Nicolas Wong, No. 3
What college will you be attending next year?
The University of Texas at Austin to study in the Turing Computer Science Program.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Laurel Mountain Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mr. Chalk. He’s helped me grow in creativity and writing aptitude, both of which I was deficient in when first entering his class. He’s even helped me in my Vitamin D deficiency by having our class have outdoor activities! In all seriousness, Mr. Chalk has helped me branch out from my STEM focus, and his class is always new, invigorating, and fun — a reflection of the teacher running it.
Vaishnavi Sankar, No. 4
What college will you be attending next year?
Brown University to major in neuroscience and ethnomusicology.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Fern Bluff Elementary School, Chisholm Trail Middle School and Westwood High School.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mr. Chalk. He taught me how to stretch my mind and come up with creative ideas on my own. He helped all his students evolve a more complex and layered meaning from everything we thought or wrote. I’m so grateful to have had him as my English teacher.
Grace Yu, No. 5
What college will you be attending next year?
The University of Southern California to study in the World Bachelor in Business program.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
I really can’t choose one! All of my IB teachers (Ms. Saenz, Mr. Bray, Coach McB, and Mr. Quatro) have been influential in shaping me not only as a student and thinker but also as a person. They have been the teachers that have taught me to love learning for the sake of learning, filling every class with mind-boggling conversations and constant laughter and goofiness.
Surya Gangavarapu, No. 6
What college will you be attending next year?
Vanderbilt University as a Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholar, studying economics and neuroscience with a minor in literature.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Laurel Mountain Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
My IB teachers have been the greatest mentors I could have asked for. They’ve taught me how to think, how to learn, and how to feel. Mr. McBrearty showed me how to discover myself in literature. Mr. Quatro helped me learn to think for myself and realize the wonder of humanity. Mr. Blaine turned economics, a subject that I had never studied, into my passion. And finally, Mrs. Saenz has shaped the man I’ve grown into over the last two years, showing me more care and concern than I could have ever asked for. From them, I’ve learned what it means to be inspired. I am going to greatly miss their influence in my life.
Rohan Nair, No. 7
What college will you be attending next year?
The University of Texas at Austin to study Computer Science in the Turing Scholars Program.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Canyon Creek Elementary School, Grisham Middle School and Westwood High School.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Although I have had many influential teachers in my time at Westwood, Katie Willaman stands out. I’d like to thank her for teaching me the importance of curiosity and the power of thinking over memorization by working through proofs in class. My favorite quote from her is “THINK just THINK!”
Rohini Kumar, No. 8
What college will you be attending next year?
Rice University, majoring in Biological Sciences.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Caraway Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mrs. Saenz. Over the past two years, she has taught me the importance of broadening your horizons, keeping an open mind, asking tough questions, and speaking up for what you believe in. On top of that, she is an incredibly hilarious, kind, and understanding person.
Claire Jahnke, No. 9
What college will you be attending next year?
Rice University, majoring in chemistry.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Spicewood Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School and Westwood High School.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
My history teacher Mrs. Saenz. In addition to being incredibly knowledgeable and pushing me to be a better student, she challenged me to think about the type of person I wanted to be. She was available if I needed help on everything from schoolwork to life advice, and I have so much respect for her.
Rishi Kejriwal, No. 10
What college will you be attending next year?
Rice University, majoring in computer science.
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Spicewood Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School, Westwood High School.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD?
Mr. Craig Sullivan because he is just so knowledgeable. He is also very accommodating whenever I miss school for golf and it really helps.
