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Across the city, the class of 23 will graduate this month, on its way to changing the world. These graduates are the realization of the Irvine Master Plans vision to create a City of Intellect designed around a world-class university with neighborhood schools at the heart of villages.

Inside, youll learn about a Harvard-bound senior who is already seeking cures for Alzheimers disease, a Stanford-bound senior who built an app to help homeowners conserve natural resources, and a UCI-bound student pledging to help fill the national need for more therapists treating young adults.

These accomplished and motivated students have been nurtured by extraordinary teachers and one of the nations best-educated groups of parents. Theyre the products of a California top 10 school district, a U.S. top 10 public university and a community college with the Golden States highest rate of transfers to four-year schools.

Dont be afraid to give everything you have into something, says University High School graduate Aniyah Shen. Read on to learn more about these exceptional young people who have been fearlessly focused on their futures.

Aniyah Shen

University H.S.

Stanford University: Human Biology and Creative Writing

Shen believes in a humanistic approach to science, with dreams of becoming a poet-physician. Shes won over 100 medals in the Science Olympiad and another 13 at Science Fair events. She also built an app to help homeowners conserve natural resources. Yet even with a 4.66 GPA, she is proudest of her human connections, staying in touch with teachers, mentors, classmates and extended family. As a freshman, she founded the Science Olympiad Student Coaching Committee, personally providing over 100 lessons and mentoring 37 student-coaches helping to launch five middle school teams.

Manasvini Varatharaj

Irvine H.S.

UC Irvine: Biological Sciences

Varatharaj is focused on helping the next generation. She helped launch a nonprofit to encourage kids to read and write and hosted a book drive that donated over 500 childrens books to a rural library in Sri Lanka. Be OK with hearing no, she tells younger students. Even if you are rejected for an opportunity, you may be redirected toward something more fitting or be paired with a mentor. Following an internship at Childrens Hospital of Orange County, she aspires to become a physician helping young patients.

Grace Zhou

University H.S.

Harvard University: Chemistry & Physics, and Classics

A classically trained violinist, Zhou has performed with the L.A. Philharmonic and co-directs the regional Back to Bach Project, which brings classical music to elementary students. I think exposure to music is an essential part of young peoples development, says Zhou, who holds a 4.54 GPA and also performs at local retirement homes and hospitals.

Andre Lombardi

Beckman H.S.

Rice University: Health Sciences and Organ Performance

Lombardi hopes to become a health care administrator at a major hospital while maybe, just maybe finding time to travel to war-struck countries to perform organ concerts. An accomplished musician, hes already sung at St. Peters Basilica in Rome and been selected as an organ scholar at Christ (formerly Crystal) Cathedral, performing on one of the worlds largest pipe organs. He also founded a nonprofit group that brings music and STEAM education to homeless youth. Regardless of where I end up, my goal is to constantly refine, adapt and root my actions to better serve the community by actively listening to myself and others, he says.

Emma Halle

Northwood H.S.

University of the Pacific: PreDentistry

Sportsmanship and sticktoit-iveness define Halle. Early in her basketball career, she lost confidence but persisted to eventually become team captain earning both a scholar-athlete award and this years Sportsmanship Award. She also pushed herself to take summer courses before her sophomore year, which prepared her for calculus and led to a 4.4 GPA. In the field of athletics, I love to support and watch female athletes pave the way for future female athletes and make history.

Owen Texter

Beckman H.S.

New Jersey Institute of Technology: Biomedical Engineering

Texter aspires to pursue medical advancements through entrepreneurship, using his skills in physics, math and engineering to help people. I am passionate about the way science is able to improve the lives of millions, says the varsity lacrosse player, who holds a 4.57 GPA. Last summer, he interned at Life Science Outsourcing, gaining valuable real-world experience as a data and production analyst. He hopes his career, as well as his volunteering at Marys Kitchen and the Orange County Rescue Mission, will leave a lasting impact on the world.

Anika Nandakumar

Beckman H.S.

Harvard University: Linguistics and Literature

Nandakumar serves as principal bassist in Beckmans chamber orchestra, is one of the countys top high school dancers, volunteers with children and is an aspiring lawyer. My lifelong goal has always been to be in the room where change happens, she says, so law is the pathway I want to pursue. A lover of literature and languages, she already has published a paper on linguistics. Find what you genuinely love and run with it, she says.

Abigail Chu

Northwood H.S.

UC Davis: Cell Biology

A scholar, athlete and volunteer, Chu was named MVP of the girls basketball team her junior year and Coachs Player her senior year. She volunteers at the citys annual Global Village Festival and at Lakeview Senior Center, where she helps seniors with tech problems on their phones, tablets and computers. Her dream is to become a veterinarian because she believes that healing animals to ensure they can comfort their owners is the best way I can help people.

Cooper Novosel

Woodbridge H.S.

Georgetown University: Nursing

Volunteering with the Red Cross and at nursing homes steered Novosel toward a career in nursing. These were amazing experiences that showed me I wanted to have a direct impact in helping people, he says. His success in school, sports (varsity tennis team) and the community earned him multiple local and state scholarships, which will prepare him to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Try new things and put yourself out there, he advises younger students. Youll figure it out.

Ana Rodriguez

Woodbridge H.S.

