Playing the game of college

^{Rae Akinsanya, senior, did not expect to receive admission to Northwestern University. But she did. Despite its higher ranking, Akinsanya is choosing a different direction at Northeastern University.} 

^{“I was very excited when I got the decisions back that I did. When I heard where my friends were going and where they were getting in I was like, ‘Wow, we’re so smart.’ I was really proud of our grade,” Akinsanya said.}

^{The Class of 2015 has received numerous scholarships based on diversity, disability, resilience in overcoming obstacles, athletics, and merit. Within the senior class, students have also received admission to 11 out of the top 20 ranked national universities according to US news and world report.}

^{“I don’t know what it is – I can’t put my finger on it – but there is something about this class that they’re either more motivated or having more luck or a combination of both,” said Ms. Felicia Homberger, Language Arts.}

^{Mr. Tyson Crockett, Academic Dean, recognizes the motivation that this year’s graduating class has displayed.}

^{“I think if there was one thing I would say about this class is that the group seems to be very motivated by themselves, not necessarily by their parents or their teachers or anybody else. They just want to be successful because that is their own desire,” Crockett said.}

^{Mr. Xeev Xwm Vang, School Counselor, notes that the students have been particularly motivated within the college admissions process as they have taken advantage of the resources that HHS offers.}

^{“This class has a group that takes initiative for what they want, and I have seen a lot of leadership from a lot of students. This year alone there have been more students that visit the college reps who we bring in,” Vang said.}

^{Class of 2015 students have also taken initiative beyond the academic sphere, which Akinsanya believes to be a contributing factor to the class’s success.}

^{“I think our class has a strong sense of community outside of Hopkins,” Akinsanya said. “I feel like that sentiment and that wanting to give and know that there is something more than yourself and something more outside of your little bubble, that’s what defines our class as people who have been able to get so far and reach so high.”}

^{Gannon Youakim, senior, observes that this year’s class has created a competitive environment that holds high expectations and encourages hard work. As a national merit scholar, Youakim has received a full ride scholarship to the school of his choice in addition to the full ride that he received from the University of Minnesota- Morris, but Morris will only grant him one scholarship.}

^{“Last year we had no merit scholars, the year before we had three, and this year we had eight, which is really crazy,” Youakim said. “It shows that we have a good environment for students to thrive and learn, but part of that is having a lot of competition. The competition isn’t one where you are willing to tear down your opponents to get ahead, it’s more of a comparative competition that makes you better.”}

^{While HHS provides students with an academically stimulating and competitive environment, getting into college is often based on more than having a strong high school foundation.}

^{“What I find is that my students are generally qualified to go to the schools they’re applying to, but because the schools they’re applying to are so popular, they’re fighting a very uphill battle. That’s why I’ve been surprised by the success they’ve had this year because I know the process is so out of the control of the students once they’ve achieved what they’ve achieved,” Homberger said.}

^{Because Akinsanya understands the rarity of this year’s college acceptances, she takes pride in all that the class of 2015 has achieved.}

^{“When you consider everyone in the country and the fact that some of our students are going to Ivies and top schools, it’s crazy that our little Hopkins community can be that great,” Akinsanya said. “It’s really a pride inducing thing to see that at our school.”}