Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School Graduates Inaugural Class

Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School Graduates Inaugural Class

On Friday, June 4th, Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School held its first High School Graduation! TEECS has grown a grade each year since its inception 9 years ago and was extremely excited to celebrate their first graduating class. 

 

The ceremony was held outside at Colonial Park and the afternoon was filled with a mix of emotions as the ceremony progressed. Happiness for our student achievements, laughter as student speeches highlighted memories from their years at TEECS, and sadness to see these once young children leave us as young adults. The Keynote Speaker was Dr. Oya Tukel, PhD., NJIT Dean, Martin Tuchman School of Management. 

 

Throughout the ceremony, our graduates were given awards in recognition of their many academic and personal achievements. 

 

Pascal Osei received the ELA Academic Excellence Award. He will be attending Temple University majoring in Legal Studies at the Fox School of Business and Political Science at the College of Liberal Arts. He was also awarded a Temple University Grant of $13,500, and a Fox School of Business Grant of $5,000. He is recognized for being a National Honor Society member from 10th through 12th grade, a National Society of High School Scholars member, and a TMG Space Camp Scholarship winner in 9th Grade.

 

Saif Mairaj received the Science Academic Excellence Award. He will be attending New Jersey Institute of Technology majoring in Financial Technology. He was awarded a President’s Scholarship of $28,000 per year. He was also recognized for his volunteer work during TEECS Aftercare Program and at the community library.

 

Shaikh Elahi received the Social Studies Academic Excellence Award. He will be attending Rutgers University, North Brunswick majoring in Pre-Law. He was recognized as an active member of our National Honor Society.

 

Srikar Sadhu received the Social Studies Academic Excellence Award. He will be attending The University of Texas at Austin majoring in Biomedical Engineering with double minor is Business and Computer Science.

 

Jordan Short received the Computer Science Academic Excellence Award. He will be attending Morgan State majoring in Architecture.

 

Tyrese Francois received the Computer Science Academic Excellence Award. He will be attending Rutgers University. He was awarded a Tuition Aid Grant and is recognized as an active member of our National Honor Society. In addition, he received TEECS’ PTO $1000 Scholarship.

 

Aysenur Kochan received the Foreign Language Academic Excellence Award for Spanish. She will be attending Rutgers University on a full scholarship majoring in Computer Science/Information Technology. She was recognized as having started in the ESL program in 9th grade and working to master English by practicing on her own. She was also on the TEECS Volleyball and Robotics teams.

 

Yusra Amir received the Foreign Language Academic Excellence Award for French. She will be attending the Rutgers University School of Engineering and majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering. She was recognized as a Nationalist on the TEECS Speech and Debate Team.

 

Elizabeth Williams, TEECS’ Valedictorian, received the Foreign Language Academic Excellence Award for French. She will be attending the University of Chicago majoring in Neuroscience on the Pre-Med track. She was awarded the Odyssey Scholarship, the University Scholar Award (Merit Scholarship), and the College Board National Recognition Scholarship from the University of Chicago. In addition, she received the National Merit $2500 Scholarship, Warrior for Life Academic Excellence Scholarship Award, and the Central Jersey Alumnae Minerva Scholarship. She was also recognized for Graduating from Manhattan School of Music Precollege in Piano on the Dean’s List for four consecutive years.

 

Keon Augustine received the Art Academic Excellence Award. He will be attending Howard University majoring in Computer Engineering. He was awarded the Howard University Founders and Needs grant for $20.5 Thousand Dollars. In addition, he received TEECS’ Outstanding Student Award. 

 

Neil Patel received the Music Academic Excellence Award. He will be attending Rutgers University and continue taking Music Theory courses. 

 

Abdul Kamara received the Physical Education Academic Excellence Award. He will be attending Morgan State majoring in Business and Marketing. 

 

Pragnya Adapa, TEECS’ Salutatorian, received the Mathematics Academic Excellence Award. She will be attending Vanderbilt University majoring in Neuroscience. She was awarded UNC Chapel-Hill Honors and Accelerated Research Program, Rutgers Honors and full-ride scholarship, Coca-Cola Scholar semi-finalist, and Robertson Scholarship finalist.

 

Tejaswini Ashok received the Mathematics Academic Excellence Award. She will be attending Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in Computer Science. She was awarded M. & W. Adams $1800 per year Scholarship. She was on the RVCC Dean’s List for all 4 years and accepted into Georgia Tech’s Honors Program and Global Leadership Program.

 

Talha Ergun received the ESL Academic Excellence Award. He will be attending Raritan Valley Community College majoring in Business or Computer Science.

 

Gizem Arslan received the ESL Academic Excellence Award. She will be attending Middlesex County College majoring in Computer Science. She was awarded Presidential Scholarship from Bloomfield.

 

Neel Guda received the STEM Award. He will be attending Rutgers University Business School majoring in Financial Engineering. He was awarded a 10k Scholarship. He was the Head of Engineering on TEECS’ Robotics Team for three years.

 

Mikaylah Mgbako, Student Council President, received the Public Service Award. She will be attending Pace University, Westchester Campus majoring in Nursing. She was awarded a $15,000 Honors Scholarship, an $11,500 Honors Opportunity Scholarship, a $3000 Resident Scholars Tuition Award, and a $5000 Pforzheimer Honors College Scholarship. She was as active member of the National Honors Society. In addition, she received the Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School Scholarship.

 

Ujjayi Pamidigantam received the Good Citizenship Award. She will be attending The University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Pennsylvania. She is Double Majoring in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience and Finance.

 

Akshat Parthiban received the National Honor Society Award. He will be attending the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Computer Science and Public Policy. He was National Student of Year Finalist (selected as top 7 out of 140K students), the 2021 NJSDL Congressional Debate State Champion and received the NJ Governor’s Award in Arts Education, and a National Honors Society Scholarship Winner.

 

K’anna Forbes received the Peer Mentorship Award. She will be attending Rutgers University, Newark majoring in Nursing. In total, she has been awarded a total of $103,809 dollars in scholarships. 

 

Akshay Patel received the Athletic Scholar Award. He will be attending the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Economics. He was awarded a $5000 University Scholarship. 

 

Daniel Arevalo received the Principal’s Leadership Award. He will be attending Stony Brook University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He was also awarded a Dean’s Scholarship.

 

Sudip Suresh received the Principal’s Leadership Award. He will be attending Rutgers University, New Brunswick majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He was also awarded a Pell Grant.

 

Sarang Patki received the Principal’s Leadership Award. He will be attending Rutgers University majoring in Math.

 

Moiez Qamar received the Principal’s Leadership Award. He will be attending NJIT majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He was also awarded a $6,246 yearly Scholarship and an $18,773 yearly Grant.

 

Anjali Gullapally received the Principal’s Leadership Award. She will be attending Rutgers University majoring in Psychology on the Premed track. She was also awarded a $15,000 A.J. Drexel Scholarship, a $2000 Success Scholarship, a $10,000 Syracuse Presidential Scholarship, a $12,000 Fordham Loyola Scholarship, a $15,000 Fordham Tuition Award, and through Discovery Spain, earned the opportunity to study abroad in Spain during her first semester. In addition, this student has been on the RVCC Dean’s List for three consecutive years and has completed over 400 hours of community service.

 

Salma Alee received the Principal’s Leadership Award. She will be attending Rutgers University majoring in Psychology/Cognitive Science.

 

TEECS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION 2020-21