2018 Top Ten Students: Columbus North High School

Name: Evan Porter

Rank: 1

Parents: David and Lisa Porter

College plans: Ohio State University

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College major: Major in biology, minor in computer science

High school activities and awards: Cross-country (four years), team leader as senior, Academic All-state, Wendy’s Heisman school winner; track (four years), Academic All-state; classical/concert bands (four years); varsity wind ensemble — first place, alto sax (three years); second place Brown Music 2018 competition; Indiana State School Music Association; jazz bands (four years); Jamey Aeborsold scholarship winner, show choir band; American Pie instrumentalist/vocalist, Kiss Me Kate pit orchestra; academics: AP scholar with distinction, National Honor Society, academic letter.

Community activities: First Presbyterian Church session elder, Youth Nurture Committee member, mission trip participant, 2018 mission trip coordinator, 2015 Dr. Mission 5K chair, vocal/instrumental music, local mission volunteer, youth group member.


Name: Samarth Lamba

Rank: 2

Parents: Rajeev and Sapnili Lamba

College plans: Undecided college

College major: Neuroscience/biomedical engineering/chemical engineering

High school activities and awards: National Honor Society officer, vice-president of HOSA-Future Health Professionals (2017), president and founder of Nature Conservation Club, captain of Academic Super Bowl Science team, DECA (career and technical organization) member, M3 team member, Academic Super Bowl Science team, assistant student research on neural connectivity, Science Olympiad member, cross-country team member, AP Scholar with Distinction, first place HOSA (Health Professionals) community awareness (two years), second place in medical maths in HOSA, finalist in biomedical laboratory science, represented Indiana at HOSA International Conference, Duke of Edinburgh award recipient, recipient of multiple awards in Science Olympiad, first and third place in state for Math and Science Academic Super Bowl, student council and student voice member (England).

Community activities: Raising awareness on issues surrounding drugs. Worked on “Rethink your Drink” focusing on healthier food choices, volunteer at Columbus Regional Hospital emergency department and participates in ACEing Autism.


Name: Ciaran Hill

Rank: 3

Parents: Virginia Histon and Joseph Hill

College plans: Undecided

College major: Physics and clarinet

High school activities and awards: Sound of North marching band, 25th Street Singers Jazz Choir, Debuteens and Music Men show choir, North Drama

Community activities: Philharmonic Youth Orchestra


Name: Yijiang Zhao

Rank: 4

Parents: Xiaoqin Zhou and Jinqiang Zhao

College plans: Four-year college to be determined

College major: Finance or economics

High school activities and awards: Tennis team captain, Academic Super Bowl, Environmental Club, Young Democrats, “Outstanding” in COMAP’s 20th annual High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling, M3 Challenge honorable mention, National Merit semifinalist, three-time recipient of Betty F. Brown awards for instrumental excellence, Young Hoosier piano state finalist, judge’s award in 19th Mabel B. Annis student art competition.

Community activities: Key Club and volunteering at the library through the Teen Advisory Board.


Name: Jannis Anderson

Rank: 5

Parents: Kent and Kathja Anderson

College plans: Attend an undecided university in Germany

College major: Aerospace engineering or physics

High school activities and awards: Men’s soccer (two years team captain, academic all-state, first team all-district, all-state honorable mention); string orchestra (three years first violin) and pit orchestra; student athletics board (two years), M4 Challenge and COMAP High School Mathematical Contest Challenge Team, National Honor Society.

Community activities: Express and Alliance Soccer


Name: Rebecca McAvoy

Rank: 6

Parents: Paul and Cheryl McAvoy

College plans: Indiana University and participate in the Integrated Freshman Learning Experience (IFLE) and the Science, Technology and Research Scholars (STARS) programs to become a pharmaceutical scientist

College major: Double major in neuroscience and biochemistry

High school activities and awards: Marching and concert band, theater and Thespian Troupe 57, National Honor Society. Played in the 2017 presidential inaugural parade, one marching band state finals, two state concert band finals and four state solo and ensemble competitions.

Community activities: Volunteer at band events and tutor at iGrad.


Name: Varshita Venkatachalam

Rank: 7

Parents: Venkatachalam Duraisamy and Hemalatha Venkatachalam

College plans: Undecided four-year university, then medical school

College major: Neuroscience or biomedical engineering

High school activities and awards: Science Olympiad, HOSA (health careers) reporter, Log yearbook assistant design editor, National Honor Society, tennis (three years), Key Club, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County, AP scholar with honors, AP and Project Lead the Way achievement in biomedical science, academic letter and Chevron award, C4 honor student award.

Community activities: Columbus Regional Health summer volunteer; volunteer at Sans Souci, Family Service Inc., Animal Care Services, United Way and Ethnic Expo.


Name: Elizabeth McAvoy

Rank: 8

Parents: Paul and Cheryl McAvoy

College plans: Undetermined university before attending law school

College major: Philosophy and ethics

High school activities and awards: National Honor Society, Thespian Troupe 57, drumline and a student leader for the Sound of North marching band and percussion for wind ensemble, tennis team.

Community activities: iGrad peer tutor


Name: Alyssa George

Rank: 9

Parents: Christopher and Debbie George

College plans: Purdue University

College major: Microbiology

High school activities and awards: National Honor Society and HOSA (health professions), Sound of North marching band (four years), section leader of the low reeds, played bass clarinet and contrabrass clarinet in wind ensemble.

Community activities: Youth deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Columbus, volunteer at hot meals, Columbus Animal Care shelter, Feed My Starving Children, Sans Souci, played music regularly at First Presbyterian Church.


Name: Alexa Eaton

Rank: 10

Parents: Nathan and Anna Eaton

College plans: University of Dayton, Purdue University or Washington University in St. Louis

College major: Chemical engineering

High school activities and awards: Cross-country, track, National Honor Society, Business Professionals of America, Young Democrats Club, academic letter recipient, Youth Leadership of Bartholomew County essay winner, AP scholar with distinction

Community activities: Volunteered for The Ridge, Feed My Starving Children, Firemen’s Cheer Fund, bell ringing for the Salvation Army, Empty Bowls; knitted hats for the Caring Parents program.