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Ranney Holds Cum Laude Induction Ceremony

On Wednesday, March 9, 20 members of the Class of 2022 were inducted into the Cum Laude Society.
 
The Cum Laude Society is a national scholastic honor society that serves to recognize outstanding academic achievement in high school juniors and seniors. Cum Laude includes more than 650 chapters across the United States and inducts only the top 20% of a graduating senior class each year. Ranney’s Cum Laude Society Chapter was established in 2001.
 
“I want to extend my congratulations to our 20 scholars,” said Visual Arts Department Chair and Chapter President Ms. Kate Greenberg.  “Induction into the Cum Laude Society is an honor presented to a very small number of students nationwide, and represents the highest group academic honor that Ranney School awards. Congratulations to all of you on this distinction!”
 
Read more about the inductees below:
 
Samantha Abdelbarry
Samantha Abdelbarry is well-deserving of this Cum Laude honor. Easygoing, friendly, and fun to be around, Samantha is known among the Ranney faculty as a tenacious and diligent worker both in and outside the classroom and a warm and caring individual who almost seems to shun the spotlight. This is not to say that Samantha is overcome with shyness because this is far from the case. Samantha is simply not driven by recognition and instead approaches her academic and extracurricular endeavors in a very reflective manner. Her contributions to the Varsity Field Hockey and Lacrosse teams have been invaluable, and she mentors younger players. As Vice President of our Medical Explorers Club, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Samantha hopes to work in the healthcare field in the future. Her empathetic and calm nature, coupled with her desire to improve the lives of others, will serve her well in the future.
 
Joseph Arege
Joseph Arege is well-deserving of this Cum Laude honor.  With a contagious laugh and a warm, courteous demeanor, Joseph is widely regarded among faculty and staff at Ranney School as one of the kindest young members of the senior class. Although ambitious and focused on his many academic and extracurricular commitments, he carries himself through the halls with a calm demeanor that suggests an inner peace and confidence. Indeed, with his mature, amicable, and genuine personality, Joseph has been a tremendously well-liked and respected individual in our community. His friends single him out as a good listener and excellent conversationalist with whom they enjoy spending time. Most often seen around campus with a camera in hand, Joseph’s strong communication skills are evident in all of his academic and extracurricular endeavors. A true entrepreneur, Joseph has his own video production company and is making a documentary for his Capstone project this year.
 
Layla Barthwal
Layla Barthwal is well-deserving of the Cum Laude honor. Layla is dedicated to her studies and is one of the strongest students in the senior class. Layla is a strong, logical thinker, as seen by her consistently strong performance throughout her tenure at Ranney School. Her course selection consists of eight AP level courses and nine honors courses. Layla is also a talented artist. Her senior portfolio in sculpture focuses on how humans interact with art. Layla has put the same level of thought and dedication to her activities out of the classroom. She is a founding member of our REP Club (religion, ethics and politics). As a four-year member of our varsity field hockey team, she has been a consummate teammate and silent leader that her teammates can depend on. Layla also likes to travel and to spend time in nature. Taking care of and giving back to the environment are important to her. 

Addison Basile
Addison Basile is well-deserving of this Cum Laude honor. Addy’s impressive mix of maturity and humility makes her as highly attuned to the tenor and needs of the group as she is to her own abilities and limitations to effect change. A gracious, compassionate, and exceptionally bright young person, Addy has both the talent and drive to tackle a rigorous academic load while pursuing her passion for psychology, student government, ice hockey, jazz band, softball, community service, and her part-time job at Hobby Lobby, all while maintaining her generosity of spirit and the joy she takes in working with others. There is an unusual pervasiveness about Addy’s spirit; it infuses everything she does. Her sense of purpose and drive really shine when she takes on leadership roles, as evidenced by her role as Student Council President. Through this role and others, Addy has helped to improve the student culture here. Addy aspires to be a school leader in the future; we would certainly hire her to work for her alma mater!
 
Ryan Biswal  
Ryan Biswal is well-deserving of the Cum Laude honor. Ryan is a true Renaissance Man; thriving in the classroom, mesmerizing on the stage, and a master of prose. He has taken on a curriculum that is not only rigorous, but meaningful to him and represents his interests. Ryan has created a vigorous academic experience for himself at Ranney School. His course selection consists of eight AP level courses and thirteen honors courses. Ryan has put the same level of thought and dedication to his involvement out of the classroom. Ryan’s commitment to our performing arts department is remarkable. Introduced to theater in middle school, Ryan has had roles in every performance since. Ryan currently serves as President of our International Thespian Society. He is also a talented violinist, serving as our first violin in the school orchestra. Additionally, Ryan currently serves as the Editor for RSVP, the Ranney Schoolliterary magazine. 

