Columbus North High School has named its top 10 students in the Class of 2020.
They are:
Name: Erica Song
Rank: 1
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Parents: Qingwen Song and Nanyan Chu
City: Columbus
College Plans: Four-year university (undecided)
College Major: Biology (pre-med)
High School Activities and Awards: Triangle Editor-in-Chief, Columbus North Choir president, Environmental Club vice president and newsletter editor, National Honor Society officer, Science Olympiad, tennis, Thespian Society, National Merit finalist, Indiana High School Press Association Second Place Harvey Awards for Writing Portfolio and Column Writing, Meritorious in High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling, three-time first place scholarship recipient of Betty F. Brown Awards for Instrumental Excellence, first place scholarship recipient of Anna Newell Brown Awards for Vocal Excellence (tie), first place in Young Hoosier State Piano Competition, first place in Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Scholarship Competition, All-State Honor Choir, National AP Scholar.
Community Activities: Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir intern and arranger, Columbus Chinese Language School teacher’s assistant, Community Church of Columbus (CCC) Chinese Worship accompanist, Community Drama Camp music director and choreographer, CCC Drama Camp and Vacation Bible School counselor, CCC nursery volunteer, Chinese New Year Gala dance instructor and performer, Ethnic Expo Zero Waste Initiative and booth volunteer, Northside Middle School Choir concert accompanist.
Name: Grace Wang
Rank: 2
Parents: Yi Yuan and Kerang Wang
City: Columbus
College Plans: Harvard University for undergraduate and then law school
College Major: Economics as a pre-law path
High School Activities and Awards: Five-time Scholastic National Art and Writing gold medalist, National Honor Society president, Writing Mentorship Club founder and president, Spanish Club president, tennis, pianist for 13 years.
Community Activities: Columbus Chinese Association volunteer, free writing lessons to elementary students, “Adroit Journal” intern.
Name: Salome Cloteaux
Rank: 3
Parents: Pascal and Catherine Cloteaux
City: Columbus
College Plans: Four-year college
College Major: Journalism
High School Activities and Awards: Triangle newsmagazine editor in chief, 2019-2020, Triangle writer, 2017-2020, Triangle copy editor (2018-2019), National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll, Indiana Association of School Principals’ List of Rising Stars of Indiana Class of 2020, AP Scholar with Distinction, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County.
Community Activities: Modern, ballet and jazz dancer (past seven years at Dancer’s Studio Inc.), junior writer for Tipton Lakes Magazine, Rock Climb.
Name: Anna Kim
Rank: 4
Parents: Kris and Kristine Kim
City: Columbus
College Plans: Four-year university
College Major: Computer science
High School Activities and Awards: Environmental Club president and former treasurer, Vocal Pointe Show Choir Dance captain, Sound of North drumline section leader, Wind Ensemble first oboe, Women’s Technology Program -EECS, IU Project STEM research intern, Science Academic Super Bowl, National Honor Society, oboist for orchestra and pit orchestra, NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Indiana Affiliate Winner, HiMCM Math Modeling Meritorious Team, Indiana Rising Stars Class of 2020, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County Top 10 Essay, National Merit semifinalist, AP Scholar with distinction, IBA All-State band, ISSMA State Solo & Ensemble gold rating for oboe solo and woodwind quintet, ISSMA District Solo & Ensemble gold rating for vocal solo, National History Day state finalist, academic letter and chevron.
Community Activities: Big Brothers and Big Sisters school-based mentor, Columbus Korean Association — Ethnic Expo, Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, organizing zero-disposal event for robotics competition
Name: Dariana Chavez
Rank: 5
Parents: David Chavez and Rosa De La Cruz
City: Columbus
College Plans: Undecided
College Major: Biological sciences
High School Activities and Awards: Columbus North High School Marching Band drum major, Wind Ensemble, 25th Street Jazz, National Honor Society, HOSA Future Health Professionals vice president of special events, Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Thespian Society, Pep Band, Rising Stars of Indiana Class of 2020, IBA All-State Band and Honor Band, ISSMA State and District Gold Rating, HOSA State Conference Biomedical Laboratory Science/HOSA Bowl top 10 finalist and Medical Math 3rd place, Betty F. Brown Scholarship for Instrumental Excellence, National Hispanic Recognition Scholar, Gold Honor Roll.
Community Activities: Second Harvest Food Bank volunteer, Back to School Teachers Store volunteer, Su Casa Columbus Spanish Class assistant, Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat, Mill Race Park Clean up and Invasive Species Removal, ISSMA Large Group Contest student host and secretary.
Name: Graham Keele
Rank: 6
Parents: Seth and Mandy Keele
City: Columbus
College Plans: Indiana University
College Major: Biology and statistics
High School Activities and Awards: National Merit Finalist, four-year varsity member of the men’s soccer team, team captain, team MVP, 2nd Team All-District, All-Conference, Academic All-State, The Republic Men’s Soccer Player of the Year, four-year member of North Student Assembly, Student Body secretary, sophomore and junior class treasurer, Student Council, HOSA-Future Health Professionals, AP Scholar with Honor, National Honor Society, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County.
Community Activities: Annual Holiday Can Drive, High School Heroes, Alliance FC Soccer, and sewed shorts for children in Africa through Granny Connection.
Name: Hannah George
Rank: 7
Parents: Chris and Debbie George
City: Columbus
College Plans: Purdue University
College Major: Marketing
High School Activities and Awards: Marching band, Pep Band, Environmental Club, National Merit semifinalist, AP Scholar with Distinction.
Community Activities: Feed My Starving Children, First Presbyterian Church Bell Choir, garage sale for Columbus Animal Care Services.
Name: Sveni Thalor
Rank: 8
Parents: Kamlesh and Khushi Thalor
City: Columbus
College Plans: Four-year university
College Major: Bioengineering
High School Activities and Awards: Model UN founder and president, biochemistry research through the Summer Science Program, Young Democrats president, Sound of North Marching Band section leader, Wind Ensemble clarinetist, ISSMA State Solo and Ensemble gold medalist, National Merit Semifinalist, U.S. Presidential Scholars candidate, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Honor Society, HOSA-Future Health Professionals, academic letter and chevron.
Community Activities: Columbus Regional Hospital volunteer, organized a community drug takeback event, Girls’ STEM Night volunteer, Indian Association of Columbus, Youth Leadership Bartholomew County.
Name: Vivek Hebbar
Rank: 9
Parents: Raja and Usha Hebbar
City: Columbus
College Plans: Four-year university
College Major: Computer science
High School Activities and Awards: Four state medals from Science Olympiad, Math and Science Academic Bowl team captain, 25th Street Jazz, tenor saxophone player and soloist, four-time AIME qualifier, Math Modeling, orchestra, Debate Club.
Community Activities: Organized an empowerment and stress relief workshop for high school students, volunteered at science camp for elementary school students.
Name: Samantha Heathcote
Rank: 10
Parents: Rob and Trish Heathcote
City: Columbus
College Plans: Four-year university
College Major: Engineering with a minor in Spanish
High School Activities and Awards: Gymnastics, track, choir, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Math Modeling.
Community Activities: Big Brothers Big Sisters, First United Methodist Church Youth Leadership.
