A love of science is leading a Columbus North High School senior to follow in his father’s footsteps in hopes of becoming a doctor.
Evan Porter, 18, doesn’t have to look far for inspiration. Porter said his parents, David and Lisa, have both been role models to him. His father is a doctor who practices at Sandcrest Family Medicine, while his mother teaches at ABC-Stewart School and IUPUC.
“My parents have always emphasized hard work,” Porter said. “My dad grew up lower class, and he studied virtually every night in college in order to escape his financial situation.”
Porter also said his mom gets involved in everything she can and always is volunteering and picking up new projects.
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“They save really well and do things on their own when they can, like painting the house or mowing the lawn, and I respect that,” Porter said.
Porter, who plans to major in biology this fall at Ohio State University, is this year’s class valedictorian.
If he doesn’t end up being a doctor, Porter said he will go into medical research.
During his freshman year, Porter said he aspired to rank at the top of his class after noticing he was third during his first semester.
“I’m really competitive, so I think that contributed to it,” Porter said.
Porter said he spends about an hour or two on homework each night. He hadn’t had a resource period for the past four semesters in high school, although he has one now that has made his workload more manageable, he said.
“I’m very efficient at getting work done and focusing for long periods of time, so usually it doesn’t take much time to get an assignment done,” Porter said.
Motivated to excel
Porter, who participated in four years on the track and cross-country teams, said the physically demanding nature of cross-country and the frustration of injuries he faced — a hip injury, tendonitis and sometimes strains — pushed him to excel in his academics.
“Mentally, everything else seems easier in comparison,” Porter said.
When he graduates June 1 from North, Porter will join his father and mother as high school valedictorians. The senior also will be attending college at his parents’ alma mater, he said.
“I’ve been a Buckeye fan forever,” Porter said.
Porter has also been involved with the high school jazz and classical/concert bands over the past four years, along with the show choir band. In the community, he has served as a session elder at First Presbyterian Church, where he was this year’s mission trip coordinator.
Porter said one of his high school highlights was attending the January 2017 inauguration of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, a Columbus native, with the Sound of North marching band.
Besides his parents, other adults who have had an impact on him include North cross-country coach Danny Fisher and former coach Rick Weinheimer, who retired in 2017.
“They have really helped me (become) motivated for cross-country and academically,” Porter said.
He was on the state qualifying team his junior year and again this year for cross-country, while he has also been a regional qualifier for the 4×800-meter relay for track.
Porter also credits other who have helped him, such as math and computer science teacher Mike Spock, director of bands Bill Stultz and English teacher Bajorn Gaylord.
“They’re all really passionate about what they do,” Porter said. “My teachers have allowed me to find my interests in my studies.”
Gaylord’s commitment to what he does resonated with Porter, regarding college and life in general, he said.
“He’s genuinely interested in learning,” said Gaylord of his Advanced Placement English class student.
Spock said Porter always has a positive attitude and will accomplish great things.
“Evan is very responsible and often goes the extra mile, not stopping at just what is required, but challenging himself to learn more,” Spock said.
Emily Tucker, a North counselor, predicted Porter will find more success after high school because of his strong work ethic.
Porter said he chose Ohio State over Purdue University, where his brother Ben attends, in part because its diverse campus resonated well with him.
Ohio State students are more racially and culturally diverse than other colleges he visited, Porter said.
“Ohio State felt like home, almost,” Porter said. “There are so many people with so many different backgrounds that I’m bound to find people that I enjoy to be around.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Evan Porter” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 18
Parents: David and Lisa Porter
Sibling: Ben
GPA: 4.31
Hobbies: Cross country, hanging out with friends, board games and chess
Elementary and middle school: Schmitt, Northside
