A celebration of senior academic leaders

ScarlettHenery

The Class of 2024 is inching closer and closer to graduation day and the days of celebration are soon to come. On Jan. 30, Marian announced the two girls that have been named the top academic scholars of the senior class, Valedictorian and Salutatorian: Grace Sparwasser and Riya Kumar. 

These girls have worked tirelessly in all of their classes, as well as have been active members and leaders of countless clubs and organizations. It’s truly an incredible accomplishment to hold one of these titles for the Marian Class of 2024. These two girls deserve all of the recognition for their efforts, so let’s take a look at what they’ve done these past four years. 

Grace Sparwasser has been an admirable leader in Operation Others, Sustainability Club, FIAT and Math Club. She has also run on Marian’s cross country team, managed the lighting booth for the theater program, led a number of retreats and even works a part-time job at the Dundee ice cream shop, eCreamery. 

Outside of academics and activities, Sparwasser spends her time hanging at her family’s farm, watching movies with her friends, and playing with her Aussie doodle, Cassie. 

With such a plethora of activities, Sparwasser says that it was most helpful for her to create a “study schedule every week to help keep organized” throughout high school. Sparwasser explains that she writes down the dates of all her tests and quizzes so she can prepare for them four days in advance. She believes this is one of the best ways to study as it doesn’t let things “pile up.” Sparwasser also encourages students to use the resources available to them, especially those that Marian provides. She suggests, if you need help, see your teachers; if you’re struggling, seek out a tutor. Sparwasser explains that “it is okay to ask for help; I do it all the time.”

In all of her successes, Sparwasser looks to her parents, teachers and very own classmates to thank. She says, “Although I am immensely proud of myself for all of my achievements, I am more proud of the relationships that I have with my Marian girls.” She is forever grateful for the support her classmates have shown her and is leaving Marian with friendships that will last a lifetime. Sparwasser is attending the University of Notre Dame and will be majoring in computer engineering, bound to do amazing things in the future.

Now, the salutatorian, Riya Kumar, shares her advice after four busy years at Marian. Kumar has been involved in many activities including FBLA, Operation Others, staff member of BURN magazine, and president of National Honor Society. 

She also has an active life outside of school as she is the lead vocalist in the band The Redwoods and is a volunteer yoga teacher for kids at the Universal Peace Foundation of North America. She and Sparwasser share the same wise piece of advice, to use your teachers as resources and always ask for help. She also suggests to “challenge yourself to a certain extent to explore your potential and learn new things!”

Kumar would like to thank her family for her successes as they “continuously supported my dreams and inspired me to put my best foot forward in anything that I took up.” Kumar is attending Columbia University and plans on majoring in psychology of Cognitive Science on the pre-law track. These two girls are some of Marian’s finest, and we are so proud to call them our own.