Thomas Boyan
Thomas Boyan is well-deserving of this Cum Laude honor. Thomas embodies the three pillars of success in academia and beyond: leadership, scholarship, and citizenship. Thomas is a scholar of the highest level but has reached that stage in a wonderfully unassuming, modest manner. He loves the experience of education and possesses the intellectual curiosity to drive his passions. Thomas has done a tremendous job balancing a highly rigorous academic program while also leading his peers outside of the classroom through his work in athletics and several clubs and organizations. Thomas' commitment to his extracurricular pursuits shines through all of his activities, including Varsity Soccer, Varsity Tennis, School Newspaper, Robotics, FBLA, Student Council Representative, Peer Mentor, Admission Ambassador, and Model Congress. Due to his strong personal character and leadership qualities, Thomas' peers have selected him to serve as one of two students on the Judicial Review Board; being appointed to the Judicial Review Board represents the highest honor that a student can attain.

Madison Catanese
Madison Catanese is well-deserving of the Cum Laude honor. Madison has proven herself to be a very capable student who is respected by her peers and the faculty alike. She is passionate about her interests and pursues them fiercely. Madison has challenged herself with a full curriculum of five AP level courses and fifteen honors classes. She consistently shows up to class ready to learn. In the classroom she is a conscientious student and an active participant in class discussions. Madison has put the same level of thought and dedication to her activities out of the classroom. Madison has devoted countless hours to the sport of crew. Her dedication to the sport is evident by her successes throughout her career. Madison is also a talented vocalist, serving as a four-year member of our school choir and a leader in her vocal section while also being a role model for the underclassmen. 

Morgan Chandler
Morgan Chandler is well-deserving of this Cum Laude honor. She strikes a remarkable balance. She’s a fireball of energy -- her numerous activities and impressive accolades speak to her liveliness, as do her quick wit and genuine excitement for learning. Yet, at the same time, Morgan is deeply contemplative -- she acts with purpose, thinks carefully about her opinions and actions, and possesses a sophisticated worldview. A rarity among high school students, Morgan combines her mature perspective with her approachable, enthusiastic nature. She is a notable scholar, an influential and respected leader, and most importantly, a young person of impeccable character. A three-sport varsity athlete and captain of the soccer, swim, and lacrosse teams, Morgan draws out the very best from her teammates, who, in turn, look up to her. Music brings balance to her life as a member of the cello section of our orchestra. Through her role as a peer mentor and a peer tutor for Aslan Youth Ministries, Morgan loves to mentor others.
 
Oscar Chu
Oscar Chu is well-deserving of this Cum Laude honor. Still waters run deep in Oscar. What is on the outside an ideal image of polite and quiet respect, on the inside, is a passionate, interested, and interesting young man of many facets! During the school year, his pace is breathtaking given the combination of his academic load, his athletic commitments, and his extracurricular leadership, all points of genuine interest and passion in him. Oscar handles it all in stride, and his even-keeled nature does not hint at self-pity but rather as a certain pride he has in the development he has shown in each area of his life since arriving at Ranney School. Through his work on Student Council, Robotics, Finance Club, and FBLA, he offers a different perspective and incorporates his knowledge of current global events into discussions. A two-sport athlete and member of the orchestra, Oscar enjoys mentoring the younger players in his role as tennis captain and first violinist.
 
Lily Egol
Lily Egol is well-deserving of this Cum Laude honor. Passionate, empathetic, intellectual, creative, and ethical, Lily Egol has taken Ranney School by storm. From the first day of high school, she quickly established herself as a deep thinker, a mentor, and a leader. Whether it is with her scholarly approach to making connections between disciplines, her ability to cut through to the heart of the matter, or the incredible kindness she displays, Lily is the type of person who makes the classroom come alive. The in-school activities that mean the most to Lily are R.S.V.P. Literary Magazine, Theatre, Orchestra, Academic Team, History Bowl, and the Varsity Tennis Team. She loves music, so the orchestra is a home for her within the school. She’s the Concertmaster of the orchestra and a member of the pit orchestra for Upper School musicals, Chamber Music Club, and the Electric Bow Fusion ensemble. Lily embraces the academic, artistic, athletic, and humanitarian realms with equal grace and intensity. She is quite simply the best!
 
