Kent Fellows Academy Biographies
Class of 2016
Hannah Kelling is interested in the fields of journalism and psychology and is hoping to work for a newspaper or international psychology journal one day. In high school she participated in track and field as well as choir, and was a member of the All Ohio Youth Choir.
Trish Marthey wants to pursue a bachelor's degree in Public Health and attend graduate school for an MD-PhD in epidemiology. Although she played in her high school's band and has many interests, one of her main passions was working for P.U.R.R. West Virginia, a no- kill shelter and rehabilitation center for cats.
Zachary Nickels is double-majoring in English and philosophy with a goal to attend law school or a graduate school in the humanities. He is a true renaissance man in that he was an athlete in high school playing football and basketball as well as being a part of Mock Trial and Philosophy Club.
Nicholas Onuska is majoring in chemistry with the intention of becoming a pharmacist. He has volunteered at the Robinson Memorial Hospital, is skilled at music and recording, and was ranked second in the state for yo-yoing in 2010. He has also exhibited his yo-yoing skills at Art in the Park for the Portage County Parks and Recreation division.
Lauren Pankiw is currently a biology student, but her interests span many fields. She has volunteered at homeless and women's shelters in Cleveland and is a graduate of Panim al Panim in Washington D.C. She also has interests in art and literature and was in her high school's creative writing club.
Emily Smith is studying English and hopes to study abroad and teach English abroad one day. Her interests include swimming, foreign languages, flute, and singing. The most extraordinary thing is that she helped organize a cultural immersion trip to Puerto Rico with her high school teachers.
Mary Waddington is majoring in chemistry and desires to be a pharmacist. She was also a member of Mock Trial, her high school's speech club and volunteered at the Summa Barberton Hospital. She also was the first student to do an independent study in organic chemistry at her high school.
Class of 2015
Chloe Bragg aspires to graduate with a degree in anthropology and eventually become a museum curator. These desires stem from her love of history. She was part of Drama Club, Key Club, and Choir in high school as well as volunteering as a library assistant.
Robert Cook has a definite love of language and music, hoping to graduate with a major in Spanish Translation and a Chinese minor. He was a Chinese language peer mentor, secretary of membership for La Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica and president of Strongsville High's Spanish club.
Brandy Grove has a background in music, many types of dance, and volunteering for free zumba classes and NHS. She eventually wants to receive her Ph.D in chemical physics, studying nuclear fusion and fusion reactors.
Benjamin Hedges was involved at his church, a youth soccer camp, Science Club and the Bloom-Carroll Chamber singers who went Christmas caroling at local nursing homes during high school. He yearns to become a physician or medical researcher and retains a love of soccer and ping-pong.
Christopher Kolar fosters a love of skiing, volunteering within his community, and was a Science Olympiad Assistant Coach at a different high school from his own. He intends to major in physics.
Allan Leischman aspires to become an active research physicist and also teach college classes. He played trombone in marching band, helped to start a robotics competition team at his high school, and was involved in Boy Scouts at the highest level as Senior Patrol Leader in his troop.
Samuel Plent enjoys lacrosse, citing it as one of the activities that most influenced his character. He volunteered as a Successful Teen Living Instructor in high school as well as a Bible Camp Instructor. He wants to become a noteworthy archaeologist and is majoring in anthropology at Kent State.
Emilia Radziszewski has a variety of achievements, ranging from a silver key award in the statewide Scholastic Art and Writing Show to being a black belt in Isshinryu karate. She wants to eventually work in international relations and will major in French translation at Kent.
Alexandria Schramm is a poet, dancer, singer, and actor. She volunteered at a children's developmental center in Amherst, Ohio which led her to want to pursue a career in clinical psychology after working with autistic children.
Benjamin Shekhtman was in his high school's barbershop quartet as well as other musical activities like studying piano. He was a lifeguard for 3 years and also was a Cleveland VA Spinal Cord Injury Volunteer. He wants to major in biology.
Mahala Spalsbury is studying biochemistry with a pre-med concentration. She received awards at her high school's art show for sculpture and ceramics. She also teaches piano and was on the varsity tennis team.
Edward Stafford has decided to major in physics and to go on for graduate work in theoretical physics. He has a strong background in tutoring, cross-country and track, and volunteering for the Akron Rotary Camp.
Rebecca Tefft was a member of NHS, marching band, and French club in high school. She longs to travel more than she has already, and after majoring in political science and economics and more graduate study, become a director of a governmental agency in Washington D.C.