Breaking Down Valedictorian Demographics
When I heard that Paul Wei was this year’s Highland Park valedictorian, I asked myself, “Does an Asian kid finish at the top of the class every year?” That would be an interesting trend, given that only 3.5 percent of the school district is Asian, according to a May 2010 demographics study. So I dug into our archives and found out that the answer to my question is no; it’s just a coincidence that an Asian kid has finished at the top of the class in each of the three years that I’ve been working at this newspaper. I had to go back 11 years to find another. Here are the 21st century’s Highland Park valedictorians:
2011: Paul Wei
2010: Tianen Li
2009: Mengxuan Tang
2008: Kaydee Sloan
2007: Elizabeth Sloan
2006: Spencer Coon
2005: Eliza Crawford
2004: Daniel Stefan
2003: Amanda Luther
2002: Angela Jillson
2001: Cameron Hall
2000: Lisa Zhang
I was talking to a group of senior boys the other night about Paul Wei. They were jokingly saying he is “disgustingly wonderful”. In addition to being brilliant and having the best grades he is good looking, personable, charming, nice to everyone, involved in everything, they all agreed that he is just the best guy in their class hands down in every way. Congrats to Mr. Wei, we’re pround to have have you represent the class of 2011. $KA indeed.
Can you dig a little deeper and list the colleges they attended? Graduate schools?
Are Elizabeth and Kaydee Sloan sisters?
Where is Paul headed for college? What about Alex Levine?
@ College (and Steve, to some extent): Paul and Kevin are headed to Harvard and Columbia, respectively, and both hope to do a pre-med track.
@Steve: Yes, the Sloans are sisters.
@Steve. Alex Levine is a junior. Not yet headed to college.
Alex Levine is a junior.
For those who are interested, the valedictorian from 2003, Amanda Luther (my daughter), received a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Computer Science from Stanford, each with distinction, in 2007, and will receive her M.B.A. from Stanford next month.
Sally, very sweet! What’s next after the MBA? She must be really incredible to have only two years of FT work experience.
WTG Kevin! I went to Columbia. Awesome school and city.
Didn’t at least one of the Sloan sisters go to Clemson on a full ride? Or was that Eliza? I seem to remember a recent female valedictorian going there for engineering and a truckload of cash.
I’m so glad to hear such good things about Paul. Sometimes in the past, HPHS valedictorians have been particularly adept at gaming the system (or worse) to punch up their GPAs. Doing away with specific class rank (except for the top two) was a good way to de-emphasize statistics among the best students. It may make it a little easier for some of them to follow their true interests, instead of worrying that taking a particular class could cause them to drop a couple of rungs down the ladder. I only wish Paul and Kevin had the good sense to go to Stanford instead of the schools they chose. [Kidding!] [sort of.]
In 2001, I was never aware of anyone “gaming the system” for high GPAs. For myself, things simply worked out because I took AP/Honors classes whenever available and was successful in them. I didn’t shy away from band even though it brought down my GPA as a “regular” class. We were never told our class rank until the senior awards day, so it was easy to relax and just be a student, striving for excellence without overt competition. Also, I’d just like to add that I’m proud of my in-state public university education (BA Chemistry, Texas A&M, August 2004).
Well done you, Cameron!
Roll Tide
@Cameron- Although I’m a Texas grad, I commend your decision to stay in state.
@TB- Granted, I didn’t graduate from HP, but I’ve never heard of the top of the class “gaming the system.” They’re usually at the top b/c they’re smarter and more driven than other students. Without more specifics from you, that sounds a bit like sour grapes.