Four Avon High Seniors Earn Top Honors

The A Class of 2011 is the largest to graduate from the school yet, with 255 students set to get their diplomas on June 5. 

It is not uncommon for several students to share valedictorian and salutatorian honors and this year is no exception. 

Stephen Bowen, Alex Lawrence and Kirtana Ramadugu are co-valedictorians and Karen Robertson is the salutatorian. 

Stephen Bowen

Bowen is president of Key Club, a member of the National Honor Society, and is involved in soccer, drama and band. Hobbies outside of school include playing video games and snowboarding. He also has volunteered at the  local soup kitchen and worked a booth at Relay for Life. 

With an interest in medicine, he plans to attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall, although undecided on a specific major. 

“When I visited the campus, I knew that is where I wanted to go,” said Bowen. “During visitation weekend at Notre Dame the best advice I received was ‘don’t worry about where you go to school, it’s important what you make of it’”

 Other possible college choices were Vanderbilt, Duke and Keny0n.

Bowen’s advice to other students is to get involved in activities early in school rather than waiting until the last few years. He also sees the national debt as a challenge facing today’s youth.

Alex Lawrence

Lawrence is president of the National Honor Society, a member of the Key and Culture clubs, as well as Academic Challenge and baseball teams.  He was the first student from Avon High accepted to the Cleveland Clinic Summer High School Internship Program (2009). His hobbies include hanging out with family and friends.

He, too, is undecided on a major in college, but has an interest in law. He is headed to Georgetown University. 

“My advice to underclassman is that they need to make sure they stay balanced with their academics, extracurriculars and personal lives,” said Lawrence. “While it is important to stay on top of schoolwork and maintain good grades, it is just as important to take time to spend with your friends and family. The confidence and happiness that your friends and family provide you with will make your academic pursuits that much easier.”

He lists his father, Ian, as the person having the greatest influence on his life and enabling him to learn how to balance work and having fun.

“As a small business owner, he often works long hours,” said Lawrence. “Learning from the example of his work ethic is what really drives me to work hard at school.” 

Kirtana Ramadugu

If the name Ramadugu sounds familiar, it’s because the family has a history of Avon High top scholars. Kirtana’s brother, Ajit (Class of 2009) and sister Sruti (Class of 2008) also were valedictorians.

Kirtana also comes from a family of doctors. Her father, Ashok, is a pulmonologist at EMH. Last summer, several family members traveled to Peru with the Peruvian American Medical Society to offer medical care. 

She doesn’t rule out studying medicine in college, but is learning toward the policy side of health care. She will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall.

 Kirtana’s list of activities includes National Honor Society, Junior Statesman of America, Academic Challenge, orchestra, drama and tennis.

“My grandfather told me to always keep working,” she said. “Keep pushing to get good grades. My advice to other students to pick something you are interested in and stick with it. The challenges we face as youth in today’s society are that people think we are spoiled and cannot do things for ourselves. We can survive without technology.”

Karen Robertson

Robertson plans to attend The Ohio State University to study history.

 Her high school activities include Junior Statesman of America, National Honor Society and drama club. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, writing and listen to music. Robertson also has volunteered at a local food pantry.

She lists are parents, John and Kathy, as having the biggest influence on her life.

“While the impact upon my life from many friends, teachers, coaches, and directors is never negligible, my family has truly molded me into the person I have become,” said Robertson. “My interests, and values are all due to my parents, as is my sanity. In the past few years I have learned to call my little brother a friend, and he teaches me something new every day, even if his stories are sometimes bizarre.”

Her advice to fellow classmates is to not feel you have to stick with something forever. “If you really want to do something else, just do it.”

As for the future, she sees herself as hopefully employed and living in a big city exploring everything life has to offer.