Presenting the ASMS Class of 2021
This year’s Alabama School of Mathematics and Science senior class is nothing short of exceptional. The Class of 2021 includes students from 29 different counties across the state of Alabama. We are so proud to share some of their accomplishments with our school community!
- 16 seniors will graduate with a 4.0 GPA.
- The average ACT score of the class is a 29 (9 points above the national average).
- 2 seniors earned a perfect 36 score on the ACT.
- 7 seniors were named National Merit Finalists (10% of the entire class).
- This class was awarded over $10 million in scholarship opportunities.
- 11 seniors will graduate as the inaugural class of ASMS Research Fellows.
- 40 seniors will graduate as part of the inaugural class of the ASMS Jo Bonner Leadership Academy.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CLASS OF 2021
Gregory Li, Baldwin County
U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona announced the selection of Gregory Li of Spanish Fort, AL, as a 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholar. Li is one of just 161 outstanding American high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, technical expertise, leadership, citizenship, service, and contribution to school and community.
Since 1983, each U.S. Presidential Scholar has been offered the opportunity to name his or her most influential teacher. Each distinguished teacher is honored with a personal letter from the Secretary of Education. The teacher chosen for recognition by Li was Natalya Prokhorova, a long-time math instructor at ASMS.
Greg will attend Harvard University in the fall.
May Jung, Autauga County
May Jung of Prattville, AL was recently selected as a 2021 Emmy Noether Award gold medalist for The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation. The Emmy Noether Awards seek top aspiring female research scientists in any STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) field to help realize their potential careers through financial and networking assistance. As the 2021 Gold Medalist, May will be awarded up to $75,000 for a qualified graduate level research program and will be inducted as a 2021 Emmy Noether Scholar.
May will attend Harvard University in the fall.
Joy Buchi, Etowah County
In the fall, Joy Buchi will be attending Duke University on a full scholarship. She is the recipient of The Alumni Endowed Undergraduate Scholarship. The scholarship "is awarded on the basis of academic achievement, leadership performance, and meritorious activity outside the classroom" (website). Joy intends to pursue a dual M.D. and Ph.D. program after graduating from Duke.
Carson Lott, Mobile County
Caron Lott will be attending The University of Alabama on a merit-scholarship in the fall and was admitted to the Blount Scholars program at the institution. “The Blount Scholars Program is a selective, four-year, living and learning community at The University of Alabama featuring small, seminar-style classes, intensive interaction with faculty, and an integrated, interdisciplinary curriculum leading to a minor in Liberal Arts” (website).
Anna Peebles, Baldwin County
Anna Peeples from Baldwin County has been named a 2021 Cooke College Scholar and is the only recipient from Alabama. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced that 61 graduating high school seniors will receive the Cooke College Scholarship out of a pool of 5,800 applicants. The Cooke Foundation selected Scholars based on their academic ability, persistence, leadership, and financial need.
As a Cooke College Scholar, Anna will receive up to $40,000 annually to cover costs associated with undergraduate education along with ongoing educational advising from Foundation staff and access to a network of active Scholars and Alumni. She will also receive opportunities for internships, study abroad, and access to graduate school funding. In the fall, Anna plans to attend Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania where she will study public health policy.
Cary Xiao, Tuscaloosa County
The U.S. Department of Education announced Cary Xiao of Tuscaloosa, AL, as a 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholar semifinalist. Xiao is one of just 625 semifinalists who advanced to the final round of some of our Nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. The majority of the Scholars are selected on the basis of academic achievement.
Cary will attend Stanford University in the fall.
Vasilisa Douglas, Mobile County & Marcella Todd, Mobile County
Vasilisa Douglas and Marcella Todd received a National Honorable Mention from the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing program! The state Superintendent of Education, Dr. Eric Mackey, and the Alabama Board of Education recently honored the students at their May meeting!
Vasilisa plans to attend The University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Marcella plans to attend Harvey Mudd College in California.
Matthias Medrano, Mobile County
Matthias Medrano is the recipient of a scholarship from the Joseph Treadwell Charitable Foundation which will cover his tuition, books, and fees for college. "[Treadwell] Academic Scholarships are offered to graduating High School Seniors in Mobile County, Alabama who wish to further their education by attending a college or university in Mobile County which includes Bishop State Community College, Coastal Alabama Community College, the University of South Alabama, Spring Hill College and the University of Mobile" (website).
Matthias will be attending the University of South Alabama in the fall.
Emma Joly, Baldwin County
Emma was recently selected as a 2021 Emmy Noether Scholar by The Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation. The Emmy Noether Awards seek top aspiring female research scientists in any STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) field to help realize their potential careers through financial and networking assistance. As an Emmy Noether Scholar, Emma "will join a network of young female aspiring research scientists and will be offered information on internship and networking opportunities" (website).
Emma will attend the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in the fall.
