Courtesy of Greg Louie

Award winners pose for a photo in the school library last May.

Every year as the school year draws to a close, teachers have the chance to honor stellar students from the junior class with a wide range of departmental awards; these awards are sponsored by various organizations and universities.

In a ceremony last May, 21 awards were handed out recognizing students for their achievements in STEM, leadership and the humanities. 

The George Eastman Young Award

For now senior Nirvan Shah, winning the George Eastman Young Leaders Award was incredibly rewarding.

“It feels great to win this award knowing that my leadership skills and leadership qualities are getting recognized by the school and my teachers,” Shah said.

Presented to him by former leadership teacher Kristen Cunningham, Shah said the real meaning of the award lies beyond the certificate. It represents a milestone, showing him how far he has come in his journey as a leader. 

Shah noted how holding a leadership position for the past four years has allowed him to grow considerably.

“Being a great leader, you just have to be yourself. Be a better person. Always go out of your way to help others, and you will get recognized for that work,” Shah said.

Senior Max Rombakh takes the award as one step along his journey

While Shah found purpose in guiding others, senior Max Rombakh took a more introspective route. As the recipient of a California Math Council Certificate, Rombakh was nominated by math teacher PJ Yim for his strong skills in mathematics. But for Rombakh, the recognition was simply an achievement in a much larger journey.

“Receiving the award didn’t change much for me because I was already fairly proud of my achievements off of self-evaluation; the external validation didn’t change my perspective on it,” Rombakh said. “However, my journey through high school, which led to me receiving this award, made me who I am today.”

Rombakh cherishes his journey to achieve academic success, which fostered his genuine passion for not only mathematics but also physics. His academic accomplishments — such as reaching The United States Physics Olympiad silver level — come from the fruits of his hard work spent reading textbooks and solving countless practice problems on his own. 

Rombakh intends to pursue the field of science beyond high school and university. 

“When it comes to learning, be curious. No matter what, don’t be complacent with your current understanding — always try to dig deeper. This isn’t just specific to physics,” Rombakh said. “I think it applies and will lead someone to find success in virtually any discipline they touch.”

Senior Liam Lenh cherishes the relationship he has with English teacher Amy Keys

Senior Liam Lenh, the winner of the Harvard Prize Book Award, emphasized the importance of striving to learn and finding passion in class. His dedication to genuinely connect with the teacher and the class paved the way for his nomination.

“I deeply appreciate my English teacher, Ms. Keys, for thinking of me when she was deciding whom to nominate for the award,” Lenh said. “This award means a lot to me because it reflects the rapport I’ve developed with her over the course of this school year.”

Lenh noted how he hasn’t participated in any particularly outstanding activities such as science or writing competitions. Rather, he recognizes that enthusiasm for learning and developing a thoughtful understanding of the world is what has brought him success in the class.

Although Lenh plans to pursue medicine, he recently developed an interest in minoring in philosophy because of the self-reflection it inspires. Winning this award has encouraged him to become even more passionate about further involving himself in the humanities.

Lenh’s story proves how having passion and deep relationships with teachers can surpass competition awards.

“Develop genuine relationships with your teachers, not because you want to secure their recommendation letter or something like that, but because they’re people who dedicate immense effort into our education and have much wisdom to share with you,” Lenh said. “Connecting with them is a way for you to show your gratitude for it.”

When selecting from the pool of accomplished students, one of the key aspects that Keys searches for is growth. Students who have changed over time, who have found a new passion which has blossomed particularly resonate with her. Additionally, teachers like her value students who contribute to the community of the classroom, helping other people get their voices out while developing their reading, writing and expressive creative skills.

“I’m really happy to celebrate those students who, especially in a community like this that’s so STEM focused and so business focused, are interested in literature and language and humanities,” Keys said. “It truly reflects the work they’ve produced and the passion they’ve put into the class.”