Albert Wu and Ramya Rangan, both grade 12, were recognized at a special assembly Wednesday morning for their accomplishment of being the first pair of students from the same school to receive the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement. Jennifer Harper-Taylor, president of the Siemens Foundation, and Diane Tsukamaki, director of the College Board, traveled from the east coast to attend the assembly and personally congratulate the students and tell the audience of their accomplishments.
Tsukamaki said that eight of the 42 state and national award winners from California since the program’s launch in 1998 have come from Harker, a figure of 20%, “a statistic that should make this school proud.”
A 2009 study of 65 countries, she continued, found that the United States ranked 23rd in science proficiency and 31st in math proficiency. “AP science and math courses and exams are one way that we hope our country can regain its lead,” Tsukamaki said. Students who enroll in AP math and science courses, she said, are much more likely to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics in college.
Harper-Taylor then shared with the assembly just some of Rangan and Wu’s many accomplishments. Amazingly, both took AP classes while they were in grade 8 and both are experienced pianists. Wu was invited to the 2011 Research Science Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is also captain of Harker’s swim team. Rangan, meanwhile, was a semifinalist in the 2011 Siemens competition and represented the US in the 2009 China Girls Math Olympiad, winning a bronze medal.
After receiving their awards, Rangan and Wu shared some words with their fellow students. “None of this would have been possible without the support of the Harker community, the teachers, especially the math and science department,” he said. “The school has really given me so many opportunities to expand my intellectual horizons and also to provide me with avenues to explore and pursue my passions.” He also thanked his parents, who he said blessed him with a curiosity and love of learning.
Rangan said the reason Harker has had such success in this program is “because the school has provided all its students with such a great opportunity to be able to pursue what they want to pursue at the highest level possible for them,” she said. “And I would of course like to thank my parents a lot for giving me the great opportunity [and] the drive to pursue these things.”
March 6, 2012
The Siemens Foundation and the College Board recently announced that Harker students Ramya Rangan and Albert Wu, both grade 12, have each been named the top U.S. female and male AP scholars in the Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement. Rangan and Wu are the only two students in the U.S. to receive the scholarship, and were selected based on their performance in Advanced Placement math and science classes. Each student had the most scores of 5 on AP math and science exams for a male and female student. The last Harker student to receive a national award was Yi Sun ’06. Wu and Rangan each received a $5,000 scholarship for earing the top spots.
“I was excited and honored to receive this award in December,” Rangan said. “I didn’t expect to be one of the national winners, so I was pretty surprised when I was notified about this.”
Wu said he was also a bit honored and surprised to receive the award. “I did not know I had the top aggregate score on AP math and science tests in the entire nation,” he said. “Of course, it would not have been possible without the support of the community around me.”
Awards are given to students each year based on their performance on AP exams in the following courses: Biology, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Computer Science A, Environmental Science, Statistics, Physics C Mechanics and Physics C Electricity and Magnetism. Two winners, one male and one female, are chosen from each state to win a $2,000 scholarship, and two national winners, also a male and female, receive a $5,000 scholarship.
Both students thanked their teachers, families and the Harker community for helping them reach this milestone.
“I received so much support from my teachers. Harker is a place that offers such a large range of courses, and the teachers do a great job of teaching them and caring about the individual student,” Wu said.
“Without Harker’s amazing teachers,” said Rangan, “I really would not have been able to learn the AP coursework to achieve this award. My teachers have done much more than train me for AP exams. They have prepared me for future encounters with their fields, and they have instilled in me an excitement for the subjects they teach.”
Several of Kate Schafer’s ecology students are developing an interactive kiosk for the aquarium located inside the Nichols Hall atrium. The kiosk will consist of an iPad displaying a Web page with information on the aquarium’s various inhabitants.
The idea came about when the students were assigned a class project to identify fish. “Everyone got pretty into it, and we figured that it would be much better and it would be a good use of our time this semester,” said Akshay Tangutur, grade 12, who is helping program the website. Also on the team are Web developer Frederic Enea, Simrun Bhagat, who is assisting with graphic design, and photographer Gerilyn Olsen, who took the photos of the fish that appear on the kiosk. All students on the team are in grade 12.
When finished, the kiosk will display a photo and contain various information about the life in the aquarium, such as the species, ecology, behavior and where in the world they can be found. It is expected to be completed in March.
Lawyer and author Joel Bakan appeared at Harker’s upper school campus as part of the Harker Speaker Series on Jan. 22 to discuss the topic of his latest book, “Childhood Under Siege: How Big Business Targets Children.” The book details the many increasingly insidious ways in which children are targeted by marketers, especially with the advent of the Internet and social media.
