Westwood High School 2019 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.
Straley Webb
Valedictorian
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending Johns Hopkins University and studying public health and cellular/molecular biology.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Laurel Mountain Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
The best memory I have of my time in Round Rock ISD was during sophomore year Partners in PE. My partner and I were laughing, and I felt a great sense of peace. I don’t remember what was so funny anymore, but I’ll never forget that moment.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
My most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD has been Ms. Shelley Bramlett. There are multiple reasons for this, but one of them was that she convinced me to apply Early-Decision to my dream school. I had (unwisely) put off deciding whether or not to apply Early Decision until approximately an hour before I actually applied, but during that hour, I remembered our conversation and hoped that, if she thought I could succeed at the college, maybe I could.
Daniel Farkash
Salutatorian
What college will you be attending next year?
I am going to attend Cornell University as a Tanner Dean’s Scholar and will be majoring in both computer science and statistics.
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?
Choosing a best memory is hard, and honestly requires a bit too much self reflection for a senior in his last six weeks. To solve this, I’ll simplify this prompt and define “best” as the memory that has made me laugh the most upon looking back on it across the years.
That memory is my first tackle (in fact, I think it was my only tackle) in 8th grade football. Now, to say that I played football in the 8th grade would compare unfavorably to a kid with a lemonade stand and claiming to be an entrepreneur. I was a third string player, and at this point you already know which of the teams I was on. (Hint: it rhymes with “B team”) I knew the rules to the game like the back of my, well, back. By the time that having a two person sled pushed around me 180 degrees became a daily occurrence for the sorry excuse for a fulcrum that I was, the phrase “pulling a Farkash” had entered the team lingo as a synonym for facing a hilarious failure.
Nevertheless, dreams became confounded with reality, and one fine morning, I experienced the most wonderful thing of all – my first tackle. That very moment is stamped into my memory. I remember stumbling forward in my borrowed cleats, latching onto my foe as if my life depended on it, and then planting my feet into the ground to become the fulcrum I always knew I could be. As we fell down together, it was as though the tearing pace of the launched earth had suddenly become audible. The clink of my helmet was joined by the flooding noise of an altered future as the earth gave in. I was overwhelmed by the possibility of not sucking at football until I heard Coach Reyna yelling. It was a non-contact drill. I was holding up practice.
The embarrassment which I then felt due to the disparity between my thoughts and reality has become a very helpful memory to look back on. It has served as a reminder of how things change based on our perception, and it will continue to bring about short exhales and half-chuckles well into my future.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Although this is impossible to decide, off the top of my head I would like to thank Madame Anne Macharia for her support these past three years, Mr. Craig Sullivan for sticking with me while I got lost in the Earth Mover’s distance, Mr. Bill Blaine for nearly causing me to major in Econ, and Ms. Shelley Bramlett for tolerating the school appropriate word choice in my essays (it was for literary emphasis, I promise).
Chinmaya Andukuri
No. 3
What college will you be attending next year?
I’ll be attending Stanford University, studying economics and mathematics.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Pond Springs and Canyon Creek elementary schools, Grisham Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
My best memory of my time in Round Rock ISD is playing timpani on Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at the 2019 TMEA Convention, as 2nd chair percussionist in the Texas All-State Symphony Orchestra. Our conductor, Dr. Kevin Noe, taught me what it meant to tell real stories with music and to expand the range of emotions I can squeeze out of every moment in a piece of music, no matter how unconventional it may be.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
My two most influential teachers in Round Rock ISD have been IB economics teacher Mr. Bill Blaine, for teaching me to stop relying on memorization and to enjoy the process of truly learning, and AP TAG English teacher Mr. Scott Chalk, for teaching me to think past the first thought that comes to mind, as well as to enjoy thinking of and contributing my inherently unique perspectives.
Jenny Zhang
No. 4
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology for Course 6-2 (electrical engineering & computer science) and 14-2 (mathematical economics), with a possible minor in statistics & data science.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Great Oaks Elementary, Cedar Valley Middle School, and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
All of the memories have melded together into a stream of consciousness of my life at this point, but my favorite parts include the very long, enjoyable, and intensely personal process of connecting with both peers and mentors who have all contributed to making me the learner and individual I am today in different ways. Looking back now, it was over all too quickly.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
I only have 3 sentences to fit all of this in, so bear with me while I abuse the right of using semicolons… A few (a lot) that come to mind immediately: Mr. Andy Lawrence, you helped me learn how to put myself out of my comfort zone, build the confidence to speak to others, and learn for the sake of learning; Mr. Josh Williams, you showed me that I could pursue anything that I loved just by going ahead and doing it and that experience is earned on the way, never a prerequisite; Mr. Doug Landers, you taught me the necessity of persistence, but also to recognize when it’s better to give up; Ms. Katie Willaman and Mr. Craig Sullivan, thank you for seeing math as a beautiful reality to understand rather than memorize; Mr. Kerry Johnson, thank you for bringing out my “quarky” side and believing in me when I felt at my worst; Mr. Michael Quat-Flansburgh, you led me to rediscover the very concept of discovery that I will carry forward with me always (even if memory as a way of knowing is unstable); Mr. Jeff Mickel, it was a pleasure going on a ‘67 75 72 6e 65 79’ with you solving puzzles and nerding out; Mr. Bill Blaine, getting to learn from and work with you has given me such a high marginal private benefit (I hope the terms of trade were favorable on both sides). Finally, to every single teacher and mentor I’ve had in the past 18 years, thank you for everything!
