HPHS Valedictorian Amy Siyue Li
Valedictorian Amy Siyue Li is planning to study computer science at MIT in the fall, with a possible second major in math. "MIT has a wealth of STEM opportunities, so we'll see where that takes me," she said. "I'm really looking forward to meeting all the people at MIT since I've heard a lot about the amazing and quirky community they have."Li moved from Manhattan, Kan. to HP as she was starting seventh grade. Academically, the experience was a bit jarring, she said, because she was transitioning from elementary school, where she barely had any homework, to the relatively rigorous workload of HPMS.
"I also remember being worried about making new friends, especially since I was aware that the HPMS students all knew each other already," she added. "However, I joined a lot of activities, including band, and the cross country and math teams, where I got to know many of my peers who were very welcoming, and I'm still close friends with quite a few of the people I met during that time."
At HPHS, she continued pursuing many of the same interests, including the math, science and computer science teams, and she served as captain of all three teams as a senior. Li had an interest in STEM and contests since elementary school, and says she is grateful for these opportunities at HPHS. In addition, she regularly traveled out of the state to participate in even more math contests.
Outside of what she calls these "kind of geeky pursuits," she has been a part of the Asian Culture Association since freshman year, and served as its president for the last two years. She also volunteered at the Health and Education Largesse Program (HELP), which supports Burmese immigrants and their children. HELP is focused on improving the education of these children, and after volunteering as a tutor for two years, she has been the Program Director for the last two.
"It is definitely odd to be graduating during these strange times, but I'm sure that it will make the class of 2020 stronger," Li said. "I know that my classmates are disappointed that rather than having the typical graduation events and parties, we stay up FaceTiming and Zoom calling each other. However, I think this interruption and the craziness of the events has allowed us to take some time to reflect on who we are as members of society and what we want in the next stages of our lives. I have no doubt that the Class of 2020 will come out triumphant."
HPHS Salutatorian Jean Ye
Class of 2020 salutatorian Jean Ye* will be attending the College of Letters & Sciences at the University of California, Berkeley with intent to major in the Biology+Business program. She says that she looks forward to immersing herself in all the novel and diverse experiences that California has to offer.Ye was born in Albuquerque, N. M., but she moved to Dallas in the summer before fifth grade and entered McCulloch Intermediate School. She skipped eighth grade in the summer of 2016 and, as a result, made the transition to high school a year early.
"While facing pressure in a new environment, I spent freshman year navigating the perils of Pre-AP Biology and socialization," she said. "But ultimately, coming out at the end of four whirlwind years, I believe that I have grown as a learner, a leader, and an individual."
Her extracurricular activities at HPHS included serving as captain of the Academic Decathlon team, Board Head of Tartan, Vice President of the Asian Culture Association, and as an officer for the Community Service Council, "She's the First" and QuizBowl.
"As team captain of Academic Decathlon for three years, I befriended individuals of all different backgrounds." Ye added. "The immense commitment required to dominate in this competition created lasting bonds, making both victory and defeat significantly more meaningful as my team and I took back the State Champion title."
Her community service activities included tutoring K-12 Burmese refugees in math and reading for Health and Education Largesse Program, serving as a teacher's assistant at the Dallas Modern Chinese Language School, and the Otsukimi, Mochitsuki and Dragonboat Asian festivals.
"2020 has been a year full of unforeseen circumstances and new experiences, but I believe that these challenges have increased the resilience and flexibility of the Class of 2020," Ye said. "As society navigates through a new normal, I, along with other members of the graduating class, have searched for new creative outlets and interests under quarantine. However, in the face of two pervasive pandemics, one biological and the other social, I have also pursued ways to give back to my community. Thus, through these trials, I firmly believe that graduates of 2020 will have cultivated the strength to face the real world armed with willpower and compassion."
*An article in Monday's eNews incorrectly listed Jean's last name. We sincerely apologize for the error.
Top 10 Class of 2020
The academic achievements of the following students have earned them the rank of the top ten members of the graduating class of 2020. They are, in alphabetical order:
- Lillian Grace Derr
- Peyton Joseph Dooley
- Jeremy Sun Rubin
- Amy Siyue Li
- Stacy Sitong Wang
- Christian Everett Wright
- Kristin Zhang Wu
- Ashley Lee Xie
- Jean Ye
- Elsa Zhang
Click here to see the complete list of awards presented.