Student Feature Friday: Melissa Wojnowski Honored at Worcester County Superintendents' Association Scholars Luncheon

WCSA Honoree Melissa Wojnowski
with Mr. Clements and Dr. Maruszczak

On Tuesday afternoon Dr. Maruszczak and I had the privilege of attending the annual Worcester County Superintendents' Association Scholars' Luncheon to honor some of the top achieving students in Central Massachusetts. We were joined by Nipmuc's representative and honoree, senior Melissa Wojnowski. Melissa is a phenomenal student who has earned a place as one of the top achievers in the Class of 2015. She has excelled in all of her academics at Nipmuc, including her participation in eight Advanced Placement courses. She is the recipient of the Bausch and Lomb Science Award, the Columbia Book Award, and has been recognized as an AP Scholar. In addition to her academic achievements, Melissa has received the Girl Scout Silver Award, participated in Camp Reach through WPI, and was part of a World Challenge Expedition to Ecuador. She has also summited the peak of Mt. Rumiñahui (15,489ft.) in Cotopaxi National Park in Ecuador. She is diligent, ambitious, humble, and personable. I was proud to have her serve as Nipmuc's representative.

Held at The College of the Holy Cross, the luncheon provided the chance for honored students from each high school to be recognized and awarded a gift. In the program each student printed a favorite quote. Melissa's quote came from Abraham Lincoln and stated, "Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition." Fitting words from someone who is truly worthy of this honor.

Included below is my interview with Melissa:

Q: What subjects/disciplines are most interesting to you?
A:  Biomedical engineering is something in which I have always been interested academically (biology being one of my favorite scholastic subjects).  However, I have since been inspired to love not just biology, but the biographies that accompany it, and I want to pursue biomedical engineering to give people the biological opportunity to live life fully, pursue their passions, and in doing so continue their own biographies.

Q: What colleges are at the top of your list for next year?
A:  WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) has been my dream school since the sixth grade. However, if I am fortunate enough to be accepted to my reach schools (Duke and Brown) both have very enthusiastic and individualized biomedical engineering programs which I would seriously consider alongside that which is offered by WPI.

Q: What does it mean to you to be honored by the Worcester County Superintendents’ Association with this honor?
A:  Receiving such an honor from the Worcester County Superintendents' Association means a great deal to me; I deeply appreciate the recognition of my devotion to studies, and even more so appreciate the opportunity to represent the district.

Q: What was the most memorable part of the event?
A:  For me, the most memorable part of the event was the reading of the honorees' biographies as they were recognized, specifically the parts which addressed the students' non-scholastic passions and feats.  It gave a personal depth to the of the honorees and reminded me of how significant our passions are in defining not just the scholars as which we were being recognized, but furthermore the people we have and will continue to become.