Kate Lee
No. 5
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending Princeton University to study English literature and creative writing.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Laurel Mountain Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
One of the best memories of my time in Round Rock ISD was a project in my IB Philosophy class to create our own schools of thought with their own traditions, values, and practices. My group was able to create a “school” based on the core values of channeling creativity and connection. The whole class participated in activities such as painting the papered floors or speaking different stories over each other that allowed us to learn in the moment in an entirely unique way. It was such a great encapsulation of the community I’ve found through this incredible program.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
I’m so grateful to all my teachers over the years, but the IB teachers here at Westwood were truly the educators that changed my life. I’d especially like to thank Mr. Tim Bray for teaching me to vocalize my curiosity, Ms. Stephanie Childress for being the most supportive coordinator and mentor, and Mr. Michael Flansburgh for always encouraging me to discover the wonders of the written word.
Helen Fang
No. 6
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin to study computer science.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I went to Laurel Mountain Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
Though there aren’t many specific events that really stick out, I will always look back fondly on my time at Westwood for the amazing friends that I’ve made and grown closer with.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Ms. Jessica Patterson! She’s great at explaining concepts clearly, and her optimism and sense of humor always make class really enjoyable. The CS classes I’ve taken with her, from AP to HL, have had no small part in my decision to pursue a computer science career.
Sameer Jain
No. 7
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending the University of Rochester under their Rochester Early Medical Scholars program which offers guaranteed admission to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. While at Rochester I plan to study Biomedical Engineering.
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?
I am absolutely certain that I will cherish all the memories I have collected during my time in Round Rock ISD for the rest of my life. I wouldn’t trade my experiences for anything, and for that reason I can’t really choose a single memory to represent my time here. However, as a student at Round Rock ISD some of my most memorable experiences have been from my four years as a member of the Westwood Trumpet section and Westwood Warrior Band. Whether we were rehearsing for countless hours under the scorching Texas sun or traveling abroad to St. Louis, Atlanta, and Disney World, band has not only allowed me to express my creativity through music but also taught me valuable life lessons. However, most importantly, it is the people that I have met through band that allows it to hold such a special place in my heart. It was with my band family that I shared all my blood, sweat, tears, and laughs.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Each and every teacher in all four years of my high school career have had a large influence on my education as well as my personality as a whole. I wish I could speak about all of my teachers, however to keep it more or less brief I’ll expand a bit on three of the teachers that have made the deepest impact on my life. In my first two years of high school, Mrs. Natalie Wieland, my Pre-AP and AP Chemistry teacher, was always extremely supportive and comforting. She helped me find my place in the hectic environment we know as high school. During my Junior year, Mrs. Racheal Brooks, my AP Biology teacher, introduced me to what has now become my passion. Her genuine excitement in teaching ignited my love for learning and drove me to become the best I could possibly be. I will never forget the times Mrs. Brooks dedicated time outside of class before and after school to help me explore my interests in the biomedical sciences by teaching me to Gram Stain, perform ABO Blood Tests, and streak Agar plates. Finally, in my junior and senior years of high school, Mr. Scott Chalk, my AP English III and IV teacher, pushed me out of my comfort zone, taught me to find comfort in the uncomfortable, and truly expect the unexpected. Though unconventional, Mr. Chalk’s teaching helped me realize that the only thing that can ever truly limit your learning is yourself.
Grace Liu
No. 8
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending The University of Texas at Austin to study computer science.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Spicewood Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
This past year as a SkillsUSA state officer has brought me some of my fondest memories: enjoying my first minor league baseball game, meeting students and representatives from across the nation, running around D.C. in the middle of a rainstorm, and endlessly more. Each conference was equal parts inspiring and humbling, and I still keep in touch with many of the people I’ve met through the organization.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
I’m incredibly grateful to have been taught by so many wonderful teachers and would like to recognize a handful for their significant influence on my life: Mr. Scott Chalk, for putting creativity and whimsicality back into learning, Mr. Jason Ziebell, for teaching me that there is always a bigger picture, Ms. Leslie Drake, Ms. Katie Willaman, and Ms. Misty Matthews, for countering my fears of physics, math, and history respectively with endless smiles and support, Ms. Frederick, for constantly pushing me to grow, and Mrs. Morrow, for being the first teacher to truly make me excited to learn.
David Xu
No. 9
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending The University of Texas at Austin to study computer science.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Laurel Mountain Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
Computer Science UIL was a place where I could meet up with other people who shared my interest in CS. It inspired me to start studying competitive computer science and eventually led me to my interest in machine learning.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Jeffery Mickel. Aside from sponsoring CS UIL, Mr. Mickel’s computer science class encouraged me to think critically about various aspects of computer science.
Amy-Doan Vo
No. 10
What college will you be attending next year?
I will be attending the California Institute of Technology and studying chemistry.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
I attended Anderson Mill and Spicewood elementary schools, Canyon Vista Middle School, and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
I have so many positive memories of school, but one of the experiences I am most grateful for was being able to join the IB program. Being in IB has allowed me to study alongside a community of students who not only care about academic excellence, but also want to apply their knowledge to real-world issues. A special shoutout to my IB Chem HL table — I’m not sure that I’ve ever laughed so often in any other class while simultaneously learning so much.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
I’m grateful to Ms. Racheal Brooks and Ms. Christin Angirasa, who always make my day with their bright attitudes and genuine enthusiasm for science. I am also thankful to Mr. Bray for giving thoughtful academic and life advice whenever I’ve needed help over the last 4 years.
