Spotlight Seniors
The Class of 2024 encompasses scholars with many interests, passions, skills, talents, and backgrounds. Get to know some of our exceptional seniors through the Senior Spotlight series.
Click on the scholar you would like to learn more about or scroll down this page to view them all.
Meet Elif! She has made a significant impact through Youth in Government, Model UN, and as an advocate for reproductive health and human rights. Elif presented her research at the United Nations in Geneva! Next year, she'll be studying political science and economics at Columbia University. Join us in celebrating her achievements and wishing her the best in her future endeavors.
Your plans for next year?
I plan on going to the University of Minnesota to pursue aerospace engineering.
How has Hopkins prepared you for the future?
Hopkins has prepared me for the future by giving me the chance to connect with and meet people who influenced and strengthened my mind set.
What will you miss most about Hopkins?
I will miss the supportive and influential teachers and students at Hopkins.
Is there a teacher or staff member who you would like to shout out?
I would like to shout out Mr. Herring for always being very helpful and patient when teaching new material. He is the best math teacher I've ever had.
What are you most looking forward to after graduation?
I am most looking forward to my independence and to see what new opportunities are waiting for me.
What advice would you give to incoming kindergarteners?
Eat all of your fruits and vegetables so you can grow up to be big and strong.
Liam Urbanowicz excels in athletics, academics, and arts, having been nominated for the Triple 'A' award. He led the Hopkins Nordic team to the state podium and rocks out as a drummer for both Hopkins and his metal band. Next year, Liam will attend the University of Minnesota-Duluth to major in Cell and Molecular Biology. Join us in celebrating his journey and cheering him on as he embarks on his next adventure!
How has Hopkins prepared you for the future?
I was able to continue my Spanish education at Hopkins all the way through high school which has been incredibly helpful. Being able to converse in Spanish with native speakers allows me to connect with them on a whole new level. For instance, when I went to Mexico as a little kid with my family, everyone was stunned that I was able to converse with them in Spanish and it made everyone that I interacted with smile.
Also, being on the varsity soccer team for four years, as well as a two time captain, has taught me how to be a part of a team and be a leader. Some behaviors I demonstrated as a captain include creating a healthy environment on and off the field. By the end of the season we were not just teammates, we were a family.
What will you miss most about Hopkins?
My friends and the time we got to spend growing up together. (and the free lunches)
What are you most looking forward to after graduation?
Moving on towards my next step in life with the knowledge and experiences that I have acquired from Hopkins.
What advice would you give to incoming kindergarteners?
Make friends, be yourself, and take risks.
Is there a teacher or staff member who you would like to shout out?
Sr. Saldaña, who was my Spanish teacher for two years at the junior high. He made learning fun and had a great relationship with all his students. He made me enjoy school and taught me a lot about different cultures. I don't know if I can get on board with him being a Real Madrid fan though.
Our next senior at Hopkins High School, Camryn, has made an impact as president of the Black Student Alliance, a member of student council, and captain of the dance team. Next year, she’s heading to the University of Louisville to major in psychology, minor in business management and marketing, and dance at the Division I level. Let’s celebrate her journey and wish her success in all her future endeavors!
Que began her Hopkins journey at Eisenhower Elementary school and continued at West Middle School. She attended Hopkins High School where she was involved in lacrosse, track and field and the ceramics club.
Your plans for next year?
I plan to attend the University of Madison to study biology. I’m really interested in sports medicine which is more on the anatomy and physiology side. On the other hand, I really like the medicinal side of studying viruses, the human body and cells.
Is there a teacher or staff member who you would like to shout out?
I’d like to give a shout out to Meng Laoshi for being so understanding, helpful, and making me feel like I belong. I was going through a hard time sophomore year and she really just helped me out and I was able to really connect with her and now we are besties. It’s really nice to have a more personal connection with a teacher.
How has Hopkins prepared you for the future?
I’m in ProPEL, a Hopkins program that allows seniors to shadow or work alongside professionals in their field of interest. The program taught me how to do an interview, how to write a resume, how to sell yourself, and more. My internship is working at the University of Minnesota working with a professor of ecology, evolution and behavior in their insect department. It gave me an in person and hands-on experience in the lab.
What advice would you give to incoming kindergarteners?
Put yourself out there, find people you like to be with.
Our next senior is Louie! Louie co-leads the Jewish Student Union in partnership with the Muslim Student Association. He is also interning with Fox 9’s sportscaster Dawn Mitchell. Next year, he'll attend Tulane University to pursue his passions in basketball media and international relations. Join us in celebrating his journey and wishing him success in his future endeavors!
Your plans for next year?
Next year, I plan to go to Normandale Community College to study psychology.
How has Hopkins prepared you for your future?
The opportunities to take AP classes. Taking those AP classes made me a better researcher for information on the website, and diving deep into detailed historical stories, AP Bio helped me to see data, research ,and overall in all those classes get college credit.
What will you miss most about Hopkins?
I'm definitely going to miss the free block where I took the time to get my school work done before I got home. In my English and history classes, I was at my most focused. I enjoyed the research we did from books like Ceremony and Fahrenheit 451.
Is there a teacher or staff member who you would like to shout out?
Mr. Swenson was an incredible storyteller and he made me feel like I was actually in historical moments. Mr. Schank was honestly the funniest teacher I’ve had and made Physics a lot easier. Ms. Bauernfeind was there for me when I first moved to Minnesota, and gave me so much advice. Mr. Tesarek helped me build close reading habits and made reading so much more interesting. Ms. Temple taught family and culture and showed different values and perspectives in different parts of the world. Mrs.Kj made me feel very welcome in her classes and she made education fun even though it was challenging at times. I’m proud to be her Teachers Assistant. Mrs. Swanson opened my artistic mind when I took Graphic Design my sophomore year. She always said “Hi”and always started out the day with a smile.
What advice would you give to incoming kindergarteners?
Make memories. Education and intelligence is power, so take school seriously.
Meet Yonie! Yonie has thrived in the theater and choir programs, earning the prestigious National School Choral Award. Next year, he'll attend the University of St. Thomas on a full-tuition scholarship, majoring in political science with a pre-law track. We're excited to see all he will accomplish in this next chapter! Congrats Yonie!
Your plans for next year?
I plan to attend the University of Wisconsin Madison to study communications and Spanish.
How has Hopkins prepared you for the future?
Hopkins has helped prepare me for my future with its great teachers and academic offerings, especially the Juntos program which allowed me to continue Spanish through junior high and high school.
What will you miss most about Hopkins?
The lifelong friendships I have created, and my sports teams which were such a big part of my high school years.
Your favorite high school memory.
My favorite high school memories include sports accomplishments, including being named the Athena Award winner and our gymnastics team placing third at State this year!
Is there a teacher or staff member who you would like to shout out?
Mr. Lovas and Ms. Yesnes--best track coaches and role models ever. Plus Ms. Walters in the counseling office, as she has forged meaningful relationships with students.
What are you most looking forward to after graduation?
I am most looking forward to spending my last summer with my best friends, and moving my studies to a University that is both rigorous in academics and somewhere where I know I will have fun.
What advice would you give to incoming kindergarteners?
Go for a language immersion program! You won't regret it!
Jade has cherished her time on the track and cross-country teams, finding a community that pushed her to excel. Highlights of her high school journey include performing in the talent show and excelling in French. Next year, she'll attend Augsburg University to major in business and minor in French and herbal studies. Congrats Jade, we can't wait to see what you accomplish next!