Here are the students in this year’s Columbus East High School Top 10.
Maggie Buffo
Rank: 1
Parents: Darren and Cheryl Buffo
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College Plans: Indiana University
College Major: Neuroscience
High School Activities and Awards: Four-year symphonic and marching band member (drum major), Math Academic Team, National Honor Society vice president, French Honor Society, IGrad Peer Tutor, AP Scholar with Honor, Academic Letter, Rising Stars of Indiana Award.
Community Activities: Just Friends Adult Day Services volunteer, Girls on the Run assistant coach, Healthy Communities Counsel member, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County participant.
Jenna Abraham
Rank: 2
Parents: Gerald and Renee Abraham
College Plans: Ball State University
College Major: Exercise Science (Pre-Physical Therapy)
High School Activities and Awards: Nominee to IASP’s Academic All-Stars, member of Rising Stars of Indiana Class of 2019, Academic Letter recipient, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society member and treasurer, AP Scholar with honors, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County member, two year Student Athletic Training assistant, “Anything Goes” performer.
Community Activities: Dancer at Dancers Studio, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Venture Senior High Youth Group, 2018 Guatemala mission team, Group Work Camp volunteer, two year member of Columbus Robotics, High Tea for Haiti organizer (senior project).
McKenna Major
Rank: 3
Parents: John and Polly Major
College Plans: Undecided four year university, then medical school
College Major: Biology
High School Activities and Awards: National Honor Society president, Student Assembly vice-president, Spanish Honor Society, Varsity Cheerleading captain, AP Scholar, Academic Letter, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County, UCA All-American and try-out bid, IASP Rising Star of Indiana Class of 2019, Hoosier Girls State delegate.
Community Activities: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Dance Marathon Entertainment Committee co-chair, Book Express book drive, Salvation Army bell-ringing, Red Cross blood drive.
Isha Chavan
Rank: 4
Parents: Swapnil and Bhavana Chavan
College Plans: Undecided
College Major: Neuroscience
High School Activities and Awards: French Society president, Dance Marathon executive co-chair of media and marketing (2017-2018) and co-chair of food committee (2018-2019), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) secretary and vice president), Key Club and member of executive board, National Honor Society, track, cross county, Rising Stars of Indiana Class of 2019 Award, Academic All-State for Track and Field, Barbara James Service Awards state and international), U.S. President’s Gold Service Award, U.S. President’s Academic Excellence Award, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County Top 10 Resume Award, perfect attendance, Academic Letter, AP at PLTW in Biomedical Sciences National Achievement, second place in Columbus Got Talent, HOSA State Biomedical Lab State Champion (2018) and second place (2017), HOSA State Forensic Medicine second place (2018), HOSA State Behavioral Health third place (2018) and fourth place (2017), published author for America Library of Poetry for five consecutive years (2011-2018), cross country “most improved runner” award, J. Irwin Miller Art Contest first place, C4 Honor Student Award, French Excellence Award, Academic Science Super Bowl state finalist, varsity letter for track and field (4 years), Letters for Key Club (3 years), National Honor Society, Academic Super Bowl (3 years), and HOSA (3 years), SAT Silver Award, AP Scholar with Honor, Key Club Member of the Month, Kumon Platinum Award, Kumon Math Program (Level 0) Completion Award, selected to participate in a one-on-one mentorship at the Columbus Regional Hospital, M3 Math Challenge Member.
Community Activities: Team Inclusion (Imagine Columbus) of the United Way Bartholomew County Member, Columbus Regional Hospital Volunteering (280 hours), Kumon Math & Reading Program (100+ hours), Carnival for the Cure, Feed My Starving Children, Sans Souci, Night of a Thousand Jacks, Math Tutoring, Freshman Orientation Tour Guide, Girl’s STEM Night, United Way Day of Caring, Empty Bowls, 5K Toyota Hot Chocolate, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County
Brooklyn Burbrink
Rank: 5
Parents: Justin and Laura Burbrink
College Plans: University of Indianapolis and be in their 5 year master’s program.
