As graduates across Round Rock ISD prepare to begin the next chapter of their lives, we take a moment to recognize the Top 10 students from each campus. The Top 10 students were asked to answer a series of questions about their journey through Round Rock ISD and their next steps.
Aylin Tanriverdi
Valedictorian
What college will you be attending next year? What do you hope to pursue after college?
I will be attending Harvard University and studying neuroscience. I hope to pursue a career as a medical doctor and researcher.
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?
In my IB Literature class, I had the opportunity to act out a scene from Henry IV with my friend. We dressed up in medieval costumes, arranged background music, and used my giant stuffed horse as a prop. Though memorizing the lines was a challenge, the hilarious Shakespearean insults made it more tolerable. I loved using language and artistry to tell a story and freely express the characters’ emotions. I’ll cherish this memory, as it reminds me to take risks and do what I love.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Though I cannot express my complete thanks in one paragraph, I would like to give special thanks to Mr. Blaine for encouraging me to embrace complexity, deeply understand economics and its real-world applications, and find joy in the learning cycle; to Mrs. Key for boosting our spirits with humor and enthusiasm, listening to our voices, and simplifying complex ideas to help us understand and appreciate chemistry; to Mr. McBrearty for inspiring me to read great literature, think critically, reflect on myself in the context of a more significant human experience, and learn how to live; to Ms. Dang, for pushing me to understand not just individual mathematical concepts but also the interactions among them to solve complex problems; to Mrs. Lauffer for fostering in me a love of German culture and supporting me along my academic and personal journeys.
Prachi Ingle
Salutatorian
What college will you be attending next year? What do you hope to pursue after college?
I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin, where I will study computer science as part of both the Turing Scholars Honors Program and the Dean’s Scholars Honors Program. After completing my Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, I hope to pursue interdisciplinary research opportunities to investigate environmental and geophysical phenomena. I’m excited to see where this academic journey takes me!
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Canyon Creek Elementary School, Grisham Middle School, and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
In Jazz 1, my friends and I were tasked with choreographing a piece influenced by famous dancer Eugene Louis (“Luigi”) Faccuito. His nickname inspired our song choice — a jazz rendition of Super Mario theme song. I remember laughing hysterically with my classmates as my team, and I leaped towards imaginary Nintendo Coins and reached for Power Stars. This experience taught me to enjoy the smaller moments in life and cherish creating new experiences with the people around me.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Throughout my time in Round Rock ISD, my teachers have inspired me to cherish learning opportunities and strive for a deeper understanding of the world around me. Mrs. Patterson — Thank you for encouraging curiosity and a growth mindset. You inspired me to explore Computer Science beyond the classroom. Mr. Chalk — Thank you for teaching me state-of-being verbs prove too basic, and kindness and deep reflection mean everything. Mr. Sullivan — Thank you for helping me realize the potential of mathematics to capture the nuances of our world. Mrs. Drake — Thank you for motivating me to seek out the scientific wonders of my everyday life actively.
Erin Xu
No. 3
What college will you be attending next year? What do you hope to pursue after college?
I will be attending Cornell University to study computer science. After college, I hope to continue exploring computer science as a software developer.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
My time at Westwood has truly been unforgettable, gifting me priceless memories that I will always carry with me. Several of my best memories come from my experiences in the Westwood band, from the chaotic bus rides to the bizarre pre-competition traditions and silly stand dances.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Throughout my four years at Westwood, I’ve had so many brilliant teachers who have kindled my curiosity, sparked my imagination, and opened my eyes. Seeing their passion for teaching has helped me find my passion as well. I would especially like to thank Mr. Bill Blaine for challenging me to venture beyond my comfort zone and take risks in learning, Mrs. Christen Key for helping me find the fun in learning, and my band directors Mr. Turpin, Mrs. Dacy, and Mr. Winters for four years of music, laughter, and fun.
Erin Zhang
No. 4
What college will you be attending next year? What do you hope to pursue after college?
I’ll be attending MIT with a major in computer engineering with a minor in literature. That’s something I hope to figure out in the next four years!
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Spicewood Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School, and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
I’ll always look back fondly on spending those extra hours in the Spicewood Elementary School and Canyon Vista Middle School art rooms.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
I’m eternally grateful to Mr. McB for teaching me to embrace my ideas and always making me glad to be in his classroom; to Mr. Blaine, for encouraging me to face learning head-on; to Mrs. Key, for creating a home at school; to Mr. Flansburgh, for inspiring me never to stop thinking; and to Mrs. Wang, for providing just the right mix of tough love and camaraderie. And Mrs. Collins, Ms. Loera, and Mrs. Frederick thank you for putting up with me in middle school and supporting my creativity.
Aarya Agarwal
No. 5
What college will you be attending next year? What do you hope to pursue after college?
I will be attending Yale University next year, studying economics, mathematics, and computer science, hopefully along with the directed studies program. I don’t have any set plans right now. I am open to anything, from public service to entrepreneurship to graduate school and academia.
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?
I would have to pick recess in Laurel Mountain, playing touch football with my friends on the soft pebbles around the playscape. We would always leave with our clothes full of white dust and our faces full of joy (unless one of us inadvertently ran into a pole).
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
I cannot name just one – I have so many that I want to thank: my extraordinary IB Social Studies teachers – Mr. Bray, Mr. Fritch, Mr. Blaine, Ms. Saenz – for teaching me to argue and write and think critically about the world around me; Frau Melgar for not only teaching me to appreciate the German language, but also the process of learning a foreign language in general; Ms. Howitt for being an amazing Precal teacher and sponsoring the Artificial Intelligence club; Mr. Sullivan for running his Multivariable class like clockwork and continuously challenging me with complex problems; Ms. Drake for explaining the fiddly concepts of AP Physics so clearly; Mr. Mickel for introducing me to the beauty of pure computer science through UIL; and Ms. Key for striking the perfect balance between educational and fun every class.