Bakan, who also authored “The Corporation,” which was made into an acclaimed documentary, was spurred to research the topic after experiencing two “pivotal moments,” as he called them. The first was hearing the famous quote by Nelson Mandela, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
“[Children] are the most tangible representatives of what the future society is, and will be,” Bakan said.
The second came when he saw his 11-year-old son huddled around a computer with his friends, and felt compelled to ask him what they were doing. His son then directed him to a website containing a wide variety of games, many of them with shocking or violent subject matter.
“It’s important to note that these games are not in some dark corner of the Web,” he said. They are, in fact, offered by Nickelodeon, a leading provider of children’s entertainment.
Concerned about the “increasingly brazen” tactics marketers use to target children, Bakan interviewed several leading marketers for the book, and found them to be candid about their goals, proclaiming that their mission is “to uncover and then manipulate kids’ emotional hot buttons and desires” in order to sell their products. Companies on average pay marketers $15 billion each year for these kinds of services.
These hot buttons include obsession with sugary foods, a fascination with violence, their preoccupation with what their peers think and their desire to appear older than they are.
“These tendencies and predilections, which for us as parents are things we want to protect our kids from, for marketers are resources to be mined for profit,” he said.
He cited another example, a Facebook application called “Honesty Box,” which allows users to anonymously gossip about their friends. Adolescent obsession with peer approval, Bakan said, has made Honesty Box very popular, and creates possibilities for online bullying. When Bakan suggested to his daughter that she stop using Honesty Box, “She said, ‘I can’t, because then I won’t know what people are saying about me.’”
Bakan also talked about how pharmaceutical companies have marketed more and more toward children in the last 30 years. While he does not believe that children should never be prescribed medication or psychotropic drugs, “what I do think is happening is that there is a trend of overmedication,” which he partially attributes to marketing tactics used by pharmaceutical companies.
He cited the tragic story of Caitlin McIntosh, who committed suicide at the age of 12 after being prescribed Zoloft by a doctor. It was later found out that Pfizer, the company that makes Zoloft, had known that the drug could induce suicidal thoughts but chose not to reveal that information. Because the Food and Drug Administration did not require private companies to disclose the negative results of their own tests, Pfizer was able to keep these and other findings from the public.
Fortunately, in recent years key laws have been passed that make it easier for consumers to know the risks in using prescribed pharmaceuticals. One of them, passed in 2007, requires companies to disclose the details of their clinical trials to a public registry maintained by the FDA. Although this can be a valuable resource, Bakan said, it unfortunately is bogged down with jargon not understandable by much of the public. Another law passed just this year requires pharmaceutical companies to disclose any payments they have made to doctors greater than $10, so that patients can find out if a doctor’s prescription of a certain drug is suspect.
Bakan concluded by saying that even though parents now have less control over how their children are marketed to, it is nonetheless important for parents to speak up at the government level to make sure companies are required to conduct ethical business practices.
“Being a good parent today requires more, as if it isn’t enough, than making good choices as individual parents,” he said. “I think we also have to work to change the conditions under which we and other parents are making those choices, and we also have to become active in demanding public measures that protect children from harm.”
Thanks to donations from Harker and care and attention from Mike Bassoni, Harker’s facility director, two San Jose youth community centers have survived deep budget cuts to continue to serve the local community.
Through his community involvement with the Blackford Neighborhood Action Coalition (NAC), Bassoni, a 31-year Harker employee, learned of the Starbird Youth Center and their dire needs. Because of deep budget cuts last year, youth centers throughout San Jose were slated for closure, including the Starbird Youth Center. Community United, a nonprofit group focused on helping at-risk youth, came forward and offered to operate the Starbird Youth Center, as well as another center on Alma St. next to the downtown San Jose DMV office.
While the City of San Jose agreed to a one-year trial of this collaboration, it removed all electronic support – computers, video games, TVs, office equipment – from the centers, leaving them sadly bereft of the resources integral to community support.
Bassoni, who knew Harker regularly disposed of outdated computers, approached the Harker technology department. “They were great!” said Bassoni. The department donated 30 Apple Mac computers and supporting software that were delivered and installed at the two centers. In addition to the electronic supplies, Harker also donated art supplies, construction and office paper, TVs on rolling carts and art room seating.
“(Bassoni’s) contributions are fantastic and enrich these youths’ lives,” wrote Donna Stewart, executive director of Community United.
Bassoni believes the key is getting many people involved. “The formula of local and broad-based efforts has been the catalyst for a successful reopening of a community resource that appeared to be headed for the scrap pile,” said Bassoni, adding, “50-80 youth find daily refuge because of the efforts of several charitable groups, including those of Harker.”