Zhenyu Li
Zhenyu “Albert” Li is well-deserving of the Cum Laude honor. Throughout his four years at Ranney School, Albert has challenged himself by selecting seven AP classes and eight honors courses.  Outside of the classroom, Albert is the Founder and President of Ranney School’s Rubik's Cube Club, Co-Captain of VEX Robotics and Vice President of the Chess Club.  He is also a guitarist for Ranney’s Jazz Band.  Albert has earned several accolades including the 2021 Outstanding STEM Achievement Award at New Jersey State Science Day, along with membership to the Science National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society. To further his academic interests, Albert crafted an independent research essay which won the New Jersey State Science Day Climate Change Challenge.  He also participated in the Path Academics Biological Principles of Neurophysiology online research program and currently has an essay in the publishing process.

Kang Ping Liu
Kang Ping Liu is well-deserving of the Cum Laude honor.  Throughout his three years at Ranney School, Kang Ping has challenged himself with a rigorous curriculum including eight AP level courses and four honors courses. Upon graduation, he will have completed our highest courses offered in Mathematics and Science.  Given his deep interest in Chemistry, Kang Ping focused his Capstone project around past, present and future theory and uses of cellulose which is used to produce wrinkle-free cotton.  He currently serves as the President of the Chemistry Club, along with participating as an active member of our American Computer Science League, New Jersey Science League, and Science Bowl teams.  Kang Ping has earned membership to Alpha Mu Theta (National Mathematics Honor Society), National Science Honor Society, and National Art Honor Society.  Over the summers, Kang Ping has participated in academic programs through Harvard Summer Institute and University of California-Los Angeles studying organic chemistry and nanoscience.

Brielle Polizzano
Brielle Polizzano is well-deserving of the Cum Laude honor. She has a compassionate demeanor and an inquisitive mind. Brielle has been thoughtful in her course selection and is a conscientious student. She has chosen a curriculum that represents her various academic interests while providing her with meaningful classroom experiences. Her course selection consists of six AP level courses and nine honors courses. Brille is the founder of our new Creative Productions Group, which encourages participants to create their own videos, plays, games, or anything else they can imagine. She has been a pivotal member of our Speech & Debate team, serving as Vice President her junior year. Brielle has also remained active on our History Bowl team throughout high school and is a member of our Balloon Brigade. Finally, Brielle’s involvement in our performing arts program has been exceptional. Her role as ‘Audrey’ in our musical, Little Shop of Horrors, won her the Basie Award for best supporting actress.

Anthony Sallustio
Anthony Sallustio is well-deserving of this Cum Laude honor.   What’s most admirable about Anthony is his desire to learn for learning’s sake. Intellectual and personal vigor is at the heart of Anthony’s creative work. He eagerly confronts the difficult questions, complex issues, and uncomfortable challenges society presents. He uses his intellect, ingenuity, and resilience to make new connections, formulates powerful problem-solving strategies, and collaborates with others to implement change. He possesses strong communication skills to convey his view of the world with sensitivity to the needs of different audiences. He listens as frequently and carefully as he speaks, displaying receptiveness to diverse viewpoints and a genuine desire to learn about the experiences of others. His loyalty to his extracurricular pursuits is notable, particularly in his role as Student Council representative for all four years of high school, piano, and Varsity tennis. His work ethic in all situations is unmatched, and he certainly has a bright future career in business ahead of him.

Visv Shah
Visv Shah is well-deserving of the Cum Laude honor. Visv is steadfast and dependable in the classroom. He has continually challenged himself with a demanding curriculum of nine advanced placement courses and ten honors courses. Visv has put the same level of thought and dedication to his involvement out of the classroom. In junior year, he was selected to join our Middle States Accreditation Panel and represent the Ranney School student body. His selection speaks to his maturity and professionalism. Visv has served as captain for our robotics team since his sophomore year. He has also proudly served as Treasurer for the class of 2022 since his junior year. This year he has taken on the additional responsibility of being President of our Math Honor Society. Visv took on the project of revamping the peer tutoring program enhancing the traditional in person tutoring with online videos for students to utilize at their own pace. 

