James Wang, (third from right) and some friends from the Sycamore class of 2009 returned to the school in May before heading to college.
SYCAMORE GRAD JAMES WANG NAMED PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR Even for someone as talented as James Wang, becoming a Presidential Scholar seems like a long shot, simply based on how many students are eligible. Of the three million students expected to graduate from high school this year, only 141 students earned the honor.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Tomasso Verderame, Richard Ni, Samuel Clarke
Exuding a quiet confidence, Wang says the application was a bit daunting, yet he seems to have aced it, just as he has used Sycamore, and recently University High School, as paths to this success, and a place at prestigious Washington University in St. Louis.
A L U M N I U P D AT E S : T H R E E R E C E N T G R A D S : H O W S Y C A M O R E I M PA C T E D T H E I R L E A R N I N G All three were graduates of Sycamore in 2007, and all three have gone on to success at three distinctly different colleges and universities. So when Tomasso Verderame, Richard Ni and Samuel Clarke visited Sycamore just before the end of our school year, we took a few minutes to ask them how Sycamore played a role in their college choices, and what kind of knowledge they picked up at Sycamore that could help our own 8th Grade graduates. Verderame is studying Economics and Math at Columbia University in New York City, while Clarke, who took a gap year off, now attends Georgia Tech, working on a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Computers. Ni is at MIT, studying Computer Science and Philosophy. He believes his time spent at Sycamore formed the base for his success at Park Tudor High School and now at MIT. “Teachers (in high school) would say how 6
Sycamore grads were more inquisitive than some of the other students,” he says. “I always felt like I was a couple of years ahead in math, and I had Mr. Young for history class, so I didn’t have to stress about History in high school,” he laughs. Back at Sycamore to visit some of their past teachers, the three walked together down the hall, headed towards the Middle School. “I’m not sure how many college kids go back and visit their old middle school,” Verderame says. “It’s fun to come back, and the teachers seem excited to see us. But we have great memories of Sycamore. I got a great background of knowledge.” The three grads, joking as they walked, spent some time looking at the artwork on the walls of the school. “I don’t think I appreciated the art program enough when I was here,” Ni admits, looking at some recent projects on display. “But to look back, and now see all the work in these hallways, I think it was one of those classes that I was lucky to have.”
Clarke admits that some of his entrepreneurial dreams were fostered at Sycamore. “We were encouraged to think and to question,” he says. “That helps now, when I have friends who have start-up ideas. We can look at the project and apply some knowledge we were using all the way back in Middle School.” “And there were things – like cross country – that were good for me to do here,” Ni adds. “What I remember is that we were encouraged to do a number of different things.” Ni talks of law school and product management, while Clarke says he wants to pursue entrepreneurship, mainly in the technology field - he mentioned a robotic company and apps that deal in augmented reality. Verderame is undecided about working in the Financial District in New York City, or taking a stab at law school. As the young men moved down the the hall of their old school, it was evident that, whatever the next path in their lives, they will use lessons learned at Sycamore as they make their way. n
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, appointed by President Obama, selects honored scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.
decided not to wait, and I chose Wash U, although to be honest, I might have had a good chance (at Harvard) after I became a Presidential Scholar. However, I’m still very excited to be going to Wash U. I will be studying Neuroscience there. I want to study Neuroscience because it is interesting to me, and I hope to be able to go to medical school so I can get an MD/PhD. I hope to be able to research things in the field of neuroscience as well as practice medicine. SM: Who has been a big influence on you so far in life? Teachers? Parents? What lessons resonate with you? JW: My parents have definitely expected a lot out of me, ever since I was little. I suppose I took on that responsibility myself, and have since expected a lot out of myself. My mentor and English teacher at University High School has also been a big influence. He supported me throughout my high school career. Unfortunately, no specific lessons come to mind, but I know that hard work and perseverance are important. SM: Do you stay in touch with any former Sycamore classmates?
Presidential Scholars are comprised of one male and one female from each state, as well as 15 chosen at-large and 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts.
JW: I stay loosely in touch with my former classmates, and hope to continue to do so in the future. It has been fairly easy to stay in touch with classmates who also went to University, but I also try to communicate through the internet. I will continue to do so in college.
Wang took a few minutes to talk with Sycamore Magazine about the road to the scholarship and where he is traveling next.
SM: What was the toughest part about the Presidential Scholarship process?
SYCAMORE: As one of just two from Indiana to garner a Presidential Scholarship, how do you think Sycamore might have played a role in starting your educational career?
JW: The toughest part was the application. There were a lot of forms to fill out and essays to write. It was like applying for college all over again. Luckily, there was only one application.
JAMES WANG: Sycamore definitely helped me learn a lot about the basics of doing well in school. I was also able to focus more at Sycamore; when I went to a different school during lower school, I always goofed off because the learning wasn’t challenging enough. I was also able to learn a lot at Sycamore, such as how to study, how to take notes, and how to organize myself.
SM: What was the most rewarding, or biggest surprise?
SM: Where did you consider going to college, and why did you choose Washington University in St. Louis? What will you study? JW: Out of all of the schools that I got into, Wash U was my top choice. I also got into Vanderbilt, Johns Hopkins, Kenyon, and I got wait listed at Harvard. I
JW: The most surprising part was definitely my becoming a Presidential Scholar. I really did not expect to get this honor, but it is very nice that I have. SM: One more question about education: If you could tell teachers one or more things about teaching students, what would you say? How they can connect better, or make a bigger difference in a student’s day and life? JW: I don’t know too much about teaching, but it is very nice to have the attention, especially the more individualized attention that I got at both Sycamore and University. n 7