Ella Chapman, Autauga County
Ella Chapman will attend The University of Mississippi in the fall and was accepted to the Croft Institute. The Croft Institute for International Studies "bring[s] together outstanding students from Mississippi and other parts of the United States to immerse themselves in intensive study of the languages, cultures, and economies of the world" (website). The aim of the institute for students "to become global citizens -- aware of the world and engaged with it – to prepare them for the rapidly changing and ever more globalized workplaces" (website).
THE CLASS OF 2021
Hailey LaNae Alexander
Madison
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Aidan Murice Anderson
Mobile
Auburn University
Hassan Aziz
Mobile
University of South Alabama
Matthew Jay Blevins
Baldwin
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Zamarian Makeldric Bryant
Hale
Auburn University
Chioma Joy Buchi-Ahiabuike
Etowah
Duke University
Jade Elizabeth Bustos
Madison
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Ella Bess Chapman
Autauga
University of Mississippi
Vincent Chen
Butler
Auburn University
Taeung Choi
Montgomery
The University of Alabama
in Huntsville
Tayla Alese Crear
Sumter
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Vasilisa Cecile Douglas
Mobile
The University of Alabama
in Huntsville
Della Grace Eckenrod
Morgan
University of California, Los Angeles
Leonard James Fowler
Chambers
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Sara Jessica Alexandra Fry
Winston
Samford University
Miguel Vicente Gapud
Mobile
University of South Alabama
Dwayne Charles Goggins, Jr.
Macon
The University of Texas at Austin
Michaela Layne Granec
Tuscaloosa
Auburn University
Lindsey Margaret Adams Haas
Baldwin
University of South Alabama
Hunter Quinn Handley
Houston
The University of Alabama
in Huntsville
Cassie Mackenzie Hardy
Calhoun
Jacksonville State University
Joseph Charles Hulcher
Mobile
The University of Alabama
Noorullah Imran
Mobile
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Duncan James
Mobile
Pomona College
Emma Louise Joly
Baldwin
Georgia Institute of Technology
Veda Nirav Joshi
Houston
University of Alabama at Birmingham
May Jung
Autauga
Harvard University
Alaina Gail Kelly
Fayette
The University of Alabama
Micah Ryley Kimbrough
Shelby
Alabama A&M University
John Brantly King
Houston
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Mariah Margaret Kirby
Baldwin
The University of Alabama
in Huntsville
Spencer Shae Kongchan
Elmore
The University of Alabama
Emma Last
Baldwin
University of Dundee
Jeriel Mikhail Leyble
Mobile
The University of Alabama
in Huntsville
Gregory Tianwei Li
Baldwin
Harvard University
Ashlin Belle Lott
Mobile
The University of Alabama
Carson Alexander Lott
Mobile
The University of Alabama
Cristan Jerry Mayhugh
Tallapoosa
Troy University
Matthias Joseph Medrano
Mobile
University of South Alabama
Melissa Joan Mercer
Baldwin
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Sidney Alexandra Mueller
Shelby
The University of Alabama
in Huntsville
Lizziah Cherelle Murry
Dallas
Prairie View A&M University
Aleksandra Marie Naylor
Shelby
Emory University
Caroline Ramsey Nelson
Baldwin
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Samantha Ann Neno
Mobile
Auburn University
Katelyn Elise Pack
Shelby
Troy University
Mackenzi Sanitra Parks
Dale
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Krusha Utpal Patel
Coffee
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Riya Praful Patel
Houston
The University of Alabama
JaMiyah Keanna Peebles
Tuscaloosa
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Anna Rae Peeples
Baldwin
Swarthmore College
JaMya Norell Peoples
Dallas
Mississippi Valley State University
Madison Marie Pickens
Mobile
Howard University
Spencer Christian Purdy
Mobile
Auburn University
Katherine Irie Rutschilling
Calhoun
Sarah Lawrence College
Joseph Michael Scillia
Mobile
University of South Alabama
Alexandria Christian Sessions
Elmore
Barnard College
Noor Shalan
Mobile
University of South Alabama
Anushka Sikdar
Mobile
University of California, Los Angeles
Summer Nicole Smith
Choctaw
University of South Alabama
Isabelle Joyz Stabler
Houston
Auburn University
Zoe Marie Moss Steele
Shelby
University of South Alabama
Starla Leanne Straub
Lauderdale
The University of Maine
Marissa Susanna Swindle
Tuscaloosa
The University of Alabama
in Huntsville
Marcella TyRhonda Todd
Mobile
Harvey Mudd College
Desiree Patricia Turner
Mobile
The University of Alabama
Elijah Keenan Velaski
Baldwin
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Ronald Harris Warren
Mobile
Auburn University
Tabitha Catherine Watson
Jefferson
Emory University
Tristyn Isabella Watson
Jefferson
Oxford College of Emory University
Madison Grace Webster
Elmore
Auburn University
Emma Sage Wetherbee
Crenshaw
University of Central Florida
Ethan Cole Wheeler
Baldwin
Auburn University
Joan Carolyn White
Mobile
The University of Alabama
Callie Ellis Willett
Shelby
University of South Alabama
Cary Xiao
Tuscaloosa
Stanford University
Barclay Ram Zislin
Baldwin
Tulane University