Rishi Sondhi
Rishi Sondhi is well-deserving of the Cum Laude honor. Rishi has an easy-going demeanor and a desire to learn, which makes him a model student. He comes to class prepared and eager to engage in the subject matter. His positive attitude is infectious. He is a lifelong learner and holds himself to high standards. As such. Rishi has challenged himself with a full curriculum of eight AP level courses and twelve honors classes. History Bowl has played a significant role in Rishi’s high school experience. He has served as co-captain for the past two years. He has had continued success as evident by his qualifying for the National Tournament multiple times. Rishi is also willing to put himself front and center on the stage. He has been a valued contributor to our theatrical performances since his freshman year. Rishi also enjoys participating on our junior varsity tennis team and competing on a local club team. 
 
Yunxuan Tang
Yunxuan “Haytham” Tang is well-deserving of the Cum Laude honor. Throughout his three years at Ranney School, he will complete ten AP level courses and five honors courses.  Upon graduation, Haytham will have taken our highest courses offered in Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science. For his Capstone project, Haytham elected to spend the year researching and investigating how linear programming is developed and used in business decision making in real-world applications.  Outside of the classroom, Haytham holds seven leadership positions within student organizations such as our chapter of the American Computer Science League, Chemistry Club, Math League, Science Bowl and Arduino Club.  He’s also a member of our school’s History Bowl team, specializing in Asian History and World War II, and has earned membership to National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society and National Speech and Debate Honor Society. Outside of Ranney, Haytham is a math tutor for a non-profit organization called LearnToBe where he virtually connects and tutors elementary-aged students.
 
Lovleen Virdi
Lovleen Virdi is well-deserving of this Cum Laude honor. She is described as among the “glue” students who hold our community together. She lifts the level of scholarship, conversation, and shared purpose in the classroom, devises ways to be creative through disciplines, and shows us all how to live a joyful, generous life. She is self-directed, highly motivated, extremely positive, and just comfortable being Lovleen. In the end, she is always ready to give it her all. Through several of her extracurricular pursuits, including Women in STEM, Chorus, Computer Science League, Peer Mentor, Women’s Studies, Diversity Club, her non-profit organization Love to Help, Inc., and her work in pageantry, she works to empower those who feel silenced or are voiceless. Voiceless signifies the historically underrepresented, disadvantaged, or vulnerable folks. Lovleen takes a particular interest in those individuals and helps them obtain opportunities to organize, increase visibility and express themselves by leveraging the strengths of information, media, and communication technology. Such tools and platforms, including the internet, Facebook, Twitter, and free software, are ways that Lovleen encourages others to be heard and be “given voice.”
 
Eden Weiss
Eden Weiss is well-deserving of this Cum Laude honor. Eden is a student whose intellectual curiosity, thoughtful reflection, and deep wondering about the world around her make her stand out among her peers. That she cares and seeks to master every concept put before her while making it look easy is a given, but the intellectual fire and thirst for discovery behind her academic power are what really make her so fascinating. She has a gift for absorbing information quickly and then analyzing and reflecting on it in new and different ways, which add an integral spark to classroom discussions. A true Francophile, Eden’s Capstone Project explains how French architecture has evolved while remaining a pioneer in the realm of architecture. Eden’s interests and talents cover a broad spectrum ranging from founder and Co-President of the R.E.P. (Religion, Ethics, Politics) Club to Vice President of FBLA to a Model UN Delegate to Vice President of the French Honor Society to Member of the Varsity Girls Golf Team.
 
Sophia Zaslow
Sophia Zaslow is well-deserving of this Cum Laude honor. Self-confidence, determination, perseverance, fine intelligence, and superior talents have enabled Sophia to flourish here at Ranney School, where she is an admired scholar, leader, and role model. The breadth of her abilities (analytical, conceptual, and athletic) is as remarkable as it is rare. Sophia is different. She truly cares about who she is and who she wants to become, not just how she will be perceived. She is passionate about her interests and pursues them fiercely, and is not particularly concerned with what her peers or others might think. Sophia is a doer. She does for all the right reasons – genuine interest, curiosity, passion, and a desire to be part of a community. She is an active participant in life and a master of time management, as evidenced by her commitment to being a nationally ranked tennis player, tennis instructor, and a member of R-HOPE. Her contagious smile will brighten anyone’s day, and her genuine desire to help others will never go unnoticed.
 
 
 
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.