Westwood High School 2018 Top Ten
As seniors across Round Rock ISD prepare to celebrate graduation, we take a moment to recognize the top ten students from each campus by asking them about their journey through Round Rock ISD and their next steps after graduation.
Junu Lee
Valedictorian
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending Harvard University and studying mathematics.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Kathy Caraway Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
I didn’t have any huge events that made my time here excellent. Instead, it was the small things, the personal experiences – the laughs had with friends, the struggles experienced with classmates, the small victories here and there – that brought me joy and made my four years at Westwood and ten years in Round Rock ISD memorable.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Every teacher that I’ve learned under or interacted on a close basis has influenced me to push myself and become a better individual. I think each of those teachers deserves equal recognition for being a huge influence to my growth.
James Yan
Salutatorian
What college will you be attending next year?
I am attending the University of Texas at Austin next year to study chemical engineering.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Laurel Mountain Elementary, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
My best memory was attending All-State band this year. Our conductor there taught us every day to “focus on the process, not the product.” He embodied those ideals as well, because he taught each session with great energy and sharp focus, even though he was well over 70 years old. In addition, I was surrounded by the best players in Texas, so it was an inspiring experience.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mrs. White has been my most influential teacher. On the first day of school, she said that we were all Ferraris that have never been driven over 30 miles per hour. So her advice was “Drive faster little Ferrari.” That has been the motto I lived by ever since.
Andrew Lu
No. 3
What college will you be attending next year?
I’ll be studying mathematics at Harvard. (Thoughts and prayers are appreciated)
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Canyon Creek Elementary School, Grisham Middle School, and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
During 2nd grade, Canyon Creek Elementary held chess club meetings for around 30 kids every Tuesday from 6:30-7:30 AM. It was there that I realized my passion for chess, which in turn has taught me everything I know: how to play fair, how to win, how to lose, and how to adapt accordingly.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
I’m grateful to every single one of my teachers for giving me something that I didn’t have before. I’d like to give special thanks to precalculus teacher Ms. Willaman for removing memorization from math, Euro teacher Ms. Saenz for removing humdrum from history, and English/TOK teacher Mr. Quatro for removing simplicity from semantics.
Neeharika Bandlapalli
No. 4
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending Stanford University and I will be studying chemistry.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Jollyville Elementary School, Laurel Mountain Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
There are too many moments to choose from, but a constant is the friends that I have made. These friends are quirky, crazy, and amazing, accepting me for me and always having my back. It is finding a place where I belong that is the best memory.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mr. Earley, my fifth grade teacher, has been my most influential teacher. He was one the first teachers who impressed upon me the importance of education and the self-empowerment it provides. Moreover, he taught me that the value in hard work does not lie in the success it provides but rather the person it shapes you into.
James Wang
No. 5
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending University of Texas at Austin and studying computer science.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I went to Fern Bluff Elementary School, Laurel Mountain Elementary School, and Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
Playing an IB version of Cards Against Humanity. Although made by our predecessors, it was amazing how much of the IB experience is shared. Just imagine an inside joke shared by 50+ people. Hopefully our year can add some more.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mr. Bray. In freshman year, he pushed me to know teachers personally and the importance of those relationships. Mr. Bray also emphasized etiquette like not putting your head down or yawning with your mouth open. It was nice to have someone so direct while still not being threatening.
Catherine Li
No. 6
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin to study mathematics in the Health Science Scholars Program.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I went to Laurel Mountain Elementary School, and Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
All of my time with the swim team! From mornings in the cafeteria to overnight travel meets, every moment with the team is filled with new experiences, unbelievable spirit, and fun. They are some of the most amazing, talented, and passionate people I know and they have been a true family to me.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mr. Chalk. He taught me the importance of creativity and changed the way I look at even the simplest things. Through his unique class, he helped me grow not just as a writer, but also as an innovative thinker and I’m so grateful for everything he’s taught me.
Alex Chao
No. 7
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending Northwestern University to pursue a music performance (percussion) and computer science dual degree.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I went to Laurel Mountain Elementary School, and Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
My performance at TMEA 2017 in the 6A All-State Symphonic Band. I was 2nd chair in the state that year, and performing with that ensemble was truly life changing. I remember playing Wine Dark Sea, a 30 minute symphony for wind ensemble by John Mackey, in front of a packed Lyla Cockrell theater, leaving my heart out in the auditorium through the music. The most memorable moment from that performance was the very last note. The entire band was shouting through their instruments, sprinting towards the finish line. Then, as soon as we finished the piece, and the lingering last note faded into the hall, all you could hear was a buzz, a silence from the audience. All I felt in that moment was pure bliss, and in that very moment, I decided I had to pursue music. That feeling of ecstasy through performance is one of the reasons I continue to perform, and it made that concert my most memorable throughout high school.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Ms. Sarah Santa Cruz, my percussion instructor. Without her help, guidance, motivation, and most importantly, confidence that I could succeed, I would have never been able to reach my goals in percussion in high school, and would most likely not even be pursuing music in college. By putting me on the Snareline and in the Wind Ensemble my Freshman year, Ms. Santa Cruz showed me that she believed in my abilities from the first day, seeing potential in my playing. If not for the insane amount of hours she put in listening me, critiquing me, coaching me through a countless amount of repertoire and auditions, I would not be where I am today as a percussionist, or as a person.
Lucas Gretta
No.8
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin to study in the Turing Computer Science Program.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
My favorite memory is the ability to self study. I got to study what I enjoy most.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Ms. Edson. She made me enjoy taking a foreign language class, which I had not expected.
Tanvi Ingle
No.9
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending the the University of Texas at Austin to study biochemistry as a Dean’s Scholar.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Canyon Creek Elementary, Grisham Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
Every year Canyon Creek Elementary hosts a Multicultural Fair–a night dedicated to celebrating the diversity of the student body. The fun conglomerate of booths, games, and performances allows everyone to explore a broad range of distinct cultures. My fond memories of the Multicultural Fair inspire me to continually broaden my global perspective and experience the world with an open mind.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
My teachers have fostered my love for learning and inspired me to dream; Mrs. White taught me to appreciate the strength of purpose, and Mrs. Wieland empowered me to discover the importance of perseverance. From Mr. Chalk I’ve learned to celebrate nuances, and from Mrs. Patterson, I’ve learned to enjoy life for its smaller moments. They challenge me to be the best version of myself…and for this I am truly grateful.
Niti Malwade
No.10
What college will you be attending next year?
I will attend the University of Texas at Austin to study business honors and computer science honors.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I went to Laurel Mountain Elementary School, Canyon Creek Elementary School, Grisham Middle School, and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
My best memory of Round Rock ISD was my time in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program during junior and senior year. From figuring out the History IA to ToK discussions, despite pop quizzes in Euro and three weeks of IB testing, I found a community who wanted more from school than just test scores and GPAs. Even though this wasn’t an easy journey, they made every day more exciting and every late night less overwhelming. Thank you to my peers for valuing collaboration over competition and to my teachers for always keeping us to high standards, even when we fell grossly below expectations.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mrs. Saenz, my IB History teacher, has been my most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD. Over the past two years, her knowledge and enthusiasm not only for history, but also for civic engagement, global awareness, and for general education has encouraged me to find meaning in the world outside my sheltered bubble. Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Saenz has served as a wonderful and insightful mentor to me throughout the various hurdles of senior year, including my History IA, my Extended Essay, IB Student Organization activities, and with life in general. Her commitment to getting youth involved in their community, whether it be through Citizenship Committee, organizing field trips, bringing in guest speakers, or sharing her own life experiences, is truly inspiring.