Once again the Harker Fashion Show wowed its audience, living up to its nine-year-old reputation as a fun, profitable fundraiser.
Appreciative audiences filled out both lunch and dinner gatherings yesterday, which were open to the public and held at the San Jose Convention Center. The theme of the event, which raised funds and awareness for the school, was Celebrate! Money raised will go a long way towards aiding Harker’s scholarship and other funds.
The theme was carried through in celebrations of inner and outer beauty – illustrated with moving videos and breathtaking runway fashions. The videos shared the stories of the students themselves, and the bonds they had formed with their close knit community of teachers and peers. Fashions, representing a range of top designers, were expertly modeled by both students, teachers and parents alike.
“We have so much to celebrate at Harker every day,” said Chris Nikoloff, head of school, in his welcome letter in the event program. “Sure, our students win competitions, perform admirably on the field and stage, score high on tests, make the papers. But what makes me celebrate our community even more are the smaller things – students who politely open doors for each other, who smile and greet passing teachers, who say ‘thank you,’ who take so much joy from simply being in school and learning new things.”
Net proceeds from Celebrate! go to provide financial assistance to students who would otherwise be unable to benefit from a Harker education, fund the construction of the new gym and performing arts center and support the mission to purchase a third campus.
Harker News Online thanks Dan Molin, Greg Lawson and the staff of Winged Post/Talon for updates and information in this story.
Final Update: Feb. 29, 2012
The boys basketball team pushed their game to the end Tuesday night at Menlo as they went down 68-44 to Sacred Heart Prep in semifinal play. Senior Vik Jain had a team high 13 points and fellow senior Stephen Hughes added 7. First quarter scoring was slow, ending up at 19-6, with Harker already fighting to stay in the game; the half ended 52-21 and the rest of the game was of that ilk, ending with a loss for the team but a win for the school over all with this historical break into the upper brackets of the playoffs.
“On behalf of the boys, the athletic department would like to thank the large, raucous Harker crowd (which out-numbered Prep’s crowd) in attendance as well as the entire school community for their support,” said Dan Molin, athletic director. “It was another great Harker High School event last night; those in attendance thoroughly enjoyed the competitive atmosphere. Great job to senior Zach Ellenberg for leading the student-body cheers!” Go Eagles!
Update: Feb. 27, 2012
The boys basketball team made history Saturday as they defeated Soquel High School in the CCS quarterfinals 62-59 in front of a large supportive Eagle crowd at Menlo School. This marks the first time in Harker basketball history we’ve qualified for the semifinal round which will take place Tuesday versus league rival Sacred Heart Prep 7:15 at Menlo School. The boys mentioned the fan support was a significant factor in assisting with the victory, so please come support your basketball Eagles as they try to qualify for Friday’s finals at Santa Clara University.
Special to Harker News Online from Greg Lawson
Update: Feb. 24, 2012
The boys varsity basketball team won last night, 61 to 43, in CCS round two play. Harker trailed at the end of the first quarter, 15-13, and then went on a consistent run that made the score 60-35 at one point. Junior Spenser Quash came off the bench to pour in 16 points to lead all scorers. Junior Nikhil Panu had 15 points and six rebounds, and senior Stephen Hughes played a marvelous game at the point and scored 12 points and dished out seven assists. So the boys move on to play Soquel Sat., Feb. 25, at Menlo, to see if they can improve on their 17-8 record. Game time is 2:45 p.m. Harker fans turned out for the earlier game – a good mix of parents, students and teachers – but the team can really use support on Saturday! There is a required charge for CCS games: $8 adults, $3 students. Click here for the bracket.
Girls lost a heartbreaker at Sacred Heart Prep, 53-49. Harker led at the half and the score was tied at the end of three quarters but the second-seeded Gators proved too much for the Lady Eagles in the end. Junior Daniza Rodriguez led the way with 19 points. Sophomore Nithya Vemireddy added 11 points and 15 rebounds to the cause, and junior Priscilla Auyeung had nine points, seven rebounds, and five assists. The Eagles finish their season with a 17-10 record.
Posted Feb. 23, 2012 By Dan Molin
Boys basketball had a successful break earning one of the most significant victories in Harker hoops history as they defeated previously unbeaten and first-place Pinewood on their home court and senior night. The 68-62 victory was a significant factor in attaining a very respectable number seven seed in the CCS tournament and a first round bye. The boys will host Stevenson School at 7 tonight at Blackford in the second round of CCS. There is a required charge for CCS games: $8 adults, $3 students. Click here for the bracket.
