Class leaders have eyes squarely on the future
Valedictorian, salutatorian headed for Penn, Dartmouth
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

Zain Ahmad gives the thumbs up as he gets ready to graduate.

OLD BRIDGE - The high school's valedictorian and salutatorian bid farewell to their alma mater at the graduation ceremony Monday, taking with them countless achievements and solid plans for the future.

Having risen to the top ranks of their senior class of 763, valedictorian Neeraja Konuthula and salutatorian Michael Joseph leave behind indelible memories of the past four years while moving forward toward the fruits of their high school labors.

"With the help of others, we were able to achieve amazing feats in the past four years," Konuthula told her classmates during the ceremony at Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton. "If we could do so much at Old Bridge, imagine what we can do in an even larger environment."

Konuthula cited the numerous accomplishments of the graduating class in her address, pointing out the positive changes made during the past year. In areas including academics; sports; environmental awareness; extracurricular clubs and school spirit, the class created a legacy, she said.

PHOTOS BY LORI LUICCI Old Bridge High School class of 2008 member David DeMiranda adjusts Stephanie Paturzo's mortarboard prior to the start of Monday's graduation ceremony at Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton.

"This year, we have passed the mark in adding new traditions, goals and achievements to our school," she said.

The valedictorian's personal achievements and distinctions throughout her high school career could be said to pass the mark several times over. An advanced placement (AP) scholar with honors, Konuthula is a member of the National Honors Society and the National Society of High School Scholars, and served as vice president of the French Honors Society at the school.

As a member of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) organization at the school, Konuthula has made it through the ranks of many to qualify three times for the national competition. As a sophomore, she placed fifth in FBLA Principles and Procedures. The following year, she took third in business communications. Today, she will head to Atlanta to compete against students from all over the country once again.

Neeraja Konuthula and Michael Joseph are the Old Bridge High School class of 2008 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.

Also captain of the school's academic team, Konuthula and her four female teammates competed on Cablevision's "The Challenge," a Jeopardy-style quiz show. Students from the tops of their classes at various high schools vied against each other on the show, which aired in February. Konuthula's team made it to the quarterfinals as one of eight remaining teams out of 32.

Konuthula's sister, Dedeepya, a junior, has been right alongside her for these achievements, also making it to the FBLA nationals and competing as a member of the academic team. Their brother Sudhanvi, 11, also spends quality educational time with his newly graduated sister. As a member of the Music Educators Association, she has been teaching him piano for three years.

An accomplished pianist, Konuthula took home the bronze medal in the National Piano Guild's Golden Key Competition. She has been a member of the guild for five years.

The prodigious teen was singled out for the New Jersey Governor's School in the Sciences at Drew University, where she studied math and science. The program, tailored to gifted students at the top of their classes, offers intensive study opportunities during summer months for those selected.

Among all her activities and dedicated studies, Konuthula found time to volunteer at the Old Bridge Public Library from seventh grade on, also serving on the library's Teen Advisory Board.

In addition to her other memberships, Konuthula was part of the high school's Interact Club, which promotes diversity and harmony. While the organization was one of few activities that did not directly center on her academic pursuits, Interact's principles seemed to encapsulate something about the high school that Konuthula holds dear.

"I liked being part of a big school," Konuthula said. "I liked the unity."

Part of that unity was the newly invoked school spirit that came about through various events throughout the past year, she said.

As she moves on to secondary education, Konuthula takes with her the scholarships and honors that her hard work earned. She was awarded the highly competitive National Merit Scholarship of $2,500. Through the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program, Konuthula will receive $1,500 per year for college. She was also honored as a New Jersey Bloustein Scholar, and received departmental awards from the high school in math and science.

Headed for the University of Pennsylvania in the fall to study bioengineering, Konuthula plans to become a cardiac surgeon when she finishes her schooling. Despite her promising future, the teen shares the uncertainty experienced by so many high school graduates as they prepare for college.

"I guess I'm excited, but I don't know what to expect yet," Konuthula said.

If her past is any indication, the extraordinary young woman can expect great things.

Salutatorian Michael Joseph is also looking toward the future with promise. Set to attend Dartmouth College in New Hampshire this fall, Joseph has his educational path well charted. He plans to double major in math and economics, leading to a career in the business world.

"I guess I've been doing math since I've been talking," Joseph said. "Something with it just clicks for me."

Joseph's passion for numbers placed him in AP math courses, and placed his interests in the field of economics.

"You can make a lot of difference in the world with it," Joseph said.

Some possibilities for his career path include financial planning, hedge fund management, or even working on economic solutions for far-reaching regions of the globe, he said.

Though his academic focus is specialized, Joseph's abilities span the spectrum of subjectmatter. His entire course load consisted of AP classes, which he completed with a grade point average of about 5.4.

As he addressed his classmates Monday, Joseph spoke of the high school's role in shaping students' lives.

"Old Bridge High School has been a source of inspiration, invoked passion, bestowed wisdom, and most importantly, [it has] strengthened us with the resolve to stand on our own two feet, to take the risks necessary to make a difference and give meaning to our existence," Joseph said.

While the goal-oriented graduate takes education seriously, he showed that he also has a more whimsical side during his speech. Joseph cracked inside jokes with his fellow students about typical high school behaviors, like concocting ways to get out of class, and avoiding the dreaded detention. He even reminisced about bomb threats that had students standing out in the rain.

A cross-country and track runner since sixth grade, Joseph has also been a member of the marching band. Outside of school, he is a member of Old Bridge Tamanna, a dance company made up of mostly township students. The group, which fuses hip-hop with South Asian dance styles, recently took third place in a tri-state area competition.

"I definitely want to stay dancing through college," Joseph said.

To start off his college career, Joseph has received $2,000 in scholarship funds so far and is anticipating news about other scholarships.

Like Konuthula, Joseph said the increased school spirit made an impact on him over the past year. He paid homage to it in his address, rousing students for a call and response that had the audience answering his calls of "OB," with "08."

"I have to say that out of everything that has happened this year ... standing in front of my peers and giving that speech truly was the greatest moment of my high school career," Joseph said.