent woman,” said Bella. “I am so grateful for the connections I’ve made with my peers, teachers, coaches, and the staff at Roland Park Country School.” Bella is passionate about taking what she has learned in her Advanced Placement (AP) computer science and technology courses into helping communities of color in this country and around the world. This past spring, she was awarded a Maryland Affiliate Honorable Mention by the National Center for Women and Information Technology for her computing-related achievements and interests. And last summer, Bella completed an internship at zyBooks, a leading online textbook company, where she taught herself a new coding language, and confirmed her interest in pursuing a career in computer science. Read more about Bella’s internship on page 8. When she’s not at RPCS, Bella coaches fencing, plays sports, and spends time with her friends and family. She also loves traveling and learning about the history of the places she visits and will explore some of the national parks with her family this summer. In the fall, Bella will head to Rollins College, where she will major in computer science and be a coxswain on their rowing team.

Grace Sarkar

As an athlete, artist and student, Grace Sarkar credits Roland Park Country School for shaping her into the person she is today. In addition to being a member of the RPCS crew team for all four years of high school, she also ran track and played soccer as a RED. Additionally, Grace is a Red Key Tour Guide who serves as an ambassador of the school for prospective parents and students and is involved with the Student Government Association, where she served as Class President her junior year and Class Senator her senior year. Grace also performed in the Upper School musical this year and is a

“RPCS has shaped me to become a more resilient and independent woman.” BELLA HESSLER

member of the Semiquavers, the school’s auditioned junior and senior a capella group. “The RPCS community has provided me with a space to understand who I want to be and has given me the confidence to become that person.” In her junior year, Grace was inducted into the RPCS chapter of the Cum Laude Society, which recognizes scholastic achievement, moral character and integrity. She is grateful for the countless opportunities she had at RPCS to foster her passion for human biology and has a clear understanding of what she wants to study in college, with plans to work in healthcare as a doctor or nurse in the future.

Outside of the classroom, Grace’s most cherished activity is singing with the Semiquavers. “I am incredibly grateful that RPCS has managed to keep music alive during the pandemic.” One of her favorite RPCS memories is singing holiday carols with the Semiquavers and visiting various nursing homes and Mount Washington’s Pediatric Hospital (pre-pandemic) to spread holiday cheer. “I will never forget how happy everyone was!” Grace will miss the close-knit and supportive community on campus and her incredible relationships with her teachers and fellow students from the Class of 2021, but she knows she will always be part of the RPCS community and is excited for what lies ahead. This fall, Grace will attend the University of Maryland, where she will major in physiology and neurobiology.

Kayla Velez

Although Kayla Velez has been a student at Roland Park Country School for 14 years, her first visits to campus were as a baby, when her great grandfather Mr. George Mitchell was the director of security at RPCS for over 15 years. Growing up at Roland Park Country School, Kayla developed a deep sense of individuality, which shaped her to be the person and leader she is today. “The most important value that I have learned at RPCS was to always be myself and think for myself,” Kayla said. Kayla’s leadership roles include serving as President of the Association of School Activities (ASA), captain of the Varsity Volleyball team for the past two years, and co-captain of Hip Hop Squad. She is also in the Black Student Union, a member of both the Varsity Badminton team and the Varsity track and field team, and a participant in the Polar Bear plunge and club. Out of all of her impressive accomplishments and activities, Kayla is most proud of her work with Angels Helping Angels, a Black-owned nonprofit organization that provides food, housing, monetary support, clothing and referral assistance to thousands of Black individuals and families. Created with a “pay it forward” philosophy in mind, Angels Helping Angels seeks to establish an opportunity for a new generation of missionaries and volunteers. This past winter, Kayla organized and hosted a three-day fundraiser and donation drive in cooperation with the Community Service Association. She worked tirelessly for over a month to coordinate with small and locally Black-owned (and primarily women-owned) businesses and the school to purchase their products and goods for the drive. “As one of the few Black presidents, it was very special to me to plan this event in support of the Black community, which ASA had never done before,” Kayla said. “It was also a terrific learning experience as I promoted the fundraiser by making flyers and PowerPoint presentations and connected with so many business owners to make this happen.” Kayla will miss all of her classmates and fun events like Senior Day, Town Hall and Class Day. Outside of school, she loves cooking, watching movies and spending time with her friends and family. This fall, Kayla will attend Temple University and plans to major in kinesiology on the pre-physical therapy track.

Kayla Velez, pictured left, presented Mr. Curtis Black of Angels Helping Angels with the proceeds from last winter’s fundraiser.

“The most important value that I have learned at RPCS was to always be myself and think for myself.” KAYLA VELEZ