Alyssa Zhu
No. 6
What college will you be attending next year? What do you hope to pursue after college?
I will be attending the Georgia Institute of Technology to study computer science. After college, I hope to become a software developer or engineer and possibly work in the artificial intelligence field. I also hope to create my own tech startup company eventually.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Spicewood Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School, and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
The best memories I have are from my experience in band. They became a whole other family for me that I can’t imagine ever being without. Whether it is the many trips (Disney, St. Louis, Houston, San Antonio, etc.), making finals at BOA Austin, or having fun at football games, there are endless memories that I will cherish.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
I am incredibly grateful to all of my Round Rock ISD teachers who have helped make me who I am today. I would like to especially thank the band directors (Mr. Turpin, Mrs. Dacy, and Mr. Winters) for helping me become a leader, Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Key for always supporting me and brightening my day, Mr. Blaine for pushing me to become a critical thinker, and Mr. McBrearty for teaching me to look at literature in a new lens.
Athena Josephine Wang
No. 7
What college will you be attending next year? What do you hope to pursue after college?
I will attend MIT and study computer science and math. I think it would be cool to go to graduate school, to be able to pursue research in the fields I’m interested in while furthering my education in them.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Canyon Creek Elementary School, Grisham Middle School, and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
There are way too many good memories to report. I liked collaborating with the AI officer team to create a community of people interested in AI and teaching AI to whoever we could. I enjoyed participating in UIL computer science, where everyone was willing to teach me about any particular algorithm or help me with questions I struggled with. I liked just fooling around with classmates, like when we ran questionable experiments in Mrs. Key’s class in the name of science.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Ms. Jacqueline Garlick and Mr. Jeff Mickel were the two wonderful teachers who introduced me to computer science and constantly supported me with extra resources or teaching; they sparked a love for computer science that I carry to college. My English teachers over all four years (Freeland, Bramlett, McBrearty, Callirgos) are all particularly influential because they teach me how to be human and think about the world. Mr. Bill Blaine has been a model for me to learn things deeply, think critically, and explain concepts to others. Ms. Julianne Knott has consistently supported my interest in piano/music, offering ways to improve my playing and reinvigorating my passion for music with her constant enthusiasm.
Hannah Liu
No. 8
What college will you be attending next year? What do you hope to pursue after college?
I will be attending Emory University to study neuroscience and behavioral biology. I plan to attend medical school.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Fern Bluff Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School, and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
It’s difficult for me to choose one memory since there have been so many wonderful times over the years. However, some of my favorite memories have got to be school trips and included watching the sunset from garage rooftops in San Antonio, exploring Chicago with the Westwood Orchestra and Band, trading pins at ILC, and exploring Orlando with my HOSA team. These moments I shared with my friends added the spark that made these past few years truly unforgettable.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
There are too many teachers who have shaped my character for me to list, and I’m grateful to every one of them. In particular, I want to thank Madame Macharia for teaching me how to balance learning between the classroom and the outside world; to Ms. Willaman for inspiring in me a drive to understand rather than memorize; to Mrs. Wieland for helping me embrace and move beyond my failures; and to Mr. Chalk for showing me the wonders of a third thought, an open mind, and an improv partner. Truly, I wouldn’t be who I am today without you all.
Glen Liu
No. 9
What college will you be attending next year? What do you hope to pursue after college?
I’ll be attending Harvard University and studying computer science and philosophy. I’m not too sure what I want to pursue after college. When my parents ask me this question, I tell them that I’d like to work as an engineer for a corporation or maybe go into law school. But my sincere hope is that my four years in college will be so transformative that my interests will grow and change, perhaps set me in an entirely different direction.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Spicewood Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School, and Westwood High School.
What is your favorite memory of your time in Round Rock ISD?
I remember all fifth-grade students at Spicewood were required to participate in a project called Exhibition, where you choose a significant or noteworthy event and discuss it. I remember talking about Apple, and its founder Steve Jobs, whose eccentric and occasionally intolerant personality paved the way for its success. Exhibition is my best memory because from then on, I, like Steve Jobs, strived to be passionate about everything I did.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
As a senior, my proudest accomplishment is that I’ve been able to know and befriend all my teachers personally. That being said, my most influential teachers are the ones who have taught me lessons beyond the classroom. To Mr. Turpin and the rest of the band staff, I’d like to thank you for growing my love for music and teaching me the values of Pride, Passion, and Family. And to Coach Hastings and Coach Rigney, I’d like to thank you for teaching me the importance of discipline and leadership and, most of all, igniting within me a Burning Desire.
Vikram Joshi
No. 10
What college will you be attending next year? What do you hope to pursue after college?
I will be attending the University of Chicago and studying economics and entrepreneurship. I don’t know what I want to pursue beyond college. I think that a college education and degree will give me many options, and I haven’t decided yet what direction I would like to go in after graduating. That being said, it is my eventual dream to start a business, so that will hopefully happen down the line.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Spicewood 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 of my time in Round Rock ISD was a project in elementary called Living Museum where we became a historical figure. Since we were elementary kids, I remember we spent almost a month researching every aspect of their life and then creating and memorizing a presentation script. I just remember that when the work came to a close and I stood up there with my costume, I was so proud of what I had done. That feeling I get after a long project comes to fruition is incredible and it’s something I’m trying to replicate my whole life.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
My most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD has been my journalism teacher Ms. Catuogno. She has been my teacher throughout high school, and she has supported me the whole time. She always encouraged me to experiment and discover my passions, which I would like to do for the remainder of my life.