Girls basketball also had an outstanding break earning a huge victory over Mercy-Burlingame 41-39 in the WBAL Tournament. Mercy had previously beaten our girls twice in the regular season but our Lady Eagles came through when it counted most. The victory earned our girls the right to play five-time state champion Pinewood the next night, which we lost but prepared our girls well for the CCS tournament. In the first-round CCS game Tuesday our girls defeated Greenfield 57-38, behind 21 points and nine rebounds from Nithya Vemireddy, grade 10. The girls travel to Sacred Heart Prep tonight, Thursday, for a second round matchup. Click here for the bracket.
Please congratulate and send good luck wishes to wrestlers Darian Edvalson, grade 10, and Corey Gonzales, grade 9, for qualifying to the CCS tournament this Friday and Saturday at Independence High School. Edvalson in the 160-lb weight class and Gonzales in the 106-lb class qualified by placing fifth in the league tournament.
The children gathered for a recent assembly on kindness at Harker’s lower school campus closed their eyes in unison, listening for something they had never heard before: the sound of a smile.
“Show me a smile … keep your eyes closed … hear how a smile sounds,” instructed one of a group of student mentors from Harker’s upper school. Standing on stage before their younger peers, they laughed along with their enraptured audience, who immediately broke out in a chorus of giggles while trying to smile, eyes shut tight.
It was all part of Harker’s continued effort to have upper school students serve as mentors for the lower school children. The high school students, clad in white T-shirts and jeans, used a silly skit to demonstrate how random acts of kindness, such as a simple smile, are a great chance to reach out and make new friends. This group included sophomores Rohith Bhethanabotla, Arjun Goyal, Vincent Lin and Sahithya Prakash and juniors Neel Bhoopalam, David Lindars, Simar Mangat and Maverick McNealy.
Every year, the elementary school holds a winter assembly tied to a specific theme. This year’s theme – kindness – seemed like a natural fit to unite Harker’s oldest and youngest kids, and an opportunity for positive interaction.
“With the Eagle Buddies mentoring program being such a big success, we got the idea to have the upper school students come out, do some skits, and talk about being kind,” said Joe Connolly, dean of students K-5.
At the end of January, the entire grade 5 class at The Harker School presented “Summer Daze: Scenes and Songs from a Rockin’ School Day.” Originally written by Janet Gardner, it was adapted for Harker by Jennifer Cowgill, the lower school performing arts teacher who also directed the play.
The musical starts in an “Average Family Kitchen,” and takes the audience through the beginning of the day (a scene featuring a song called “I’m in a Daze”), and then through a variety of classes, such as history, English, math, P.E. and choir. The song and dance performances accompanying the scenes each had its own unique spin on an aspect of a school day, with song titles such as “I Love My Locker” and “Cafeteria Confusion.” One of the big highlights of the play – which proved to be a delight throughout – was that the students portrayed Harker teachers in any scene a teacher was called for. For instance, Ashli Jain, grade 5, in the scene “The Beginning of the Day,” played Kristin Giammona, the elementary division head. Zohaid Valani, grade 5, portrayed Jared Ramsey, a grade five social studies teacher, in the scene “History Class.”
There were three showings of the musical, including a special performance for the rest of the lower school.
Cyrus Merrill’s grade 8 history students had the unique opportunity to chat with White House speechwriter Laura Dean in late January, just after President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address.
The interviews were conducted by phone, and students asked a range of questions about speechwriting and what life is like as an employee of the president. Dean said that Obama practices the speech only “two or three” times without interruption from applause, and that speechwriters attempt to strike a balance between content that will be liked both by Congress and the general public.
During the process, she said, writers often spend a lot of time debating which ideas to start with, and find that it is difficult to say “no” to the president when he has an idea for the content of a speech.
Writing of the State of the Union speech starts in December, and begins with research teams finding out what they want the speech to cover and checking facts with specialists. During the last couple of weeks before the address, the president becomes more involved in the process, but during the final week, the team tries to keep him from making any further changes.
Amusingly, some students wanted to know what font is used when writing the speeches. “Times New Roman 12,” Dean replied.
Harker’s tradition of combining the latest technology with education continues as strongly as ever. Dozens of Harker middle school students have been participating in a pen pal exchange with the Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Astana, Kazakhstan, over the past few months, through a connection courtesy of Harker alumna Lauren Gutstein ’06, who is currently teaching English at the school.
On Feb. 7, the students video conferenced with their Kazakhstani buddies, and were able to interact face-to-face for the first time. The students participated in a question and answer session, as well as a fun show-and-tell, where both groups of students showed current trends, fashions, games and talents. The conference concluded with Harker students teaching their Kazakh friends some American slang, and with the Kazakh students teaching Russian and Kazakh words and slang in return.
What a day of crosscultural learning and connecting!