College Major: Business Administration
High School Activities and Awards: National Honor Society, Student Ambassadors, Student Voice, Cadet Teacher, Prom Committee, YLBC, Best Group Member STEMMY, National Title winner at Triple S Dance Competition, Regional Title winner at Precision Dance Competition.
Community Activities: Competitive Dancing, Assistant Dance Instructor, CSA Lincoln Spell Bowl co-coach, and C4
Amanda Pottorff
Rank: 6
Parents: Tony and Margie Pottorff
College Plans: University of Notre Dame
College Major: Biochemistry
High School Activities and Awards: Cross Country: four-year varsity letter, 2018 team captain, 2018 most improved runner; Track: three year varsity letter, Academic All-State; National Honor Society (11,12); Spanish Honor Society (10,11,12); C4 Student Ambassador (10,11); Student Assembly (10,11,12); Key Club (11,12); Quest Bridge Prep Scholar (11); Quest for Excellence USA Award earner (12); AP Scholar (11); Poem “Stars and Stripes” published in book Imagine; C4 Excellent Student (11); Attended Richard G. Lugar Symposium (11); Attended Hoosier Girls State (11); Quest Bridge National Match finalist and recipient (12); DAR Good Citizen Joseph Hart Chapter (12); Lilly Endowment Scholarship finalist (12)
Community Activities: Turning Point Dance Marathon (10,11,12); Prize Committee Co-Chair (11,12); volunteer at First Christian Church (9,10,11,12); Susan G Koman volunteer (11,12); Red Cross volunteer and blood drive coordinator (11); Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (10); Campus Life (10)
Luke Harpring
Rank: 7
Parents: John and Samantha Harpring
College Plans: Purdue University
College Major: Mechanical Engineering
High School Activates and Awards: Math Academic Team captain, newspaper co-editor-in-chief, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Student Assembly, Mabel B. Annie Student Art Competition Judge’s Award, academic letter recipient, AP Scholar with Distinction.
Community Activities: First Presbyterian Church Session Elder, mission trip participant, Hot Meals volunteer, youth group member, Dance Marathon Committee member, Empty Bowls.
Szczesny Lipinski
Rank: 8
Parents: Matthew and Susannah Lipinski
College Plans: Purdue University
College Major: Engineering
High School Activities and Awards: Key Club, Key Club Leadership Board, Michelle Wesolowski Spirit of Key Club Award, Key Club letter, Concert Band, Pep Band, Lunch Buddies (support group for autistic students), C4 Career School Ambassadors, 2018-2019 C4 Student Leadership Team, C4 Honor Student Award, National Honor Society, theater stage manager, Drama Club secretary, auditorium staff student technician, National Thespian Society, recycling student coordinator, Academic Letter, Daughters of the American Revolution Outstanding Work in American History, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County Top 10 Favorite Essay.
Community Activities: Bartholomew County Public Library Teen Advisory Board, Vernet US summer intern, Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Love Chapel Hot Meal sites student helper, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County.
Taylor Gaskill
Rank: 10
Parents: Rob Gaskill and Tina & Keith Burgess
College Plans: Valparaiso University
College Major: Biology and Chemistry
High School Activities and Awards: Columbus East Gymnastics captain, Student Assembly Secretary, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, HOSA, Dance Marathon, LEAP Mentor, Prom Committee, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County, Academic All-State 2019, Athlete of the Week, most improved gymnast, Academic Letter, All Area Gymnastics Team, second team All-State.
Community Activities: Vacation Bible School, knitting booties and mittens for Clarity, bottle and formula drive for Clarity, employee at Columbus Gymnastics Center, freshman orientation, Carnival for the Cure, Lego drive for Riley Children’s Hospital.
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The Columbus East High School student who was named to the No. 9 slot in the Columbus East Top 10 declined to be identified.
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