Baldwin Wallace University: Music Theater

After moving to Irvine from the Dominican Republic in 2020, Rodriguez made new friends through theater. I love being able to share stories with audiences, she says. The connection it creates is magical. Starring as Ariel in the schools production of The Little Mermaid reinforced her desire to become a professional actress. Rodriguez, who volunteers at the Orange County Rescue Mission, also is passionate about being kind to others without expectation of something in return. We never know what someone is going through, so being kind really has an impact.

Neil Pal

Irvine H.S.

UC Berkeley: Engineering

Community is important to this aspiring tech entrepreneur. As a youth coordinator for the Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee, hes organized several donations to support Marine families. The Eagle Scout also has initiated book drives, community cleanups and helped save two lives one on a plane and one on a camping trip using his Scout emergency medical training. I am committed to using my skills and expertise to make a difference and create a better world for all, says this recipient of several school, city, state and international awards.

Kara Lao

Woodbridge H.S.

UC Santa Barbara: Political Science

You can add athletics, art and altruism to Laos 4.4 GPA. As co-captain of the girls basketball team, she led them to a Pacific Coast League title last year. She also founded the schools Makerspace Club, which uses 3D printers, laser-engraving tools and CNC milling machines to create everything from personalized cards to electric guitars and fiber-optic dresses. And she organizes events for students with disabilities in preparation for the Special Olympics. She plans to attend law school, she says, to become a lawyer to defend womens rights.

Vritti Chopra

San Joaquin H.S.

Duke University: Computer Science and Public Policy

An avid reader and writer, Chopra has amassed over 30,000 followers on TikTok, where she talks about books. She also founded Musicmakery, a nonprofit that provides free, virtual musical education to students in grades K-6, and mentors students in voice and music theory. She serves as ASB president of San Joaquin High, an IUSD Virtual Academy, and this year was selected to go to Sacramento to speak with state senators, lobbyists and California Department of Education officials. My goal is to become a novelist, she says. I write short stories, compete in writing competitions, and I am currently writing a full-length novel.

Camden Peterson

Irvine H.S.

UC Merced: Civil Engineering

A member of the water polo team all four years, Peterson served as captain the last two years, mentoring younger players and leading the team to the state finals while earning the leagues MVP title. During the summer, hes a popular volunteer coach of the Irvine Swim Leagues College Park Splash. Proudest thing Ive done in my life is honestly just making my parents proud, he says. Doing things that theyd want to see me do and just being a kid theyd like to have.

Arman Nemati

Woodbridge H.S.

Princeton University: Public and International Affairs

Nemati wants to become a lawyer specializing in international law and human rights. Immigrating to America from Iran came with many benefits, but at first he struggled with his identity, he says. Over time, I realized how beautiful it is and that I can take pride in where I come from. He co-founded a Persian cultural club and took an interest in international politics and relations. His advice to freshmen? Do things youre passionate about and get outside your comfort zone, says Nemati, who holds a 4.65 GPA. That will help you grow as a person.

Alex Richmond

Portola H.S.

UCLA: Biochemistry

Richmond broke six track-and-field records at Portola, earning the Pacific Coast Leagues track MVP title all while maintaining her high standards in the classroom. My favorite subjects are all STEM classes I love chemistry and science, says the scholar-athlete. Along the way, Richmond also found time to package over 1,000 meals for the needy and, as a former gymnast, teach kids tumbling. Now shes focused on her lifelong dream of becoming an orthodontist to help children build confidence behind their smiles.

Caitlyn Liao

University H.S.

UC Berkeley: Political Economy

Liao helped Uni win the 2020 National High School Ethics Bowl, in which 500 teams competed in rounds by analyzing cases about complex ethical dilemmas. We won as public-school underdogs in a competition largely dominated by East Coast private schools, she says. In 2021, they placed second. Liao also leads two musical groups at school, including an a cappella vocal group, and plans to become a policymaker who can better the lives of every citizen.

David Kim

Portola H.S.

Harvard University: Neuroscience

Kim leads three nonprofits, including the Student Research Society, which he founded to connect students with local research professors. I want to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators, says Kim, who graduates with a 4.57 GPA. Hes already begun researching brain cancer and Alzheimers disease to one day, hopefully, identify cures for these seemingly incurable diseases.

Maya Krajicek

Beckman H.S.

University of Utah: Business Administration

Dance has been Krajiceks passion since she was 3. It allows me to portray my emotions through simple movement and creates a sense of happiness in my mind, she says. It also has given her a wealth of friends, mentors and opportunities. She flourished on the schools Connect Team, helping new students adapt by being a friend they could reach out to. And shes long been a volunteer at soup kitchens, hospitals and childrens dance studios, saying, I like to put a smile on others faces.

Annabel Tiong

Northwood H.S.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Biological Engineering

Tiong dreams of becoming a virologist who someday eradicates an infectious disease. She already has conducted research projects on hepatitis B virus, hepatitis delta, Alzheimers disease and traumatic brain injury. She leads Northwoods Science Olympiad, Biology Olympiad and Odyssey of the Mind clubs and placed fourth in the nation at the USA Brain Bee, which tests students knowledge of neuroscience. I am passionate about research, she says. Ive met so many amazing people and grown so much because of how its pushed me academically.

Alexis Nguyen

B.A., Art History

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Meet the extraordinary class of 2023 - Education - Irvine Standard